Angel Unaware by Elizabeth Sinclair

remaining contents of his cup down the drain, then rinsed the mug and turned it upside down in the dish rack.
    As he climbed the stairs, his mind swam with ideas to change the way his niece perceived him.
     
     
    The next morning, Dora came downstairs and peered out the window in the front door for the morning newspaper. The sight that met her eyes made her gasp in surprise. The world Dora had come into yesterday had been transformed in a fairy-tale landscape.
    It had stormed during the night and a new blanket of white covered last week’s snow, which had turned gray and ugly. The wet snow blanketed the limbs of the trees, and the bushes sagged under the added weight.
    The plows had already been through, and the sides of the street were piled with hills of sparkling white.
    Her first snow .
    With excitement filling her mind to the exclusion of all else, she turned the knob and threw the door open. Disregarding the fact that she was in her pajamas, robe, and slippers, she dashed out into the yard and scooped up a handful of the cold, white stuff.
    Squeezing it in her hands, when she opened her fingers, she was surprised to find her palm wet and empty. The snow had melted. Disappointment washed over her. She’d forgotten that snow was so insubstantial, as insubstantial as the new life she’d stepped into. A wave of sadness swept over her.
    “Are you trying to catch pneumonia?”
    Startled, she turned sharply toward the sound of Tony’s voice. He must have just showered because his hair still glistened with wetness. Leaning against the door frame, he’d crossed his arms over his chest, hooked one leg in front of the other, and flashed that grin that made Dora fight for breath. She gasped at the way her heart fluttered.
    “No,” she said hastily, dragging her attention away from Tony. She wiped her wet hands on her robe, and then eased past him into the house. “I was just enjoying the snow. It’s so beautiful and so renewing.”
    He straightened. “Beautiful and renewing it may be, but every time a new layer of snow falls, it makes my job more difficult. It’s hard enough building in the cold without having my men slipping and sliding and risking injury.”
    Work .
    Why must he think of everything in relation to his business? Why wasn’t he looking at the snow as an opportunity to spend time with Penny building a snowman? “There are some happy aspects to snow: snowmen, snow-ball fights, sleigh riding …”
    He laughed and the sound vibrated through her. Her fingertips tingled and her mouth went dry.
    “I guess so, but I tend to look at it from a practical perspective. If I owned a ski lodge, I’d be celebrating right along with you.” He took her shoulders and steered her down the hall. “Now, how about breakfast? Penny should be coming down any minute.”
    Dora was so preoccupied with his touch and the way it made her skin come alive, that she never thought about the mirror until they were almost in front of it. She couldn’t risk passing in front of the mirror with Tony so close. Slipping from his grasp, she twisted back the way they had come.
    “I forgot to grab the morning paper,” she said, heading for the door.
    Tony grinned again. “Okay, you get the paper, and I’ll start the coffee.”
     
     
    Half an hour later, Penny, Tony, and Dora were finishing up their breakfast of eggs, bacon, and juice. Tony and Dora lingered over coffee while Penny ate the last of her eggs.
    It hadn’t escaped Dora’s notice that when asked how Penny wanted her eggs cooked, that she had chosen over easy … the same way Tony had his. From the frown on his face, it hadn’t gotten past Tony, either. Dora hoped it was because her words from last night had sunk in.
    “Don’t cook supper tonight,” Tony announced out of nowhere.
    Penny stopped eating and stared at him. “Why?” Dora asked.
    You’ll see. Just be ready to go out when I get here.” He stood, waved at Penny, and then smiled secretively at Dora.