Her Christmas Handyman: Gingerbread Inn

By Laura Ann

Hope's holiday is interrupted when she's accused of stealing from a guest.
Can she prove her innocence before it's too late?

Helping her grandmother after her hip surgery was a no-brainer for Hope Masterson. She and two of her cousins came willing and able to keep the "Gingerbread Inn" up and running. She had no idea she would meet a boy she'd known in her youth, who now worked at the inn. The lanky teen Hope remembers is now a ruggedly handsome man, and amazingly, his sights are set on her.

Enoch Dunlap had been content with his work at the "Gingerbread Inn". As the resident handyman, his life was comfortable and predictable. But when his employer's granddaughters come to help over the holidays, his peaceful existence is turned on its head as soon as he lays eyes on Hope. She's just as quiet as she was when they were younger, but his attraction to her is definitely not a teenage crush.

When food and other items begin to disappear around the inn, everyone is surprised and a little dismissive. But when the thief escalates to stealing jewelry and Hope is accused of doing the deed, they spring into action. Can Hope and Enoch clear her name before it's time to go back to her regular life? And a bigger question...will she even want to?

"Her Christmas Handyman" is the first sweet story in "The Gingerbread Inn" Christmas Romance Trilogy. If you enjoy clean romance with a dash of suspense, you'll adore Laura Ann's charming tale!

Grab your copy of this Sweet, Hallmark-style Romance today!

Don't forget to check out the other books in the series!
Her Christmas Handyman
Her Christmas Baker
Her Christmas Detective

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Ann
• Release date: Nov 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201231880

Book preview

DEDICATION

Every first book is dedicated to my husband.

Without your support, I never would have dared to dream.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

No author works alone. Thank you, Brenda.

You make it Christmas every time

I get a new cover. And thank you to my Beta Team.

Truly, your help with my stories is immeasurable.

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CHAPTER 1

Hope blew out a long breath, using her air to push her bangs out of her face as she trudged up the last few steps of her grandmother’s mansion. A cold breeze swirled through the night, making her nose drip and sending a shiver down her spine. If it wasn’t for the warm, welcoming lights coming from inside the Cliffside Bed and Breakfast, lovingly known as the Gingerbread Inn to the town’s inhabitants, then Hope would be hightailing it back into town and finding a warm corner to read a book in.

After graduating from college with a masters in English last spring, Hope never expected to still be jobless, nor did she expect her Grandma Claire to have an accident that required hip surgery. During her recovery, Grandma Claire had to shut down her family legacy, the bed and breakfast that she ran on the coast in Oregon. Now that Grandma was home, she wanted to open again for Christmas, but needed help.

With the rest of the family busy in their individual lives, help had arrived by way of Hope and two of her cousins, who were hopefully already inside. Shivering in her new winter boots, Hope prayed that her cousin Emory would have some hot chocolate waiting for her.

HOPE! Isabella, or Bella, cried out, throwing open the front door and embracing her cousin. I’m so glad you’re here, Bella whispered as she continued to hug Hope tightly. Bella stepped back, a wide smile on her round face. It’s going to be just like old times! she squealed, doing a little bounce on her toes.

Hope laughed lightly and wiped her feet on the rug. One big slumber party, huh? Is that the plan?

Bella laughed. If we can convince Emory that she doesn’t have to get up at four thirty in the morning to bake, then we might be able to pull it off.

Hope shivered again. Geez. I’m glad I’m not a baker, she mumbled.

Here. Let me take that. Bella grabbed Hope’s suitcase. Is this all you brought? Bella asked incredulously. You do realize we’re going to be here for, like, a whole month at least?

Hope frowned. Uh...yeah. Why would I need more?

Bella blew a raspberry through her lips. I have three times as many suitcases and Emory brought two with kitchen supplies alone. She grinned. Don’t worry. We’ll make a fashionista out of you yet.

