His expression became sour. "I can get into enough trouble without people squeezing imaginary insults out of my words." He turned and headed for the family room door again. "I'm going to take a warm shower. Do you think you could scare us up a warm snack?" He didn't wait for an answer.
She glanced at her watch. It was three pm. A warm snack? What kind of snack could she whip up in fifteen minutes? She mused through the kitchen cabinets, her attention settling on the can of cocoa. That would do, but what about something to eat with it. Maybe her favorite would work. It was worth a try. She turned on the broiler and buttered some bread.
When Cade came into the kitchen she placed a cup of hot chocolate and a saucer of cinnamon toast before him. He quirked a brow.
"An interesting combination. Smells delicious."
She smiled. "I hope you like it. It always hits the spot for me on cold days."
He tasted the toast and nodded approvingly. "One thing you should know." He glanced up at her. "I don't think you could find anything I wouldn't like. I enjoy variety and I'm not afraid to try anything new, so just cook what you like."
They finished the snack in silence. Afterward he took a book from the shelf and retired to his room. The living room floor could use a mopping and then it would be time to start supper. A glance out the window revealed that the snow had piled up to four or five inches. Was Cade weathering out the storm? The wood box was looking skimpy. Where did he keep the rest of the wood? She wandered through the house, peering out the window until she spotted a small shed. That was probably it. Donning a heavy coat and some rubber boots that she found in the entry closet, she battled the storm to the shed. Opening the door, she found her assumption correct. The shed was piled high with wood. She leaned over and picked up a block of wood.
A yellow ball of hissing fur flew past her. She dropped the wood and screamed before she realized it was only a young cat. She stumbled to the door. "Here kitty kitty."
But the cat had no intention of coming near her. "Are you hungry?" She called to him as he hunkered down beside a rose bush with a few brown leaves clinging to it. He stared at her suspiciously.
She shrugged and went back for an armload of wood. Had the cat been locked in the shed, or had he found a way through the old walls? She piled one arm high and closed the door. If he couldn't get in the shed, he'd probably find some other place to stay warm. She crunched through the snow back to the house and removed her coat and boots before entering the living room.