New Years Eve - 9.00am

"Good morning Michigan, it's only 15 hours till the new year - welcome to 105.9 FM, and to get you in the mood for partying here's Kool and the Gang with Celebrate."

Howie opened his eyes as he heard Olivia Fox on 105.9's FM radio station. It was 9.00am and he'd forgotten that he'd set the alarm. He wasn't in the mood for "celebrating good times" as Kool and the Gang were saying, so he quickly turned the alarm radio off.

Slowly he sat up in bed and pulled the covers away. As he got out of the bed and pulled on a T-shirt and jeans he noticed Sherl's Christmas tree earrings on his bedside table. He'd noticed them every day since Christmas morning and wondered for the hundredth time if he would ever see her again.

Howie stopped to look in the mirror and he decided that he looked like hell. His hair was disheveled and his eyes were red. Two days worth of stubble covered his face, giving him a look that was not too dissimilar from Don Johnson in Miami Vice. Not only did he look like hell, he decided that he felt like hell too.

He padded into the kitchen and turned on the kettle. After making himself a cup of black coffee he turned on the TV and put the news on. Everyone seemed to be getting in the mood to celebrate the new year, and the police were beginning to patrol New Center in readiness for the huge crowds of people that always descended there every New Years Eve.

His Christmas had been miserable. Against his better judgment, he'd gone to his parents for Christmas dinner. All the family had been there, including his brother Jason, complete with his perfect little wife and two naughty children. Throughout the meal his mother had quizzed him as to when he intended to settle down and find some nice woman to marry. Howie almost choked on his turkey, and after only two forkfuls he'd slammed down his napkin and stormed out, unable to take any more. He hadn't spoken to his parents since.

Every night after that he'd gone to Branigan's where he'd met Sherl, hoping that she would be there, or that she would walk in. He wondered why she had disappeared on Christmas morning the way she did. People walked in and out of the main door each night, but there was no sign of her. He had stayed right until the very last minute of closing, but Sherl never appeared.

Howie heard the buzzer on his front door and he got up to answer it. Every time the buzzer had sounded he had rushed to the door, hoping to see Sherl standing there. He'd rehearsed what he would say if he saw her a million times in his mind, but usually it was only his neighbor Paul, just as it was this morning.

"Hi," said Howie as he opened the door and let Paul in. "You don't look much better than I do."

"I know," said Paul, his voice low and gravely. He was carrying a bag of groceries and he placed them on the kitchen table as Howie closed the door behind him and carried on drinking his coffee. Paul emptied the contents of his grocery bag, which contained croissants and some bacon. "These are for later, if we feel like it. Thank god that today is a Sunday."

"Definitely. No way would I have been able to make it into work today," said Howie, turning down the volume on the TV with the remote control.

"So where are we going to celebrate the New Year? Please don't say Branigans, we've been there every night since Christmas looking for this mystery lady of yours," said Paul.

Howie tensed for a moment at the mention of Sherl's name. "I can't not go, she was special."

"Uh-huh. If she's so special, then where the hell is she? Come on man, it's time to get back out there again and meet other women. And talking of other women, what happened to Deema?"

"I finished it two days ago," said Howie. "I was fed up with her constant excuses and it turns out she was seeing some else all along."

"You're kidding. That's even more reason for you to get back out there my friend. Especially today - it's New Years Eve, for god's sake!"

"I suppose you'll be taking Kelly tonight?" asked Howie.

"Uh, no - I think I'll try my luck elsewhere. Which is what you should do, my friend."

Howie sighed and filled his coffee mug again. "I know. Look, I'll tell you what. We'll go to Branigans, and if she's not there tonight, that's it - I'll forget about her, okay?"

"Deal," said Paul, helping himself to a mug of coffee.

* * * * * * * *

New Years Eve - 4.30pm

"Not Branigan's," said Sherl to her friend Kate. "Please Kate, anywhere else but there."

"Why not Branigan's?" asked Kate while painting her toenails a bright shade of red. "It's one of the few places to go tonight where you don't have to have a ticket to get in."

"I know, but"

"What's wrong with the place? I thought you liked it. You said that you were there on Christmas Eve. Hey, would this have something to do with you not coming home that night?"

"Not at all," said Sherl indignantly. She continued to iron her dress; a black figure-hugging sleeveless one covered with sequins and fake diamante stones.

"I bet it does," said Kate.

Sherl stopped ironing for a moment and thought. Did she want to see Howard again? And would he be at Branigan's if she did go with Kate? Howie was never very far from her thoughts, and she did wonder every day about him. Looking back, she wished that she hadn't left the way that she did, but she had avoided Branigan's since that night because she didn't know how she would face him if he were there.