Hope resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She had no desire to be a fashionista. Her jeans, blouses and cardigans were comfortable and practical. She planned to be a teacher or a librarian. Why in the world did she need to carry enough clothes with her to fill a warehouse? Hope shook her head. Bella can be the fashionable one. I’ll stick with my favorite accessories...books.

Hope? Is that you, dear?

Hope smiled, left her luggage at the door and hurried through the foyer and into the large sitting room of the mansion. Grandma!

There you are! Grandma Claire held out her arms with a wide smile, waiting for Hope to come to her.

The fact that she stayed sitting down only reminded Hope of her grandmother’s surgery. She looked the older woman over, noting the slightly pale skin and the lack of Grandma Claire’s signature bun. Grandma Claire’s white hair was braided to the side of her head, a hair-do that was probably far easier to create, but took away the ‘Mrs. Santa Claus’ look she had worn for as long as Hope could remember.

How are you? Hope asked softly as she gently hugged her grandmother.

Just dandy, Grandma Claire responded. She leaned back to look Hope in the face. At least I will be when my ridiculous doctor lets me do more.

Hope grinned and shook her head. Leave it to Grandma to want to be on the move. You’re doctor isn’t ridiculous, she said. He wants you to heal, and so do we. That’s why we’re here.

Grandma Claire patted Hope’s cheek. And that’s the best thing to come out of this injury.

Hope straightened and looked to Bella. Where’s Emory?

Bella opened her mouth, but another voice beat her in answering.

I’m here, Emory said, walking into the room with a tray in her arms. She smiled warmly at Hope. I figured you’d be hungry when you arrived.

You’re an angel, Hope breathed, walking over to her other cousin. The three girls had all grown up together and were often called ‘the triplets’ by family members, though they looked very little alike.

Hope had blond hair, while Emory was a true brunette. Bella’s strawberry blonde came in somewhere in the middle. Their builds were just as different. While Hope and Emory were of similar heights, Hope’s curves showed that she didn’t have a relationship with exercise, while Emory’s willowy figure showed off all the time spent doing yoga. Bella had the biggest personality, but was several inches shorter than the other women, coming in at a grand five-foot-two.

The only attribute the girls had in common were the blue Simmons eyes. The cornflower blue color was distinctive and a strong enough trait that most of the family had it, including Grandma Claire.

Mmm... Hope hummed as she chewed the warm chocolate biscotti that Emory had on the tray. This is amazing. She paused. I already gained ten pounds during the last semester of my degree. She playfully glared at her cousin. I was hoping to fit back into my pants while I was here.

Emory smirked. It’s Christmas. I make no promises not to use heavy cream and butter in abundance.

That’s what I’m afraid of, Hope moaned. Laughing together, the cousins embraced. Good to see you, Hope said.

You too, Emory replied. This month will be fun.

Hope stepped back. I hope so. She smiled at her grandmother and Bella, who was sitting next to the older woman. Being here is definitely better than spending the holidays alone in my tiny apartment.

Bella snorted. You need to get out more. Your book boyfriends are good in theory, but they can’t kiss you under the mistletoe.

Hope felt her cheeks heat up. She wasn’t as people-oriented as Bella was, which was easy to see in the fact that Bella wanted to be a journalist. She always wanted to be on the front lines and had no fear of strangers.

Don’t start, Emory sighed, grabbing a mug and walking it over to Grandma Claire. We’re here to help Grandma, not to bicker about our love lives.

What love lives? Bella pouted, folding her arms over her chest.

The one that would get in the way of me opening my bakery, Emory shot back.

Hope grinned. It was nice to know that Emory was on her side. A boyfriend sounded nice, but Hope had no idea where she would meet someone. She spent her time subbing in multiple schools, only being around for a few days before she was reassigned. That made meeting someone at work near impossible. And since she didn’t go anywhere else, her options were limited to say the least.

Never give up hope, my dears, Grandma Claire said with a soft smile as she accepted the mug of cocoa. The Gingerbread Inn has magic of its own. She pumped her eyebrows up and down. And it’s Christmas. You never know what will happen.

