by Vella, Wendy
She moaned, and Mandy had never heard that sound come out of her mouth before.
“Your breasts are exquisite.”
She’d always loathed them, actually. They’d started growing and didn’t stop like other girls’. Mandy had spent her life hiding them.
“Can I see you, Mandy?” His eyes burned into hers. “I don’t want to frighten you, but I want to see you.”
She managed to nod. His fingers eased aside the straps of her bra, and then she was exposed to him.
He said something she didn’t catch, and then he cupped both breasts, lowered his head, and licked her. Mandy’s body jerked, her hips thrusting forward into his. She felt the hardness between his legs.
He wanted her, and although she was innocent, she knew she wanted him desperately.
Should she tell him she was a virgin?
He continued the slow, sensual torture that had Mandy biting her lip to keep from moaning again. He laved the curve of her breast and then took her nipple deep into his mouth. It was a form of exquisite torture. Her head reeled, heat pooled between her thighs, and her legs started shaking.
His hands went to the hem of her shorts, fingers sliding beneath and upward. When he touched her through the silk of her panties, Mandy was sure she’d explode.
“Ted!”
Mandy froze as Jack bellowed from the other side of the door.
Ted quickly pulled up her bra straps and began to do up her shirt with calm, competent hands. She, however, was anything but.
He leaned closer and whispered, “It’s okay, play along,” then raised his voice. “You threw paint all over my new shirt, Mandy! What the hell were you thinking?” he said, looking into her eyes now. His hands gripped her waist. He must have known that if he let her go, her knees would give out.
“I-I didn’t mean to. You gave me a fright,” Mandy replied. He nodded, then waved his hand to say she needed to continue while he went to the bathroom.
“What’s going on in there?”
She heard water, and then Ted came out without his shirt on. Mandy’s mouth went dry. Defined muscles, lovely golden skin, and a sprinkling of chest hair.
“Be right out, Jack!” he called.
“I’ll make coffee. Instant, as I don’t have any fancy machines here. Hi, Mandy.”
“Hi, Jack!”
Mandy felt the slow burn of heat filling her cheeks.
“I can’t believe we did that here… in Jack’s stable,” she whispered.
Now that reality was returning, Mandy was shocked with herself.
“I’m not usually so unaware,” Ted muttered, returning. “Okay?” He gripped her shoulders.
“Do you think Jack will know?”
Ted looked down at his shirt bunched in one hand, and then hers. Her eyes followed the same path and saw the red paint everywhere.
“No, but if he does, we’ll change his mind. You got this. After all, you’re a new you now, remember.” He tapped her head. “Strong up here.”
“Doesn’t mean I want people knowing that we….” Her words fell away.
“Made out in the stables?”
“That.”
Ted smiled at her.
“You’re an Amazon. New clothes, new attitude. You got this.”
“I’m not sure about that.”
He turned to leave, taking her hand with him.
“I’m sorry about your shirt, Ted.”
“I’m not.” He winked at her.
Mandy was confused by this reaction. The last time they’d kissed, he’d told her it wouldn’t happen again, that she was too inexperienced and he didn’t want to deal with that or hurting her.
“Ted, I don’t—”
He stopped on the stairs just below the one she stood on. Their eyes were level.
“I know, it’s confusing, so for now can we just go with that was amazing?” He leaned in and kissed her softly. “Later, we’ll both overanalyze it.”
“Okay,” she managed to whisper.
“Well, hey.” Jack was sitting on the edge of the Tea Total float, a large cup and saucer… again. But this time Mandy wasn’t going to be a tea bag. She would wear something that didn’t hide her body, if it killed her.
Jack was feeding Buzz a biscuit.
“I threw paint over him,” Mandy blurted out.
“You go, girl. I’ve been wanting to do that for years, but he’s bigger than me.” Jack smiled.
“Ha,” Mandy managed. She walked to where her paint brush was on the floor. Picking it up, she picked the bits of dirt out of it while Ted and Jack talked like nothing had just happened.
