Holiday in Your Heart Read Online Free

many nearly new clothes, shoes, and bags, some with designer labels, were donated.
    As she walked, she exchanged greetings with a few townspeople. Caribou Crossing was small and she’d lived there all her life, which meant she had at least a passing acquaintance with many of the residents. Once she got pregnant, there would be gossip, but she’d ride it out. Folks liked her and they’d be sympathetic. Her child wouldn’t suffer as a result of her decision to be a single parent. As for male companionship and role models for her little one, she knew loads of great guys, some of them married to good friends of hers, who’d provide that.
    Hennessey Auto Repair, on the outskirts of town, had the usual half-dozen cars parked outside, including her red-and-white Mini Cooper. The doors of the auto bays were closed against the cold, but light shone through the windows. As she approached the building, a cinnamon-brown dog skittered away and ran under one of the parked cars. Unleashed; maybe a runaway? If it was still there when she came out again, she’d call the shelter. The temperature was dipping below freezing these nights, and the animal shouldn’t be fending for itself.
    Maribeth went in the front door to the office and reception area, which was deserted. No surprise. Like her, Hank ran his business single-handedly much of the time. His two kids had chosen other careers, and though he sometimes hired an assistant, things never worked out for long. She had to wonder what the town would do when the aging mechanic decided to retire, since his was the only repair shop in town.
    Knowing Hank would be in the auto bays working on a car, she went on through. That distinctive machine-shop scent of oil and metal filled her nostrils, and as usual the radio was playing. Jason Aldean was telling his lady friend that they were just getting started. Raising her voice so it would carry over the music, she said, “Hank?”
    A muffled grunt was her response.
    Following the sound, and unbuttoning her heavy coat, she stepped carefully around a big-wheeled truck to see overall-clad legs protruding from under a green car so ancient that it had fins. A couple of clangs came from under the car, and then the man began to slide out on one of those roller-tray thingies.
    But was that Hank? The legs were awfully long and the waist very lean for the stocky mechanic. A torso in grimy overalls slid into sight, and then finally—no, that definitely wasn’t Hank. Maribeth stared at a strikingly handsome face framed with longish, wavy, black hair.
    â€œHey,” the man said, swinging up from the rolling mechanic’s board and getting lithely to his feet, giving her a slow-breaking smile that flashed white against brown skin.
    Wow. That smile scored higher on “dazzle factor” than Tom Cruise’s. “Hi. So Hank has a new assistant.”
    â€œJust started today. I’m Mo.”
    She read male appreciation in his eyes, which wasn’t the least bit unusual. What was less common was the responding ripple of heat through her blood. The man truly was hot. “Maribeth,” she said. “Also known as MB. So, where’s Hank?” Had he left a brand-new assistant in charge of the shop?
    â€œSome family thing came up and he was needed at his daughter’s house. What can I do for you, Maribeth?”
    His voice was purely masculine with a slight rough edge like callus on fingertips. It distracted her so that she barely caught his actual words. “I came to pick up my car. It’s the Mini parked outside.”
    â€œSure. Let’s see if we can find your keys and an invoice.” He gestured toward the office.
    She walked ahead of him and rounded the counter to stand on the customer side.
    He took a small key ring from his pocket, unlocked a cabinet behind the counter, and rummaged inside. “This’ll be yours.” He produced her spare key.
    As she took it from him,