Room at the Inn for Christmas (Second Chance at Star Inn)(5)

“I know all of that, Cart. I promise you I know exactly how badly my dad will be missed. Most especially by me, in case you don’t know that.” She fought down her anger. “And I understand that the inn can’t run without him. That’s why I’m closing up shop.”

Shaking his head, Cart almost looked like he pitied her. “You’ve been away so long you’re forgotten what a vital part of this town your old home is. The town needs you. We need you. We’re not managing the inn, and you’re not closing it. You’ve got to run it yourself. Mandy, it’s time to come home.”





Chapter Two

She laughed.

Cart slapped the table hard with the flat of his hand. “There’s not a single thing funny about this.”

He wanted to drag her out of that booth and shake her until her teeth rattled. Until that tight bun fell out and her blond hair swung free like it had when she was a kid. Until her golden eyes flashed and she admitted there was nothing funny about any of this.

“This isn’t my home, Cart.” She waved a perfectly manicured hand at him like he and the inn were pesky flies she didn’t want near her. “It hasn’t been for a long time. I’ve got a career in California. I shouldn’t even be here, now. I’ve got an upcoming board meeting that’s vital to—”

“Don’t give me vital,” Cart cut her off. He fought to control his anger. “In Los Angeles you’re doing a job a thousand people could do.”

Angel flinched. Cart wondered what he’d said. Then he saw the fire in Mandy’s eyes. He didn’t want a fight; he just wanted her to do exactly what he asked and not give him any grief about it.

He had to make her understand. “I’m not saying you’re not great at your job; it’s clear you are.”

How often had her dad told him about promotions and raises? In the four years since she’d graduated from college and taken the job with Halston, she’d worked her way up until she was knocking on the door of jobs that were a pathway to the executive suite. Lou was so proud of her he never shut up about how well she was doing. And here she was, dressed like the world’s most delicious caramel sundae, designer labels so famous even Cart recognized them. Perfect makeup on a beautiful face that he’d almost never seen with anything more than lip gloss. Why bother when her lashes were so lush and her golden eyes so shining, her skin so flawless and her hair so richly blond? Cart didn’t know much about valuable jewelry, but he’d bet she had real gold in her watch and in the beautiful ring she wore—not on any important finger. Her small hoop earrings and her delicate chain necklace were the same shining gold, and she wore it all with such ease it proved every word her dad said.

“And I’m not surprised you’re a big success at Halston. You’re a natural for the hospitality industry, born and raised in it. Trained by two of the very best. But Halston can replace you”—he snapped his fingers—“like that.”

Angel flinched again.

As if she was being any help.

Finally, Angel talked. “What he means is here at the Star you are irreplaceable.”

Of course that’s what he’d meant. That was exactly what he’d said. He glowered at Angel, who didn’t give him a single glance.

“There’s only one Mandy Star. There’s only one member of the Star family left who understands the traditions and open arms that are part of sharing this home with the public. Your great-grandparents bought it, standing empty, abandoned for years by the old lumber titan who built it.”

“I know my home’s history, Angel.” Mandy rolled her eyes.

“If you do, then why isn’t it important to you, your parents’ only child?”

She didn’t answer.

“Your grandparents took over when your great-grandfather died. Then your dad took over for his folks, and now it’s yours to love and preserve. It’s your heritage and it can be a blessing to you as much as you can be to it. The Star Inn needs you to love it and carry on the traditions begun here.”

Angel was kind, gentle. Loving. Okay, maybe he should’ve gone with that instead of yelling.

He clamped his mouth shut to let Angel handle this.

She laid both her hands over one of Mandy’s clenched fists. “And we’ve missed you, Mandy. I know you’ve done well and the future could be bright for you at Halston. Your dad was so proud of you he glowed as bright as the star on top of this house. And he never, ever wanted to hold you back. But in recent years, he’s needed you. We’ve all needed you. He always thought you’d go out and see the world and have a wonderful time, and then you’d come back.”

“No he didn’t. He never wanted me to come back here.”

That cooled Cart down like a bucket of ice water dashed in his face. “Yes he did.”

“No, he was adamant that I get out of Heywood, make something of myself. He said the inn would be like an anchor holding me back.”

A deep silence froze the table until they could hear the clock ticking in the kitchen, and that was pretty crazy quiet since the clock was battery operated.

Finally, Angel asked, “When did he say that?”

Mandy shrugged. “All the time. He started when I was close to college graduation. I’d planned to come back.”