One Snowy Night (Sweet Home, Alaska #1) - Patience Griffin Page 0,50
just did.”
He let go of her and removed Boomer from her arms. “Boomer probably needs a big gulp of water after the harrowing experience he just went through.” Donovan rubbed his face into Boomer’s neck. “Poor little guy. But you’re safe now. Thanks to Hope.” Then he set the puppy on his feet.
She couldn’t stop staring at Donovan. In this moment, he was the boy from her past who loved Bernese Mountain Dogs. The boy she’d sworn to love for all eternity.
Donovan pointed to the hearth. “Go. Get warm.”
She scurried to the hearth, putting her hands out to soak in the heat roiling off the fire.
“Marshmallows or no marshmallows?” Donovan called from the kitchen. Apparently, he’d forgotten how she liked her hot cocoa.
“Marshmallows, please,” she said.
But she felt jumpy and knew she couldn’t stay near him any longer. The hug—oh my gosh, the kiss—had been more than enough sugar for one day! She hurried to the kitchen. “You know what, forget the cocoa. I’m fine now. I’m heading back to the cabin.”
Donovan was there instantly, shrugging out of his own coat. “You’re still as stubborn as ever. At least take my coat,” he said, holding it out to her.
She pushed it back. “I can’t. I’m filthy. It’s only a short jog to the cabin. I’ll be fine.”
Just then, the Hot Wheels car tumbled from his pocket, making them both go still. Making them both remember that Hope was the one who’d ended Beau’s life. At least that was how Hope saw it.
She slipped past Donovan to the other side of the living room, to the door. He didn’t say another word to stop her. As far as she knew, he might still be staring at Beau’s car.
As Hope ran to Wandering Moose Cabin, she brushed off her arms and chest as best she could. She probably should’ve taken Donovan’s coat, because she was going to be dirtying up her own coat pretty badly. And it was the only coat she owned. Donovan probably had a closetful.
Back inside the cabin, she was thankful it was semi-warm, thanks to the baseboard heaters. She took off her sweatshirt and shook it outside, wearing just her thermal top. Then she grabbed the broom and vigorously swept the floor, counting on the exertion to warm her up. She had just begun to whisk the dirt into the corner when she heard a car leaving. She pulled back the dusty curtains, which nearly disintegrated in her hand, and saw Donovan’s SUV pulling away from the lodge. For some stupid reason, it made her feel lonely. She thought about running back to the lodge to get Boomer, but knowing Donovan, he’d taken his dog with him.
Unfortunately, being alone made her mind wander to places it shouldn’t. Even though she tried to put Donovan behind a Do Not Disturb door, she couldn’t stop from peeking in, thinking about all she’d lost because of one awful moment long ago.
By noon, Wandering Moose Cabin was still a wreck but cleared of debris. Hope headed home for lunch, something she never had to worry about when she was working at the Hungry Bear. Now, she’d have to remember to pack a lunch every day. Just another reason it sucked that she was stuck working for Donovan Stone.
Once at home, she took a quick shower to get the rest of the dirt and leaves out of her hair. She blow-dried it quickly, dressed in a clean sweater, and then had the last spoonful of leftover soup and a few crackers she found in an open baggie at the back of the pantry. On the way home from Donovan’s today, she’d have to run by the Hungry Bear and get her unpaid wages to buy some groceries. She wished she’d thought to ask Donovan how often she would be paid. Something a smart single mother would’ve done before she’d accepted the job.
Because there was still time left, she dug around in her fabric stash, which was tucked away in her closet, looking for something to replace the old curtains in Wandering Moose Cabin. She noticed something wedged between the box and the back wall, and was shocked when she pulled out the moose print fabric she hadn’t seen in years. She’d bought it to make pajama bottoms for Izzie for Christmas, but she’d procrastinated too long. She’d decided she’d give Izzie the pj’s for her upcoming birthday. But there had been no more birthdays for her sister. She remembered now that when she