Chosen for Power (Women of Power, #1) by Kathleen Brooks Read Free Book Online Page B

Did the business deal with the Swiss not go well?” Bree asked, sprinkling a cookie.
    “It was fine. The papers are all signed and express-mailed to the government agencies. The deal closed without a hitch,” Elle told them as she stabbed the reindeer back into the dough.
    “Did something happen at the dance then? Oh no,” Allegra cried, “please, tell me that horrid man from that financial service company didn’t find you. You know, the one we had thought about buying out?” Allegra turned to their mother. “He’s been sending her flowers at the office.”
    “We have to remember how blessed we are. Although, I do wish you all had been of an age to be married before we became so blessed. I worry all the time about my babies being taken advantage of,” her mother said worriedly as she poured some more flour into the mixer.
    “I wouldn’t mind being taken advantage of,” Reid joked as he wiggled his eyebrows.
    “I especially mean you, young man," their mother said without looking up from the mixer.
    Elle grinned. Her brother was thirty-five, but their mother still talked to him as if he were thirteen.
    “I want grandbabies, but not by some woman who tricked you into it. I just wish you all could find the true love that your father and I shared. You need to slow down, stop working so much, and get out there to enjoy life. Take risks, fall in love, get married, and give me grandbabies.”
    Elle and her sisters rolled their eyes while Reid looked distinctively pale at the idea of settling down. But, for as much as Elle laughed with her sisters, she had found what her mother wished for. She had taken a risk last night and had fallen in love—she stabbed the reindeer again—but she’d messed it all up. She didn’t find out who he was and now her happily-ever-after would never come true.
    “Did you get a chance to meet Drake Charles last night? He’s such a wonderful man. So compassionate,” her mother told them.
    “Drake and Margaret sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S—” Allegra began to sing before their mother, Margaret, hit her in the face with a well-aimed dusting of flour.
    “Oh, please,” her mother laughed as Allegra wiped the flour off.
    “See. Mom has a crush on the elusive Mr. Charles,” Allegra teased.
    “You’d have a crush, too, if you met him. He’s the type of man you should be looking for,” she informed her daughters.
    “I’m not going to marry some old, reclusive man, Mom. Sorry,” Elle complained as she handed the reindeer to her brother who put it on a cookie sheet.
    “He’s not a recluse. He leaves his house all the time. He owns that big building on the same street as your offices. You know the one, just two blocks down. He goes to work there every day. Once a week he stops by the hospital to read to the kids. And once a month he brings them a toy or a book. Just because he avoids extra attention doesn’t mean he’s a recluse,” her mom said passionately.
    But it didn’t matter to Elle. The thought of dating anyone right now put a bad taste in her mouth. There was only one man she wanted in her life and kooky Drake Charles was not the one.
     
    Drake knocked on the hospital door decorated with princess stickers. Entering the room, he handed his last wrapped package to the little girl inside. Her parents sat smiling beside her bed while they held hands.
    Tara was just ten years old and fighting cancer. She’s lost her hair but refused a wig. She was determined to beat it and she was showing positive signs so far.
    “Merry Christmas, Tara. Hi, Dina. Grant.” He nodded to her parents and placed the box on Tara’s bed. “I don’t know, Tara. I’ve been hearing how you’ve been sneaking into the nurses’ lounge at night and eating ice cream. You might be moved to the naughty list.”
    The little girl grinned, not looking guilty at all. “Well, they said to take it one day at a time. I’m just choosing to take it one ice cream at a time. If you don’t go after what you