Starlight and Tinsel--A Christmas Novella by Judith Hudson

Author:Judith Hudson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Small Town Romance
Publisher: Judith Hudson
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Star hitched a ride home after work with Lily the next day, casting a wry glance at the van as she trudged down the snowy driveway. A fine powder had been falling all day. Afraid the fire in the stove had gone out, she grabbed a couple of logs off the pile as she passed. Probably less than a week’s worth of wood was left at the side of the cabin. Not even a pile anymore; she was down to the last course. She’d pulled a phone number off an advertisement for firewood tacked to the community cork board in the store and would have to dip into her savings to pay for a load. Or maybe she could get away with half a load because, yes, she probably would stay for the winter in Fortune Bay.

She knelt before the open wood stove, but instead of tending the dwindling flames, she stared into the red-hot coals. Coals as hot as his kiss. A smile curled her lips as she piled kindling and one small split piece of wood on top of the glowing embers.

They had a connection, no doubt about that. She’d discovered a kind, caring guy with heat in his veins behind that polite, reserved exterior. Both their futures were up in the air right now, but she’d stay put and ride this thing with Harry out to its end, give it the winter and see where it led.

The low thrum of a motor outside the window had her closing the stove’s iron door with a clang and jumping to her feet. A car door slammed in the driveway and before she could make it onto the porch, she heard voices and a thump against the outside wall. As she stepped outside, another thump. She peered over the railing and down the drive. Harry and Boz were stacking firewood on top of the dwindled pile at the side of the house.

“What are you doing? I didn’t even order that yet.”

Harry dropped two more logs onto the growing stack. “Last night I noticed you were low.”

“I was. I am. Thank you!”

She didn’t know what to say but couldn’t dial down the grin as she raced inside, pulled on her jacket and boots, then ran back outside to help.

The snow was slick on the ground, covering the railing and clinging to the woodpile. She carried a couple of logs from the truck to the pile, but soon felt she was just in the way and retired to watch from the sidelines. The guys worked like a well-oiled machine and, ten minutes later, the job was done.

Harry clanged shut the tailgate and, brushing the sawdust off his gloves, came over to where she stood. She smiled to see a bright red checked shirt under his thermal vest. His cheeks were flushed from the cold and, without even thinking, she reached up and ruffled the snow off his hair. The gesture took them both by surprise and his eyes widened for a second, but then he grinned.

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