Blue Mist of Morning

Blue Mist of Morning Read Free Page A

Book: Blue Mist of Morning Read Free
Author: Donna Vitek
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when she felt how cold it was. "Goodness, girl, your skin's like ice."
    "Maybe you should get Miss Fairchild some coffee and let
her take it up to her room. She might like a hot bath," Ty suggested,
running his long lean fingers through his thick dark brown hair. "I'll
wait and have a cup after I've driven down to the car in the jeep and
brought back the luggage."
    "But you've just come in from the cold," Ellie protested
maternally. "I think you should have some coffee before you go back
outside again."
    "Later. First, I'm changing my clothes and going back for
the luggage," Ty persisted, then took the steps two at a time.
    As he disappeared upstairs, Ellie sniffed disapprovingly,
then directed Anne and Mike to the antique deacon's bench sitting
against a pecan-paneled wall. "Sit a minute and I'll put on a fresh pot
of coffee before I show you up to your rooms."
    After the housekeeper loped away toward the back of the
house, Anne removed her coat and sat down on the bench, watching Mike
as he came to join her. "Aren't you going with Mr. Manning?" she asked.
"He might need some help with the luggage."
    "There are only three suitcases," Mike answered rather
shortly, then gave her a sheepish grin. "To tell the truth, these new
boots are pinching like crazy. I'll be lucky if I can hobble upstairs."
    "New shoes can be murder," Anne agreed pleasantly, while
trying to fold her unfoldable coat. "Maybe you should soak your feet.
That might help."
    "Or, maybe I should invite you to my room and ask you to
massage them for me," Mike countered mischievously. "But before I make
such a provocative suggestion, I guess I'd be wise to apologize for all
the nasty remarks I made about your driving. I didn't mean them. I'm
always a real grump when I first wake up."
    Anne laughed softly. "Well, that certainly was a rude
awakening. I accept your apology. But… you'd better ask
Ellie to massage your feet because I have to refuse your invitation."
    "That's nothing new. You refused my last two dinner
invitations, too," Mike retorted, eyeing her speculatively. "Surely
you're not still busy every evening, moonlighting at that dress shop in
the mall?" When Anne shook her head, he grinned. "Why was it so
important for you to earn some extra money? Were you saving for a down
payment on a fancy car or something?"
    "Not exactly," Anne evaded. "But as I said, I don't work
there anymore. My promotion meant a raise in salary, so I don't have to
moonlight, although I actually enjoyed working in the dress shop. It
was fun."
    "I wouldn't call it fun to work every evening," Mike
declared wryly. "I can think of better things to do with my free time.
And now that you have your evenings free, what do you do?"
    "Relax. Read. Go out with friends," Anne told him. "I can
always find something interesting to do with my time."
    "And I guess you must be able to go see your mother more
often now, too? How is she? And your sisters? Did you ever manage to
convince the older one to start college?"
    Nodding, Anne breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief. "Yes, I
finally persuaded her. She started in January and really enjoys going.
And her grades are very good."
    Before Mike could speak again, footsteps descending the
stairs claimed his attention. Both he and Anne watched as Ty Manning
came toward them. Anne's eyes widened slightly. He was dressed more
casually than she had ever seen him dress. In jeans and a faded denim
shirt, he looked younger and somehow less intimidating. Even so, she
gave him a cautious smile as he walked past the deacon's bench, opened
the door to the closet beneath the staircase and brought out a brown
leather car coat. He returned her smile absently as he put on the coat.
"I should be back with our luggage in about fifteen minutes," was all
he said before he strode away toward the front door.
    He was pulling the door closed behind him when Ellie
returned from the kitchen. Without undue ceremony, she ushered Anne and
Mike upstairs along a wide, carpeted

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