by Vella, Wendy
Mandy did a little twirl.
“I love it.” Her aunt clapped, then sniffed, which said tears were next.
“And I have you to thank for paying. You both shouldn’t have done that, and I’m—”
“If you say you’re paying us back, I’ll be angry.” Her aunt came closer. Dressed in her favorite color of lavender, she wore a tan leather wedge on one foot, and still managed to look elegant even considering the ugly black boot on the other. “Now, I want to hear more about this. Sarah and I will come for dinner tonight and look over your purchases.”
Mandy hugged her aunt.
“I feel different now. How is that possible?”
Her cheeks were cupped. “Because it’s time, my love, time for you to change and no longer just exist, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“Me either.”
“Now, your aunt and I think you should be more involved in the parade float this year, dear. Not just help with the decorating; we want you to organize it all.”
“I haven’t had a lot of time to get to the stables yet, but I will,” Mandy said. “And I’d like to do the float with your help.”
“Every year you usually loathe being on it. Maybe this year that could be different? We need to paint the float tomorrow,” Aunt Marla said. “We’ll look after the shop, and you get started.”
You’re strong in here.
“Yes,” Mandy said before “no” could come out. “I’ll do it.”
Chapter 19
Two weeks after Ted had received a little yellow card from Mandy with the words “thank you for my fern” written in neat, precise lettering, he’d had no other contact with her, which he’d told himself repeatedly was a good thing.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.” Ted nodded to some guests as he entered by the front door instead of the rear. He did this often just to make sure everything looked aesthetically pleasing, the buzz words his designer had used when planning the interior of this place.
It’s all about first impressions, Ted.
He loved the wide-open spaces you walked into through the main doors. A mix of greenery and natural colors with some timber paneling welcomed you. Soothing, Ted thought. At least, he’d always felt that way walking in.
“Ted.”
“Lenny.” He acknowledged the manager on duty at the reception desk, who was muffling yet another yawn. “Late night?”
“I helped Mandy down at the stables, getting the float ready till late.”
“Mandy?”
She’d stopped using his gym. He told himself he was happy about that.
“Mandy Robbins,” Lenny said, looking far too happy. Ted didn’t think he had too many years on the man, but they were poles apart in every way possible. Ted was jaded and looked at everything with skepticism, but he was pretty sure Lenny still believed in Santa. “She’s a nice lady, and really sweet. We’re going for pizza tonight.”
“You and Mandy?”
Lenny nodded. “I asked her, and she said she’d love to. I never really looked at her properly before, but now….” He made a sound in his throat that had Ted wanting to lean over the counter and plant his fist in the man’s face.
“She’s a lady. Show her some respect, Lenny.”
The smile fell from his manager’s face.
“Right. Sorry, I didn’t mean offence.”
“None taken,” Ted said and internally winced at his cold tone. “Meeting in five minutes.”
He walked away, pissed off for no other reason that he could think of than he was jealous. That didn’t sit well with Ted. He didn’t get jealous; it wasn’t his way.
He enjoyed the company of women, but he was never annoyed when it ended and they dated someone else. Just another reason why it was better to keep his distance from Mandy Robbins.
Ted didn’t want involvement that could hurt him. Love and all the stuff connected with that emotion were messy. He’d vowed business would always come first in his life. Until now, that had never been challenged.
Mandy Robbins was not important to him.
He’d heard about her, of course. Jack wasn’t someone who knew how to be quiet these days. Since Rory had entered his life, he’d changed into a regular Chatty Cathy.
“Mandy looks amazing, man. Whole new closet. Who knew she was hiding all that under there.”
Ted had smiled, nodded, and pretended he was really happy hearing how the men in this town were suddenly aware of Mandy Robbins. Which he thought was an insult; she’d been pretty special before her transformation. Ted had certainly noticed her. Her smile was sweet, and those lips sinful. Then there was that way she had, shy and serious. The men in Ryker Falls were fools for not noticing her sooner.
Apparently, she was also working out now at the local gym. Strange how her aversion for sweaty bodies, shyness, and not to mention her self-consciousness seemed to have fled.
“You’re being bitchy.” He sighed. Ted was never bitchy; he left that to Jack and Fin. Joe rarely, but sometimes. He and Luke, never.
Ted sat behind his desk and watched his four managers file in. Drinking coffee, he listened to the reports his staff gave him and the suggestions he asked for. Making himself look like he didn’t want to kill Lenny, he nodded after he’d finished delivering his.
“Nice work. Sounds like you guys have everything running smoothly.”
Looking down at the notes he’d made earlier, Ted saw the last sentence and swallowed. Be social.
“So I thought maybe we could have a staff party, use a couple of the hot tubs, that kind of thing.” Shit, this is hard. Absolute silence greeted his words, and Niki’s jaw actually dropped.
“Give me a break here,” he muttered. “I’m trying to be a better boss, as it’s been pointed out I’m a hardass.”
“Not a hardass exactly,” Maria said. “Just a tough one.”
“Thanks, but it’s always been my way. So how about we look at some kind of staff function every month. It doesn’t have to be a big deal, please God, don’t let it be a big deal. Pizzas, beer, and wine. Whatever you guys think will work.”