She was pretty sure she’d never be the same again. Her insides felt weird, kind of wobbly. Her head was all over the place, and she had the feeling that everything had changed, and yet nothing had.
Shooting Ted a look, she wondered how he could be so calm. At least Jack had given him a T-shirt. Okay, so it was stretched over all those lovely muscles, but at least he was wearing clothes.
Passion, Mandy was fast realizing, was a weird thing that made you feel different and act even stranger.
Ted was munching on a biscuit now, like he hadn’t just had his hands and mouth on her bare breasts. Mandy wished there was an instruction manual for this type of thing.
“So, you two are the only friends I have who don’t ride. Want some lessons?”
“No,” they answered simultaneously.
“We’ve tried that, it didn’t work, and I’m not doing it again,” Ted added.
“You first, Mandy.” Jack ignored him. “Change, remember, is a good thing, as evidenced by how hot you look in those shorts.” He pointed to her legs.
“And yet I still don’t want to ride a horse.”
“You scared of them?”
Ted stood silently listening to the conversation, happy, Mandy bet, that Jack was picking on her.
“Yes. They’re big and stomp on things and throw people off their backs.”
“Not my horses.” Jack looked insulted. “I’ll put you on a lead rein. You’ll be sweet.”
“What part of her no didn’t you understand?” Ted asked.
“I’ll go and saddle up Rae. You’ll love her, trust me.”
“Jack….” He walked away.
“That went well,” Ted said. “I’ll cover for you if you want to make a run for it?”
Mandy wondered if her face could get any redder.
“I really am sorry about your shirt, and—”
“Don’t say you’re sorry about the other stuff, because I can’t be. I’ve wanted your breasts in my hands—”
“Ted!”
“Mandy!” he mimicked her.
“I don’t understand you… or this.” She went for honesty.
“Get in line there,” he said, giving her a gentle smile. “How about we just let it be what it was. A hot and heavy make-out session.”
“Like kids do in college?” Mandy played along.
“I never had a session like that, but yes, I guess so.”
“Me either,” Mandy said.
“I need to thank you for giving me the heads-up with Niki and about my staff.”
She listened as he talked about this morning’s meeting and felt herself getting calmer. If he could talk as if nothing had happened, then so could she.
“This is Rae.” Jack returned and threw Mandy a pair of jeans. “Pull those on over your shorts.”
“I really don’t think horses are for me. Besides, I need to get this float finished,” Mandy tried again as she kicked off her shoes and began to pull on the jeans.
“Sure they are, horses are for everyone. I’ll even get Teddy Bear back on one again, one day. But today is all about you.”
Mandy moved closer to the horse and stroked her long, silky neck. She turned and nudged Mandy in the side.
“She likes you.”
“But what if she uses those large teeth to take a chunk out of me?”
Ted made a clucking noise, sounding like a ch
icken.
“I don’t see you doing this.” Mandy glared at him.
“Because I said no and meant it.”
“I said no!”
“But you didn’t mean it. It was more a, ‘no, Jack,’” he said in a pathetic-sounding tone. “Make it count the first time and you won’t get yourself into these positions. Stop being a wuss.”
“I’m not a wuss, damn you. And just so you know, there is another paintbrush nearby. I won’t hesitate to use it if you don’t shut up,” Mandy snapped.
“That’s better,” Ted said, nodding as if she’d done something to please him.
“Men.” Mandy rolled her eyes. “You should all come with a handbook.”
“We do,” Jack said, shortening the stirrup leathers. “Sexy Beasts 101.”
Mandy giggled, and Ted laughed, and she wondered if maybe they could be friends… as long as they weren’t alone together so they didn’t give in to whatever the hell this was between them.
She was new to this, but had a feeling that wasn’t going to be as easy as it sounded.
Chapter 21
He needed to do something about Mandy, but just wasn’t sure what that something should be.
Every time he closed his eyes, Ted saw her naked from the waist up. Saw the sultry look in her lovely eyes. He was hard so often, it was getting embarrassing.