"All right," said Sherl. "Branigan's it is then."

"Great!" said Kate enthusiastically. "I'd better find another outfit to wear. Judging by what you're ironing it ought to be something just as sexy and gorgeous rather than the plain black dress that I've already picked out."

Sherl glanced down at her choice of outfit and it was indeed everything that Kate had said it was.

Perhaps I ought to pick out something else," said Sherl as she took the dress off the ironing board.

"Are you kidding?" asked Kate, as she got up to leave the room. "No way, that will look wonderful on you."

As soon as Kate had left for her room Sherl held the dress up against her. She wondered what Howie would think if he saw her in it. She had played the scenario in her mind many times of her seeing Howie again and of what would happen if she did. A part of her hoped that she would see him again, but another part of her hoped that she wouldn't see him.

And that was the part that was scared.

* * * * * * *

New Years Eve - 7.30pm

Howie and Paul walked into a very busy Branigan's. It was a hive of activity and they had to dodge past several people in order to get to the bar area. Howie couldn't help glancing around looking for Sherl. He didn't see her, but there were so many people he didn't rate his chances of seeing her any time soon.

Paul managed to maneuver his way to the bar and order a beer for himself and Howie. He handed it to Howie who took a long drink from it. It was beginning to get quite hot in the bar area with everyone crowded around it.

"Seen her yet?" asked Paul above the noise of the conversation and music.

Howie shook his head. "No, I haven't."

"Never mind - it's only just gone quarter to eight," he said. "Plenty of time yet"

* * * * * * * *

New Years Eve - 8.00pm

Sherl and Kate finally reached the entrance of Branigan's. It was cold and just starting to rain, and they had walked the entire way from their house. Kate had been unable to book a taxi on this busy night, so they made the decision to walk. Sherl regretted wearing a thin jacket over her dress; she wished she had worn a much thicker coat and even gloves.

Once inside, Sherl began to warm up. Eventually she took her jacket off and handed it in to the coat attendant. Several men turned their heads and stared at her as she walked towards the bar. Kate gave her a knowing glance but Sherl just shrugged.

Sherl reached the bar first and ordered two bottles of beer. She gave one to Kate and the bartender poured hers into a glass. Two barstools were free so Sherl sat at one and Kate joined her.

Sherl was sat in a position that was almost identical to the one she was in when she first met Howie. She looked around the bar for him, but didn't see him at all, and mentally chastised herself for even daring to hope that she might see him.

"Ooh, there's Paul, that guy I told you about," said Kate excitedly. "You know, the one I met at Claire's Christmas party a couple of weeks ago. Do you mind if I go and talk to him?"

Sherl shook her head. "Of course not. I'll just stay here for a while, okay?"

With a huge smile on her face, Kate made her way through the crowd of people. Sherl looked down at her drink. Like on Christmas Eve, she didn't feel much like celebrating.

Then she looked up and saw Howie standing directly in front of her. And suddenly, celebrating the New Year didn't seem like such a bad idea after all.

* * * * * * * *

New Years Eve - 8.30pm

Howie could hardly believe his eyes. There she was, looking as sexy as hell, sat a bar stool just as she was on Christmas Eve. Her hair was swept up high against her head and the dress she wore was gorgeous. Howie didn't waste any time in heading over to her.

Sherl looked up and her eyes widened when she saw him.

"Hi," said Howie. "Remember me?"

Sherl stared at him for a few moments and then said, "Uh - yeah, how could I forget you?"

"Funny, I thought you had," said Howie as he sat on the stool next to her. Damn, he didn't mean to sound so sarcastic.

"No, I just - I-" Sherl took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm sorry - sorry that I took off like that on Christmas Day."

"It was quite a shock, waking up and finding that you'd gone. You did, however, leave these behind."

Howie reached into his pocket and brought out the pair of Christmas tree earrings. Sherl chuckled as he gave them to her.

"I'd forgotten all about these. I take it you won't mind if I don't wear them. After all, Christmas is over," said Sherl, placing them in her purse.

"No, I don't mind. What happened Sherl?"

"I - I had to go," she said.

"Without saying goodbye?"

"I thought it was best," she said nervously. "After all, it was just one night, a bit of fun, a Christmas fantasy."

Howie took Sherl's hand in his and said, "Is that all I was to you? A Christmas fantasy?"

"Well - I, at first - but then I left because - because I was scared," said Sherl quietly. "I'd never done anything like that before."

"Neither had I," replied Howie, his lips moving closer to Sherl's. "So why don't we be scared together?" he continued, as his mouth covered hers hungrily.