They all smiled as one, and Ted knew he’d made the right decision bringing it up. Damn, he had to thank Mandy for that too. He still hadn’t thanked her for the inside knowledge about Niki.
“Okay, good. Great,” he added, trying to sound enthusiastic. “How about you guys put a few ideas down, and I will too, and we’ll discuss them next meeting?”
They all agreed and scribbled in their books. Ted looked down at his notes and saw something he hadn’t addressed. He’d rather have a boil lanced than all this hand of friendship shit.
“Who is on the lodge float?”
Hands went up.
“And you, Ted,” Lenny said. “The boss should be on there.”
It’d rather have pins stuck in my eyes.
“Sure. What’s the theme?”
“You haven’t seen it yet?”
“Heading there to have a look after this meeting,” Ted improvised.
“It’s looking great,” Lenny said. “Kind of jungle safari themed.”
Ted made himself smile. “Sounds awesome.” Sounds like hell. He only just refrained from glaring at Lenny.
There was absolutely no reason why he shouldn’t go out for pizza with Mandy. No reason at all…, except that Ted didn’t want her to go out with any man. Which made no sense, as he didn’t want to date her.
Deciding it was time to lock those thoughts away, he called the meeting to a close and left.
He checked rooms, talked to the kitchen staff, and interacted with guests who all told him how much they loved the lodge.
“Coming to the meeting tonight, Ted? We’re reading Shelley.”
“Oh hey, Mr. Goldhirsh. What’s the deal with you and dead English poets?”
“Classics that need to be savored, Ted. Those words are some of the best you’ll read.”
“Right. Take your word for that. What are you doing at the lodge?”
He wasn’t in his usual running gear, and instead wore dress shorts and a collared shirt. His gray hair was brushed back from his forehead, and he wore a determined expression.
“I need to book one of your rooms that has a private spa, Ted.”
“Sure, we can sort that for you.”
The man looked left and right, and Ted found himself doing the same thing.
“You’re probably the only person besides Mandy I’d trust keeping a secret for me.”
Mandy again.
Ted crossed his heart with a finger and nodded.
“I’m going to ask Jess to marry me, and I want to do it right. Here, away from everyone.”
“Yeah? Nice work.” Ted high-fived the man. “You got a ring?”
“I do.”
“Nice. All right, let’s see what rooms we have free. When are you thinking?”
“As soon as possible.”
Ted went behind reception and had a look in the computer himself.
“Right, there’s a room free next Saturday. I’ll book you in. And it’s on the house.”
“Oh no, I couldn’t allow that—”
“You do enough for everyone else in this town; let me do this for you.”
A hand shot over the counter, and Ted shook it to seal the deal.
Romance came at any stage in life, and the thought was a happy one. Not for him, but others.
Smiling, he left the lodge minutes later and headed up to his rooms. Buzz was sitting on his doorstep.
“I told you last time that your daddy would be pissed if I kept feeding you biscuits.” Ted opened the door, and the large fur ball bounded in.
Branch hissed, as he always did, then realized it was his buddy and jumped off the counter with a loud thud. The animals then had a mutual love fest, rubbing up against each other.
He gave Buzz a biscuit and Branch two tiny ones.
“Let’s go,” he said to the dog, grabbing his keys.
He needed to go into town for a few things, but he wanted to visit the ranch first and see the float. It was the least he could do, seeing as it looked like he had to be on it. Maybe he could wear a mask?
Giving in to the inevitable—his vehicle covered in dog hair—he opened the door for Buzz. The animal jumped in, then walked through the seats and settled on the front one.
“Your manners need work, bud.” Ted joined him.
The Trainer land was worked by Jack, and the others when they weren’t doing their own thing, Joe running the bar, and Luke being a firefighter.
The main house stood to the left, a big rambling farmhouse that Ted always thought smelled like home. His home had been a show house. A place that had servants and was polished daily, with rooms shut off to the children and only opened when visitors came. In fact, his life had pretty much been like that. From school to the day he turned his back on his family, he’d been on show.
Pulling up at the barn, he saw Jack’s pickup and Miss Sarah’s car. Maybe she was here helping with the Tea Total float.
Wandering in with Buzz on his heels, he made for the arena where all the floats were being assembled. He found only one person in there, a woman he didn’t recognize—from behind, anyway. She was bent over painting something and showing him a really fine pair of legs and ass in a pair of denim cutoffs.
“Hi.” She didn’t move, and he realized she wore earbuds.
Tapping her on the shoulder had her turning.
“Mandy?” Shit. Ted had known she had a lovely body, because he’d had her pressed against him a few times, but seeing it showcased in a fitted peach shirt with buttons down the front was another thing altogether. “What the hell?”
The words had come out wrong because he was off-balance.
“What the hell, what?” She clutched the paint brush in one hand.
Her hair was up in a tail on her head, and she looked sexy as hell and really dangerous to a man who was already aware of her.
“You… you’re dressed in that way.” He sounded like an idiot, but he had nothing else. “Where’s your other clothes?”
