Read Online Silver Thaw by Catherine Anderson - Free Book Online
Authors: Catherine Anderson
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fall, either.”
“I don’t need help.”
He arched a brow that was the same tawny color as his hair. He was a handsome man. Amanda found it amazing that he’d managed to remain single. Judging by the grandness of his house, he had money as well as good looks.
“I’m the only one wearing traction chains, so please, humor me,” he said.
Amanda watched as he carried Chloe up onto his front porch, opened the massive door, and deposited the child inside what she presumed was an entry hall. Seconds later, he returned to the truck and opened the front passenger door. Amanda unfastened her seat belt, exited the vehicle, and promptly slipped. Jeb caught her around the waist.
“Lean against me. I’ll keep us both standing.”
He took short strides so she could keep pace. Amanda didn’t like being held against his big, hard body, but she knew she’d fall if he turned her loose. It seemed to her that time went into slow motion. When she was safe on the less icy porch pavers, he finally released her.
He opened the door, revealing a frightened-lookingChloe just inside. “In you go. I’ll get your things and then build a roaring fire.”
Amanda heard the latch engage behind her. She rubbed her arms through her thin jacket as she inched from the huge hallway to peer at the home’s interior. To the right was a gigantic living room with a rock fireplace that took up most of one wall. Beyond was a large dining room with one of the widest tables she’d ever seen.
This isn’t a house; it’s a palace.
Just then Jeb returned, his shoe chains clanking on both the outside pavers and the interior slate floor. In the warmer air, Amanda’s sense of smell sharpened, and she caught a whiff of piney cologne as he strode past her to deposit her bulging pillowcases on the gold carpet at one end of a large, dark-chocolate sofa. As promised, he immediately opened a hand-carved box and took out logs and kindling for a fire. He crouched to lay crumpled newspaper in the grate.
“Come on in. I don’t bite.”
Holding Chloe’s hand, Amanda moved into the room, feeling out of place and as nervous as a witch in Salem. She studied him as he worked, wondering how it must feel to live alone in such a big house. He moved with easy grace for a tall and muscular man, his shoulders bunching beneath the jacket, his legs taut under his denim jeans as he shifted his weight. When he lighted the paper and flames licked up through the logs, firelight danced across his face, making his hair shimmer like gold.
He pushed himself to his feet and slid a brown ottoman in front of the hearth. Then he lifted the top to withdraw a fleece blanket from an interior storage area. “You two can snuggle up and get warm while I throw a meal together. Anything special you’d like?”
Amanda drew a blank. “Anything hot.”
He laughed and shrugged out of his jacket. As he walked to a gorgeous juniper coat tree, Amanda took measure of his build, which was deceptively slender, belying the strength she’d felt when he’d stopped her from falling. He wore a blue work shirt tucked in at the waist.
Over his shoulder, he said, “You should probably put those wet shoes on the hearth to dry and put on another pair.”
Amanda realized he was speaking to her. Embarrassed to admit it, she said, “I don’t have another pair.”
He threw her a startled look. Then he disappeared, returning a moment later to hand her a pair of thick wool socks.
“Thank you.”
He only nodded before disappearing again.
Amanda removed her shoes and wet socks, then helped Chloe remove her boots. The woolen footwear felt heavenly on her feet. After setting their shoes near the fire, she drew her daughter onto her lap and draped the blanket over them both. “I don’t know if I’ll ever feel warm again,” she whispered.
“Me, either.” Chloe shivered. “Hold me close, Mommy.”
Amanda tightened her embrace. Glancing around the room, she saw photos on the mantel. An older man who
“I don’t need help.”
He arched a brow that was the same tawny color as his hair. He was a handsome man. Amanda found it amazing that he’d managed to remain single. Judging by the grandness of his house, he had money as well as good looks.
“I’m the only one wearing traction chains, so please, humor me,” he said.
Amanda watched as he carried Chloe up onto his front porch, opened the massive door, and deposited the child inside what she presumed was an entry hall. Seconds later, he returned to the truck and opened the front passenger door. Amanda unfastened her seat belt, exited the vehicle, and promptly slipped. Jeb caught her around the waist.
“Lean against me. I’ll keep us both standing.”
He took short strides so she could keep pace. Amanda didn’t like being held against his big, hard body, but she knew she’d fall if he turned her loose. It seemed to her that time went into slow motion. When she was safe on the less icy porch pavers, he finally released her.
He opened the door, revealing a frightened-lookingChloe just inside. “In you go. I’ll get your things and then build a roaring fire.”
Amanda heard the latch engage behind her. She rubbed her arms through her thin jacket as she inched from the huge hallway to peer at the home’s interior. To the right was a gigantic living room with a rock fireplace that took up most of one wall. Beyond was a large dining room with one of the widest tables she’d ever seen.
This isn’t a house; it’s a palace.
Just then Jeb returned, his shoe chains clanking on both the outside pavers and the interior slate floor. In the warmer air, Amanda’s sense of smell sharpened, and she caught a whiff of piney cologne as he strode past her to deposit her bulging pillowcases on the gold carpet at one end of a large, dark-chocolate sofa. As promised, he immediately opened a hand-carved box and took out logs and kindling for a fire. He crouched to lay crumpled newspaper in the grate.
“Come on in. I don’t bite.”
Holding Chloe’s hand, Amanda moved into the room, feeling out of place and as nervous as a witch in Salem. She studied him as he worked, wondering how it must feel to live alone in such a big house. He moved with easy grace for a tall and muscular man, his shoulders bunching beneath the jacket, his legs taut under his denim jeans as he shifted his weight. When he lighted the paper and flames licked up through the logs, firelight danced across his face, making his hair shimmer like gold.
He pushed himself to his feet and slid a brown ottoman in front of the hearth. Then he lifted the top to withdraw a fleece blanket from an interior storage area. “You two can snuggle up and get warm while I throw a meal together. Anything special you’d like?”
Amanda drew a blank. “Anything hot.”
He laughed and shrugged out of his jacket. As he walked to a gorgeous juniper coat tree, Amanda took measure of his build, which was deceptively slender, belying the strength she’d felt when he’d stopped her from falling. He wore a blue work shirt tucked in at the waist.
Over his shoulder, he said, “You should probably put those wet shoes on the hearth to dry and put on another pair.”
Amanda realized he was speaking to her. Embarrassed to admit it, she said, “I don’t have another pair.”
He threw her a startled look. Then he disappeared, returning a moment later to hand her a pair of thick wool socks.
“Thank you.”
He only nodded before disappearing again.
Amanda removed her shoes and wet socks, then helped Chloe remove her boots. The woolen footwear felt heavenly on her feet. After setting their shoes near the fire, she drew her daughter onto her lap and draped the blanket over them both. “I don’t know if I’ll ever feel warm again,” she whispered.
“Me, either.” Chloe shivered. “Hold me close, Mommy.”
Amanda tightened her embrace. Glancing around the room, she saw photos on the mantel. An older man who
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