As he towed her into her rooms and swung the door shut on the long day, Cart tugged off his tie and tossed his suit coat on the couch and pulled Mandy into his arms. “I thought they’d never leave.”
She laughed. “I know.”
“Are you going to be okay out at my house, Mandy?” Cart pulled her close. “I know how much you love this old place, and you’ve just now come home to it. If you want to stay in here we can; I can drive out to my place to work.”
She touched her fingers to his lips. “I’ve been so homesick all these years, but when we spoke our vows I realized that it wasn’t this old mansion I’ve missed all these years. At least that’s not what was at the heart of my loneliness. What I was missing was family, home, love. What I missed was being welcome. My home is wherever you are, Cart. You are who I’ll cling to, not an inn, no matter how beautiful. If I’m in your arms, I’m home.”
He held her tight for a long moment.
She whispered, “It was a wonderful day. Such a perfect way to end this year and begin the next.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Cart’s warm breath tickled her ear, sending warmth all through her. “I think we can begin this year a little more perfectly than this.”
Cart kissed her so passionately she forgot all about the wedding and let herself be carried away by his love.
Finally, after all this time, Mandy at last found there was room at the inn.
About the Author
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of No Way Up, the Wild at Heart series, Trouble in Texas series, Kincaid Bride series, and many other books. Mary is married to her very own romantic cowboy hero, has four grown daughters, and four spectacular grandchildren. Find Mary online at: www.maryconnealy.com.
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
About the Author
’Tis the season for second chances!
Copyright Page
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
“Room at the Inn for Christmas” copyright © 2016 by Mary Connealy.
All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Author photo Sheryl Piere/Blackbird Hill Photography and Art Studio
Cover art of Street Scene, Snowflakes, Wings © shutterstock
eISBN 978-1-250-12011-3 (ebook)
First eBook Edition: October 2016
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, ext. 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
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