Be Mine for Christmas Read Online Free Page A

only a year after his father disappeared from their life had surely left its mark. “All right. I will. Now lie down.”
    She tucked him in and rubbed his back a while, which usually helped him sleep.  But tonight he was too wound up. He chattered about Christmas and the toys he wanted Santa to bring, and a game they played in school.
    Then he dropped the big one. “Do you think Daddy will come for Christmas this year? Maybe if we write and tell him we’ll have the bestest tree he ever saw, maybe he’ll come.”
    Ellie’s throat went dry. Tears pricked at her eyes. Leonard had been a cheating liar who could talk his way into any woman’s bed, but that same golden tongue had also charmed Brandon. Just as it had her.
    And when Len started spending less and less time at home, on those rare days when he did appear he’d dazzle the boy with a performer’s skill and exit just as smoothly. Which ironically raised “Daddy” to the status of an idol and turned the crumbs he tossed his son into blessings.
    Trying to control her voice, Ellie said only, “We’ll see.”
     
    **
     
    “Of course I remembered which tree he picked out.” Reece led Ellie down a row of balsam firs. He tried not to think about how good she looked in those tight jeans she wore today. Or the cute way she’d tucked a sprig of bayberry into the band of her white earmuffs.
    Brandon had already raced ahead. “Here it is!”
    “That’s awfully big,” Ellie said. “How will I even get it home? We’re on a second floor over a garage.”
    Reece didn’t miss her pleading expression, but he wasn’t about to try and convince the boy to take another tree. “I can bring it over when you’re ready to set it up.” He gave Brandon a gentle punch-tap on the shoulder. “Gotta say, you made a wise choice. Couldn’t have picked a better one myself.”
    “Hear that, Mom?” The boy gave her a proud smile.
    “Here’s one way you know a good tree, Brandon.” Reece stroked his hand along a branch and held his fingers out toward him. “Smell that.”
    “Whoa. Sweet.”
    Next it was Ellie’s turn. “Mmm. That has to be one of the most wonderful scents in the world.”
    Reece gently brushed a strand of hair off her face. Ellie shivered. Their eyes locked for a moment. He wanted so badly to kiss her, but he knew if he made the wrong move the friendly flirtation they’d begun over the last week could be destroyed. So it was just as well that her son stood nearby.
    “So, can I have the tree, Mom? Pleeeeese.”
    Ellie nodded. “I guess you two have me outnumbered.” She dug into her bag. “Seventy-five, right?”
    “You don’t owe me anything.”
    “No way.”
    “Employee’s discount.”
    “Oh, come on.”
    Reece held up his hand. “We’re done.”
    Ellie touched his arm. “I can’t get over you.”
    Those words sent his heart reeling. If only it were true. He sensed an attraction between them, but every time the cute teasing went too far she tensed up and backed off. “When do you want the tree?”
    “A week or so, I guess.”
    Brandon whined. “What if somebody else comes along and cuts it down?”
    “Hey, Brandon, don’t forget I own this place. Didn’t you notice the special marker I put on it?” Reece showed him a branch with a blue ribbon and a tag tied to it. “That means nobody will mess with it.” 
    “Promise?”
    “Yep. But you’ve got to promise me you’ll make some really cool decorations for it today.”
    “I will. With pinecones and lots of sparkles.”
    His earnest tone and wide eyes tickled Reece. He gave him a thumbs up, thinking how great it would be to have a son like Brandon. What kind of loser would abandon his own kid?
    Standing here in the bright winter sunlight, inhaling the fresh scent of evergreen, Reece allowed himself to imagine Ellie and Brandon were his. And for a moment a warm contentment filled him.
    They dropped Brandon off at the little Santa house where Reece’s sister and her son Tommy held