Sunset Surrender Read Online Free PDF Page A

want back.”
    “Y-yes, ma’am. Only, the s-spatula’s not mine. B-Blackie s-stole it from Nana’s kitchen at the lodge. And she’s gonna be m-mad. He’s not s-supposed to go in the k-kitchen.”
    “I see. Well, I bet that if we talk for a minute and ignore him, Blackie will wander over here, and then we’ll get it back.”
    The boy shifted his gaze to the dog, sunken down to the ground on all fours holding the spatula between his front paws, happily licking away. Edward faced her again with a dubious expression.
    “Do you live around here?” she asked.
    Shaggy brown hair fell into his eyes when he nodded. “I live with my nana at the l-lodge. She’s the c-cook.”
    Sophia was sure now that she wasn’t the cause of the boy’s stutter. He seemed comfortable with the fact that the words weren’t coming out smoothly, as though his manner of speech was something he’d gotten used to. “Well, then I’m sure I’ll be meeting her soon. I’ll be starting work at the lodge today.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Is Blackie your dog?”
    The boy shook his head. “He belongs to Mr. S-Slade. I feed him and walk him and stuff. It’s my j-job.”
    “I see. Does Blackie belong to Luke or Logan?”
    The boy had to think about that a second. “Logan Slade.” His dark eyes blinked several times as if a light just dawned inside his head. “You w-won’t tell h-him, will you?”
    “That Blackie got into the kitchen?”
    He nodded.
    “No, I won’t tell him,” she assured him with a smile. “But maybe you should tell your grandmother what happened.”
    “I l-left the back door open and B-Blackie snuck inside to have b-breakfast with me.”
    “He did, did he?”
    “Nana wasn’t there at f-first, but when she came back, she y-yelled at Blackie and that’s when he grabbed her s-spatula right outta the b-bowl and took off.”
    The culprit dog stealing right under Nana’s nose made Sophia smile. “I think Blackie likes lemon batter. I can’t blame him. I used to sneak a lick or two from the bowl when my mama made lemon chiffon cake.”
    “Nana lets me l-lick the bowl s-sometimes, too.”
    The dog finally left the spatula on the ground and trotted over to Edward. “There, you see,” Sophia said. “He came to you.”
    Edward fluffed the top of the collie’s head several times and then lifted his dark-eyed gaze to Sophia. “He’s a good dog, u-usually.”
    “Oh, I can see that he is.” Sophia bent down to stroke his rumpled coat and the dog gave her a long grateful look, tongue hanging out. She was no longer the enemy trying to take his treat, but an admirer willing to pet him.
    “He’s quite a mess,” she noted. “I’ll get something to wash him down. Wait here.”
    She walked inside the cottage and seconds later came out with a cloth soaked with hot water. “Go ahead and remove the evidence.”
    She handed Edward the washcloth, and then strode to where the dog had abandoned the spatula. Bending down, she lifted the dirt-smeared utensil gingerly with two fingers dangling it by the wooden end that was the less filthy. “Your nana might want to retire this one.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Edward’s face crumpled. “She w-won’t be h-happy about that.”
    “I wouldn’t think so. Maybe you could make it up to her.”
    “H-how?”
    “There sure are a lot of gorgeous purple wildflowers growing this time of year. Does your nana like flowers?”
    He shrugged. “Don’t know.”
    “Most women love flowers. I bet your nana does. A handful of those purple wildflowers and a promise that Blackie won’t steal from the kitchen again might make her happy.”
    The boy pondered that idea with a nod. She set the spatula in his hand and his gaze lingered on her.
    “Maybe I’ll see you at the lodge later, Edward.”
    “Okay.”
    The youngster walked away with the dog at his heels. Just as Sophia was about to enter the house, he turned around one last time, giving her a long thoughtful stare.
    She waved and walked