Harlequin Romance March 2021 Box Set Cara Colter (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📖

You have nothing to worry about, she told herself. Red would be driving her back to Winter’s Haven, and there wouldn’t be any reason for their paths to cross again, other than at the grand opening of Franklin’s Resort.

His husky laugh nearby startled her. “Hey, do I have to cook and bring you breakfast in bed?” Red was standing in the doorway, a whisk in one hand. His hair was damp, and he had changed into a pair of black jeans and a teal pullover.

Eye candy.

She felt a rush of heat at the unbidden thought and hastily brought the recliner up, realizing she must have undone her ponytail during the night. She smoothed her hair down self-consciously and shot back, “I didn’t expect or ask you to cook. I expected only a ride back to Winter’s Haven. But since the power has been restored and you have gone to the trouble, I will help consume your culinary creation.”

He burst out laughing. “Oh, no. We’re not starting the day with literary linguistics, are we?”

“Actually, I prefer to start my day with a strong cup of coffee. And then another. Hopefully coffee’s on?” she said, tilting her chin imperiously.

His mouth quirked. “It’s waiting for me to pour it in a cup for you, Miss Veronica. And I’ll be waiting to serve you in the kitchen.” Flashing her a grin, he gave a bow, turned and disappeared into the next room.

Ronnie smirked. He seemed to enjoy flinging teasing remarks at her. Well, she would fling them right back at him, at least up until the time he drove her back to her cottage. She folded the blanket and placed it back on the recliner along with the cardigan Red had given her, before striding to the nearest window, anxious to see the aftermath of yesterday’s freezing rain and snow. Her hope that she’d be able to get back to Winter’s Haven sometime that morning plummeted. At some point during the night, the freezing rain had solidified with the considerable drop in temperature. The limbs and branches of the oaks and maples flanking the driveway were encased in ice. The sky was clear, and the bright sun made the trees glisten as if bejeweled. The snow that had remained on the ground was coated with an icy sheen, as was Red’s truck.

Ronnie didn’t need to hear the weather report to know that she wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon. It might be different in town and on the main roads, where the sand trucks had probably already passed over, but this place was obviously not in a high-priority area, being situated on the outskirts…

She took a deep breath and let it out in an exasperated puff. Along with being a little stiff from sleeping on a recliner all night, she felt out of her comfort zone. And she didn’t like it.

Although she hadn’t been that long at her Winter’s Haven cottage, she had felt at home right away. Casson and Justine had had it refreshed with new furniture and linens, and some homey touches. They could stay in the cottage as long as they wanted, Casson and Justine had reassured her. And, her cousin had added with a wink, she and Andy could babysit A.J. when he and Justine needed a date night… Ronnie couldn’t help smiling at the thought of Amy Jay. She was an absolute doll, with Casson’s dark brown hair and Justine’s blue-gray eyes.

Ronnie turned away from the window. Like it or not, she had no choice but to spend the next few hours in a stranger’s home. The last thing she had envisioned when she had left the cottage yesterday was being stranded in a Victorian house with a Viking type who seemed to take everything in his stride. What on earth would they do while waiting for Mother Nature and the town crews to make driving possible?

She would have breakfast and then find herself a spot where she could bury her nose in one of her newly purchased books. And, like it or not, she’d have to be patient. With any luck, she’d be back at Winter’s Haven sometime in the afternoon…

A wave of longing washed over Ronnie. She wished Andy was with her, at the cottage, sipping hot chocolate and doing a jigsaw puzzle together, or making peanut butter cookies, his favorite. She gave her head a shake. She should be glad—and she was—that Andy’s father was taking responsibility and regularly spending time with him. But even so, there were moments where she missed Andy’s presence. Many moments…

Casson had given her a reassuring hug when she had voiced these feelings to him one day over coffee. “You may be small,” he had chuckled, “but you’re still the protective mama bear. You’ve always put Andy first. He’s been the center of your world. Of course it feels strange now to be on your own for blocks of time without him…”

Ronnie sighed and made her way to the kitchen. To her embarrassment, her stomach gave a loud grumble as she entered the room.

Red’s eyebrows lifted. “I guess I’d better feed you before there’s an aftershock,” he chuckled. He gestured for her to sit down at the sturdy oak table, where he had arranged two place settings, two mugs and a carafe. He filled Ronnie’s mug. “Enjoy,” he said. “I’ll be back with the breakfast special.” He winked conspiratorially. “And then, since the roads are still a skating rink, we can talk about what we want to do…”

* * *

Red watched as Ronnie took her first bites of the mushroom and cheese omelet and nodded when she gave him a thumbs-up.

“Whew! Thank goodness I passed one test, anyway…”

Ronnie’s brows furrowed. “And what is the other test for? Doing a good deed of the day?” She took a sip of her steaming coffee. “I believe rescuing a stranded driver does fall in that category.”

He