* * * * * * * *

New Years Eve - 11.45pm

"Okay folks, it's only fifteen minutes till 2002, so get your champagne ready," shouted the DJ. He'd been playing party songs non-stop all evening and Sherl and Howie had only just left the dance floor. Kate was still dancing with Paul, noticed Sherl. She looked happy enough, so she didn't feel too guilty about leaving her alone.

"I'm going to get a bottle of champagne," said Howie, making his way to the bar. He ordered a bottle of Moet and the bartender gave it to him on a tray with two glasses.

Howie was about to open it but Sherl laid her hand across his and stopped him. "Let's wait until midnight, it's only a few more minutes."

He smiled at Sherl and nodded. Taking her hand in his he set the tray down on the bar and kissed her again.

"It's good to be with you again," said Howie when they finally broke apart. "I honestly didn't think I would."

"I was avoiding this place," she replied. "I figured that you might be still with the woman you were waiting for on Christmas Eve."

Howie shook his head. "I'm not with her any more, it's over. To be honest, it never was really 'on' to begin with."

Sherl nodded. The DJ had tuned in the radio and the time was 11.59pm. Everyone had their glasses at the ready, balloons and streamers were being thrown around, and a quiet descended as the countdown to midnight began.

Howie picked up the bottle of champagne and held it ready to uncork at the stroke of midnight. The chimes of the clock filled the room and everyone started counting down from 12 to 1 as each chime sounded.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!" shouted everyone.

Howie popped the cork of the bottle of champagne, poured it into the glasses and handed one to Sherl. The bar turned into a frenzy of activity. Everyone started letting off party poppers and streamers, hugging each other and saying "Happy New Year". The familiar tune of Auld Lang Syne began and Howie and Sherl sang along with everyone else. Neither of them knew all the words, but judging from the drunken sounds coming from the rest of the bar neither did anyone else.

Sherl felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned to see Kate, who hugged her. "Happy New Year," she said excitedly. "2002, can you believe it?"

"I know," said Sherl. "A new year and start."

"Talking of new starts, do you mind if I go back to Paul's place with him later? Will you be all right getting home?"

"Of course I don't mind, I'll be fine. You really like him don't you?" asked Sherl.

"Yeah I do. I'll see you tomorrow."

As Kate shuffled back into the crowd, Howie turned to face Sherl. He held out his glass and tapped it against hers.

"Happy New Year," he said.

"And to you," said Sherl, smiling at Howie.

"So," he said, "shall we continue the party at my place?"

Sherl nodded and finished her glass of champagne. "Yes, why not."

* * * * * * * *

New Years Day - 1.10am

Sherl stood in front of Howie in his bedroom and released the pins that were holding her hair up. It fell to her shoulders in long waves and she shook her head as it fell. Howie was mesmerized and closed the distance between them so that he could run his fingers through her hair.

Howie had put a CD of love songs on his stereo player, after Sherl had pleaded with him not to put any more Christmas music on. "I'm fed up with it for now," she had said, and Howie had agreed. The sound of Backstreet Boys All I Have To Give filled the room.

"I like Backstreet," said Sherl gently. "I'm not a chart music fan, but they are very good."

Howie caressed Sherl's face gently and swung her into the circle of his arms. She went into them willingly and he brushed a kiss across her forehead. Her breasts were crushed against the expanse of his chest. Howie released the catch on the back of Sherl's dress and he let it fall to the floor.

Without thinking, they sank to the bed, kissing all the while. Arousal built up deep inside Sherl as Howie's hands stroked her back, her stomach and finally her breasts. He circled one of her nipples and watched it harden under his touch. He played with the buds and sucked on them greedily. Sherl sighed, and tugged his shirt out of the waistband of his trousers. She undid all the buttons quickly with shaking hands and pushed his shirt off. Howie shrugged out of it and pressed her aroused breasts against his chest. The wiry hairs tickled her nipples and added to the intense sensations that were building inside her.

Deftly Howie hooked a thumb around the top of one of Sherl's stockings and took it off. As he did the same with the other one, she undid the button and fly of his trousers, letting her hand wander inside. She felt the hair at the base of his dick and realized that he wasn't wearing any underwear.

She looked up at Howie in surprise and he shrugged. "So I decided to go commando," he said with a sheepish look.

"I wish you'd told me earlier," replied Sherl as she felt the moisture that had gathered at the tip of his penis. "I've got to pay you back for Christmas Eve."

