A Late Thaw by Anna Blaze Read Free Book Online Page A

his cheek to stop laughing and hurried across the room as soon as he saw her heading back. He hadn’t witnessed the Kiley method of egg collecting employed for several years. It was every bit as entertaining as he remembered.
    She was a little afraid of chickens, he was sure, but she’d never admit it. Kiley was fearless. She wouldn’t accept anything less from herself. It was one of the things he loved about her. She could have just said the chickens bothered her and asked him to get the damn eggs himself, but instead she armed herself with a broom and screamed like a banshee.
    He went back to slicing mushrooms and let her play it casual when she came back in.
    “You’ve got more Reds now.” She said it calmly, as though she was just making conversation.
    “Yeah, they’re good layers.”
    “Mmm-hmm.”
    “There’s a colander hanging over the stove if you wouldn’t mind giving them a quick wash.”
    Cole couldn’t make eye contact yet. It was still too hard to keep a straight face and not accidentally cut off his finger. When he finished slicing the veggies, Cole pulled butter, milk, and cheese from his fridge and arranged them on the counter. Everything had to be prepped and placed in exactly the right spot. He wasn’t exactly a natural in the kitchen; a missed step could mean disaster.
    He hadn’t been lying; his mother had spent the weeks before moving south giving him intense cooking lessons. Cole was proud to say that he could make eggs two ways and bake potatoes, fish, or chicken. Pasta could be hit or miss. All that watching and checking was too much work, but most of the time his pasta was edible too, as long as it was smothered in sauce. Hell, pasta sauce and cheese could save just about anything.
    The laundry lessons had been more problematic; in the end, she’d told him to buy all-temperature laundry detergent and dark clothes.
    Kiley turned the water off and reached for the towel hanging by his hip. “These are all clean.”
    He smiled at her. It was nice having company in the kitchen. It reminded him of the times his mother made his fath er be her prep chef. She’d bark a request, and with the precision of a television surgical team, Dad would place the required tool or ingredient into her hand. They were always like that—a perfectly matched pair. His parents were partners in every way. Cole wouldn’t settle for less.
    “Thanks, I’ll need four. The rest can go in the fridge.”
    “Got it.” She gingerly placed four light brown eggs on a towel and then put the basket in the fridge. “Anything else I can do?”
    Kiley rested her hands on her hips. She looked good in his old plaid shirt. She’d look fucking fantastic out of it , too, but in it she looked like she was his. His jeans grew about as snug as the ones she was wearing.
    “Earth t o Cole. What can I do to help?”
    “ Right. Umm. You could—” He was stopped by the sound of scratching at the door. He laughed. “You could let Tom in.”
    “Tom?” Kiley opened the door and giggled as the large orange and white cat rubbed along her legs in greeting. She immediately crouched down to pat him. “When did you get a cat?”
    “He used to hang out in the barn. A couple of months ago he started showing up at the door and demanding dinner. There’s some kibble in that cabinet.” He gestured with a spatula.
    Kiley laughed. “Hey, Cole? You do realize Tom here is a girl, right?”
    He shrugged. “You think?”
    “You never checked?”
    “Seemed rude.”
    “Well, seeing as Tom is quite pregnan t, I’m fairly sure he’s a she.”
    “That does seem to settle things.” Cole put down the spatula, pulled a bowl out of the cabinet , and poured in some cat food. “So I guess that means you’re eating for two, buddy.” He put down the bowl and gave the cat a quick scratch behind his/her ears. Now that he gave the cat a good look, Tom did appear to be carrying a litter. Maybe he could talk his cousin, Robin, into taking a couple