Mistletoe in Maine by Ginny Baird

forward and embraced her—for what his heart hoped wasn’t the last time. “So long, Carol,” he said, fighting the ache in his throat. “I hope that all your Christmases will be happy ones.”
     
    As he stood at the top of the drive watching them pull away, Paul’s heart thumped in his chest. If letting her go was the right thing to do, then why did this feel so wrong? As his gaze trailed after the bright red SUV, he noted movement inside. Little Ashley turned slowly in the backseat, her sad dark eyes staring back up the hill.
    That was all the encouragement he needed.
    Paul broke into a sprint as Carol caught a view of him in her rearview mirror.
    Brake lights beamed red as she brought the SUV to a stop.
    Paul raced to the driver’s window, then stood there panting as she lowered the glass. “I couldn’t let you leave,” he said between breaths, “without asking you…something…important.”
    She turned her questioning eyes on his.
    “What are you doing for spring break?”
    “Spring break?” she asked, surprised.
    “Don’t you teachers have a week off in April or something?”
    “Yeah, she does!” Ashley piped in from the back.
    Will brought his hand to his chin and smiled.
    “What I mean is,” Paul went on, “I’d really like to see you again.” He looked around the SUV. “I’d like to see all of you again.” He turned his eyes back on Carol’s. “And I don’t want to wait until next Christmas.”
    Her face colored warmly. “I don’t either.”
    “Is that a yes?”
    “Why, Paul Love, are you asking us on a date?”
    “Why, yes. Yes, I suppose I am.”
    She shot him a bright, beautiful grin.
    “I was hoping you were.”
     

 
     
     
    Epilogue
     
    Three years later, Carol and Paul stood kissing under the mistletoe in Maine.
    “If you keep kissing me like that,” she said, catching her breath, “you might have to cart me upstairs—and into the Moose Room.”
    “Good thing the kids are in bed,” he said with a sexy grin.
    Carol stared into dancing dark eyes, thinking she couldn’t possibly love this man any more than she did. He’d help heal her heart and had brought her a beautiful, new, blended family. “I’m awfully glad Daniel’s coming home tomorrow. The kids will be happy to see him.”
    Paul held her tightly up against him. “So will Amy.”
    “It’s hard to believe that Will is heading to college soon.”
    “I think he’s tough enough to handle it.”
    “He’s going to leave lots of brokenhearted girls behind.”
    Paul gave a chuckle. “Now even Ashley has a boyfriend!”
    “Well, after all…” She tilted her chin. “This is the Love Inn.”
    “And I couldn’t love you any more than I do,” he said with husky rasp.
    “You going to prove it?”
    “Yes, Mrs. Love, I think that I will.” Then he swept her off her feet and carried her upstairs.
    As he carted her over the threshold, she gave a saucy smile. “Did I ever tell you I have a thing for guys named Paul?”
    He shut the door behind them and strode toward their bountiful bed. “At this point, sweetheart, there’d better be just one.”
    She laughed happily in his arms, her heart light. “I like your kind of Christmas magic.”
    He kissed her sweetly and turned off the light. “And I like yours.”
     
     
    The End
     

 
     
     
    A Note from the Author
     
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