'Tis the Season Read Online Free Page B

having Gracie join him in the conference room might accomplish what his hint hadn’t: bringing the proceedings to a swift end. Before Jennifer could halt him, he moved around the table, opened the door and peered down the hall. “Gracie? We’re in here.”
    His daughter popped out of Heather’s office and skipped over to him. Her unbuttoned jacket flapped open and her lunch box clattered as the empty thermos rolled around inside it. Her cheeks were pink from the chilly evening air, and her eyes sparkled. She looked, if not spunky, at least a bit more energetic than she had yesterday.
    â€œHi, Daddy.”
    He hunkered down and spread his arms so she couldrace into them. Hugging her, he whispered, “I’m stuck in a meeting. Wanna keep me company?”
    â€œOkay.”
    He straightened up, reached for her hand and led her into the conference room. She gazed around, her tawny hair tousled, her hazel eyes wary. Stuart was spared a hesitant smile—she recognized him because he usually gave her candy when he saw her, and today was no exception. After digging in his pocket, he pulled out a breath mint. Gracie sprinted around the table and took it. “Thank you.”
    â€œYou’re welcome, sugar,” he said, chucking her chin. She hated when anyone did that—chucked her chin, pinched her cheek, scruffed her hair—but since he’d just given her a candy, she didn’t complain.
    Evan resumed his seat and Gracie climbed into his lap. She slammed her lunch box down on the table with a loud clunk, then turned her attention to the Georgians.
    They seemed nonplussed by her presence. They stared at her. She stared back. After a moment, they looked away, defeated. Evan’s chest swelled with pride at the thought that his young daughter could derail these two gasbags with little more than her dimple-cute face and laser-sharp gaze.
    â€œWell,” one of them finally said, “I believe we’ve covered everything of importance. Do you have any questions?”
    â€œNone at all,” Evan said brightly, restraining himself from boosting Gracie into the air and hooting triumphantly. “I appreciate your having traveled all this way to discuss your product. I’ll want to read the literature you brought with you before we make any decisions.”
    Next to him, Jennifer bristled but smiled. “I thinkwe’re all very impressed with Pep Insoles,” she said, shooting Evan a lethal look and then regaining her smile for the reps. “We’ll be getting back to you very soon.”
    â€œWithin the next few weeks,” Evan quickly told them, overruling her. They’d made him sweat out this marathon presentation. He’d let them sweat out his decision about whether his chain of stores was going to carry Pep Insoles.
    Gracie slid down from Evan’s knees, yanked her lunch box off the table and said, “That was a good meeting, Daddy. I liked it a lot.”
    â€œI’m glad you did,” he said, then winked at Jennifer, who glowered at him and mouthed, I want to talk to you . He nodded, then circled the table to shake the reps’ hands and feign his utter delight at their having traveled all the way to Arlington, Connecticut, to consume several precious hours of his life. Then he walked out of the conference room with Gracie, abandoning Stuart and Jennifer to perform the closing courtesies.
    â€œWe can’t leave quite yet,” he warned Gracie as they headed toward his office. “Jennifer wants to talk to me.”
    â€œI don’t like her,” Gracie said.
    â€œShe works very hard, and she’s good for the business.”
    â€œYeah, but she’s a grouch. She never smiles. I like Heather.”
    Evan decided not to inform his daughter that Heather hated children. “Was it fun having her pick you up?” he asked.
    Gracie trooped into his office ahead of him. “Yeah. Molly said you need to pick me up