Read The Christmas Proposition for Free Online

to him, adding ground beans to the coffeemaker.
    “Would you like a brownie with ice cream?” Lexi gestured to the plate of chocolate squares on the counter in front of her.
    Derek hesitated. They looked delicious, but he’d eaten two sloppy joes and way too many appetizers while watching the game. Still, he did like chocolate….
    “Don’t worry,” a small voice said. “My mommy made them herself. They’re super good.”
    Even though there seemed to be a gazillion kids running around the house tonight, he immediately made the connection. It wasn’t difficult. The child was the spitting image of her mother. “You must be Lexi’s daughter.”
    “That’s right. I’m Addie.” The child slanted a sideways glance at Mickie, who’d just walked up. “He’s smart. I like him.”
    Mickie’s cheeks turned a bright red. “How did you like the football game?”
    “It was okay.” Derek elbowed Travis in the side. “Though the company left a lot to be desired.”
    “Hey, any more talk like that and we won’t invite you back,” Travis shot back.
    “I think I may have something to say about that.” Mary Karen chuckled. “This is my house after all.”
    Mickie stiffened and exchanged a worried glance with Addie.
    “It’s okay.” Derek placed a reassuring hand on Mickie’s shoulder. “We’re just joking.”
    “Why don’t you girls grab some dessert and take it over there.” Mary Karen gestured with her head to a card table in the corner of the kitchen. The boys had been put to bed, but Addie and Mickie had been allowed to stay up.
    Carefully balancing her dessert, Addie made her way to the table, but Mickie stayed put, her gaze firmly fixed on Derek. “I have something to ask you.”
    Mickie looked so serious, the teasing words he’d been about to say died on his tongue. “What is it?”
    She took a deep breath. “You’re giving private pitching lessons this Saturday, right?”
    “I am.” He wondered how she knew, then remembered the topic coming up when everyone was getting their food earlier.
    “Will you give me a lesson?”
    She looked so earnest, he hated to turn her down, but he didn’t have a choice. “I’d love to, sweetheart,” he said. “But I’m afraid all the slots are filled.”
    A stricken look crossed the child’s face. “Please. You said I had a good arm.” She clasped her hands together and lifted them as if praying. “I’m not good at anything, but I’d like to be. Can’t you please help me? Pretty please.”
    “Mickie, Mr. Rossi said no,” Rachel said from across the room, her voice firm but gentle.
    The girl’s shoulders dropped. Her bottom lip trembled. The look on her face said he’d dashed a lifelong dream by not giving her a private lesson. He thought for a moment, considering the options. “Come around noon. All the appointments will be over by then.”
    “Derek, you don’t have to do that,” Rachel said.
    He smiled, feeling his spirits lift. At least Rachel was talking to him now. He placed a hand on Mickie’s shoulder. “I like helping aspiring ballplayers.”
    “Afterward you can come to Rachel’s house and have lunch with us.” The words tumbled from Mickie’s lips, one word chasing the other. “You can meet Fred, Rachel’s bloodhound. He’s super sweet. He—”
    “Mickie,” Rachel interrupted. “I’m sure Mr. Rossi has better things to do.”
    “Actually, I don’t.” Even if he had, Derek would have changed them. The pleading look in the girl’s eyes tugged at his heartstrings. He shifted his gaze to Rachel. “Unless you have other plans?”
    For the first time he was aware of other eyes on them. Let them stare, he thought. There was only one person’s response he cared about.
    “No.” Rachel reached behind her and pushed the start on the coffeemaker, her cheeks a becoming pink. “No plans.”
    “Great.” He exhaled the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. “I’ll see you both at noon on Saturday.”
    “Thank you