Snowbound - Harlequin.com

118 SNOWBOUND
Tabitha, both blond and perky, neither yet the center of
a drama that would bring their personalities into focus.
Give ’em time, he figured, resigned.
Fiona appeared next, wearing the jeans and turtleneck
she’d arrived in, borrowed wool socks that he
thought were his and a bright smile. “Did you see what
a beautiful morning it is?”
“Ms. Mac! It quit snowing!”
“I know, I saw.” She hugged both girls.
Her cheek was creased from a wrinkle in her pillow.
John thought it was cute. She, too, exclaimed over the
bread coming out of the oven and waited expectantly.
John sliced the first loaf hot and watched with
amusement as they slathered on butter and jam and ate
with murmurs of delight. Fiona actually went so far as
to close her eyes and moan, a sight and sound that
forced him to turn away to hide his jolt of longing.
The others gradually came downstairs, begging to go
outside after breakfast.
When John suggested the boys take turns wielding
a snow shovel, they all shrugged and nodded.
“Yeah, sure. I mean, I never have, but…”
“Yeah, whatever,” Troy agreed.
“I have snowshoes,” John said. Then, seeing that
they were less than thrilled, he held up a hand. “To get
a couple of us up to your van. The snowplow always
turns in and clears the road to the lodge. But they won’t
be able to get past your van. With the snow so deep, it’d
be a heck of a trek back up there.”
Everyone nodded, remembering that the lodge road
descended steeply from the highway.