Free All I Want For Christmas by Ann Roth

And deeply troubled because throughout the day, even when they’d bought Sam’s birthday gift, his daughter had talked nonstop about Tina.
    She’d known the woman barely a week, but already she was way too attached. Not that Ryan blamed his daughter. He liked Tina, too. He’d sure enjoyed kissing her. In fact, since the other night, he’d thought about little else, and had fantasized about doing a whole lot more than just kissing her. Even dreamed about her—erotic things that left him frustrated and hungry.
    Tough, because he wasn’t doing a thing about it. Tonight, he’d be civil and nothing more.
    If that wasn’t enough, tomorrow was the first day of his bank’s month-long promotion to bring in new deposits and loans. Without support from Corporate, keeping his staff pumped would be no easy feat, and Ryan dreaded what lay ahead.
    While he loaded the dishwasher, he thought about the Island Banking Corporation. Cheap bastards. The thing was, he loved banking. Just not this banking job. What he wouldn’t give to start a new one and show them how a well-run bank operated.
    But Maggie came first, and Ryan refused to waste any more time thinking about that challenge. It was either hold on to this job or find some other low-level position.
    Dishes done, he riffled through the paper for the sports section, which he hadn’t read yet. With Tina due any minute, he probably wouldn’t be able to read much of it just now.
    He owed her for pointing out that Maggie felt responsible for making him happy. All day he’d tried to joke around and pretend things were great, but lack of sleep and his mixed-up feelings for Tina had gotten in the way, and he’d done a lousy job. Lucky for him, today his daughter hadn’t noticed his crappy mood. She was too excited about Sam’s parties and Tina coming over tonight.
    Suddenly Maggie showed up in the kitchen.
    â€œEggwhite wanted her cage to look pretty for Tina, so I cleaned it all by myself,” she proudly announced.
    â€œYou did, huh?”
    The cage was on the bookcase in her room, and Ryan’s head filled with visions of wood chips and shredded news-print littering the carpet. Tina would think he was a lousy housekeeper, though why he cared what she thought was beyond him. He eyed his daughter. “What did you do with the dirty shavings?”
    She sighed like an adult answering a tiresome question. “Put it in the garbage can in the garage, just like always.” She headed toward the refrigerator and opened it.
    â€œStill hungry?”
    â€œNo, Daddy, I need lettuce for Eggwhite.” She all but disappeared inside the appliance.
    â€œHelp yourself,” he said, smiling to himself, since she already had.
    When Maggie had her lettuce, she headed for the stairs. Newspaper in hand, Ryan trailed her as far as the living room. The doorbell rang, and she wheeled toward it.
    â€œThat’s her! Tina’s here, Daddy!” She shoved lettuce leaves at him, then raced for the door. Jumping up and down, she opened it. “Hi, Tina! Come in.”
    â€œThanks.”
    Tina stepped inside, bringing a rush of cold and the scent of fresh air with her. She’d probably been outside all of a minute, but her cheeks were pink and she was slightly breathless. Her unpainted lips opened a fraction, the bottom one looking slightly chapped.
    Nothing remotely sexy in that. But Ryan knew the taste of those lips. For all his resolve, he wanted to kiss her again. And more. Setting his jaw—he would be civil, period—he gave a terse nod. “Tina.”
    She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. She must’ve been doing that a lot lately. “Hello, Ryan.”
    Maggie stared up at her, too distracted to remember to close the door. Tina shut it, then slid a quizzical glance toward the lettuce in his hands.
    â€œA treat for Eggwhite,” he said, handing the greens to