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

she murmured.
    Cathy’s fingers nervously toyed with the water glass. “I was surprised to get your message.”
    “I hadn’t planned to see you again,” Grady admitted. “I was flying into Deadhorse for one of the oil companies and—” He stopped. “You have a beautiful smile, Cathy.”
    She gave him one of her brightest. “A lot of men are impressed with my teeth.” It hadn’ttaken her long to realize the only way she was going to be comfortable with Grady was if she could joke.
    Their meal arrived. Cathy was surprised when Grady began talking about himself. He explained how he had started out with one airplane and had built the company to its present holdings. The facts were stated without bragging or boasting. He didn’t need to mention how much of his life Alaska Cargo Company had required. It had cost him a marriage already. If Grady was anything like her father, there were a lot more sacrifices to come.
    “Alaska Cargo is important to me,” Grady said, after pushing his empty plate aside. “But so is Angela. I realize I’m gone too much and too involved to be a decent father.”
    Cathy was surprised that he would openly admit to as much. “What about her mother? Perhaps it would be better if she lived with her.”
    “Pam’s dead.” The words were blunt and clipped.
    Cathy lowered her gaze. “I apologize, Grady, I didn’t know. I assumed you were divorced.”
    Without looking up, he said, “We were headed that way.”
    “Who cares for Angela while you’re away?”
    “Louise. She’s the housekeeper, but she’s retiring and moving to Seattle to be closer to her children.”
    “Who will care for Angela once the housekeeper moves to Seattle?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know yet.” He frowned. “Come on, let’s go.” He paid for their dinner and walked Cathy to her Honda.
    Her car keys in her hand, Cathy stood beside the driver’s side of the vehicle. “Well,” she insisted, “go ahead. I’m waiting.”
    “Waiting?” A perplexed look widened his eyes.
    “I want to see you open the door,” she insisted.
    He gave her a half-smile. With little difficulty and one fierce jerk, the door opened.
    “I don’t believe this,” Cathy mumbled with an exasperated sigh.
    “I’ll admit it was a little tight,” Grady said.
    “A little tight?” she repeated loudly. “I’ve seen bank vaults with easier access.”
    “Come around tomorrow and I’ll have Ray fix it for you.”
    “Ray?”
    “My A-and-P mechanic, secretary, and all-around fix-it man,” Grady explained.
    The memory of the gruff-voiced man who had answered her repeated calls to Grady and the picture of the older man who had escorted her into his office came to mind. “Yes, I believe we’ve met.”
    “Can you be there about eleven?”
    Tomorrow was Saturday, and she didn’t have anything planned. “Sure.” She hesitated, her fingers clenching the strap of her white purse. “Thanks for the dinner.”
    “The pleasure was mine.” He took a step closer, and Cathy’s heart skipped a beat. He was going to kiss her. A feeling of panic rose within her, and she moved to climb into the open car. A hand at her shoulder stopped her.
    “Don’t look so frightened.” He sounded as though he was silently laughing at her. “My kisses rarely inflict pain. A few women have been known to like ’em.”
    Forced to meet his eyes, Cathy felt an embarrassed rush of hot color sweep over her features.
    His index finger tilted her chin upward. As he lowered his mouth to hers, Cathy slowly closed her eyes. The lips that fit over hers were gentle, sweet. Gradually, the kiss deepened, and she slid her arms around his neck. The sky didn’t burst into a thousand shooting stars; she didn’t hear sky rockets, not even tinkling bells. The kiss was nothing more than pleasant.
    When he lifted his head, his gaze searched hers. “You’ll be there tomorrow?”
    Cathy nodded.
    * * *
    “I don’t know how else to describe it,” she told Peterkins