The Christmas Stranger. Beth Cornelison

summer had included plumbing work and basic tiling.

      No problem.

      But he’d get a how-to book from the library, just in case.

      “So that’s about it.” Holly jammed her hands in the back pockets of jeans that fit her like a second skin. “By my estimates, we can be done by mid-December, Christmas at the latest, barring any snafus.”

      Matt winced and held up a finger. “Hey, don’t even mention snafus. You’ll jinx us.”

      Chuckling, Holly hit the light switch and backed through the bathroom door. “Don’t tell me you’re superstitious.”

      “Let’s just say I’ve had enough bad breaks to know better than to tempt fate.”

      “Touché,” she tossed over her shoulder as she glided toward the bedroom door.

      Matt fell in step behind her, then hesitated when a picture on her nightstand caught his eye. A wedding portrait.

      Pricked by curiosity, he eased closer to her bed and bent to get a closer look at Holly, wearing the same dress she’d donned as a costume for the party today. Her sculpted face had been captured skillfully by the photographer’s lens. Her hair and makeup perfect, she positively glowed. But what truly made Holly beautiful was the love in her eyes as she beamed at her husband.

      Matt gave the man a cursory glance.

      And froze.

      Recognition tickled his spine, and icy fingers of shock and dread squeezed his chest. Matt’s limbs felt leaden. His blood roared in his ears.

      If he could point to one person who had caused him the most trouble, the most anguish, the most loss in his life, he’d have to point to the man in Holly’s wedding picture.

      Had Holly told him her last name? Should he have figured it out before now?

      Matt shook his head, struggling for oxygen. Fighting back the bitter taste of bile that rose in his throat.

      He’d told Holly he’d help her with renovations. They’d shaken on it, and Matt wouldn’t go back on his word. He wouldn’t break the trust she’d placed in him.

      Even if Holly’s late husband had ruined Matt’s reputation and destroyed his life. Ryan Cole was the ruthless ADA who’d disputed Matt’s sworn statement that Jill’s death was suicide and prosecuted him for murder.