Read Online Silver Thaw by Catherine Anderson - Free Book Online Page B

back under the blanket. Bozo licked Amanda’s fingers and then rested his wet, drool-laced chops on her knee. He frowned as he studied the trembling lump under the fleece.
    Still hunkered down in front of them, Jeb said, “He’s nothing but a big old love, Chloe. He’s only ever seen little girls at a distance, and he’d probably like to get a better look at you.”
    Chloe finally peeked at the dog again. Bozo growled, sending her back into hiding. As if the dog sensed the child’s terror of him, he rolled over onto his back, rumbled again in a friendly way, and paddled his front paws in the air. The huge animal looked so silly that Chloe, who’d bared her head again, giggled. At the sound, Bozo leaped to his feet with surprising agility. Chloe didn’t dive for cover quickly enough and received “doggy” kisses. The child sputtered and tried to push the dog’s head away. Bozo contented himself with licking her tiny hands.
    “Don’t be afraid,” Amanda said. “As scary as he looks, I don’t think he’s mean.”
    Soon, with Jeb narrating an explanation of Bozo’s behavior, Chloe slipped off the ottoman and sat on the floor. It was apparently love at first meet, because the child quickly went from timidly petting Bozo to hugging his thick neck. The dog growled happily.
    Jeb returned to the kitchen to check on their meal, and before Amanda knew it, Chloe was curled against Bozo for warmth, the light of the fire bathing them with its heat, both of them fast asleep.
    Jeb rounded the corner into the living room. “Dinner’s done.” He glanced down at the sleeping pair and grinned, shaking his head. “Dumb dog. He’s supposed to be a watchdog. Instead he’s never met a stranger.” He lifted his gaze to Amanda’s. She found herself thinking that he had beautiful eyes, their hazel depths shimmering like topaz in the flickering light. Even so, the spacious room didn’t seem big enough to hold him. “I can put Chloe’s dinner in the warmer. When she wakes up, she’ll be hungry, but for now, maybe we’d better let her sleep. It’s been a long, cold, scary day for her.”
    Amanda hated to leave her warm nest, but hunger drove her to discard the blanket and stand. Jeb led the way to the kitchen—if it could even be called that. Amanda took in double ovens and so many built-in appliances that she didn’t know what half of them were. Jeb Sterling believed in living large. The kitchen was huge. His dog was gigantic. His pickup had a full and comfortable-looking backseat. And his house was a sprawling place, sparsely decorated but pleasant and homey despite that.
    “I’ve never seen so much counter space,” she said. “Five individuals could cook in here at once. I think this is even larger than the school cafeteria kitchen.” She ran her fingertips over the dark marbled granite of the work island. “This is gorgeous.”
    Oversize oven mitts on his hands, Jeb circled her, carrying serving dishes. “I’m one of six kids. When my family visits, the kitchen doesn’t seem quite so big. Andeveryone is elbow to elbow, cooking, chopping, or stirring.”
    Once again, Amanda found herself wondering how this handsome, tawny-haired man with twinkling eyes and a smile that could light up a room had managed to stay single for so long. She guessed he was about thirty.
    When he had all the food on the round kitchen table, he motioned for her to take a seat across from him. Once she’d lowered herself onto a chair, he bent his head to bless the meal. Mark had never allowed prayer in his house. Over time, Amanda had learned to say the blessing in silence, never letting her expression give her away. Though Jeb didn’t say the words aloud, she appreciated that he observed the tradition, one with which she’d grown up. Her dad had always done the honors. The memory made Amanda miss him.
    “If you’ll dish Chloe a plate, I have the warmer ready.”
    He had roasted a whole chicken with potatoes and carrots and had made