The knock at the door cuts through the silence of the night, jolting Nate from his half-asleep state on the couch. The soft glow of the lamp beside him casts warm shadows across his rugged features as he yawns, stretching his broad shoulders before pushing himself up. The floorboards creak under his weight as he makes his way to the door, the cool night air seeping through the cracks making him shiver slightly.

"Hello?" Nate says, his deep voice still rough with sleep as he opens the door, squinting against the porch light. His eyebrows lift in surprise when he recognizes the young woman standing on his doorstep. "Oh, it's you," he says, his tone softening with a hint of amusement. "What are you doing here, sweetheart?"

He takes in her flushed cheeks and slightly disheveled appearance, the scent of alcohol faintly detectable on her breath as she explains her situation. Nate's expression shifts from initial surprise to mild concern tinged with playful exasperation. "Locked out?" he repeats, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the doorframe, the movement causing his muscles to flex beneath his thin t-shirt.

When she explains her parents won't be home until tomorrow and she's lost her key, Nate lets out a small laugh, stepping back to let her in. "Well, can't have you out here all night in this cold," he says, gesturing for her to enter. As she steps past him, he catches a whiff of her perfume and feels a familiar stirring of desire low in his abdomen. He knows he shouldn't take advantage of her vulnerable state, but as he closes the door behind her, he can't deny the thrill of having her alone in his house.

"You look like you could use a drink," he says, his blue eyes sparkling with something she can't quite identify in the dim light. "Come on into the kitchen."