Love Finds You in Frost Minnesota Read Online Free Page A

wonder you’re cold. You haven’t acclimated yet. Your blood is still thin.”
    “Is that a medical diagnosis?”
    “Not that I know of, but it feels true, doesn’t it?” When she returned with the fruit compote, Frost was bowing his head over the table.
    Praying. That was encouraging. He believed the Christmas story, no matter what else he thought about the season.
    She sat down across from him and passed the egg bake. “Sorry I’m so casual, but I have to leave too, so I thought we could eat together. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Not at all. The food is wonderful.” He eyed her speculatively. “You could open a restaurant.”
    “I do occasional meals here,” Merry said. “I’m happy to help people with their entertaining.” She smiled slightly. “Besides, it pays the bills.”
    “Is there anything you don’t do?”
    “I’ll try anything once. Sometimes it works out better than other times.” She hesitated a moment before adding, “Like Christmas. I’m very good at Christmas.”
    He looked like he was about to say something but then must have changed his mind.
    What had she hoped for? A retraction of his disparaging words? With a sigh, she poured juice into his glass and dished up her own food.
    “Will you want dinner this evening or do you have plans?” she ventured after some moments of awkward silence.
    Frost glanced up, startled. “I won’t be back tonight. I plan to get a hotel room in Blue Earth.”
    “Good luck. The tournament isn’t over for a couple more days.”
    “You’re kidding, right?”
    “Is it so awful, with the Christmas ornaments and all, that you don’t want to spend another night?” she chided gently.
    He flushed a little, an attractive warmth coloring his tanned features. It made him seem more human, Merry realized. Until now she’d been disconcerted by his gravity.
    “Not at all . . . I don’t . . . want to be a nuisance. . . .”
    “Have another muffin. They have pecans in them. And don’t think for a moment you are a bother. This is part of what I do for a living.” Then she blushed herself. “No pressure or anything.”
    He stared at her, his dark eyes shadowed, unreadable. Then understanding flickered in his gaze. “Of course. Plan on me for tonight. I’ll eat in town, however.”
    Merry felt like kicking herself. She’d meant to sound welcoming, not desperate, but Frost had practically read her mind and deduced the current size of her bank account.
    He might be her adversary, she reminded herself. If Frost meant what he said when he arrived, he’d willingly shut her—and Christmas—down entirely.
    But Merry didn’t have it in her to remain negative very long. By the time Jack Frost had left the house, her mood had brightened again. She hummed as she shoveled the snowy frosting off the sidewalk and driveway and sang along with the radio all the way to work.
    “Good morning, I think,” Lori Olson greeted her as she walked into the elementary school where they taught together.
    “You think? What’s going on?”
    “I just came from the lunchroom. That new little girl you have in class is down there eating breakfast like it’s the first time she’s ever tasted food.”
    Merry’s heart sank. Greta Olson was a recent transfer. Merry didn’t have the whole story, but it sounded as if the child’s family was living week to week between homeless shelters provided by a group of churches. The little girl usually wore the same clothing for two and three days at a time, and her tennis shoes were little protection against the winter weather.
    “The child is obviously not being fed properly,” Lori said. Disapproval sharpened her tone.
    “She has a good appetite, that’s all,” Merry said noncommittally. “She told me she had a grandmother somewhere in the area. Her parents are looking for her.”
    “Then where is she?” Lori was obviously upset. “And the child is grubby. I don’t know what we’re going to do about . . .”
    “Greta is