Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"What can you do in ten minutes?" The girl asked.

Corley's face was expressionless as he said, "Ever heard how curiosity killed the cat?"

"Sorry."

"Once the money's in your pocket, keep your mouth shut." Corley threatened.

After getting home and showering, Roseanne planned to review a few papers before hitting the sack.

Just as she sat down, she received a message from Corley.

[You left your gloves in my car.]

He attached a photo of the gloves. They were indeed the ones Roseanne wore that day.

It then dawned on Roseanne that she had taken them off after getting into the car because the heating was high. Corley had kindly taken them from her and set them aside.

She had forgotten them when she left.

[Can I drop by to pick them up sometime?]

house has

I'll return your gloves. I'm taking an MBA course at Kingswell University. Since you're an alum, if

Corley had only offered to return her gloves or invited her to a meal. Roseanne felt their acquaintance hadn't reached that level of familiarity yet. But with him asking for a favor, and considering she had forgotten her gloves, making it her oversight, she felt even more obligated. Given that Corley needed

next Friday at 11 a.m. Does that

no objections and sent an OK

...

parked his car and walked

shop was on a quaint street not far from

appealed to the younger crowd, making it

the window. Roseanne arrived a few minutes later, and a waitress came to them with

vintage record

exuding a bohemian charm. Corley ordered an iced Americano while

gloves." He had packed the

to take them.

ambiance neither too cold nor

river, completely frozen

over its edges,

in a

of snow from the