All I Want For Christmas Read Free

toward G. G., the front door opened.
    â€œRyan and Maggie are here,” Susan Ross said from the crowded sofa.
    A little imp of a girl skipped inside, copper-colored pigtails bouncing. Behind her, a big man entered the room. Tall, his hair curly and almost too long, wearing jeans and a chambray shirt, he didn’t look like a man who’d made a fortune from the bank he’d founded, let alone the person who was the manager of the Halo Island Bank. He hung their coats in the closet, as if he’d been here a thousand times and belonged.
    G. G. had sung Ryan’s praises, but she’d forgotten to mention his rugged good looks. A woman couldn’t help but admire him, Tina thought.
    People called out hellos. Maggie waved and Ryan greeted them all with a nod and a grin. Of all things, the man had a dimple in one cheek, which deepened as he followed his daughter to G. G.’ s chair.
    â€œWelcome home, G. G.” He kissed her on the cheek. “We sure missed you.”
    â€œAren’t you two a sight for sore eyes,” G. G. replied. “It’s wonderful to be home.”
    Tina handed G. G. her dinner and stepped back, out of sight. Or tried to. G. G. snagged her wrist, keeping her at her side.
    â€œThis is my Tina. Tina Morrell, meet Ryan Chase.”
    The noise abruptly stopped. Aware that every person in the house was watching her, Tina formed her lips into a smile. “Hello, Ryan.”
    He towered over her, his gaze swiftly darting from her face to her body and back. Tina thought he might be interested. The instant the thought formed, however, a flicker of something—wariness?—darkened his eyes and his expression became guarded.
    Completely somber now, he handed a foil-covered pan to his daughter. “Hello,” he said, engulfing Tina’s hand in his huge grip. “Pleasure.”
    She barely registered his firm, warm grasp before he let go and nodded at the little girl. “This is my daughter, Maggie. Say hello to Miss Morrell.”
    An adorable freckled face peered up at her. No wariness there. “’Lo, Miss Morrell.”
    This time, Tina’s smile bloomed naturally. “Please, call me Tina.”
    â€œIs that okay, Daddy?”
    â€œIf that’s what the lady wants.”
    â€œI do,” Tina said.
    A dimple just like her father’s flashed on her cheek. “You’ve got cool hair.”
    Self-conscious, Tina touched her spiky hairdo. “Thanks. I like your pigtails, too, and those sparkly ties.”
    â€œDaddy bought ’em for me.” Maggie practically danced with excitement. “Guess what? Halloween was last week! I was gonna be a princess, but then I decided to be the number five ’cause that’s how old I am!”
    Tina laughed. “That sounds very…original.”
    â€œThat’s what Daddy says, too. Guess what else? A long time ago, G. G. used to teach kindergarten.”
    â€œI know. I was one of her students. That’s how we met.”
    â€œYou did? Did you hear that, Daddy?”
    â€œYep.”
    For some reason Tina’s cheeks felt hot—maybe because Ryan was staring at her. She kept her gaze on Maggie. “I’ll bet you’re hungry.”
    â€œUh-huh. Daddy is, too.”
    A big man like Ryan probably ate tons.
    â€œThere’s plenty of food left,” Tina said.
    Duh. Anyone with eyes could see the platters on the dining room table.
    Ryan pulled his daughter’s pigtail. “Come on, Sunshine, let’s eat.”
    Though Tina was famished, she decided to wait until father and daughter had served themselves. Ryan made her nervous, but she couldn’t have said why.

    S URROUNDED BY talk and laughter, Ryan kept an eye on his daughter as he filled his plate a second time. Sprawled on an ottoman squeezed between G. G.’ s chair and the chair Tina had brought out from the kitchen, she stared at Tina with a rapt expression. No different from