The Bachelor's Homecoming
Suddenly ReunitedJane O'Malley's young heart broke in pieces when the man of her dreams left town after being rejected by her sister. Years later, Tom Leighton returns home, and Jane's old feelings for him rush back as forcefully as the Tennessee mountain springs.Tom left Gatlinburg behind without a word to allow his hurt heart to heal. Now he's a man with a young niece to raise and amends to make in town to the people he abandoned—especially to Jane. The girl from his past has become a gorgeous, kind woman. Can he prove to her that she's the only woman he wants?
Читать The Bachelor's Homecoming онлайн беплатно
Suddenly Reunited
Jane OâMalleyâs young heart broke in pieces when the man of her dreams left town after being rejected by her sister. Years later, Tom Leighton returns home, and Janeâs old feelings for him rush back as forcefully as the Tennessee mountain springs.
Tom left Gatlinburg behind without a word to allow his hurt heart to heal. Now heâs a man with a young niece to raise and amends to make in town to the people he abandonedâespecially to Jane. The girl from his past has become a gorgeous, kind woman. Can he prove to her that sheâs the only woman he wants?
âI havenât been as understanding as I shouldâve been. I know you didnât intend to hurt me or anyone else. You did what you had to do, and I canât fault you for that.â
Stepping close, his pant legs brushing her skirts, he very carefully cupped her cheek. A rogue sigh slipped through her lips. The rasp of his work-roughened palm against her skin wrought an intensely heady feeling inside. If only this wasnât a platonic caress.
âMy sweet Janie girl,â he murmured. âThe memories of your laughter, your sweet smile, the way things were always easy and fun between us, kept me going this past year. You represented peace and calm at a time when my life was falling apart. I need your friendship.â
Friendship. Not love. Not devotion.
If he guessed how badly she yearned for more, heâd be revolted.
âFriendship,â she croaked. âAlways. You have it.â
KAREN KIRST was born and raised in East Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains. A lifelong lover of books, it wasnât until after college that she had the grand idea to write one herself. Now she divides her time between being a wife, homeschooling mom and romance writer. Her favorite pastimes are reading, visiting tearooms and watching romantic comedies.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
âPsalms 37:4
To the ladies of Southside Baptist Church
who are fans of the OâMalleysâ thank you for your encouragement and support.
Mary Blakley, Iâm blessed to know you
and to count you as a friend.
Retha Smith, your smile brightens my day.
Gina King, I love when we chat about the characters. Thanks for the cards.
Carole Gresham, Wilma Hayes,
Greta Griffin and more, thanks for liking my books.
Contents
Gatlinburg, Tennessee May 1884
âDo you, Jane OâMalley, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?â
Jane opened her mouth. Say no. Say youâve made a mistake.
âIââ
Family and friends had crowded into the quaint mountain church and were looking on with hushed expectation. Royâs fingers tightened around hers, gentle brown eyes offering silent support. Heâd been nothing but kind throughout their courtship. A perfect gentleman, save for the one time heâd attempted to kiss herâa proper kiss, not simply a buss on the cheekâand sheâd shied away. How patient heâd been. How understanding.
What was the matter with her? Here was a hardworking, responsible man who desired to marry her...the too-quiet, too-shy, unexceptional OâMalley sister. She couldnât throw away this one chance at a normal life for a man who didnât want her, whose whereabouts and well-being were a mystery.
Moistening her lips, blood rushing in her ears, she struggled to push out those two simple words. Words that would change her life forever, bind her to a man she liked and admired but didnât love.
The lace at her throat scratched. The blooms in her hair enveloped her in their cloying scent, nearly gagging her. Surely her sisters had tied her corset too tightly. Her lungs clamored for air.
She closed her eyes, and Tom Leightonâs face loomed in her consciousness. Though heâd been gone two years, his image was still crisp and clear. Like a photograph inscribed on her mind.
Dear Lord, give me the strength to follow through with this. Marrying Roy is the only way to purge Tom from my heart and soul.
âJane?â Roy leaned in, his whisper threaded with anxiety. âYouâre not gonna swoon, are you?â
The church doors crashed open. Jane jumped. Everyone twisted in the pews, craning to see who dared interrupt the ceremony. Roy dropped her hands as a petite brunette hurtled down the aisle, thunderclouds scrunching her features.
âI object!â The unfamiliar young woman jabbed a finger in Royâs direction.
The groom audibly gasped as the color drained from his face. âLaura?â
Seated on the first pew, Janeâs identical twin sister, Jessica, mouthed something she couldnât make out. Their mother fanned herself furiously. Her overprotective cousins exchanged looks of foreboding.
