Read Love Finds You on Christmas Morning for Free Online Page A

“Good night, Mr. Tronnier.”
    All the way home, William rehashed his conversation with Lillian, and he couldn’t stop laughing. Lillian definitely kept him on his toes. All the girls he’d seen in the past were too agreeable and bored him to tears. Lillian didn’t have an agreeable bone in her body, yet she wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, she was quite pleasant. The soft, husky tone to her voice, her fragrance as she breezed past him at the store, and the silky-smooth feel of her skin beneath his calloused fingers brought him an immense amount of pleasure.
    She obviously wasn’t a slave to style, yet she had more style than all the other women in town put together. Her long hair that had been coerced into waves defied the current trend of copycat short bobs on the working women he knew. She wore a very subtle shade of lipstick that enhanced her lips without drawing too much attention away from her sparkling eyes.
    William pulled up in front of his house and tried to think about something besides Lillian. He didn’t feel like fielding questions he didn’t have answers to—at least not yet. And knowing his family, there would be plenty of questions as soon as he mentioned that he wouldn’t be home for supper tomorrow night.
    “What gives with the silly grin?” Mason said as soon as William walked in the door.
    “I’ve been invited to dinner with the Pickards tomorrow night.”
    Mason whistled. “Can’t stay away from her, can you?”
    Amos came around the corner and joined them in the foyer. “Leave him alone, Mason. Can’t you see the man’s in love?”
    “Stop it.” William lifted his hands. “Or next time you even look at a woman, it’ll be payback time.”
    “Trust me,” Amos said through his laughter. “This is probably the last place I’ll bring any woman I like—at least until I marry her.”
    “Who is bringing a woman home?” Mom said as she joined the brothers. She glanced around the room then settled her gaze on William. “Is someone hiding a woman in the house?”
    “No, Mom,” Amos said, “we’re just harassing William because he can’t stay away from Lillian Pickard.”
    “She must be quite a girl.” Then Mom waved her hand the way she had since they were children. “Go get cleaned up. Supper is almost ready.”
    “Speaking of supper, guess who won’t be home for dinner tomorrow night?”
    William darted a warning glance in Mason’s direction before speaking for himself. “I’ve been invited to join the Pickards for supper.”
    “Well, I hope you accepted,” she said. “It’s time you boys follow in your sisters’ footsteps and start thinking about settling down.”
    “Why would we settle down when we have you?” Mason teased.
    Mom groaned as she quickly turned toward the kitchen. “That’s what I’m afraid of. Looks like I might have to resort to strong-arm tactics to get you all married off.”
    After William and his brothers washed up, they joined their parents in the dining room. One of the household help kept glancing at William as she set the food on the table.
    “What are you looking at, Nelda?” he asked.
    She cut her gaze over to his mom, who nodded. “I hear you’re sweet on some girl in town.”
    “Someone give me a break, please. Is that all anyone around here is talking about anymore?”
    “It’s all anyone in Cary is talking about,” Amos said.
    “Really?” William had started to pick up his fork, but instead he folded his hands and rested them on the table. “Are you serious?”
    “No, of course I’m not serious.” Amos nodded toward Mason. “It’s your turn to say the blessing.”
    After they said “Amen,” the conversation about William and Lillian resumed. Pop remained silent until Mason asked why Lillian had to work so hard.
    “Why does it matter to you, son?”
    Mason’s face turned red, and he lifted his glass of tea.
    “People work hard for a variety of reasons. Perhaps she likes having her own money. There’s no better