Read Online All-American Girl by Justine Dell - Free Book Online Page A

of mine.”
    His timid eyes met Samantha’s, cute and shy. Samantha held out her hand. “Hello. I’m Samantha. It’s nice to meet you.”
    His small hand gripped hers, and she gave it a quick shake. A grin split across his face. Completely mesmerized by him, she couldn’t help but smile in return.
    “I’m Jax!”
    He was adorable, she had to admit. His dark hair was cut short on the sides and left in bouncy curls on the top, and his eyes, silver as the moon, seemed oddly familiar. Samantha did have a soft spot for children. They were helpless and innocent. She thought about her relationship with her stepdaughter, Ava, and all the fun things she missed doing with her, as well as the little angel’s soft laugh and bright smile. Her heart clenched.
    “Well hello, Jax,” Samantha replied with a bright smile of her own. She turned her attention to Candice. “Is he your son, Candice?”
    “Oh, no, this is…” Candice paused, and her expression showed a hint of uncertainty. “I’m babysitting.” She pulled Jax into her lap and gave him a warm hug. “This guy likes to hang out with me.”
    “Because you make the best cookies in the world!”
    Candice laughed. “Thank you, Sir Jax.”
    “Can I have one?” he asked excitedly.
    “Not until after ten. You know the rule.”
    “Aw, Candy,” he said as he tried to put a pout on his too-cute face. “What time is it?”
    “Ten minutes until ten.”
    “But that’s almost ten!”
    “Almost doesn’t really count, does it?” Candice replied.
    Jax shook his head. “All right.”
    “I was just about to get Samantha some breakfast. Would you like something?”
    “Oh yeah! Bacon!”
    “How about some milk to go with all the meat?” Candice asked.
    Jax’s face scrunched up. “All right, milk, too. But do I still get the cookie afterward?” His eyes shot up innocently in Candice’s direction. It would be hard to say no to that face.
    “Yes,” she said, smiling. “You can still have the cookie afterward.”
    “Yes!”
    Candice turned her attention back to Samantha as she scooted Jax off her lap and rose from the booth. “So, what would you like for breakfast?”
    Samantha hadn’t had time to look over the menu, so she opted for bacon and eggs. When Candice disappeared into the kitchen, Jax took the seat across from Samantha.
    “How old are you, Jax?”
    He bounced the dinosaur up and down on the table a few times, considering the question. “Ya’ know, Dad says I’m not supposed to talk to strangers. Aunt Candy said you were her friend, though.” He turned his big eyes to hers. “So…that means I can talk to you. Right?”
    Had he called Candice his aunt? A knot formed in her stomach. Lance was Candice’s only sibling. Surely Lance wasn’t a father? She shook off that thought. Candice would’ve told her that.
    “Yes, you’re right. Your dad sounds like a smart man.”
    Jax nodded his head, another beaming smile spreading across his face. “He’s real smart. He knows how to build things and fix things. He’s trying to fix Mr. Johnson’s cat.”
    “Hmm,” Samantha said, instantly intrigued. “Is he a vet?”
    He giggled. “No, silly. I got red paint all over her. Dad promised Mrs. Johnson he would make her clean again.”
    Samantha chuckled. She could picture a boy doing something like that. The cheerfulness she felt as she continued to talk to Jax wasn’t something she’d experienced in a long time, and she struggled to keep memories of holding Ava and sharing stories with her out of her mind. The Sunday brunches with pancakes in their pajamas. The long trips to the park to ride bikes. The endless hours reading stories at the library. The fun—the love. Samantha’s heart clenched painfully again, but she kept a smile on her face for Jax.
    He told her all about his toys and the project he was working on for Candice, even telling Samantha he thought she was pretty. That melted her heart.
    When Candice brought the food to the table, Jax