The movie was only a little over half over when Jade slumped and leaned against him. That's when he realized she'd fallen asleep. Looking down where she lay against him, so innocent, he thought about how much she looked like she had when she was younger. 

This was why he had left. He was too old for her, even now. What did a nearly forty-year-old man have to offer a twenty-eight-year old woman? He was sure she’d soon realize he had nothing for her and move on. The hard part was going to be going on without her once she did. He could only hope that when she decided she had no reason to stay, she didn't take his heart with her. 

He turned back and watched the movie a while longer, trying to put Jade out of his mind until she sighed and moved in her sleep. Looking at her again, he decided she had to be in the most uncomfortable position he'd ever seen, but he didn't have the heart to wake her. Instead, he stood and picked her up. Holding her in his arms, he lay on the sofa and let her curl up on top of him. He made sure the blanket still covered her, then turned his attention back to the TV.  

* * *

He woke the next morning to a knee in his groin. 

"What?" Jade's voice was thick with sleep, "Where am I?"

"You're at my place," Steve murmured, wrapping his arms around her as he tried to keep her still, "now quit moving before you geld me." 

She stilled. "I remember now," she said softly. "I fell asleep watching the movie. How did we end up like this?" 

"You looked uncomfortable, so I moved you. I intended to get you another blanket when I went to bed, but I fell asleep too." 

"What time is it?" she asked. 

Looking at the clock on the wall, he was surprised at how late it was. "Crap, almost seven. I need to get moving."

Jade started moving again, more carefully this time, trying not to hurt him anymore than she already had as she climbed off him. She stood beside the sofa stretching. 

He stood and realized the room had grown chilly. He couldn't help noticing Jade wasn't used to the cold as her nipples beaded and pressed against her shirt like small, hard buttons. His jeans suddenly got tighter. "Let me get my boots on and I'll take you back to the main house." He turned toward his bedroom.

"No need, I can walk," she tried to put him off.

"Not barefooted you can't. Even if it wasn't cold, there are sharp rocks and sticks. It's one thing to shift and run around; cat's paws are designed to walk over those things. Those delicate little feet aren't." He nodded down at her bare feet with toe nails painted bright purple. Why hadn't he noticed that last night?

Her shoulders slumped and she wrapped the blanket around herself, "All right." 

He went in to the bedroom and got a clean pair of socks.

"Um, Steve?" He heard her call as he sat down to put on his boots; there was something different about her voice. Sighing, he picked them up and went to see what she needed. 

"Yeah?" he asked, stepping back into the front room.

"You're right. I won't be going up to the main house myself." She turned away from the window to look at him, her eyes wide.

"What’s out there?" he asked, his brow furrowing. 

"Snow." 

"I knew it was getting close, any idea how much?" 

She looked out the window again then back at him, "I'm going to guess about six inches." 

Steve lifted his brows, "That's a lot for one night, especially without a big storm." 

Jade looked back out the window, she looked a little concerned.

Steve finished lacing his boots and stood, "Don't worry. I'll get you back up to the house, no problem."

"That wasn't what I was thinking about." 

"What is it then?" 

"You, Nick, Frank, everyone else that has to work in that." 

Steve chuckled, then realized she was serious. "It's nothing," he looked over her head out the window. "Wait until January when there's a couple of feet, at least. Anyway, we're used to it. We'll dress warm and do what we have to to make sure the animals are safe and have feed, break the ice on their water, then we'll come in where it's warm. We don't spend a lot of extra time out in the cold."

Jade let a breath out in a rush, "That's good." 

"You ready?" Steve stopped next to the door and pulled on a heavy coat. 

"As ready as I'll get, I guess." She lowered the quilt from her shoulders and started folding it. 

"Keep it on. It's gonna be a lot colder out there now than it was last night, you'll need it." 

JV wrapped the quilt back around herself, pulling it snug as she went to the door. 

Steve picked her up and swung her easily into his arms. Outside, he pulled the door shut and headed down the stairs. He took extra care because of ice as he stomped toward the main house, breaking a trail as he went. 

"A couple of trips and the path will be well beaten again," he said as he made slow progress over the short path. He stomped his way up the stairs, knocking the snow off his boots as he went, and to the back door. He opened the door without knocking and set her on her feet just inside. "I've got some things I’ve got to do, I'll see you later," he said, then turned and walked away.