Jessica Keller - The Single Dad Next Door

Love Comes Home

All Maggie West has ever wanted is a family to call her own. But her new neighbor, single dad Kellen Ashby, is definitely not the man to make that dream come true. His daughters are sweet and silly, the kind of kids Maggie used to imagine having herself. But Kellen has just inherited the inn Maggie manages—her former family home—and the two butt heads at almost every turn. He’s handsome, and clearly a devoted father, but with all the changes taking place, Maggie worries she may soon be jobless, homeless or both. At war with her emotions, Maggie will have to decide what truly matters—heart or home.

She tried to pack away her dreams of a family.

Locked the wish up tight in an old chest in her heart and tossed the key. The days of hoping for a husband and longing for children were gone.

Yet in the car, listening to Kellen and his girls, the dream almost felt attainable again. If she couldn’t have a family of her own, perhaps she could grow old next door beside Skylar and Ruthy. Sure, it wouldn’t have the marriage part. A man like Kellen would never settle for a woman like her.

Maggie stole a glance his way.

He looked over at her again. Their stares collided and Maggie’s breath caught. Kellen was handsome. Ten times more handsome than any of the other men in Goose Harbor. And then there was that voice…

“Sing with us, Maggie.” He winked again.

“I…I don’t know the song.” Her gaze broke with his and skittered to look out the window.

That was the crux of everything, wasn’t it? I don’t know the song. What did she know of love and romance?

JESSICA KELLER is a Starbucks drinker, avid reader and chocolate aficionado. Jessica holds degrees in communications and biblical studies. She is multipublished in both romance and young-adult fiction and loves to interact with readers through social media. Jessica lives in the Chicagoland suburbs with her amazing husband, beautiful daughter and two annoyingly outgoing cats who happen to be named after superheroes. Find all her contact information at jessicakellerbooks.com.

The Single Dad

Next Door

Jessica Keller

www.millsandboon.co.uk

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

—Romans 5:5

For Sadie, who, upon reading the first chapter of The Widower’s Second Chance (the first book in the Goose Harbor series), immediately asked when we’d hear Maggie’s story.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Love Comes Home All Maggie West has ever wanted is a family to call her own. But her new neighbor, single dad Kellen Ashby, is definitely not the man to make that dream come true. His daughters are sweet and silly, the kind of kids Maggie used to imagine having herself. But Kellen has just inherited the inn Maggie manages—her former family home—and the two butt heads at almost every turn. He’s handsome, and clearly a devoted father, but with all the changes taking place, Maggie worries she may soon be jobless, homeless or both. At war with her emotions, Maggie will have to decide what truly matters—heart or home.

Introduction She tried to pack away her dreams of a family. Locked the wish up tight in an old chest in her heart and tossed the key. The days of hoping for a husband and longing for children were gone. Yet in the car, listening to Kellen and his girls, the dream almost felt attainable again. If she couldn’t have a family of her own, perhaps she could grow old next door beside Skylar and Ruthy. Sure, it wouldn’t have the marriage part. A man like Kellen would never settle for a woman like her. Maggie stole a glance his way. He looked over at her again. Their stares collided and Maggie’s breath caught. Kellen was handsome. Ten times more handsome than any of the other men in Goose Harbor. And then there was that voice… “Sing with us, Maggie.” He winked again. “I…I don’t know the song.” Her gaze broke with his and skittered to look out the window. That was the crux of everything, wasn’t it? I don’t know the song. What did she know of love and romance?

About the Author JESSICA KELLER is a Starbucks drinker, avid reader and chocolate aficionado. Jessica holds degrees in communications and biblical studies. She is multipublished in both romance and young-adult fiction and loves to interact with readers through social media. Jessica lives in the Chicagoland suburbs with her amazing husband, beautiful daughter and two annoyingly outgoing cats who happen to be named after superheroes. Find all her contact information at jessicakellerbooks.com .

Title Page The Single Dad Next Door Jessica Keller www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. —Romans 5:5

Dedication For Sadie, who, upon reading the first chapter of The Widower’s Second Chance (the first book in the Goose Harbor series), immediately asked when we’d hear Maggie’s story.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

A car door slammed outside, jolting Maggie West awake.

Like tugging a quilt to cover her body on a cold morning, she yanked on the edge of her dream in an effort to fall back to sleep again. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to force herself to rest a little longer. Being the manager of the West Oaks Inn, she so rarely had the opportunity to stay in bed past five in the morning. Under normal circumstances, she’d be in the kitchen right now, whipping up her latest gourmet creation for her guests. But she currently had no guests despite many schools being on spring break.

Tomorrow morning there would be guests to feed, but she’d prepared their rooms last night. She’d still go over the rooms one last time today before people arrived tonight, but for once, her plan had been to stay under her covers for most of the morning.

So much for that idea.

Oh well, eight in the morning was sleeping in long enough for her. Maggie let her eyes adjust to the bright light streaming in through her lace curtains. Her room was a mishmash of antiques, country charm and hand-me-downs. And she liked it that way. The sheet of glass that covered the top of the hundred-year-old dresser near the closet had once been the top counter of a pharmacy. She often tried to picture the people who had leaned against that counter to look at what was inside the case. Had they been sick people buying leeches? Or children with their noses pressed into the glass begging for the penny candy inside?

That was the joy of old things. They told stories. Each piece held a history worth remembering. Half the furniture that filled the rooms in the inn were pieces she’d saved from the curbside—stuff others were going to throw away. People were so set on making things modern or redesigning perfectly functional homes. They lost sight of the wonder of remembering days long ago when life was slower. Safer. Better.

She rolled onto her side and stared at her nightstand. The old trunk set on its narrow end had belonged to her grandmother and still smelled like Gran’s lilac lotion whenever Maggie opened it up. On top of the makeshift nightstand rested her cherished family heirlooms—her father’s favorite timepiece, the brooch her mother had always worn to church, as well as a photo of her sister, Sarah. All people who had left the world— left her —far too early.