That Wintry Feeling (Debbie Macomber Classics) Read Online Free PDF Page A

bottom lipwas quivering as she read the message:
“Interested in renegotiating heights. Captain Bartlett’s Friday, 6:30 p.m. Grady.”
    Cathy wasn’t sure why she was so pleased. She didn’t really like Grady Jones. He was everything she had accused him of being and more.
    “I’m not going,” she told Peterkins Friday after school. “It would be a waste of time for us both. We’re not alike at all. I can’t see furthering a relationship that won’t go anywhere.”
    Peterkins raised his head from its resting position on her thigh, then lowered it again. Immersed in her thoughts, Cathy continued to run her hand down the dog’s black coat.
    “Maybe I should. I hate to keep him sitting there alone. It wouldn’t hurt anything, would it?” Again Peterkins looked up at her, cocking his head at an angle. “All right, I’ll go. But I’m going to make it clear this is the last time.”
    She changed clothes twice. First she chose a pale blue wool dress. One glance in the mirror and she realized she looked far too formal for Alaska. She didn’t want Grady to think she’d gone to any trouble, or that this meeting was important to her. Designer jeans and a thick red cable-knit sweater seemed to satisfy her need to appear casual, along with her thick coat, knitted scarf, and matching gloves.
    Peterkins lay at the foot of the bed, watching her movements in and out of the closet.
    “Don’t look at me like that,” she mumbled irritably. “I know I’m being ridiculous.”
    Grady was already at the restaurant by the time she arrived, sitting in the same booth they’d occupied on their first meeting.
    He didn’t smile when she entered the restaurant, and Cathy had the impression he wasn’t sure what he was doing there, either. Their eyes met and held for a moment as she paused before walking across the room.
    “Hi.” She felt awkward and slightly gauche as she slid into the seat opposite him. “You’re early.”
    “No, I’m not,” he immediately contradicted her.
    She made a production of examining her wristwatch. “It’s precisely six twenty-five,” she said, showing him the digital face. “Your letter said six thirty, which means you’re five minutes early.”
    Grady looked taken aback for a moment. “I don’t think I want you to explain that.”
    “Fine. Just believe me, you’re early.” Without further comment, she picked up the menu,feeling the color invade her cheeks.
What an absurd way to start an evening, arguing over the time.
    “I hope you didn’t have dinner.”
    “No, I was too busy deciding if I was going to show up tonight or not.” She hadn’t meant to be quite that honest.
    Their eyes clashed above the top of the menu. He released her gaze by focusing his attention on her softly parted lips. “I was sure you would,” Grady said, with complete confidence.
    Deliberately, Cathy laid her menu aside. “I think you should know that the only reason I came is because my car door’s broken again. I just wanted to see if you could open it a second time.”
    A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.
    Cathy couldn’t keep from smiling herself. Every time she was with Grady she couldn’t help but marvel what a handsome devil he was. Tonight he wore a smoke-colored sweater and charcoal-gray slacks. He was provocative, stimulating, and all male. If it weren’t for Steve, she could see herself easily being attracted to him. When she realized she was staring, Cathy quickly averted her attention by seizing the menu.
    “What do you recommend?”
    “The crab’s excellent.”
    “No.” She shook her head, ruffling the brown curls. “I don’t eat anything that walks sideways.”
    Studying the menu, Cathy was surprised to note that it catered to a full range of appetites. “I think I’ll try the shrimp scampi.”
    Grady gave the order for two of the same to the waitress, who glanced from one to the other, obviously remembering them from the last time. “Glad to see you two agree,”