He had to date someone. Someone who understood it wouldn’t be serious. They’d have fun, then move on. The thought didn’t infuse him with anticipation like it should.
Ted was running his eyes over the paper in his hand when his phone rang. Seriously? The cost of the laundry in this place was rising every month. He made a mental note to check why as he picked up the receiver.
“Hosking.”
“Goldhirsh. Ted, any chance you could drop that book on poetry back to me? I’m feeling a little down today, nasty cough, and I’d like to spend the day reading.”
“Ah, sure, Mr. Goldhirsh.” Ted looked at his in tray, which was full of paperwork needing his attention. “I’ll get someone to run it over.”
There was a loud hacking cough on the other end that had him wincing.
“You doing okay there?”
“Fine.”
He couldn’t remember a time when Mr. Goldhirsh had ever been sick. Ted started to feel a niggle of worry.
“I’ll run it right over. You want me to pick up anything on the way?”
“Six of those cinnamon and hazelnut donuts from Phil’s would be nice. I’ll have the money for when you arrive.”
“You planning on sharing, or eating all six?”
“The only way to cure a cold, son, is to eat your way through it” came the dry reply.
“Be there soon.” Ted ended the call, then did a few more things before grabbing his keys. The book was in his desk drawer and was something Mr. Goldhirsh had insisted he read, the poems of a Persian poet, mathematician, and astronomer born in 1048 who actually had some pretty interesting things to say. Ted had read it from cover to cover.
On his way out of the lodge he answered a few questions from staff as he always did. It was busy at this time of year.
He knew it wasn’t his imagination that his staff seemed happier, and happy to talk to him. He’d been a fool not see that he needed to be more approachable.
Thank you, Mandy Robbins.
The day was building into one of those hot, steamy ones. The sky was blue and cloudless, and people were dressed for the conditions as they wandered up and down the main street of Ryker Falls.
He walked into Phil’s. Piper was behind the counter, looking like she hadn’t just had a baby in a fitted sundress in blazing yellow. Her mother-in-law sat beside Grace with Blake in her arms.
“Morning. Can I have six cinnamon and hazelnut donuts?” he said to Piper.
“Hi, Ted.”
“Hey, Gracie, you stealing your nana’s breakfast this morning?”
She smiled and continued to eat the piece of bacon in her hand.
“Ted. You’ll want to watch your guests. Last night one sped through town at 11:46 p.m. Nearly ran me over. I literally had to leap onto the sidewalk to safety.”
Mary Howard had never been a favorite of Ted’s. She reminded him pretty much of every mother he’d encountered growing up, obnoxiously righteous in the belief they and theirs were better than everyone else.
“I can’t control what my guests do away from the lodge, Mrs. Howard. And how do you know they were my guests, anyway? They could have been visiting anyone or staying in other paid accommodation.”
“They looked wealthy.” Her chins quivered as she spoke in that tone that was like nails down a blackboard to Ted.
“There’s a look?” he said, keeping his words calm for Gracie’s sake.
“Don’t you—”
“You want extra cream on that hot chocolate today, Mary?” Piper said, drawing her mother-in-law’s attention away from Ted as she returned with the donuts. “Here, I bagged them up for you. I’m guessing they’re for Mr. Goldhirsh. Say hi for me. Maybe give him a kiss on the cheek.” Piper winked at him.
“I’m not kissing any man on the cheek.” He took the bag, winked back, and dropped a kiss on Gracie’s head before he left.
He cranked up the air con and headed back down Main Street.
Mr. Goldhirsh lived in what Ted called the civilian part of Ryker Falls. A cluster of houses, in streets. Some had views down to the water; most claimed they could see either Phil or Roxy even if they couldn’t. Or could if they stood on their roofs or hung out of windows.
He parked on the street. It seemed busy for a Saturday morning. Ted grabbed the book and bag of donuts and headed down the narrow drive to the little pale blue house at the end.
