All I Want For Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

need help with the fax machine, let me know.”
    Tina nodded. “I will, and thanks again.”
    â€œTina!” G. G. called out. “I need help!”
    â€œI’ll be right there,” Tina answered in a loud voice. “She can’t get out of bed by herself,” she explained. “Can you let yourself out?”

    I NSTEAD OF LEAVING , Ryan waited quietly by the front door. Tina was a slight woman, several inches shorter and a good fifty pounds lighter than G. G. He couldn’t imagine how she’d manage to get the woman out of bed, and he wasn’t about to disappear until he knew everything was okay.
    Standing here, when he was supposed to have left, didn’t feel right, and he considered heading down the hall and offering help. But that might embarrass G. G. So he stood still and eavesdropped. In the small house, it wasn’t that hard.
    â€œHow are you feeling this morning?” Tina asked, sounding both caring and cautious.
    â€œI hurt, and I need to use the bathroom.”
    â€œGrab hold of my arms and I’ll pull you up.”
    A few grunts and unhappy groans punctuated the silence. In no time, G. G.’ s walker was clattering over the hall floor. How Tina had gotten her up and out of bed was beyond Ryan. The bathroom door creaked open, then clicked shut.
    â€œNeed any help?” Tina called, apparently standing outside the door.
    â€œI’m not a baby, Tina.” G. G.’ s muffled voice sounded cranky, and then some. Ryan had never heard her be anything but warm and loving. He felt for Tina.
    Her heavy sigh was hard to miss. “Shall I make you a bowl of oatmeal?”
    â€œI’d rather do it myself.”
    â€œWhen your hip is better, you will.”
    â€œGo ahead and make it, then, but don’t forget, I like it thick and lumpy.”
    â€œAll right, I’ll be in the kitchen. Yell if you need me.”
    Ryan slipped out before she saw him.

    T HANKS TO stopping at G. G.’ s, Ryan was late for his own meeting. When he pulled into the parking lot of the Halo Island Bank, all three of his employees’ cars were already there.
    Swearing—he’d meant to be the first one here—he eased into the manager slot at the side of the building. He’d intended to drop off the fax machine and leave. But Tina understood about Maggie’s nightmares, so he’d stayed to talk.
    Yeah, that was the reason he’d hung around. His instant attraction to her had nothing to do with it. He laughed at himself. The view of her exceptional behind as she’d bent down to wipe the floor had been bad enough. And that mouth…
    Every time she spoke, he’d zeroed in on her lips. From there, it wasn’t hard to imagine what she tasted like—or what her body would feel like under him.
    Ain’t happenin’, buddy. He set his jaw and pulled up the brake.
    Balancing a box of doughnuts and a cardboard tray of coffee, he punched in the bank’s security code, walked through the double glass doors and strode across the shiny tile floor toward the small conference room off the lobby. His employees were seated around the table waiting for him. Serena, a single mom who worked as a full-time teller; Danielle, a part-time teller barely out of high school; and Jason, the twenty-five-year-old assistant manager, loan officer—and teller, when needed. Ryan liked them, and they seemed comfortable around him.
    â€œSorry I’m late,” he said, setting down the treats. “Help yourselves.” He went to hang up his coat and grab his notes and the new signs Corporate had sent.
    When he returned, they were eating, sipping their coffee and chatting.
    â€œThanks for the treats,” Serena said.
    Ryan nodded. “Thanks for coming in early.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Jason nodded at the large, brown-paper-wrapped package Ryan had set in the corner.
    â€œSigns. We’ll get to them in a minute.” He