For Love and Family Read Online Free PDF Page B

Johnny….
    â€œI’m sorry I’m late,” she said in lieu of a greeting as he pushed open the screen. “I’m the chairwoman for the committee that gave this dinner tonight and I just couldn’t seem to get away.”
    â€œIt’s okay. The man of the hour is still awake and champing at the bit to meet you,” the rancher said in that lush, masculine voice she’d been hearing call her name in her dreams.
    As if on cue, a little boy bounded down the stairs behind Hunter just then, shouting as he did, “Is she here? Is she here?”
    â€œWhat’d I tell you about comin’ down those steps more slowly and holdin’ on to the railing so you don’t fall, little man?” Hunter asked sternly.
    â€œI know,” the small boy grumbled half under his breath. “But is she here?”
    Hunter still didn’t answer that. He turned back to Terese, propped the screen open with his backside and reached for her suitcase.
    â€œI hope you’re ready for this,” he said. “Come on in.”
    â€œThanks,” Terese muttered as she crossed the threshold in front of him, catching a whiff of a light, heady aftershave that smelled like a pine forest.
    The big man had been blocking a clear view of the little boy but once she’d stepped into the entrywayJohnny was right there, in full sight, fidgeting with excitement.
    â€œI’m Johnny!” the pajama and necktie-clad child proclaimed proudly.
    Terese had no idea how his father had explained her so, as she drank in that first opportunity to set eyes on him in four years, she simply said, “Hi, Johnny. I’m Terese.” But there was a catch in her throat as a combination of emotions put moisture in her eyes and made her smile too big at the same time.
    There he is, she just kept thinking as he held out a tiny hand for her to shake as if she were a visiting dignitary.
    He couldn’t have been more adorable with that chubby-cheeked, freckled face, that turned-up nose and that fiery red hair that he’d done something with to make it stand at attention in front. And in that instant, Terese fell in love with him all over again.
    She wanted badly to scoop him up and hug him, but of course she didn’t do that for fear of frightening him. She did probably hold on to his hand a shade longer than she should have.
    â€œNice to meet you, Johnny,” she said, finally letting go of him.
    â€œWhat’s our deal?” Hunter asked then.
    Terese glanced over her shoulder at him to see whom he was talking to and found him leaning a shoulder against the door he’d just closed, his thumbs hooked in the pockets of his slacks, observing this meeting.
    His question had been aimed at his son, though, and Johnny knew it because the little boy said, “I can show her ’round the house and have one short story and then I have to go to sleep.” It had been a recitation peppered with reluctance and it made Terese smile all over again. Especially when Johnny added, “Can our company read me the story?”
    â€œOur company’s name is Miss Warwick.”
    â€œOh, no, please, I’m Terese,” she implored.
    â€œOkay. It’s up to Terese whether or not she wants to read you a story. Maybe she’d rather get settled in,” Hunter told his son.
    â€œI’d love to read the story,” Terese interjected.
    â€œShe’d love to read the story,” Johnny repeated for his father, making Hunter chuckle.
    He raised his sculpted chin in the general direction of the house then. “Okay. Well, get to it, Mr. Tour Guide.”
    A tour guide was exactly the persona the small child put on for her as he led Terese from the entryway to the living room that opened to the right.
    â€œThis is where we play games and watch TV,” Johnny said as if Terese wouldn’t know what the room was used for otherwise. “There’s not s’posed to be food in here