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

he watched the cheerful village beneath the Christmas tree until he fell asleep.
    Alex raced down the freeway, pushing the speed limit, a thousand things on his mind, including the frightened student he’d just left at the University Health Center.
    Rita Sawyer, a brilliant sixteen-year-old prodigy, had come to him with a problem.
    A big problem.
    Big enough to make him call Shannon and ask for a favor he would have given almost anything not to ask.
    Alex flexed his hands on the steering wheel, angry all over again. If he ever found out which football player had thought it was fun to seduce an underage girl, the slithering little snake would stop laughing in a hurry. Unfortunately, Rita had been too upset and scared to tell him who was responsible.
    He pulled into the drive and regarded the side by side condos. Shannon’s side glowed with warmth and welcome in the early twilight of the Washington winter day. His house seemed cold and aloof.
    “Stop that,” Alex ordered beneath his breath.
    He wasn’t a fanciful person. Buildings weren’t endowed with anything more than brick and wood and plaster.
    Shannon opened the door before he could knock and she put her finger to her lips. “Jeremy’s asleep,” she said softly. “I think he has a slight fever, but it doesn’t seem bad.”
    “You mean he’s really sick?”
    He practically pushed Shannon to one side. It was only when he saw his son sleeping on a large pillow that his breathing slowed. One of Jeremy’s arms was around Mr. Tibbles, and the other was stretched out to touch the controls of the toy train.
    “God,” Alex muttered, rubbing the back of his neck in an attempt to ease tense muscles. “He’s been complaining of tummy aches and stuff every few days, asking to go home. The day-care center thought he was just crying wolf again.”
    Shannon sat next to Jeremy and stroked the hair from his forehead. It was such a naturally caring gesture that Alex’s chest tightened. She seemed able to reach Jeremy when everyone else had failed. He didn’t understand why—she was so different from Jeremy’s mother.
    “He might be getting a cold,” she said softly. “But I doubt it’s serious.” Her auburn hair fell over her shoulders, spilling across a fuzzy white sweater. She looked like an angel, and Alex forced himself to look away, fixing his gaze on Jeremy.
    There was nothing angelic about Shannon O’Rourke. Angels did not twist a man’s guts into knots.
    Seeming unaware of his scrutiny, she smiled and rose. “Would you like some soda, or maybe some wine? You look like you could use a drink.”
    “Cola, if you have it.”
    “I’ll be back in a moment.”
    She disappeared into the kitchen and he heard the clinking of ice against glass. Still concerned, he knelt and felt his son’s forehead for himself. Warmer than normal, but nothing serious.
    Slumping down on the couch, Alex rubbed his face and tried to release the tension gripping him. Everything was all right. In a few days Jeremy probably wouldn’t even remember it was Shannon who’d come to the rescue instead of his daddy.
    Kids were resilient.
    How many times had he heard that?
    Doctors, child psychologists, pastors, well-meaning acquaintances—people felt they had to say something when they learned about Kim’s death. Everyone had a support group they thought he should join, or a counselor tosee…or a single female relative he should call, who was reputed to be a good listener.
    He didn’t need a good listener; he just needed to take care of his son and make sure nothing ever hurt Jeremy again.
    Alex swallowed.
    It was hard to escape the feeling that if he’d been home in Minnesota more often, Kim might have been diagnosed earlier. Another few weeks of treatment might have made the difference in her recovery. But he hadn’t been there, and all the guilt in the world wouldn’t change things now.
    “Alex?” Shannon had emerged from the kitchen and was holding out a glass. He didn’t