As Howie lowered his trousers to the floor a smile crossed Sherl's face. "I think I've got the answer," she said as she picked up both of her stockings from the floor. Howie looked puzzled at first as she lowered his naked body onto the bed. Lifting his right arm up to the brass headstand she tied his wrist firmly to one of the pillars, and then she did the same with his left arm.

At first Howie pulled against the restraints, his overwhelming need to caress her hot, wet sex was too much for him. He saw Sherl standing at the edge of his bed, watching him. He waited, looking dark, sensual, hungry, driven to the edge.

Sherl climbed onto the bed and lowered herself onto his burgeoning erection. He felt the wetness against him and groaned. Howie arched himself up to meet her, trying to push his shaft into her, striving to get closer. To his disappointment, Sherl backed away a little.

"Not yet," she said.

"I'm hard for you Sherl," said Howie. His voice was barely above a breath, and his body was slick with sweat and burningly aroused. "Feel how hard I am for you."

Sherl took the length of his dick into her hand and felt the heat from him. "God you are hard, aren't you?" Then she rocked against him and he felt the tip of his shaft at the entrance to her sex. She took it in slightly, and then released it, took it in, and released it. Howie was almost going out of his mind with pleasure and frustration. He wanted to be inside her so much.

"Is this what you want Howie?" She pushed him deeper into her and he gasped. "And this?" She pulled back and then pushed against him again, a long lingering stroke. "Do you want this Howie?"

She pushed farther, rotating her hips against his, squeezing herself tighter and tighter against him. Howie groaned with pleasure, desperate to be free from the ties that bound him so that he could caress her body, her breasts and her swollen clit. He tried to match her strokes, pushing his hips upwards to meet her. He didn't have to move if he didn't want to; Sherl took him, bearing down on him, writing back and forth against him.

It was just right, thought Sherl as she moved against him. Just right, how did he know…

Her breath came faster as the tension built, as sensation piled on sensation. Her body quickened, she held suspended for one fraught moment and then she let go.

Howie caught her, driving into the waves of her climax, pulling it from her and taking it into himself. He came almost immediately after Sherl, throwing his head back with a cry of pleasure, lifting his hips off the bed in an effort to get as deep inside her as he could.

Slowly he lowered himself back onto the bed, his breath short and his body depleted of all energy. Sherl lifted herself from him and knelt on the bed astride him, caressing his chest and stomach idly.

"That was - intense," said Howie eventually as Sherl leaned across him and let her nipples trail the length of his chest and stomach. "Mmm, that's good," he said quietly, aching to be able to touch her.

Sherl looked up at Howie and smiled. "Guess I'd better release you," she said and reached up to untie the stockings that held him to the headstand. His arms tingled at first but as soon as the feeling came back he took Sherl into his arms. He lowered her to the bed and raised himself above her, holding her close to him in his arms.

"So," he said, "if you think I've finished with you after that, you're so wrong."

Howie's demanding lips found hers again and his kiss sent new spirals of ecstasy whirling through her. He couldn't quite believe how quickly his shaft was becoming hard again; he usually took much longer to recover after making love. But Sherl aroused him like no one else he had ever been with.

Suddenly Howie stopped what he was doing and sat up. Confused, Sherl looked at him quizzically.

"Don't worry," he said while moving a strand of her hair away from her eyes. "I've just had an idea too."

* * * * * * *

New Years Day - 2.35am

Howie stepped back from the round bath and turned on the water jets. The water began to bubble and created lots of white foam. He put his hand into the water to test the temperature.

"Just right," he said. He removed his bathrobe and tossed it to the floor. Sherl swallowed hard; she had never seen a naked man as gorgeous as Howie was. She admired his athletic physique, his chest that tapered to slim hips and his powerful legs. She couldn't help glancing at his partially erect penis, which hung low and was nestled in the dark curls between his legs.

Howie noticed where Sherl's attention was focused and he took the length of his penis in his hand. It hardened instantly as he moved the foreskin back and forth between his fingers.

"Is that better?" he said, his voice low.

Sherl nodded and was temporarily unable to speak. She was wearing one of Howie's shirts and had pinned her hair up again to keep it from getting wet in the Jacuzzi. Howie stepped into the water and lowered himself into it, and Sherl followed him. The bubbles felt good against her skin and she relaxed against the side of the tub.

Howie reached for her and drew her close to him. Her body arched into his touch as he ran his hand from her shoulder to her hip, then stroked circles over her belly, teasing her with promises of more. Her fingers tangled in Howie's hair, but Sherl couldn't decide whether to hold his head to her breasts so he could continue his delicious caresses there or yank at his hair to beg him to stop tantalizing her with his hand. Finally, he slid his fingers up her inner thigh and gently parted her, slickly probing under the water, stroking and arousing her all over again.

