Risky Christmas Read Online Free

Brian, serving her daughters first this time.
    â€œIs it as good as the cookies?”
    â€œBetter,” she said.
    His brows rose in agreement as he took a first bite. “Wow.”
    Leah lifted a spoon to her mouth, enjoying the sweet, tart cherries and creamy vanilla ice cream. By the time dessert was over, they were all stuffed. Mandy and Alyssa had both been up since the crack of dawn and looked tired. Leah put on a Disney movie for them and returned to the kitchen, surprised to see Brian at the sink.
    â€œI thought I’d help you load the dishwasher.”
    â€œIt doesn’t work,” she said, surprised. “I’ve never used it.”
    â€œDo you mind if I take a look?”
    â€œGo ahead.”
    He glanced into the cabinet under the sink, checking the wiring. “It’s not hooked up right.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œI can fix it if you want.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest, drumming her fingertips against her elbows. “How long will it take?”
    â€œHalf an hour.”
    â€œWhat do you charge?”
    He shrugged. “A plate of leftovers.”
    â€œI was going to offer you that anyway.”
    â€œThen it’s a deal. I’ll get my tools.”
    Brian came back five minutes later with a scarred metal toolbox. Setting it on the floor, he opened the sink cabinet and hunkered down. “You have an old towel?”
    She had nothing but old towels. Grabbing a couple of different sizes from the bathroom, she brought them to him. He placed one of the large ones over the lip of the cabinet, making a more comfortable spot to lean against. Then he stretched out on his back and got to work, unscrewing bolts and taking the plumbing apart.
    With his head under the sink and his long legs sticking out, he should have looked odd. Instead he seemed at ease, even masterful. There was something very manly about this task. As he cranked a wrench, shifting his weight in the cramped space, the hem of his T-shirt rode up, revealing a strip of his taut abdomen. She averted her gaze.
    John had never been handy with tools.
    Leah concentrated on putting away the leftovers. She packed a hefty portion of ham, potatoes, and green beans into a plastic container for Brian. Thenshe wrapped a piece of cherry torte in foil and added a tin of cookies to the stash.
    â€œThere,” he said, making a final adjustment. “Turn it on.”
    She pressed the button to start the dishwasher. Water rushed into the machine, beginning a new cycle. “It works!”
    He moved his head out from underneath the sink. “Run it once without any dishes to make sure.”
    â€œThank you so much,” she said, marveling at his skills. She’d been meaning to get the dishwasher fixed for ages. “You’re a lifesaver.”
    â€œIt was nothing.”
    â€œAre you sure I can’t pay you?”
    He gathered up his tools, preparing to leave. “I’m sure.”
    Leah was both sorry and relieved to see him go. Although she enjoyed his company and appreciated his help, his presence unnerved her in a way she didn’t want to analyze. She also couldn’t afford to let anyone get too close. Intuition told her that Brian Cosgrove had a canny mind, along with deft hands.
    To keep her children safe, she had to stay guarded.
    Turning back to the counter, she put the food containers in a striped gift bag. “Merry Christmas,” she said, handing it to him.
    He accepted the bag with a polite nod and she saw him out, locking the door behind him. As soon as he was gone, the house seemed empty. And too quiet. She went to check on the girls, noting that Alyssa had fallen asleep with Dr. Elmo in her arms. Mandy was still watching 101 Dalmations.
    Leah curled up beside her, staring sightlessly at the screen.
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    Brian wasn’t able to relax when he came home from Leah’s.
    The meal had been fantastic. Even after tasting her cookies, he hadn’t