by Erica Penrod
Kael cocked a brow. “Jeremy’s right. I don’t think you get to make all the decisions in a relationship. That’s the point.”
“Thank you for your expert opinions, Dr. Santos and Dr. Ross, but I think I can take care of myself.”
Kael slapped him on the back. “That’s the problem. You shouldn’t be taking care of yourself for the rest of your life. You need a good woman, right, Jeremy?”
“Amen.”
“I was fine before Mandy came back into my life, and I’m sure I’ll survive again.” Blake arranged the bun back in place as the truth tied his gut up in a knot. He had no idea how he’d live without her, but if his misery was the price to be paid for Mandy and Kade’s happiness, he’d pay it.
* * *
Blake stood at his front door and turned the key in the lock, content to be back home where he didn’t have to share his feelings with anyone but his big-screen TV, which didn’t care if he talked or not. He opened the door and an overwhelming scent of pine greeted him. He hadn’t left the candle burning, had he? No, he hadn’t burned the thing since Christmas Day. Something seemed off. He stepped inside and froze in his tracks.
Candles lined the edge of his countertop—wait, the countertop was clean—and flames flickered in the dark. Blake turned to the living room, where at least ten Christmas trees of all sizes were lit up and white wispy fabric was strewn along the bottoms like a blanket of white cotton snow. Twinkle lights hung from the ceiling and music played softly in the background, transforming the place into a winter wonderland, completed by his very own Christmas angel. Mandy stood in a red lace dress with a halo of hair piled on her head, and her eyes sparkled. “Surprise.” She tilted her head and smiled.
Blake swallowed the lump in his throat and fisted his hands to his sides to keep from running to her and taking her in his arms. “W-w-what’s going on? What are you doing here?”
“You wouldn’t come talk to me, so I figured I’d come talk to you.”
He gazed around the room once more. “But what’s all this?”
She moved closer to him. “I knew I’d have to do something big for you understand how serious I am about us.”
“Us?” Blake jammed his hands in his pockets. She looked so beautiful, his mouth watered, longing to taste her full lips dressed in red lipstick.
“Of course.” Mandy closed the distance between them.
His knees went weak.
“We need to talk about what happened, but before we do, we need to make one thing clear.” She cupped his chin. “Do you love me?”
Her flesh on his sent a ripple of desire through his body. “You know I do.”
“Good.” She nodded. “Do you know that I love you?” Her dark eyes penetrated his, and he was lost. “Do you?”
“Um …” He licked his lips. “Yes, but—”
“But nothing.” Mandy dropped her hand from his face and reached for his hand. “That’s all that matters. Aren’t you the one who said you wanted the forever kind?”
“Yes, but—”
Mandy laced her fingers through his and led him to the couch. “What you and I have together is the forever kind of love, and just so we’re clear, no matter what we talk about from this moment on—” They sat down, and she turned to him. “—will change that. No one is walking out on the other. We sit here and work this out, even if it takes all night.”
He gave her a half smile. She was so cute when she was bossy. “Okay.”
“Having said that, I want to tell you about what happened with Ted.”
Blake’s chest tightened, and he drew in a breath.
“As you know, he’s been better with Kade and he’s even been nice to me, so when he brought Kade home not feeling well, I didn’t think anything of him sticking around. I knew he was concerned about Kade, and to be honest, having him there comforted me.” She smiled softly. “I liked sharing the responsibility of our son, so when he put his arm around me, I didn’t do anything. I thought we were both wrapped up in taking care of our little boy and the moment was about our love for Kade.”
“But Ted thought it was something more?” Blake looked away and tried to push the image of Ted kissing Mandy out of his mind.
She reached up, put her hand on his cheek, and turned his face to hers. “Believe me, he caught me off guard. That was the last thing I expected to happen” She stroked his skin. “And if you would’ve stuck around, you would’ve seen me push him away, and then if you followed me out to Ted’s car, you would’ve heard me tell him he’d better not ever do that again, especially in front of our son.”
“He wants you back.” Blake took in her beautiful face.
“I don’t care what he wants.” Her lips set in a hard line. “As long as he’s good to Kade, that’s all that matters to me. And most importantly, I don’t care about him, at least not in that way. I felt nothing when he kissed me. You are the man I want to be with. I want us.”