Claire?

All four heads swiveled toward the deep, smooth tone.

Hope felt her jaw fall slack as a handsome, dark-haired man stepped into the room. A tool belt sat low on his hips and a tight T-shirt stretched across his chest. He oozed masculinity, and it struck Hope right in the gut.

ENOCH? BELLA ASKED uncertainly. Enoch Dunlap?

Enoch tilted his head and grinned. Guilty as charged.  He studied the pretty redhead in front of him before inspiration dawned. Oh, right! He snapped his fingers. Claire told me her granddaughters were coming. He smiled easily and looked around at all the women. His gaze stuttered and got caught for a second on a beautiful blonde across the room. She looked slightly shell-shocked, but her wide blue eyes and curvy figure were enough to catch any man’s attention.

He forced himself to go back to the woman who had spoken to him. Isabella, right?

She stood and smiled. Just Bella, but wow. Good memory. Bellla stepped forward to shake his hand. Good to see you again. What’s it been, like ten years?

He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably as it grew hot. Something like that. About the time I graduated high school and left town. He couldn’t seem to help but glance at the blonde again. Her name was eluding him and it was frustrating.

Obviously you came back, Bella said, putting her hands on her hips and drawing the conversation back her way.

She’s not gonna let me off easy, is she? he thought. He wanted to talk to the other woman, but Bella seemed intent on conversation. Enoch turned to Bella with wide eyes and nodded again. Uh, yeah. Been back a couple of years.

He works full-time for the inn, Grandma Claire interjected. He’s the resident handyman.

I thought you had to let everyone go when you closed the inn while you recovered? another of the granddaughters asked with a frown.

Grandma nodded. I did. All except Enoch. She smiled lovingly at him. He’s like a member of the family and without his amazing touch, this old house would be in ruins by now.

Heat flushed up Enoch’s cheeks, but he smiled back at the woman who was like a mother to him. Then turning to the one who had spoken, he wracked his brain for her name. He remembered it was something unusual. Emory, right? Enoch asked, stepping forward to shake her hand as well.

Yep. Good job, Emory said. She glanced at the tray and back. Want a hot chocolate? We were all enjoying a little treat.

If that’s the wonderful smell that’s been tempting me for the last half-hour, then definitely, he joked, smelling the air for effect.

Oh, that’s the biscotti, Emory corrected as she hurried out of the room. Just let me grab another plate.

Don’t go to any...trouble, he trailed off as Emory disappeared. He turned and smiled sheepishly at the blonde. I didn’t mean to put her out.

Oh, you’re not, Bella piped up from where she’d sat back down. She waved a hand in the air. Emory lives for this kind of thing.

Enoch nodded but his eyes stayed on quiet one. I don’t quite remember your name, but I think it was some kind of virtue.

The woman’s smile fell and Enoch held back a wince. Way to go, buddy. Nothing says ‘I want to get to know you more’ like ‘I can’t remember your name’.

She cleared her throat. Hope.

Enoch nodded vigorously, feeling awkward. That’s right. I knew I should have remembered it. He offered his hand, which she took reluctantly. Her small fingers felt soft and just the right size.

She went to pull away, but Enoch couldn’t quite bring himself to just let go. Holding his grip slightly longer than was polite, he let his fingers slide along her warm palm. It’s good to see you again, Hope, he said softly, his voice having gone slightly husky. What have you been up to these past years?

Hope blinked rapidly, not answering him right away, and Enoch began to think he’d insulted her worse than he’d thought.

She’s an English teacher, Bella said, her voice distracted.

He looked over his shoulder and saw that Bella was scrolling on her phone. That totally makes sense, Enoch said easily. He turned back to Hope. You always did have your head in a book, if I recall correctly.

Enoch ignored Bella’s snort and saw a smile grace Hope’s soft pink lips. "That’s