Laura is sitting on the couch in her loft with her injured ankle propped on a pillow. She is reading a file that is open in her lap when there is a knock at the door. She puts the folder down on the coffee table and limps over to answer it. She slides open the door to reveal a casually dressed Steele holding several paper grocery bags
Laura smirks. "What happened to Aspen?" she asks.
He enters the loft, walks across to the kitchen and sets the bags on the counter. He explains, "While Mildred is beyond a doubt the most resourceful and dedicated receptionist on this earth, she is not the one with whom I intend to share my hot buttered rum. I am sure that she and her nephew will have a delightful time."
Laura smiles at him as she closes the door. He begins taking items from the bags as Laura limps over to help him.
"Ah, ah, ah!" he mockingly scolds Laura as he rushes over to her and scoops her up into his arms. "Didn’t the doctor tell you to stay off that ankle?" He puts her onto the sofa and places a pillow behind her back so she is facing the kitchen. "I know he did," he continues back to the kitchen. "And so, we are going to have our hot, buttered rum here in Los Angeles – after dinner, of course."
Laura laughs softly. "I guess you were right," she says, "every time we try to spend a few uninterrupted moments together, something interferes."
"Ah," Steele answers from the kitchen, "now we come to the genius in my plan – it’s the weekend, our case is wrapped up, and Mildred is Aspen." He walks back over to Laura on the couch. "Anyway, the whole point of spending the weekend together was so that you could prove to me that you are capable of having fun. And that, my dear," he picks up the file she had been reading from the coffee table, "I am not seeing any evidence of yet." He places the file back on the coffee table, sits on the couch and leans into her
"And what about the roaring fire?" she asks, placing her arms around his neck.
"Is that required for the ‘having fun’ part?"
Laura pretends to think for a moment. "Mmm…I guess not."
They kiss briefly.
"What’s for dinner?" Laura asks.
"Canard au vin rouge," he answers, returning to the kitchen.
"I…, uh…," Laura stutters, embarrassed by her sparsely stocked refrigerator and cabinets. It is no secret that she cannot and rarely tries to cook.
"Don’t worry," he assures her. I brought everything I need.
After dinner, they are on the couch watching television and sipping hot buttered rum from mugs. Steele is sitting up while Laura reclines resting her sore ankle on a pillow in Steele’s lap.
"Dinner was wonderful," she says taking a sip from her mug. "Thank you."
"I am always happy to share my talents," he says as he smiles at her.
"All of your talents, or just your culinary ones?" she asks seductively.
He gingerly moves her ankle off his lap and onto the floor. He moves to lie over her and bears his weight on his forearms. "Oh, all of them, Miss Holt, all of them." He kisses her deeply.
Laura appears very affected by his kiss. "I didn’t know that you had talents as a nurse maid too," she responds. "I have totally forgotten the pain in my ankle."
"Better than aspirin, eh?"
He kisses her deeply again and then begins to plant small kisses down her jaw line and neck.
"Mmmm… much better," she agrees.
As they embrace in another passionate kiss, Laura lifts her leg to place it on the couch, but bangs it on the coffee table instead. "Ow!" she cries out.
"What? Oh, no, Laura…" He pushes himself up and gently places her leg back up on the couch. "I’m sorry."
Laura laughs. "Maybe you’re right after all. Something always does get in the way."
"Well, one day it won’t," he says optimistically.
"And then what, Mr. Steele?" she asks.
"Well," he smiles at her, "I promise that I won’t leave behind any white belts or T-shirts with corny phrases."
Laura smiles at his reference to the items that her once live in boyfriend left behind at her house. "And what will you leave behind, Mr. Steele?"
"Absolutely nothing, Miss Holt."
She looks at him questioningly.
He cups her face with his hands and looks into her eyes.
"When I finally have you, Laura, I don’t ever intend to let go."
They kiss as the frame freezes.
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