Meet Me Under The Mistletoe (O'Rourke Family 5) by Julianna Morris Read Free Book Online

“no-strings” type of woman.
    He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease his tight muscles, but it was useless.
    When had life gotten so damned complicated?

Chapter Four
    S hannon sipped her cup of tea and glanced around the crowded coffee shop.
    The Seattle area was a coffee lover’s mecca, and cheerful Christmas shoppers filled the store to capacity. Couples seemed to be in force today, replete with loving looks and affectionate gestures toward one another. For some inexplicable reason the scene made her think about Alex McKenzie. On the other hand, maybe it wasn’t inexplicable. Everything made her think about Alex.
    Sighing, Shannon put her cup on a collection tray and slipped from the store.
    Small leaves, scattered by a cold breeze, danced across the sidewalk and into the street. Another sigh escaped as her cell phone rang.
    “Hello,” she answered.
    “Shannon, it’s Alex.”
    She stopped dead in her tracks. “Alex. Hello.”
    “Are you in the middle of something?” His voice sounded oddly stressed and she frowned.
    “I was doing some Christmas shopping, but I’m done now. Is something wrong?”
    “No. That is, nothing serious. But I’m involved in something urgent, and Jeremy is at the day-care center. He says he isn’t feeling well. I doubt it’s anything, and I hate to ask, but I’m really—”
    “I’d be happy to pick him up,” Shannon said instantly. “He can stay with me until you get home.” There was a long silence and she bit her lip. “Alex, are you there?”
    “Yes. I appreciate the offer. I shouldn’t be too late, I hope no later than mid afternoon.” He gave her directions to the day-care center, then rang off.
    Shannon stood stock-still for a minute, filled with both shock and alarm. She knew even less about sick children than she did about children in general.
    “This isn’t about you,” she muttered, annoyed with herself. “It’s about Jeremy.”
    It was also about Alex, and the confusing way he seemed to blow hot and cold. She’d hoped they could be friends after their second dinner together, but he’d sounded so uneasy telling her about Jeremy.
    She shook her head.
    Men were stubborn about asking for help. It seemed to wound their pride to think they couldn’t handle everything themselves. Or maybe Alex’s problem was something else—something even more incomprehensible than the male ego.
    “And men claim women are unpredictable,” Shannon muttered as she unlocked her car and jumped behind the wheel. Handling a sick little boy would probably be a piece of cake compared to dealing with a grown-up Alex.
    At the day-care center an older woman met Shannon at the door. “Miss O’Rourke? Hello, I’m Helen Davis. Please come inside. I’m afraid Jeremy is upset.”
    “What happened?”
    “We told him you were coming and he seemed pleased. Then one of our aides offered to mend his stuffed rabbit while he waited, and things went down from there.”
    Shannon’s eyebrows shot upward. “She didn’t try to take Mr. Tibbles away from Jeremy, did she?”
    “Not…exactly.”
    “Shannon,” yelped a small voice, and Jeremy raced forward, practically leaping into her arms. He clutched her neck with surprising strength.
    “Hey, kiddo. It’s okay.”
    He looked at her, his blue eyes brimming with tears. “The lady wanted to poke Mr. Tibbles with a needle.” He scowled at Mrs. Davis as if she’d sprouted horns and a tail.
    “That’s too bad. Do you want to come home with me?”
    “Uh-huh. Mr. Tibbles wants a nap.”
    Poor little guy. He couldn’t admit he wanted to sleep, so Mr. Tibbles was taking the blame. Shannon stroked the dark hair away from Jeremy’s forehead. He felt warm, but kids always felt warm to her.
    “Let’s go,” she said quietly, carrying him out to the car.
    When they arrived home, Shannon settled Jeremy in the living room. He quickly curled up on the floor with a pillow and blanket, Mr. Tibbles clutched to his chest. Sucking his thumb,