Read Online Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis - Free Book Online Page A

been hungry for the sight of it as he’d been for hers.
    “You’re hired,” Tara said. “I can teach you what you need to know. And then maybe by the end of the summer, you’ll be able to write a real résumé, with real experience.”
    “Thanks,” Mia said, looking slightly softer. Younger. “And don’t worry. I’m real organized and a big planner. My parents tell everyone I’m anal, and it’s sorta true.”
    “One guess as to where you got that,” Ford said.
    Tara slid him a long look, making him smile.
    “I think I’m more like you,” Mia said, looking at Ford.
    Tara looked away at the quick hurt of that, and Ford felt unaccustomedly helpless, not sure how to breach the gap between mother and daughter.
    “Excuse me, Ms. Daniels?” Carlos called from the marina office door. He was in baggy homeboy jeans and a T-shirt that advertised some surf shop in Cabo. His dark hair was in spikes today, his earrings and eyebrow piercing all black to match his untied, high-top Nikes. He’d been cleaning windows in the morning sun, and his arms and face gleamed with sweat. “You have a phone call.”
    Mia looked at him, and then kept looking.
    “Thanks, Carlos,” Tara said. “Can you take a message?”
    The teen nodded, his gaze falling to Mia, meeting her outwardly curious gaze.
    “Mia, this is Carlos,” Tara said, introducing them. “He works for the inn part time as well.”
    Carlos smiled, and to Ford, the expression had horny teenager written all over it. A very new and entirely surprising emotion hit Ford squarely between the eyes.
    Paternal protectiveness.
    Which was ridiculous. Hell, when he’d been Carlos’ age, he’d looked at Tara just like that. He’d also done a hell of a lot more than just look.
    “I’m going to start planting those seedlings,” Carlos said to Tara. “You said it was a two-person job, but everyone’s busy so…”
    “I could help,” Mia piped up.
    “No!” Tara and Ford said at the same time. Ford let out a breath. That settled it. He was going to have to kill Carlos. He glanced over at Tara and found her wearing what he imagined was a matching scowl to his.
    Luckily, before either of them could do or say anything stupid, Mia’s stomach growled into the silence.
    “Oh, Sugar,” Tara exclaimed. “You’re hungry! Come on, come up to the inn. I’ll get you some breakfast.”
    “But the planting,” Mia said, still looking at Carlos.
    “Maybe later,” Tara said.
    Much later, Ford thought. Like never.
    Tara hustled them all into the kitchen. Well, except Carlos. Carlos she sent on a run into town on an errand. When he was gone, Tara sat Mia at the table and pulled ingredients out of the fridge until she had a mountain of food on the island. “What would you like? Omelets? Crepes? Pancakes? French toast? I have—”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Mia said. She and Ford watched as Tara went to work, her hands a blur. “Anything’s fine. So about you two. Are you… a two?”
    “Veggie and cheese omelets?” Tara asked, looking a little desperate for a subject change. “With turkey bacon and fresh fruit?”
    “Okay.” Mia hesitated and then glanced at Ford. “Is she always like this?” she whispered.
    Crazy? Yes. Often. “She loves to cook.”
    Mia nodded, glancing at the newspaper that had been left on the table. “Is this for real?”
    Ford looked over her shoulder. “What?”
    Mia pointed to an article on the front page and read: “It’s neck and neck between two fine stallions in the race for Lucky Harbor’s Beach Resort owner Tara Daniels’ heart. Which sexy hunk will make it to the finish line? The NASCAR cutie Logan Perrish or our own sailing hottie, Ford Walker? This just could be a photo finish, folks. Be sure to vote in our new poll, up on Facebook now. We’re looking for donations of a buck a vote. The pot goes to the pediatric cancer research center at General, so don’t be shy. We all have a buck to give, right? Vote now.” Mia lifted her