Calder Storm by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online Page B

wants you there for it.”
    Pausing halfway out the door, Trey turned back, frowning. “That’s today?”
    â€œEleven-thirty.”
    â€œRight.” He gave the door a tap and stepped into the hall, pulling it shut behind him.
    There was a determined glint in his eyes and a lift to his stride when Trey retraced last night’s route to the room Sloan occupied. He rapped sharply on the door, waited, and knocked again.
    Finally a muffled and sleepy voice called out, “Who’s there?”
    â€œIt’s Trey,” he replied in a clear, strong voice.
    There was a delay, accompanied by a few odd thuds. Then the door swung open about a foot, and Sloan showed herself while still absently tugging at a thin cotton robe she had pulled on over a sleeper tee. Her dark hair was all mussed and tousled, and she gazed at him with a kind of sleepy-eyed confusion.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” she asked with a slight frown.
    Leaning a hand against the doorjamb, Trey smiled. “I wondered what you’d look like first thing in the morning.” He ran his glance over her face, taking note of the relaxed line of her lips, bare of any gloss.
    Her frown deepened a little. “You’re crazy.”
    â€œYou could be right,” Trey conceded. “I only know you were the last thing I thought about before I fell asleep and the first thing on my mind when I woke. Care to join me for breakfast?”
    â€œIt isn’t even six o’clock yet.”
    â€œI know. But since we’re both up, we might as well get something to eat.” Only the twinkle in his eyes gave lie to the perfectly reasonable tone of his voice.
    Her lips parted on a silent laugh as Sloan shook her head and leaned a shoulder against the frame. “I give up. Breakfast it is. But I’ll need a few minutes to get ready.”
    â€œNot a problem,” Trey replied, satisfaction running strong through him. “Just one question—what’s your morning beverage of choice?”
    Amused by the question, she paused a beat before answering. “I usually have a double latte. Since I already know Miles City doesn’t have a Starbucks, coffee with cream will do.”
    â€œI’ll have one waiting for you.” He pushed off the jamb to stand erect. “Twenty minutes from now—in the lobby. Will that give you enough time?”
    â€œBetter make it thirty so I can have time to shower.”
    â€œThirty minutes,” Trey agreed and backed up a step. “Make sure to bring a jacket with you. It’s liable to be a bit nippy at this hour.”
    â€œI will,” Sloan promised.
    Turning away, Trey struck out for the lobby. He had an incredible urge to whistle but resisted it, his smile widening instead. There was definitely a fresh flavor to the morning.
    Sloan entered the lobby a scant three minutes later than the appointed time. Trey pushed the plastic lid back on his coffee container, scooped up a twin to it, and rose to meet her.
    There wasn’t a trace of the rumpled, drowsy-eyed woman who had opened her door some thirty minutes ago. Sloan looked fully put together, casual yet vaguely professional thanks to the tailored jacket she had paired with jeans and a buttery soft top.
    Her hair was pulled back from her face and secured at the napewith a large gold clasp that echoed the gleam of the stud earrings she wore. Her lashes were subtly darker, intensifying the blue of her eyes, but it was the pink sheen to her lips that drew Trey’s glance. They lay softly together, warm and inviting.
    If his hands hadn’t been full, he would have done something about that. As it was, he settled for moving toward her and lessening the space between them.
    â€œSorry.” Her apology came out in an easy rush. “I had trouble getting my hair to dry.”
    â€œNo problem.” He extended the hand with the container of milk-diluted coffee. “Your coffee as promised,