Chapter FourSpike was silent for almost a full minute, never taking his eyes off hers, before abruptly responding to her comment.
“You are here, and I’m being a terrible host. What can I get you? I have tea, coffee, and beer. Are you cold? Do I need to turn the heat up?”
Buffy shook her head. “I’m fine. It’s nice and toasty in here, but I wouldn’t turn down a cup of tea.”
“One cup of tea, coming up.” He walked into a small kitchen area off the back of the room and plugged in a kettle. While it heated up, he rummaged in a cupboard until he came up with a tea bag. “Is Constant Comment okay? It’s that or English Breakfast.”
“Anything is fine, as long as it has caffeine in it,” Buffy said with a yawn. “Oops! Sorry?”
“Nothing to be sorry for, love. You fell asleep on a wooden bench in sub-freezing temperatures earlier tonight. Tells me all I need to know about how tired you are.”
He brought her the mug of tea, which she accepted with a smile.
“Please sit down and quit fussing over me. It makes me nervous.” She kicked off her warm boots and tucked her colorful wool sock-clad feet under her, once again grateful for the Council credit card she’d made good use of after her first night of patrol with Faith.
He gave a rueful laugh and settled at the other end of the small sofa. Buffy sipped her tea while he just looked at her in a way that made her feel much warmer. For the first time since he’d stepped out of the shadows to say her name, she truly believed he still loved her.
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