A Hickory Ridge Christmas by Dana Corbit Read Free Book Online

door behind him and stood in front of it with his arms crossed. “Been there, done that. I’m over it. How about you?” His gaze locked with hers and wouldn’t let go.
    â€œWhat are you two talking about?”
    At Grant’s words, Hannah could finally pull her gaze away. Her friend was staring at them both by turns, and then he faced her alone.
    â€œIt’s him, isn’t it? He’s the reason—”
    Grant managed to stop himself before he said more, but Hannah ached for his hurt feelings. That she’d never led him to believe there could be more than friendship between them didn’t seem to exonerate her for putting him in this awkward situation.
    â€œI’m sorry, Grant,” she found herself saying, though she couldn’t imagine what she would say next.
    Rather that looking at her for confirmation of his assumption, Grant turned back to Todd. “Maybe you’d just better leave right now.”
    Todd started out by holding his hands wide. “Look, friend, I don’t have a problem with you, but—”
    â€œI’m not your friend.” Grant took a step toward Todd, but instead of holding his hands wide, he had them tight by his sides, fisted. “But I am Hannah’s. And since she doesn’t seem to want you here…”
    Immediately, Todd’s posture tightened, and he stepped forward, as well. “Don’t you think that’s her decision?”
    â€œShe already said this isn’t a good time.”
    Hannah couldn’t believe her eyes as she looked back and forth between them. With all this male posturing, they looked like a pair of gorillas, pounding their chests and announcing their dominance. The two of them standing their ground, just feet apart, would have been comical if the situationhadn’t been so not funny. Her daughter was right in the next room.
    Stepping to the side, Hannah peered into the living room. Rebecca was sprawled on the floor in front of the TV with her elbows jutting out and her head cradled between her tiny hands. Maybe “Aunt TV” wasn’t so bad just this once.
    When she returned to the front hall, Hannah stepped between the two men. “You know, maybe we should all just call it a night. Can I give you a rain check on dinner, Grant? I didn’t get started the way I’d planned, anyway.”
    Grant gave her a distracted glance. “That’s fine, Hannah. I’ll just show him the door first.” He pointed around her at Todd.
    â€œI’m not leaving again until Hannah and I have some things settled, so you can go ahead.”
    Sidestepping Hannah, Grant faced Todd again. “Can’t you see she doesn’t want you here?”
    â€œAnd can’t you see this is between Hannah and me? I’m her friend, too—at least I was, once upon a time.”
    â€œSome kind of friend you were.” Grant spat the words. “Friends don’t take advantage of an innocent girl and leave her alone and pregnant.”
    â€œStop it, you two!” Hannah looked around when she realized she’d raised her voice, but since Rebecca didn’t scurry into the room, she figured she hadn’t been as loud as she thought. Still, she spoke at just above a whisper. “I mean it.”
    Todd looked directly at Grant, not appearing to have heard Hannah at all. “It wasn’t like that. I lo—”He stopped himself, waving his hand as if to wipe away what he’d almost said.
    That nearly spoken word stopped Hannah when she should have been shoving both Neanderthals toward the door. After everything, Todd still claimed he’d loved her back then. Maybe he really remembered it that way, though it had probably just been infatuation, just a teenage hormone-induced haze. She knew that feeling well. She’d made the same mistaken assumption in her own heart.
    â€œYou don’t know anything about it,” Todd said to Grant.
    â€œI’ve