“Would that be the other clothes you loathed? The dresses that hung on me like sacks, to be precise?” Her words came out with ice on them.
“No. I just…. You look different.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
He thought about what Lenny had said and the pizza date he was going to have with this woman and felt totally unreasonable about the fact that Lenny may be seeing her dressed like this.
“You look different, is all.” Ted was known for words. He could talk in any setting with any person; it was his thing. Not today, however. Today he was like a three-year-old learning to speak.
Her eyes narrowed. “And not in a good way, I’m guessing?” Her words were so sickly sweet he could almost taste the sugar.
“I liked your clothes,” he said, trying to retreat.
“Well, I didn’t. And you know what? Fuck you, Ted Hosking. I don’t need your approval for what I wear!”
“Don’t swear like that.” Ted’s anger climbed. “What’s the matter with you, talking like that?”
“Matter with me? May I remind you that you told me I needed to change. Be strong in here.” She tapped her head. “And now you’ve changed your mind and want me to stay as meek Mandy?”
Shit. He was making a mess of everything… again. He hadn’t meant to upset her, he was just shocked to see her dressed the way she was, looking so hot his eyes nearly crossed.
“What’s the problem here, Ted? You’ve made it clear you don’t want me, an innocent who clearly comes with baggage. Someone incapable of an adult relationship in your eyes.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You meant it. Well, you can get lost, because I don’t care what you think of me anymore. I don’t need your approval!” She threw her paintbrush at him on the last word, and they both froze as it hit his new blue T-shirt. Red paint smeared over his chest.
He looked at her, and whatever she saw in his eyes had her running. She sprinted behind the floats, and when he turned, she was running out the doors to the arena.
Ted was on her heels in seconds.
She ran up the stairs and into the rooms that the Trainers kept for stable hands. He knew why. The doors had locks on them. She made it inside and had even slammed the door. But she didn’t get the bolt thrown home.
Ted opened the door and stepped inside.
Chapter 20
Mandy watched as Ted locked the door behind him.
“I’ll let you know the size and make. You can order another shirt online.”
“You deserved it,” Mandy said, attempting to stand her ground. Her knees were shaking, and she was pretty sure she wanted to run and not look back.
“I deserved it, did I?” He stalked her. “How do you figure that?”
“You were rude about how I looked.”
“Shocked, not rude.”
“Rude,” she added. “Look, Ted.” Mandy attempted to regain control of herself and act calm. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that, and of course I will buy you a new shirt. But—”
He grabbed her, hauling her close until their eyes were inches apart.
“Just so we’re clear. You look hot. So hot, in fact, that I lost the ability to think clearly when I saw you, hence my foolish reaction. I pretty much thought with the wrong head from the minute I saw you.”
“Oh… well, I can’t believe you said that.” Mandy felt the heat fill her cheeks.
“You said you want me to treat you like any other woman, so I am.”
“I just thought…. I mean, you didn’t sound like you thought that. You sounded angry, Ted, and I wasn’t sure why.”
His smile held no humor.
“I believe we’ve already established that I want you. Seeing you dressed like this did not help the control I’m trying to exert where you’re concerned. So I’m going to plead momentary insanity.”
Mandy wasn’t sure what to say to t
hat. Her newfound confidence only went so far. Ted wouldn’t hurt her, she knew that. But he was angry, and she’d never seen him that way.
“I’m sorry.” The words rushed out of her mouth. “I shouldn’t have thrown that paintbrush at you. It was a juvenile thing to do.”
“It was the first real emotion I’ve seen from you in some time, so don’t apologize. You haven’t been using my gym. Why?”
His change of conversation threw her.
“If it’s because of what happened—”
“After that night, I just thought it was best.”
“It’s not. If you don’t want to go when I’m there, fine, but use it.”
She nodded.
“I apologized for my behavior that night in Joe’s bar. I thought we were good?”
Mandy had never been the recipient of a look like the one Ted was giving her before and battled to stop the slow flood of heat filling her veins.
“You need to let me go, Ted.”
“If only it was that easy.” His words were low and deep. “Damn, you’re sexy.”
She was arching toward him when his lips touched hers. It was fierce and demanding, and Mandy replied with everything she had. With no experience, she followed his lead.
His hands gripped her waist and then one slid beneath her T-shirt. Mandy nearly melted at the feel of his skin touching hers. She held on to his shoulders, digging her fingers into the muscles.
His lips moved to her neck, and she instinctively arched to allow him access. She’d wondered about this for so long. The smoldering looks she’d interpreted people sharing, the touches and kisses. Now she knew what the fuss was about. They’d kissed before, but each time it seemed the passion was more intense.
His hand grazed her ribs and moved higher and then the heavy weight of his hand settled on her breasts, cupping the silk.
“Beautiful.” His whisper was ragged. “You are so beautiful, Mandy. I hope you understand that?”
She couldn’t speak as his thumb flicked over her nipple, sending sensation through her body. He opened the buttons down the front of her shirt before she even realized what he was doing, and then his head lowered and he licked her through the satin of her bra.