Perfectly Matched (The Blue Willow Brides Book #3): A Novel by Maggie Brendan Read Free Book Online Page B

dropped by, don’t you?” Anna grinned at her and Callie laughed.
    “So you did. I’m sure Edward would have asked us tonight if you could join our group.”
    Anna laid aside the towel. “You’re being nice. I shouldn’t have gone snooping like some lovesick adolescent whose beauwas courting another lady.” She bit her quivering lip, surprised at her own admission of jealousy.
    Callie looked shocked and reached to take her hands. “Oh, goodness! You have nothing to fear on that line. Edward and I are just friends. We’ve known each other since we were children. Please don’t give the notion another thought!” she said, her eyebrows scrunching together.
    “That’s good to know, Callie, because I could use a friend here in Denver.”
    Callie squeezed Anna’s hands. “Then you have one! Now let’s go have a slice of the cake I prepared.”
    The others’ conversation was quiet, and Pearl was busy filling the cups with coffee. She smiled at Anna as they entered, and the conversation ceased. Anna wondered if they’d been talking about her behind her back. Perhaps they had—but she couldn’t worry over what was done. She took a seat on the settee next to Edward, who balanced his slice of cake on his knees.
    “I’ll finish serving the cake,” Callie said to Pearl, who handed her the knife and then licked a speck of icing on her fingertip.
    “As usual, it tastes delicious!” Pearl said as she took the plate that Callie held out.
    “Now that we’ve all settled back, why don’t we finish up before the evening is over?” Chris suggested.
    “Good idea.” Harvey nodded. “Anna, have you read Dickens’s book A Christmas Carol ?”
    Anna set her fork down and swallowed her cake. “Indeed I have. Several times. There are many lessons about human nature between those pages, and I felt such compassion for Tiny Tim’s character. It brings England’s poverty to our consciousness by drawing on our own sentimentality of the Christmas spirit.”
    There were murmurs of agreement around the room. Edward glanced over at her with an admiring look. Was he surprised at her knowledge of the book?
    “Scrooge was a greedy old man, of which there are a few in this town, I’ll wager,” Pearl summarized. “I’m glad we’ve been reading this long before Christmas is upon us.”
    “I couldn’t agree with you more, Pearl.” Callie bobbed her head. “What about you, Edward?”
    Edward was thoughtful for a second. “I’m happy to say I don’t think I’m a miserly shop owner like Scrooge who mistreats my clerk like he did Cratchit . . . at least I don’t think I’m anything like that.”
    “Well, of course you’re not, Edward.” Pearl laughed. “Well, I for one thoroughly enjoyed the book. Who gets to choose the next book?”
    “First, I move to nominate Anna as a member of our group.” Callie grinned at Anna. “It’s obvious that she’s quite well read.”
    Harvey leaned forward. “I second the motion. Anyone else in agreement?”
    “I very much agree.” Pearl sat straighter in her chair, smiling at Anna.
    “Great idea, Callie. Anna will be a lovely asset, but we men better watch out or we’ll be outnumbered soon.” Chris chuckled.
    “It would be nice to have Anna join us. I didn’t want to leave her at home,” Edward said.
    Callie set her cup down. “Good! Then I’d like to suggest that as our newest member, Anna has the honor of choosing our next title.”
    Everyone’s eyes bore into her, and she was momentarily surprised. Quickly she came up with an idea. Glancing slylyat Edward, Anna answered, “How about the book of Song of Solomon from the Bible?”
    A leaf drifting to the ground beyond the window could almost be heard in the silence that followed. Anna felt Edward stiffen, so she risked a glance at him. Seated so close to him, she was keenly aware of his nearness and his masculinity. He wasn’t built like Daniel in physical strength, but he had a certain force about him that alluded