Hometown Courtship

Hometown Courtship
Diann Hunt

His matchmaking brother is sending another single gal Brad Sharp's way.Under the guise of community service! The Make a Home project–building houses for the needy–is Brad's life. He fully expects hair stylist Callie Easton to show up for "work" with a pink hammer and not even use it. Hardly a match for him!With a heart of gold and a talent for transformation, Callie works hard. Still, Brad won't notice her. His grief over a tragic loss has hardened his heart. Well, Callie knows all about loss. And thanks to Brad, she knows even more about making a home–for them.

Brad’s gaze landed on her nails. He stared. And stared.

“Coral.”

Callie’s comment visibly jarred him.

“The polish.” She wiggled her fingers. “You like it?”

With a blank stare, he said, “As you can see, we serve coffee and donuts here, so if you skip going to the bakery, you might actually get here on time.”

Her happy day paled a bit.

“Is it the nail polish? Admittedly not a great color for me.”

He said nothing.

“I’ll skip my trip to the bakery in the morning,” Callie said.

“So, you’ll be here by eight-thirty tomorrow morning, right?” Noticeable edge to his voice there.

“Right.”

“Good.” He then explained the program to her, but she didn’t hear a word of it. She couldn’t image how this rude, arrogant man was the same suave, debonair man she’d met at the bakery that morning. She couldn’t believe she’d given up a perfectly good peach scone for this guy. It wouldn’t happen again.

DIANN HUNT

Bestselling author Diann Hunt writes romantic comedy and humorous women’s fiction. She admits to seeing the world from a slightly different angle than most, and she will do just about anything (within reason) for chocolate. Since 2001, she has published three novellas and fifteen novels, including a Women of Faith novel.

Diann lives in Indiana with her real-life hero-husband of 33 years who continually lavishes her with chocolate—well, she can imagine it, can’t she? She’s a fiction writer, after all.

Hometown Courtship

Diann Hunt

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

Dedicated to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

who continually guides my steps.

Special thanks to my editor, Tina Colombo, for her hard work and for joining me with this project! I am blessed to be a part of the Love Inspired team!

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

The strike of the judge’s gavel reverberated through the room, announcing to the entire town of Burrow, Ohio, that she, Callie Easton, had committed a crime. She could almost see the stern glares of the city’s forefathers.