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

know how long she’d waited to catch his attention, but a faint frown creased her forehead.
    “Thanks. I appreciate you picking Jeremy up.”
    She shrugged one shoulder. “I told you I’d be happy to help out.”
    She astonished him. His parents had shown him that most people needed or wanted something; they didn’t offer to help someone out of the goodness of their hearts. And a woman like Shannon, whom every wealthy bachelor in Washington must be chasing, certainly couldn’t need or want a widower with a young son who wouldn’t let go of his toy rabbit.
    Alex cleared his throat. He could go nuts trying to figure out Shannon and her motives; she was far too complicated.
    He accepted the glass, took a sip of the cola, then put the drink down on a polished wood coaster. It would be best if he made an excuse, took his son and left as soon as possible.
    “So you think Jeremy has been trying to get attention by pretending to be sick?” she asked in a low tone.
    “Yeah.” Alex grabbed the cola again. “At least I did, butnow I don’t know what to believe. If he’s really ill…it’s enough to make me crazy. I can’t lose him.”
    “You aren’t going to lose him,” Shannon said softly. “Children get colds and tummy aches. It’s rarely serious.” She’d called her mom an hour earlier and been assured of that fact. “And children make up stories to get attention. It’s part of being a kid.”
    Alex cocked his head. Weary lines bracketed his mouth and she wished she could smooth them away.
    “Do you speak from experience?”
    “Of course.” She smiled. “My youngest sister put on ‘dying diva’ performances worthy of an Oscar. Fortunately my mother was less gullible than the rest of us.”
    “What, no award-winning performances from you?”
    “Nope. I was the perfect child.”
    He chuckled, casting a quick glance toward the Christmas tree where Jeremy lay, still soundly asleep. “No way. Didn’t we establish that you were pretty wild? You probably gave your mother premature gray hair and an ulcer to boot.”
    Shannon felt her smile become fixed and she nearly tossed out a smart remark, agreeing to Alex’s assessment. But he needed to be reassured that Jeremy would be all right.
    “The truth is that after my father…when we lost him, I kept things bottled up.” She rubbed the back of her neck, searching for an explanation she’d never voiced aloud. “We all reacted in our own way, and I decided to be the one who didn’t cause trouble.”
    “Shannon, please. You don’t have to talk about it.”
    “I don’t mind.” She grinned wryly. “Actually, I do mind, but that’s okay. Dad was killed in an accident working for a lumber company. After it happened, I never let anyone know how I felt, or how much I hurt…about anything.I’d say something clever or tease or make a joke, but I wouldn’t cry or make anyone sad. That was my idea of not making trouble.”
    “That meant you were all alone.”
    Startled, Shannon gazed quickly at Alex. He sounded appalled, but he also understood. In a house filled with her mother and brothers and sisters, she’d been alone.
    She shivered and drew back. She hadn’t intended to strip her soul bare, but that was how she felt.
    “It wasn’t so bad,” she said in instinctive denial. “The point is, I got through it, and I didn’t turn out to be such a horrible person, did I?”
    “Not horrible at all.”
    “And with some time and a lot of love, I’m sure Jeremy will be all right, too.”
    Alex swirled the cola in his glass. Shannon hadn’t said anything new, but it meant more coming from her. She’d been there, gone through what Jeremy was going through, and she had seen her brothers and sisters go through it as well.
    “Then you’re saying I shouldn’t worry.”
    She gave him a quick smile. “Of course you’re going to worry. You’re his daddy. My mom says worry is in a parent’s job description.”
    He liked the way she said daddy . Not