Blake took her hand from his face and held on to her slim fingers. “Think about what you’re saying. If there’s a chance to work things out with Ted, shouldn’t you take it?” He searched her face. “For Kade.”
“Is that what this is all about?” Mandy’s countenance brightened as she gazed out at the trees, like she’d stepped out into the light. “This is all making sense.” She looked back at him. “Blake, I’ve been there, done that with Ted, and I know where it ends. I tried for years to make our marriage work and there were times when he’d try, but it only lasted long enough for me to hope again. Plus, as much as I love Kade, me being in half a marriage isn’t a good thing for him. I want him to see how a marriage should be. I want him to grow up with love all around him. I want him to see me love someone with my whole heart and be loved that way in return.”
“But what if this time it’s different?”
She gave him a once-over. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“No, I just want you to be sure. I just don’t want you to have any regrets.” He wanted nothing more than to pull her close and whisper how much he loved her, but he had to know that she’d thought everything through, that he was who she wanted.
“I want you and me, for always.” She tilted her head and kissed him softly.
He drew back and ran his thumb along the frame of her face. “I want you forever.”
Mandy grinned and bit her lip. “Now that we have that settled, I’ve got one more thing we need to resolve.” She got up and went to the tree she and Blake decorated. “I’ve got one more gift for you to open.” Her hand disappeared into the branches, and then she pulled back with a box in her palm.
“What is that?” Blake stared at the small box. “Is that a key to my own monster truck?” He gave her a nervous chuckle.
She offered him the box and grinned. “Yeah, that’s exactly what it is.” Mandy bent over and kissed his forehead before she sat beside him.
His fingers shook as he took off the paper. Blake glanced up at her. “What have you done?”
“Open it and find out.” Her eyes were welled with tears.
Blake lifted the lid and his breath hitched. “A ring?” A simple gold band, like the one he’d always imagined wearing one day as a symbol of his love for Mandy.
She leaned in and pressed her forehead to his. “Blake Jessop, will you marry me?” The words weren’t much more than a whisper, and her bottom lip trembled.
“I thought I was supposed to ask you.” He gazed into her eyes and stroked the side of her face. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” She covered his mouth with hers. Her warm lips tasted his, and he shivered as she took the kiss deeper. Mandy put her hands in his hair, drawing him to her as her lips continued to lead the way. He tried to convey his love for her with each ebb and flow of the kiss and felt her love encircle him. He needed air, but oh, what a way to die.
“But wait.” Mandy pushed him back. “You didn’t answer me.”
“Yes.” He gasped. “I will marry you.”
Mandy kissed him once more. “Good. Now look inside the ring.”
He took the ring from the box and held the gold band up towards the light. Tiny words were engraved on the inside. Blake’s eyes welled up as he read her message: “The Forever Kind.”
Mandy brushed his tears away, and he tipped his face into her hand. “Here’s to forever.”
Epilogue
“You’re sure you want to do this?” Mandy held the pen in her hand. “It’s not too late to change your mind.” They stood around the counter in the Wind Song Inn about a month after their wedding. The kitchen was the heart of this place, with its spacious island for family and friends to gather around. Many of the guests liked to visit while she prepared the meals, something she was every day improving on. The white shiplap and coastal vibe with ocean-blue accents and driftwood pieces made the room feel cozy and inviting.
Jeremy glanced at Brianne and laughed. “Yes, we’re sure.”
“Would you just sign the contract?” Blake shook his head and grinned. “You weren’t this nervous when you signed our wedding license.”
“That’s because you weren’t this expensive. I bought you a ring and that’s all it took.”
Blake slapped his chest like he’d taken a bullet. “So what you’re saying is I’m cheap.”
Mandy shook her head. “No, you were an expensive piece of eye candy, but buying half of the Wind Song Inn is a bigger purchase.” She’d gotten a large sum of money when the house she and Ted had shared finally sold.
Brianne held Ava on her hip. “It’s a good investment. I know the lady that runs the place, and she does a pretty good job.”
“I heard the same thing.” Mandy bobbed her head up and down. She put the tip of the pen next to the X. “Here it goes.” A few flicks of the pen, and she now shared ownership of her B&B. Everyone clapped. Jeremy shook her hand and Brianne gave her half of a hug with the baby in her arm.
