Read Online Yuletide Hearts by Ruth Logan Herne - Free Book Online

crew with him.”
    Hannah’s frown turned into surprise. “Gutsy move. Not like that should surprise me.” She sent a wizened look toward the door as Jeff walked in, looking confident and happy to see his future bride. “They are brothers.” She refocused her attention on Callie as Jeff paused to talk to Melissa, the young woman taking over Hannah’s job at the library. “Are you okay with all this?”
    Callie’s hesitation outed her.
    â€œOh, honey.” Hannah made a face of concern. “You don’t have to work for him, you know. Not if it’s that hard.”
    Hannah had clearly misunderstood her pause in conversation. As Jeff moved into their area, Callie hedged. “It’s fine, really. Matt’s amazing and we’re already making great progress on the houses. And that’s good for Dad, mentally and physically.”
    â€œGlad to hear it.” Jeff slipped an arm around Hannah, planted a soft kiss to her hair, but kept his attention on Callie. “And I told Matt he could stay with me, but he said he was going to finagle a spot onsite because he can’t afford to lose time with the short days now.”
    â€œAnd that’s a fact.” Callie didn’t mention that Matt had moved into their extra room, and that his burly presence added a whole new dimension to their home. That his laugh shook the rafters and his smile…
    Oh, that smile…
    Luckily other committee members began trooping in, saving her from making a complete fool of herself. Jeff moved off to greet people, but Hannah stayed put. She swept Callie an up-and-down look before nodding. “Hmm.”
    Callie frowned. “Hmm?”
    â€œHmm.”
    Hannah tossed Callie a knowing look over her shoulder as she set pens around the table. Callie shook her head, firm. Resolute. “No hmms. Strictly business.”
    â€œI know exactly what you mean.” Hannah jerked a thumb toward Jeff in the crowd of new arrivals. “A few months ago I was fighting tooth and nail to get off this committee. Now I’m marrying my cochair. Oh, I get it, Cal.”
    â€œI barely know the guy,” Callie protested.
    Hannah leaned closer, grinning. “I think that must be one of their special gifts, honey. And I can’t say I’m a bit sorry. But because they are aggravating, industrious, somewhat know-it-all men…”
    â€œWith a great sense of humor.”
    Hannah acknowledged that with a brisk nod. “Call me if you need me. Or if you just want girlfriend time.”
    â€œAren’t you busy planning a wedding?”
    Hannah laughed and lowered her voice as others approached. “Dana took over.”
    Callie grinned. Jeff’s mother was well-known throughout town, a pillar of the community, a stalwart, God-loving woman unafraid to get dirty or put her hand to any task.
    â€œLeaving me free to teach science.” Hannah tipped another smile Callie’s way. “And see my fiancé.”
    â€œPerfect.”
    â€œIt is.” Hannah gave Callie’s hand a light squeeze. “And Matt, well…” Her smile deepened. “Dana raves about him, and I’d trust her opinion on anything. I’m just getting to know him myself, but he seems like one special guy.”
    Callie didn’t need that reminder. Still, it was nice to see the approval and appreciation in Hannah’s eyes because Matt was sharing their home, their food, their table. She faltered, then dropped her gaze to Hannah’s hands, Hannah’s soft skin tweaking her. “Do manicures help?”
    â€œHelp?”
    Heat rumbled up from somewhere deep inside Callie. Notthat she cared about what her hands looked like, but soft skin, pretty nails…
    â€œMy hands take a beating,” she confessed. As committee members started to settle into seats, she held up her hands. “Construction work is tough and this cold, dry weather isn’t exactly