Impatiently Sherl reached for Howie, drawing him to her, wrapping her legs around his hips in the confines of the tub. She tightened her legs around him, urging him farther. Howie's hard dick entered her slowly. His powerful arms, braced on both sides of her, shook with tension.

Sherl looked up at Howie in surprise. Tension had turned his handsome face into a mask of concentration, making her realize that he was very close to the edge.

"Howie, don't hold back," she whispered. "Please, don't hold back."

With a groan that reverberated right through her, he began to move his hips. When he surged into her again, Sherl had to shut her eyes against the rush of sensations. Clinging to Howie, she cried out and let herself come against him.

Howie held himself above Sherl while she struggled to breathe, and then he thrust his dick inside her. Within seconds, Sherl was ready to come again, and she let herself go.

"OH, Oh - Howie!" cried Sherl as Howie groaned and surged powerfully into her, then collapsed over her, spilling a lot of the water onto the floor.

The water continued to bubble around them as Howie withdrew from Sherl, sitting beside her. Pulling her into his arms, they said nothing and just drifted, letting the bubbles relax them.

"Sherl," said Howie eventually, "you're not thinking of leaving are you?"

Sherl pressed a small kiss against Howie's forehead and said, "Are you kidding?"

Howie smiled at her and said, "Happy New Year," before his lips found hers again.

* * * * * * * *

New Years Day - 10.15am

Howie opened his eyes and closed them again as the sunlight hit them. Someone had opened the curtains; he never opened them until he awoke fully every day. A smile crossed his lips and he reached over for Sherl.

She wasn't there.

Oh god, not again, thought Howie as he jumped out of bed. He opened the door and ran through the living room, totally naked.

Sherl? Sherl!" he called

Sherl walked into the room from the kitchen. She was wearing Howie's shirt and held a tray that contained a pot of coffee, two cups and some hot croissants that smelt absolutely delicious.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," said Howie. "I just-" he took a deep breath. "I thought you'd gone."

Sherl put the tray down on the coffee table, circled Howie's waist with her arms and shook her head "After last night? No way!"

"I'm so glad," he said, pulling her close to him. As he rested his cheek against hers the front door buzzer sounded.

"I bet that's Paul," said Howie as he ran back to his room. Sherl wondered for a moment where she had heard that name before.

Howie came out of his bedroom a few seconds later wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Opening the door, he let Paul in and was surprised to see that he wasn't alone.

"This is Kate," said Paul as he walked in.

"Kate!" exclaimed Sherl.

"Sherl, what are you doing here?" said Kate in surprise.

"This Howie," said Sherl, indicating to him. "We met in Branigan's on Christmas Eve."

"Hi, it's good to meet you," said Kate, reaching out to shake his hand. "And you must be the reason she didn't come home that night."

"Well yes, but " said Howie, confused.

"Kate's my best friend. We share an apartment together."

"Ah," said Howie.

"And you must be Sherl," said Paul. "I'm Paul, Howie's best friend and neighbor."

"Hi," said Sherl, a little overwhelmed.

"Just do me a favor," continued Paul. "If you're gonna take off again, let him know first. I've had a hell of a week with him."

Sherl turned to look at Howie, who shrugged and gave her a sheepish look.

"Don't worry, I'm not taking off again," said Sherl. Turning to look at Howie, she then said, "Not for a long time."

* * * * * * * *

New Years Day - 11.00am

Howie stretched out on his bed and lowered his head to the pillows, smiling at Sherl who was brushing a few stray croissant crumbs away from the side of her mouth.

"You've missed a few," said Howie. He brushed the crumbs away with his fingers and Sherl captured one of them between her lips and sucked on it greedily.

When she released it, she put the tray on the floor and lay down on the bed beside Howie.

"So," he said. "Am I still only your Christmas fantasy?"

Sherl shook her head. "No, just my New Year one," she replied.

"I'd like to be your New Year reality," said Howie hopefully.

Sherl kissed Howie's forehead and caressed his face. "Yeah, I'd like that. I'd like that very much."

Howie drew Sherl into his arms and held her close to him. When he released her he said, "I guess we'd better start over."

Holding out his hand to her, he said "I'm Howard Dorough."

"Sherl Malone," she replied, placing her hand in his and shaking it firmly.

"I was wondering Sherl, do you have any plans tonight?"

Sherl shook her head. "No."

"Would you like to have dinner with me, at my place?"

Sherl smiled and kissed Howie on the lips gently. As he reached to lift the shirt she wore over her head, she said, "I'd love to".