The elevator dinged, and the doors opened onto the ground floor. Courtney stepped out, hurrying toward the lobby doors. She could hear the rain starting to fall outside and didn't want to get soaked. But as she stepped into the rain, she realized she had forgotten her umbrella.
She groaned in frustration, not wanting to get her work clothes wet. She looked around, hoping to find some sort of cover, but there was nothing nearby except for a few trees. Deciding to make a run for it, she hoped to find a cab before she got too wet.
Courtney pulled out her phone to call for a cab. But as she was dialing the number, it slipped from her hand and landed in a puddle. She groaned again as the phone fizzled out and died. Now she was not only without an umbrella but also without a phone.
She looked up at the sky, now pouring rain. Her hair was already damp, and she knew her clothes would soon be soaked.
Just then, Dwayne was driving out of the garage, his thoughts still on Courtney. He couldn't help but worry about her, wondering if she had managed to find a cab before the downpour. Suddenly, he noticed a figure running down the street, clothes drenched. As he got closer, he realized it was Courtney.
He immediately pulled over and rolled down the window.
"Hey, Courtney!" he called, getting her attention. "Do you need a ride?"
Courtney looked up, eyes wide with relief.
"Mr. Dwayne! Oh my gosh, thank you!" she said, quickly making her way to the car. "I was starting to think I'd never get out of the rain." She climbed into the passenger seat, dripping wet. "Thank you so much for stopping."
"No problem," Dwayne said, relieved to see her safe. "I was just on my way home and saw you running. I had to stop."
"You're a lifesaver," Courtney said with a laugh. "I must look like a drowned rat!"
Dwayne chuckled. "I wouldn't say that," he replied, though he had to admit she was thoroughly soaked.
The rain came down in torrents, flooding the streets. Dwayne could see that major roads were blocked. There was no way he could make it home. He glanced at Courtney, who was staring out the window with a worried expression.
"Don't worry. I have a safe place we can go," he reassured her. "It's a small cabin in the woods where I go to get away from it all. We can stay there until the storm passes."
Courtney nodded, grateful for his offer. "Thank you."
She couldn't deny she was nervous about spending the night with Dwayne in a secluded cabin. They had never been in such close quarters before, and she wasn't sure how she'd react. But she also couldn't ignore the flicker of excitement. She had always been drawn to Dwayne, though she had never admitted it to herself. Maybe this was an opportunity to get to know him better—and see if there was more to their relationship than work.
As they drove, the storm raged outside. Finally, Dwayne pulled up to the cabin nestled in a grove of trees. He parked as close to the door as possible.
"Ready?" he asked, opening his door.
Courtney nodded, clutching her bag to her chest.
"Let's go!" she said. Together, they dashed through the rain and into the cabin.
Once inside, they both sighed in relief.
"That was a close one," Dwayne said, wiping water from his face.
"I'm just glad we made it in one piece," Courtney replied.
From her perspective, the cabin was like something out of a fairy tale—a cozy log home with a thatched roof, framed shutters, and a front porch swing. Inside, it was even more charming, with exposed beams and a stone fireplace. Rustic, yet warm and inviting. It felt like the perfect escape from the storm.
She couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder as she looked around. There was a small kitchenette, a bathroom, and a bedroom with a comfortable-looking bed. She started to relax, realizing she would be able to rest here.
For Dwayne, the cabin was filled with nostalgia. This was his retreat, the place where he could escape work and simply be himself. He was glad to share it with Courtney.
As he pulled off his wet shirt, Courtney couldn't help but stare. His body looked like something out of a magazine—toned and muscular, with smooth, tanned skin and damp hair falling casually over his forehead. She flushed, quickly trying to avert her gaze. But then he looked at her, and she couldn't look away.
"Do you want to borrow a shirt?" he asked, noticing her stare.
"I—I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" she stammered.
Dwayne smiled, amused. "It's okay. I'm flattered, really. But you should probably change out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold."
Courtney nodded quickly and slipped into the bathroom with some dry clothes from his wardrobe. When she came out, she was in one of his oversized shirts. It hung loosely on her frame, the sleeves covering her hands, but it showed off her bare legs.
"Feeling better?" Dwayne asked, glancing up from the book he had been reading.
Courtney smiled shyly. "Much better."
He tried to focus on the conversation instead of how radiant she looked. "So, what do you think of the cabin?"
"It's perfect," she said. "I can't believe you have a place like this. It's like something out of a dream."
"I'm glad you think so," Dwayne said warmly. "I've always loved it here. I can finally relax."
Courtney nodded. "I can see why. It's the perfect escape."
Silence settled comfortably between them.
"Why don't you take the bed?" Dwayne offered. "I'll sleep on the couch."
"What? No!" Courtney protested. "You're the host. I can't take the bed from you."
"We can share the couch," he said lightly. "It's big enough."
Courtney hesitated. "I don't know…"
"Come on, it'll be fun," he teased. "We'll stay up late and talk—like a slumber party."
She laughed. "You're ridiculous. But I guess I could stay up a little longer."
They settled on the couch, chatting for hours. Dwayne told childhood stories that made her laugh; she shared her own, surprising him with how much they had in common. They talked about hopes, dreams, and fears—feeling as if they had known each other for years.
Before they knew it, it was past midnight. Neither wanted to end the conversation, but they were both exhausted.
"This was really nice," Dwayne said with a yawn. "We should do it again sometime."
"Yeah, maybe even make it a regular thing," Courtney suggested.
"I'd like that," Dwayne said, smiling.
They both laughed at how cheesy they sounded, but neither minded.
The next morning, Dwayne slowly opened his eyes to find Courtney's head resting on his chest. He smiled, surprised but content. She was curled up against him, fast asleep.
He tried to move without waking her, but it was impossible. And truthfully, he didn't want to.
"Courtney," he whispered, nudging her shoulder gently. "Time to wake up."
She stirred but didn't open her eyes. "No… five more minutes," she mumbled, snuggling closer.
Dwayne laughed softly. "We can't stay here all day. We both have work."
"I know," she sighed, finally opening her eyes. "But it was so nice just being here with you."
"It was," he agreed. "Maybe we can do it again sometime."
"I'd like that," she said, sitting up and stretching.
After getting ready, Dwayne drove her home. As she got out of the car, he hesitated.
"Courtney," he said. "I know you're supposed to come in on Friday, but I think you should take the day off. You've been working so hard, and you deserve a break."
"Are you sure?" she asked. "I don't want to leave you short-handed."
"I'm sure," he said firmly. "It's only one day. You need the rest."
She smiled. "Okay. Thank you, Dwayne. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome," he said. "I'll see you Monday."
"Have a good weekend," she replied, heading inside.
Dwayne watched her go, a warm smile on his face. He was glad he had stopped in the rain last night. Something had changed between them—and he wasn't sure where it would lead, but he couldn't wait to find out.