?


    Roseanne paused, a spark of gratitude in her eyes. "You gave it to me, but what about you...?"


    Owen Reynolds shrugged off the cold. "I''m fine."


    "Thanks."


    As they reached the corner of the street, Owen told Roseanne to wait up for a moment and darted into the nearby convenience store.


    In less than a minute, he emerged with two steaming cups in hand.


    "Here you go."


    Roseanne, curious, took a sniff. "What''s this?"


    "Ginger spiced tea."


    Her eyebrows raised in surprise. "They sell that here?"


    How had she never noticed?


    Owen chuckled. "Seasonal special, just started stocking it."


    "And yours?"


    He shook his head. "Nah, I went for a buckwheat tea."


    Wrapped in the warmth of the drink and Owen''s coat, Roseanne felt a cozy heat envelop her, her cheeks flushing a lovely shade of pink.


    After climbing the stairs, she handed back the coat to Owen.


    "Thanks, Professor. Goodnight."


    His smile was slight but sincere. "Goodnight."


    They headed to their respective homes.


    Post-shower, Roseanne settled down to tackle her thesis, bundled up in a knitted sweater, cozy and warm.


    Her phone rang. It was Norris.


    "Hey, Dad."


    "Has Anne hit the hay yet?"


    "Not yet, deep in thesis work."


    "The weather''s turned cold. Don''t stay up toote and remember toyer up."


    "I know, Dad. We''ve got heating up here; it''s not that cold indoors. How''s Mom?"


    Norris chuckled. "She''s on a


    deadline. Oh, and I sent some


    ove


    smoked beef your way, about pounds or so. Should arrive tomorrow." This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "That much? How can I finish it all?"


    "It''s not just for you. Share half with Owen. It''s convenient, living door to door."


    Meanwhile, Owen, as usual, hung his coat on the rack before pausing and taking it back down.


    It still held Roseanne''s scent.


    He hesitated, then leaned in for a closer smell...


    Realizing what he was doing, he quickly tossed the coat onto the sofa and headed for the shower, his cheeks burning.


    The next morning, Roseanne indeed received Norris''s package.


    She knocked on Owen''s door. "Professor, you there?"


    The door soon opened to reveal a slightly disheveled Owen, seemingly just woken up.


    "Did I wake you? I''m sorry..."


    But that seemed odd; it was nearly ten, and Owen was usually up by now, given his discipline. "Professor, are you alright?" Roseanne asked, noticing his paleplexion.


    "Just...a slight cold."


    She frowned. "You lent me your coat yesterday..."


    "It''s not because of that! Had a bit of a cough already, must''ve caught a chill workingte in theb."


    "Have you taken any medication?"


    He nodded. "I did, so no worries."


    Relieved, Roseanne remembered


    purpose of her visit. "Oh,


    the


    right.


    My


    dad sent some barbecue brisket, insisted I share it with you. en.kikistor


    "That''s very kind of your dad."


    A chuckle escaped her as she saw his reaction.


    "What''s so funny?"


    "Do I tell you?" Herughter was infectious.


    "You''ve got me curious now."


    Handing over three vacuum-sealed bags, she teased, "When my dad called, he was all, ''Make sure you give plenty to your Uncle Reynolds.'' It''s his way of paying respects, I guess."


    Owen Reynolds: "..."