A Family Under the Christmas Tree Read Online Free PDF Page B

snow.” She giggled. “The best excuse to buy new cold weather clothes.”
    â€œCongratulations.”
    â€œLet’s hope so. Just because they put me on hold, meaning they have first dibs on my time, doesn’t mean they will actually use me. It could fall through. But this is still huge. I’ve been trying to get in with them for years. It’s the kind of job every commercial and fashion photographer hopes for. If I get it, it will mean lots more work down the road. Larissa says she’ll have firm travel details from them by Christmas.”
    â€œWhen would you leave?”
    She glanced at the email details. “I’m guessing right after New Year’s. This is perfect timing.” Everything was falling into place. She sent up a silent prayer that nothing would derail her plans.

CHAPTER
3
    S itting there on Louise’s front porch, wet and cold from chasing Troy, David’s mind kept going back to the fear he’d felt when he thought he’d lost the child. To the joy of finding him. To how very grateful he was for Sophie and Riggs.
    He slanted an appreciative glance at the woman seated next to him. Her rain hat was askew, and her clothes were wet and splattered with mud. Her cheeks were flushed and her blue eyes were bright like a summer day as she met his gaze.
    Daniel would have said that God had sent David his own private miracle in the form of a beautiful woman and an uncannily intelligent dog. David wasn’t too sure he trusted God or anyone else to care about him that much. Faith had been Daniel’s thing.
    David’s gaze dropped to Sophie’s mouth. Her lush lips curved in a soft smile. The longing to lean close and kiss her gripped him in a tight vise. His mouth went dry and he jerked his gaze away.
    Not going there.
    He didn’t want or need any additional complications in his life. He had more than enough to deal with, and adding an attraction to his neighbor’s granddaughter wasn’t an option.
    â€œI should take Troy home and get him cleaned up,” David said, breaking the silence. He needed some distance.
    â€œRight.” She scrambled to her feet. “Me, too. I mean, not the go with you part, but I should get Riggs cleaned up. And myself.”
    She was cute all flustered. Maybe he wasn’t the only one feeling the pull of attraction here. That was a dangerous thought. Yet, his ego didn’t mind too much.
    The front door opened and Louise rolled out in her wheelchair. “I thought I heard voices out here.” She looked David up and down. “Oh, my. Did you fall in a mud puddle?”
    He glanced down at himself. His jeans were filthy and stained brown. The front of his jacket was crusted with dirt. He didn’t even want to think about the mud in his hair and plastered to his face. He did look like he’d fallen in a mud puddle. Great. He hadn’t felt this uncomfortable and self-conscious since high school. Definitely time to go.
    â€œSomething like that,” he said. “Troy, let’s go home.”
    â€œAwww, Uncle David! Not yet.” Troy doggedly hung on to a tree branch while Riggs held the other end between his teeth and backed up, nearly dragging Troy off balance.
    Sensing another scene coming on, David braced himself. “Troy, please.”
    â€œOh, my,” Louise said as she caught sight of Troy. She laughed. “It seems you all took a bath in the mud.”
    â€œTroy ran away,” Sophie said softly, so Troy wouldn’t hear. “We found him hiding under a bush in the park. David and Riggs went in after him.”
    Concern drew Louise’s eyebrows together. “Why would he do that?”
    â€œI’d promised him we’d go to the park, but I had work to get done first. He didn’t want to wait.” David rubbed a hand over his chin. Flakes of dried mud fell away into his palm. He dropped his hand. “I don’t know how to make him understand