Read Online Making Spirits Bright by Fern Michaels, Rosalind Noonan, Nan Rossiter, Elizabeth Bass - Free Book Online

the hatch and twirled her keys around, smiling. “So, what breed?”
    Bryce chuckled. “Mutts, all of ’em. I volunteer at an animal shelter in Boulder every Saturday. When we can’t find a home for any of the strays, I take them in. So for now, I just have the three. In the future, who knows?”
    She couldn’t believe someone hadn’t snatched this guy already. He was just about perfect. Figuring she was on a roll, she asked, “What about children?”
    He switched his skis to his other shoulder. “What about them?”
    She laughed, shaking her head from side to side. “Do you like children?” There!
    “Of course I like children. Ella is the best niece in the world, as I’m sure you’ve heard. Grace and Max are lucky. I hope to have a houseful of my own someday.”
    Standing in the parking lot, Melanie started to feel the cold. At least that’s what she thought she was feeling. The more Bryce talked, the more she wanted him. And not just as a date.
    “What about you, do you want children?” Bryce asked, all traces of his earlier humor gone. He leaned his skis against her Navigator, careful not to scratch the paint.
    They were having a serious talk. In the parking lot at Maximum Glide. Okay, I can handle this.
    Should she tell him about Miss Krause, and her desire to adopt a child? Would he want to take her to that little Italian restaurant if she had a child? She knew about Stephanie and Patrick’s beginnings, and Patrick’s fear of loss where kids were concerned because of his niece. Patrick hadn’t been too keen on kids at first because of this fear. But Bryce wasn’t Patrick, and she wasn’t Stephanie.
    Melanie took a deep breath, the icy air burning her lungs. “Yes, I do, I’ve always wanted children. Being an only child, I always swore I would have at least four, but I’d settle for one or two. You know, being practical. I don’t want to be another Octo-Mom. Fourteen might be tough to handle.” She laughed. “Look, I would love to continue this discussion, but I’m freezing. My toes are numb.”
    “Why didn’t you say something? Here.” Bryce took her keys from her hand, unlocked the driver’s side door, and hauled himself into the driver’s seat. He adjusted the heater controls on the dash, then led Melanie to the passenger side, where he opened the door for her, just like in her fantasy.
    “Let’s go get Odie and Clovis, then you can drop me off at my car. We can finish this discussion at dinner.”

Chapter 10
     
    Max and Grace were right. Giorgio’s served the best chicken marsala she’d ever tasted. Bryce had chosen the linguine and clam sauce. Both ordered caesar salads with their meal. The waiter brought a basket of homemade garlic bread that smelled divine. For a solid hour they did nothing but eat. When Bryce asked the waiter for a second bottle of wine, Melanie knew it was time to call it a night.
    “I’m afraid I’m already a little bit tipsy,” she said. “Any more, and I won’t be able to drive safely. I can’t remember the last time I ate so much.”
    He nodded his acquiescence. “How about dessert? Are you sure you don’t want any tiramisu?” Bryce asked. “Grace said it was the best she’d ever had.”
    Melanie doubted she could take so much as a sip of water without exploding. “Nothing for me, thanks.”
    She had picked Odie and Clovis up from The Snow Zone and driven home happier than she could ever remember. After she’d taken care of the animals’ needs, she’d soaked her aching muscles in the hot tub, washed and dried her hair, and even attempted to apply her makeup with a professional hand. She had agreed to meet Bryce at the restaurant because it was easier for both of them.
    Now that the temperatures were dropping quickly, Melanie knew from experience that the back roads would ice over in a matter of hours. Back roads were always the last to be cleared. She didn’t want Bryce driving off the side of the mountain. If one didn’t know the road