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

anything from a polite “Sorry, I’m too busy,” to an enthusiastic “Yes,” but not such a generous offer.
    He shook his head. “We couldn’t do that.”
    “Daddy—”
    “No, Jeremy, we can’t take Shannon’s tree. I know you like coming here because of the train and everything, but we have our own home.”
    Shannon stayed silent, lips pressed together as Alex collected Jeremy’s things and said good-bye. Her eyes narrowed as the front door shut behind them, leaving her in silence.
    I know you like coming here because of the train and everything…
    Of all the insulting things to say.
    Even if it was true, it was still rude. And it wasn’t onlybecause of the Christmas tree and train set that Jeremy liked her. He’d liked her at the post office before they’d ever been inside her condo.
    Shannon marched to the phone. Her family would think she was acting like a fool, but that was just too bad. She hadn’t known what to say when Alex asked for help with a Christmas tree, so she’d panicked and offered to give them her own tree.
    Now she had a plan.
    “Miranda? It’s Shannon. I have another job for you,” she said when her sister answered, then settled down to explain what she wanted.
    The next day, Shannon waited until after nine in the evening before carrying various boxes out of her house and stacking them near the McKenzies’ front step.
    She figured Alex was still awake since he seemed to be a night person. Lately she was even more aware of sounds on the other side of their shared wall. Bathwater ran every evening around eight, followed by rustles of noise in one of the smaller bedrooms—presumably Jeremy being put to bed. Later, long after she’d gone to bed herself, she’d hear muffled thuds and bumps and the sound of a shower from the master-bedroom suite that gradually quieted. Usually after midnight.
    The lights were still on downstairs, so she tapped on the door and waited, stifling a yawn. Night was not her best time; she liked mornings.
    “Shannon?” Alex said, swinging the door open. “Is something wrong?”
    “Of course not. I have your tree.” She motioned to the boxes her sister had brought to the condo earlier.
    “What are you talking about?”
    “You wanted my help with a Christmas tree, so here it is.”
    Alex blinked as Shannon grabbed a carton and pushed past him into the living room. He’d spent the evening listening to Jeremy chatter about Shannon, and couldn’t he go to her home tomorrow instead of calling the babysitter again? His son had finally gone to sleep, and now here was Shannon. In the flesh, so to speak, clad in tight black jeans and a black sweater embroidered with green and silver holly leaves across the breast and all that glorious red hair…
    He let out a harsh breath.
    “Where do you want me?” she asked.
    He thought of saying he wanted her in his king-size bed. Much as he didn’t want to deal with those kinds of feelings, apparently he didn’t have any choice. But he didn’t have to act on them. He’d always prided himself on his self-control, determined to be different from his mother and father.
    “I asked for advice on decorating a tree. I never thought you’d go out and buy something. How much do I owe you?”
    She shrugged, her long hair glinting like fire. “You don’t owe me anything. This is a gift.”
    “I can’t accept—”
    “It isn’t for you, it’s a gift for Jeremy,” she said coolly. “I’ll set it up now, so he can be surprised in the morning when he wakes up.”
    She seemed edgy, as if filled with suppressed emotion, and he frowned. “Is something wrong?”
    “Heavens, what could be wrong?”
    Her smile, like her voice, exuded false cheerfulness. Something was wrong, but she wouldn’t admit it. Moreover, he had the damnedest feeling she was furious.
    With him.
    What had he done?
    Well…he had insulted her brother and generally tried to avoid her whenever he wasn’t asking a favor, both of which were probably