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?]

has a strict no-delivery

return your gloves. I'm taking an MBA course at Kingswell University. Since you're an alum, if it's not too much trouble, maybe you could show me around and help

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 help with something she could

texted, [I'm free next Friday at 11 a.m. Does

no objections and sent an OK

...

the day they had agreed, Corley parked

quaint street

for decoration that appealed to the

a seat by the window. Roseanne arrived a few minutes later, and a waitress came to

vintage record player

exuding a bohemian charm. Corley ordered an iced

the gloves

reached out to take

the ambiance neither too cold nor too dry, utterly comfortable. "Do you come here often?"

floor-to-ceiling window, lay a river, completely frozen

its edges,

in a

snow from the