Snow Angels by Fern Michaels, Rosalind Noonan, Marie Bostwick, Janna McMahan Read Free Book Online Page A

thought for sure he would take his java straight up.
    “Thanks,” she said, sipping her coffee. “Black is fine. This is good stuff.”
    “What? You didn’t think me capable of making a decent pot of coffee?” Max said in a teasing tone. Both Huskies ran into the kitchen, barking.
    “Down, boys,” Max managed to say. Ice-D and Cliff hunkered beneath the kitchen table, apparently waiting for their breakfast.
    “Truly, I hadn’t given it much thought.” She eyed the telephone. “Are the phones working yet?”
    “Nope. Just checked. I did hear snowplows about an hour ago. That’s a good sign.”
    “How so?” Grace asked, suddenly hopeful.
    “Usually that means they’ll head this way. I’m thinking about taking one of the snowmobiles down the mountain to check. While I’m there, I’ll try to locate your van.”
    Grace was filled with an overwhelming desire to wrap her arms around her rude host but stopped herself just in time. “Miracles do happen!”
    “You think this is a miracle?” he asked, shaking his head, his damp blond curls reaching just below the collar of his shirt.
    “You said yourself it could be days before the plows head up the mountain, so I guess this is a miracle. Of sorts. I do know Stephanie, that’s the girls’ mother, is probably insane with worry. I wish…if you can’t get the van here, do you think you or possibly a member of the road crew could call her just to let her know the girls are safe and that we’ll be home soon.”
    “I’ll see what I can do,” Max replied.
    Grace took another sip of her coffee. “I can make breakfast before you leave. I’m sure the girls will want something when they wake up. I can’t believe they’re still sleeping. Poor things. No doubt last night’s hike tuckered them out.”
    Max seemed to hesitate. “Breakfast would be good. I haven’t had a home-cooked meal since…” He paused as though he’d lost his train of thought. “Forever. Breakfast sounds good. Thank you.”
    Miracles of all miracles! The man said thank you . “Better wait ’till you’re finished before you thank me. It’s been a while since I’ve cooked over an open fire. As a kid I used to love it. My dad would often cook in the fireplace during the winter. He called it ‘campfire night.’ Which basically meant Mom needed a break from the kitchen.” The memory brought a wry, twisted smile to her face.
    Max grinned. Grace realized it was the first real smile she’d seen since arriving on his doorstep. His teeth were as bright as the snowcapped mountains. “Campfire night? Never heard of that.”
    She explained, “Dad would take ground meat, potatoes, and whatever vegetable Mom had too much of, then he’d wrap the food in aluminum foil and toss it in the fireplace. Sometimes we’d do s’mores or popcorn for dessert. It became a family tradition of sorts. Dad built the fire, and we helped prepare the hobo packs. Maybe for lunch…if we’re still here,” Grace suggested. “Breakfast first though,” she finished.
    Max looked at her as though he were contemplating a private memory, his face sobering with whatever thought swirled through his head. “I’d better get out of here before the road crew decides to leave. Breakfast is highly overrated anyway. Come on, guys, let’s go outside.” Both dogs leapt to their feet and raced to the door.
    “But I thought…” Grace floundered.
    “Yeah, I’m sorry. Take care of your girls. I’ll be back as soon as I check the roads. I’ll need that phone number.”
    For a second Grace almost forgot she was stuck in the middle of nowhere with a man she wasn’t sure she even liked , plus two little girls whose mother must be frantic with worry. Mentally shaking herself, she focused on the here and now.
    Flustered, she looked around for something to write on. “Is there a pen and paper?”
    Max retrieved a pad and pencil from the kitchen drawer and gave it to her. She scribbled out the number with Stephanie’s