Immaculate, the flower beds were blooming with color, not a weed in sight. The windows sparkled as Ted walked up to the front door. Two cars were parked down here. One he recognized as belonging to the Robbins sisters.
Ted stopped. What was going on? Was Mr. Goldhirsh really sick? Hurrying up to the front door, he knocked loudly. He heard someone calling him in and entered.
The hallway was lined with photos of the owner’s running achievements. He saw Boston and London Marathon medals. There was no doubting that considering he’d spent his early years in a concentration camp, the man had packed a lot into his life after that. Was that why? Ted would have to ask him one day.
The place was painted cream, and the only word to describe it was pristine.
“In here!”
It was a house with plenty of rooms; nothing open-plan here. Entering the living area, he stopped in the doorway.
Mandy was here.
She sat in the window, and the sun came through at just the right angle to bounce off her hair. She looked like a bloody angel, Ted thought, dragging his eyes from the vision.
“Ted!” Miss Sarah called to him. “Are you joining knitting club?”
Not if hell actually freezes over.
“I thought you were sick?” He gave Mr. Goldhirsh a look.
“I am.” He forced out a cough. “Come, sit.” He waved Ted to a seat.
“You’ve been running,” Ted said, noting his running clothes.
“I forced myself to get to the end of the street and back, just so my lungs start working properly.” Mr. Goldhirsh forced out another hacking cough. Ted wasn’t buying it.
“I’ll take those, Teddy Bear,” Rory said, grabbing the bag of donuts out of his hand. She was laughing at him. “You got conned, bud.”
“I can see that.”
“Because he forgot to get these and for some reason he wants you here.”
That rocked Ted back on his heels. Why the hell would Mr. Goldhirsh want him here at knitting club?
“I’ll just drop the book. I don’t want to get in your way.”
“Come here, Ted,” Miss Marla called to him. “I need your help.”
“Why?” He didn’t move.
She had her boot on a stool. He watched as she
moved slightly and winced. Ted moved closer.
“Sit here.” She patted the empty seat Rory had just left, which coincidentally was beside Mandy.
“I just—”
“Now,” Miss Marla said in her schoolteacher voice. Ted had been out of school some time, but he still knew the power behind that tone. He sat.
“Tea or coffee, Ted?” Rory popped her head out the kitchen. “Right, coffee,” she said, seeing his face. Ted wondered if it was panic she’d read there.
“Have you ever knitted, Ted?”
“No.”
“But you want to try?”
“No.”
“Sure you do.” Jack wandered in. Presumably he’d been in the kitchen with his girl. “It’d be good for a business mogul like you to unwind.”
Ted gave him his best “are you shitting me” look. Jack ignored it and took a seat beside the Chief of Police’s wife, Gail Blake, and picked up his knitting.
“How’s your knee rug going?” Ted needled him.
“Good. I’m actually making Benjamin a few sweaters.” Jack’s look was pure innocence as around him the others all said how wonderful he was.
“Loser,” Ted mouthed, but Jack’s smile just grew more pious.
Shooting Mandy a look, Ted thought he wouldn’t mind some time in the kitchen with her. She wore a dress today, the hem sitting about midthigh. Fitted, with small sleeves, it was pale, mint green, and looked pretty spectacular on her.
“Put your hands up, Ted.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t want to shoot you, dear, just use them to wind some wool. You have nice big hands,” Miss Sarah said.
He gave up and did as she asked.
“Bob and Nancy got another package yesterday.”
Ted looked at Mrs. Perkins after she spoke. Was this how they talked, running through boring stuff like parcels arriving in the post? Not that he wanted to learn to knit, but that would be enough to put him off.
Miss Marla was winding black wool around his hands. Ted tried not to think about the amount of work he had waiting for him back at the lodge. He gave Mr. Goldhirsh another look that suggested he knew he’d been played. The man coughed, but it wasn’t convincing.
“According to Jed from the Post Office, it was bigger than the last one. He thinks it may have had some kind of sex furniture,” Dorothy Perkins added.