Read Online That Wintry Feeling (Debbie Macomber Classics) by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Debbie Macomber
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Angela and me time to unwind.” Barely concealed resentment caused her voice to tremble slightly.
Grady gave her a puzzled look. “If it’s going to bother you, say so and I won’t go.”
The temptation was to take him up on the offer and see just how long he would be able to endure the torture of staying away from his business. Mentally, Cathy gave herself a shake. She was being unreasonable, allowing the childhood memories of an overly work-obsessed father to cloud her perception now.
“No, it’s fine, really. Angela and I will have a good time, won’t we?” She directed her question to the little girl.
“If I take a bath at your house, can Peterkins come in the tub with me?”
“No.”
“Yes,” Grady insisted.
Playfully digging the point of her elbow into his stomach, Cathy laughed. “You’re a great help, fella. Any more suggestions and Angela and I will come to the office to help you with the paperwork.”
Grady parked the car in front of Cathy’s house. She half expected him to drop them off and drive away. But he came inside and brought in firewood, stacking it by the fireplace. As he was working, Cathy brewed coffee.
Grady accepted a cup, blowing into the steaming liquid before taking the first sip. His legs were crossed as he leaned against the kitchen counter.
Physically, she was growing more aware of his presence every minute. Something was definitely the matter with her. Only last week she had rated his kiss as interesting. Now she longed for the taste of his mouth over hers. Not because she was falling in love with him, but to compare her reaction one week from the next.
Finishing her coffee, Cathy placed the mug in the kitchen sink. As she moved away from the counter, he placed his hand along the slope of her neck, stopping her. Cathy quit breathing. When his mouth settled over her parted lips, she slipped her arms around his neck. His hand at the small of her back arched her closer.
Passively, she accepted the kiss, neither giving nor taking. If she had stopped to analyze her feelings, she would have realized Grady’s kiss had gone from interesting to pleasant. Decidedly pleasant. But it lacked the spark, the urgency, the emotion she’d once shared with Steve.
Grady broke the contact, dragging his mouth from hers. He seemed to know what shewas thinking. Cathy could sense it, could feel his hesitation, or was that disappointment? She couldn’t tell. Slowly he took control of himself.
His hands cupped her shoulders as he lifted his face, his eyes dark, unreadable.
“Grady,” she whispered, feeling confused, wanting to explain, knowing she couldn’t. Lowering her eyes, she released a long sigh. “I’m—”
“Don’t,” he interrupted, and raked a vicious hand through his curly hair. “Don’t apologize, understand?”
“Okay.”
Without a backward glance, without another word, he left the kitchen. Cathy winced when she heard the front door close.
Now she was upset, not with Grady but with herself. She couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for her broken heart to heal. Another question was exactly how long Steve would continue to dominate her life. Would she ever be able to love, truly love, anyone else?
Sometime later she fixed Angela a sandwich and poured the little girl a glass of milk. Nothing sounded appetizing, and she chose not to eat. Skipping meals was becoming a repeated pattern, and one that must stop.
Grady returned a couple hours later, carrying a brown paper sack and two wine goblets turned upside down between two fingers.
Smiling to herself, Cathy hung up his coat. “Wine and marshmallows. Sounds wonderful,” she teased.
His lips brushed her cheek. “The wine is for later,” he murmured, for her ears only.
Immediately, Peterkins growled, again taking exception to having another man kiss her.
Cathy cast the spaniel a warning glance. “Where were you when I needed you?” she questioned him. After Grady had left the house, Cathy had
Grady gave her a puzzled look. “If it’s going to bother you, say so and I won’t go.”
The temptation was to take him up on the offer and see just how long he would be able to endure the torture of staying away from his business. Mentally, Cathy gave herself a shake. She was being unreasonable, allowing the childhood memories of an overly work-obsessed father to cloud her perception now.
“No, it’s fine, really. Angela and I will have a good time, won’t we?” She directed her question to the little girl.
“If I take a bath at your house, can Peterkins come in the tub with me?”
“No.”
“Yes,” Grady insisted.
Playfully digging the point of her elbow into his stomach, Cathy laughed. “You’re a great help, fella. Any more suggestions and Angela and I will come to the office to help you with the paperwork.”
Grady parked the car in front of Cathy’s house. She half expected him to drop them off and drive away. But he came inside and brought in firewood, stacking it by the fireplace. As he was working, Cathy brewed coffee.
Grady accepted a cup, blowing into the steaming liquid before taking the first sip. His legs were crossed as he leaned against the kitchen counter.
Physically, she was growing more aware of his presence every minute. Something was definitely the matter with her. Only last week she had rated his kiss as interesting. Now she longed for the taste of his mouth over hers. Not because she was falling in love with him, but to compare her reaction one week from the next.
Finishing her coffee, Cathy placed the mug in the kitchen sink. As she moved away from the counter, he placed his hand along the slope of her neck, stopping her. Cathy quit breathing. When his mouth settled over her parted lips, she slipped her arms around his neck. His hand at the small of her back arched her closer.
Passively, she accepted the kiss, neither giving nor taking. If she had stopped to analyze her feelings, she would have realized Grady’s kiss had gone from interesting to pleasant. Decidedly pleasant. But it lacked the spark, the urgency, the emotion she’d once shared with Steve.
Grady broke the contact, dragging his mouth from hers. He seemed to know what shewas thinking. Cathy could sense it, could feel his hesitation, or was that disappointment? She couldn’t tell. Slowly he took control of himself.
His hands cupped her shoulders as he lifted his face, his eyes dark, unreadable.
“Grady,” she whispered, feeling confused, wanting to explain, knowing she couldn’t. Lowering her eyes, she released a long sigh. “I’m—”
“Don’t,” he interrupted, and raked a vicious hand through his curly hair. “Don’t apologize, understand?”
“Okay.”
Without a backward glance, without another word, he left the kitchen. Cathy winced when she heard the front door close.
Now she was upset, not with Grady but with herself. She couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for her broken heart to heal. Another question was exactly how long Steve would continue to dominate her life. Would she ever be able to love, truly love, anyone else?
Sometime later she fixed Angela a sandwich and poured the little girl a glass of milk. Nothing sounded appetizing, and she chose not to eat. Skipping meals was becoming a repeated pattern, and one that must stop.
Grady returned a couple hours later, carrying a brown paper sack and two wine goblets turned upside down between two fingers.
Smiling to herself, Cathy hung up his coat. “Wine and marshmallows. Sounds wonderful,” she teased.
His lips brushed her cheek. “The wine is for later,” he murmured, for her ears only.
Immediately, Peterkins growled, again taking exception to having another man kiss her.
Cathy cast the spaniel a warning glance. “Where were you when I needed you?” she questioned him. After Grady had left the house, Cathy had
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