Christmas In Paradise (Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

attention on Tj. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I’ve heard such wonderful things about you.”
    Tj felt her heart pound in her chest as she realized that the dimple on the side of his mouth had the same effect on her heart as Gracie’s dimple when she grinned. Tj tried to rein in her emotions. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to agree to anything the smooth-talking Navy man asked for, which was something she most definitely did not want to do.
    “Why don’t we all take a seat,” Hunter suggested as he took Tj’s hand and led her to the conference table on the other end of his large office. “Have you been back in port long?” he inquired politely after everyone was seated.
    “A few days. I needed to take care of a few things so that I ’d be free to spend the entire month at Paradise Lake. As I indicated when we spoke on the phone, I’m hoping to get to know my daughter as well as I can before I leave on my next tour.”
    Tj knew she should say something at this point , but other than pleading with the man not to take her sister away from her, her mind had gone blank.
    “ Before we take you out to the resort to meet the family, we thought we should discuss a few things,” Hunter continued.
    “I think that ’s a good idea.”
    Hunter looked at Tj , who replied with a look of panic.
    “First of all, ” Hunter began on Tj’s behalf, “given the circumstances, we’d like to introduce you as a friend of the family. Gracie had a tough time after her mother died. She’s finally settled into a comfortable routine in which she feels safe and secure. We don’t want to see that threatened.”
    Tj held her breath as she waited for the man to reply. His answer, she figured, would tell her a lot about his true intentions.
    “I was going to suggest something similar,” Jordan agreed. He looked directly at Tj. “I’ll only be here for a month. It’s not my intention to disrupt all of the good things you’ve done for Gracie. When I got the letter informing me that I might be a father, I panicked. I’m at sea the majority of my time. Many men in my position find a way to have families, but I’m not married and have no plans to change that anytime soon. There’s no way I can raise a child. I want to assure you that I was very relieved to hear that you were willing to continue on as Gracie’s guardian.”
    Tj signed in relief. “I ’m very happy to hear that.”
    “I realize we both have only the word of your mother’s friend that I even am Gracie’s biological father. I’m willing to take a paternity test if you’d like.”
    Tj looked at Hunter. They’d talked about having a formal test done when the captain arrived. He looked like Gracie, but she realized that many men had brown hair and brown eyes, though not everyone had the little girl’s dimple.
    “I think that for now we ’re fine with introducing you as a friend of the family,” Tj answered. “As long as you’re content in the role of a friend, I don’t think testing will be necessary just yet.”
    “Very well.”
    “How about we refer to you as Uncle Jordan?” Tj suggested. “The girls have several honorary uncles in their lives, including Hunter. They understand that an honorary uncle is a special kind of friend who might not be family but is more than just a friend.”
    “Uncle Jordan is fine. Do you have any questions for me?”
    Tj considered the broad-shouldered man as she gathered her thoughts. She could tell by the way he held himself that he was used to being in charge of everyone and everything around him, including, she imagined, his own emotions. It was hard for her to imagine the man with her mother, who had always been such a mess. Tj loved her mother in her own way, but she had always realized that she’d never been one who’d been able to take care of her own needs, let alone the needs of her children, for long periods of time.
    “Did you know my mother was married when you . . . when Gracie was