“Let’s go celebrate.” Blake swooped in behind her and picked her up. He swung her around in a circle, and she giggled as Jeremy and Brianne backed out of the way. “In honor of my wife, the business owner.” He let her down and kissed her. “Now you can take care of me when my looks fade and I’m no longer a celebrity on a MyHeartChannel.”
“Your humility never ceases to amaze me.” Brianne chuckled.
Jeremy took his daughter from her mother’s arms. “We better get going. Everyone will be waiting.” Kael and Tori, along with their parents and Kade, gathered by the riverside for a picnic. “They’ll be waiting for the guest of honor.”
Mandy didn’t think life could get any better than the day she married Blake with her son by her side, but somehow, they did. She’d always dreamed of being a business owner, and now she was. She hooked her arm through his as they followed Jeremy and Brianne out of the house and towards the truck.
Blake opened the door for her. “Thank you.” She kissed him before she climbed in.
“My pleasure.” He grinned, and his dimple dug into his cheek.
“For everything, for loving me and for loving Kade. I didn’t know it was possible to be this happy.”
His eyes lit up. “We’re just getting started. What was it you told me about Christmas? More is more is more.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, get ready for even more happiness, because when it comes to you, I’ll never stop trying to give you everything you deserve. You are my Christmas, and all I ever want is more.”
Mandy wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed him in. She kissed him, and he fell, pushing her into the cab. When they came up for air, Blake grinned. “I think we might be late for the picnic.”
* * *
Thank you for reading The Carpenter’s Christmas Romance. If you enjoyed this holiday romance, you’ll enjoy this book too!
Pick up your copy here.
Also by Erica Penrod
Thank you for reading Romance and Renovation!
If you enjoyed reading this contemporary country novel, then you’ll love the Cowboy Reality Romance series by bestselling author Erica Penrod.
Cowboy Reality Romance: Kip
Cassie Carter, a single mother of three-year-old twin boys, needed a start after her husband died. Working as a nanny in Park City, Utah, for a wealthy family seems like the best place to start. She can keep her children with her, room and board is provided, and there's no chance of falling in love. The the mountains, mansion, and horses are all beautiful but what blows Cassie away is Kip Morgan.
Kip is a horse trainer and reality television star who can send her pulse into a stampede with just one touch. While Cassie works to sort out her feelings and what really happened to her late husband and keep her feelings for Kip at arm's length, her boys become Kip’s biggest fans. Caught in a dangerous web her late husband left behind, Cassie scrambles to protect her family from harm and her heart from Kip. However, Kip holds the key to unlocking the mystery behind her husband’s death . Cassie will have to trust him or risk leaving herself and her boys exposed to the dangers lurking in her past.
Cowboy Reality Romance: Jaxon
Jaxon Davis thought he was doing the right thing creating the television show The Cowboys, in an effort to bring his family ranch out of foreclosure. Seduced by the glamour and the lights, he let the one thing he really valued slip through his fingers. When his barely ex-wife finds out she’s expecting his baby, Jaxon works for a chance at reconciliation and redemption. Can he let go of the fame that sucked him in or will he fall to the temptress once again and lose Janie and their baby forever?
Cowboy Reality Romance: Tyson
When Tess took a break from her successful career as a television reporter to help her mother recover from back surgery, the last thing she expected was to run into Tayson Cole. The man broke her heart on New Year’s Eve and the two of them clash like bulls on a regular basis. However, she’s seen the better side of the reality television star and fallen for him which makes keeping her resolution to stay away from the professional bull fighter all that more difficult to keep.
Tess wants the real Tayson and refuses to play the games he uses to keep people away from seeing the guilt eating him up inside. The accident wasn’t Tayson’s fault and yet he continues to blame himself. The threat of losing Tess forever might be the only thing that saves this cowboy’s trampled heart.
About the Author
Erica spends her time folding laundry for her four children and husband. In between loads she loves to read, move furniture and display junk she’s collected at local thrift and antique stores. Most weekends she’s in the stands as head cheerleader watching her family compete in rodeo. Her favorite place is anywhere her husband is and she’s saddened by the thought of cooking dinner every night for the rest of her life. Erica loves to write, enjoys looking for inspiration in the candy aisle, and then eating her inspiration while typing.
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