Only Just Begun

by Vella, Wendy

  Suddenly everything changed between them, and tension sizzled in the air.

  “What are you thinking about, Miss Robbins?” He spoke in a low voice that traveled along her nerve endings.

  “If we have enough sweets to give out,” Mandy said quickly.

  “Now that’s a lie, but I’ll wait till later to get the truth out of you. Enjoy the parade, Mandy.”

  “You too.”

  “Ha, I’d rather have a root canal.”

  “That’s the spirit,” Mandy managed to get out. “I have to walk this year because Aunt Marla has her leg, and Aunt Sarah said it’s my turn after all these years.” She was babbling now.

  “You being a changed person and all?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Remember.” He tapped her forehead. “Strong in here.”

  Mandy nodded. Their eyes caught and held briefly, and then he walked away, and she had to say those tight shorts looked really good on his butt.

  Chapter 26

  Holy crap.

  Ted walked back to the lodge float. He’d nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw Mandy. That dress was made of green something, with a sheer skirt that came from under her breasts and floated to midthigh, exposing a lot of leg… really nice legs.

  She had a circle of wildflowers on her head, and her hair was a cloud of curls. In short, she was sexy as all hell.

  “Was that Mandy?”

  He nodded to Lenny.

  “Damn, she looks fine.”

  Ted refrained from punching his manager, and instead grunted something unintelligible.

  He was a man who took action; that was his way and always had been. He didn’t know what to do about Mandy Robbins, however. She was really messing with his head.

  He wanted her but knew that he couldn’t commit to her. So how the hell was he going to put her back in the friend zone and not drag her into the nearest closet every time he got her alone?

  “Here’s your basket, Ted.”

  He looked down at what Niki was handing him.

  “You have to be messing with me.” It had flowers on the handle, and red ribbons. “You cannot seriously expect me to carry that?”

  “I kind of do.” Niki nudged it into him. “Come on, you’re not going to let a little old basket upset your masculinity, are you? This will make all the woman swoon.”

  “I liked you better when you were angsty and pissed off.”

  She didn’t reply, just smiled at him and climbed back on the float.

  Someone blew a whistle. Buzz barked from his place next to Joe on the Trainer Float. He wore a bow tie and a small black hat on a band.

  “If I could have your attention please!”

  Mayor Gripper was on the first float, which held the Ryker Falls council and committee members. This year they were dressed as sailors and the float was a boat.

  “What do you think the significance of the boat is?” Jack moved to his side. He was dressed in cowboy gear, as he was every year.

  “Hard to say what Mayor Gripper or Mary Howard, for that matter, are thinking. No one else would have had a say.”

  “True that.”

  The mayor was dressed as Napoleon and stood with a megaphone at the ready.

  “The arm sleeve sewn to his jacket is a nice touch,” Jack said.

  “The man always looks immaculate,” Ted added.

  “He’s just one of those guys.”

  “One of those guys?”

  “No matter how long his day is, or what he’s doing, he always looks good. Pristine.”

  “Unlike you.” Ted looked at his friend.

  Jack wore jeans low on his hips, and there was a button missing on his checked shirt. Even the brim of his cowboy had was curling on one side and not the other.

  “Rory says it’s part of my appeal.”

  “You know she’s lying to you, right?” Ted said, shooting a look over his shoulder. Mandy was standing beside the Tea Total float, swinging her basket of sweets back and forth, looking like a lush little woodland creature who needed a big bad bear to run off with her.

  “My girl doesn’t lie, and I’ll challenge anyone who says differently.”

  “You know you’re totally whipped right? The great stud muffin of Ryker Falls has been dropped to his knees, and his revolving bedroom door and condom machine have been retired.”

  Jack smiled, and it was wide and full of so much that Ted had to swallow. He’d never really wanted to smile like that… actually, not exactly true. When he’d made love to Mandy, he’d felt like he could scale Phil in the winter naked.

  “Damn straight.” Jack slapped Ted on the shoulder hard. “You should try it, bud. Love is a grand thing.”

  “I just threw up a bit in my mouth.”

  “Mandy looks good,” Jack said with a sly look on his face. “Really good. I wonder what, or should I say who, brought about that change.”

  Seeing as Jack was discussing her, Ted could look at her again.

  Sweet.

  “Yeah, I noticed that too. What do you think is going on there?” Ted acted the innocent.

  “I think it’s Lenny. He’s been sweet on her for a while now, and lately I’ve been wondering—”

  “The hell you say!” Ted hadn’t meant to roar, but it had come out that way.

  Jack walked away laughing, and Ted was so close to following and denying what he knew Jack thought, but that would prove the opposite, so he made himself stand still and swing his basket.

  The kissy sounds coming from the Trainer float made him raise a finger.

  “Umm, Ted flipped the bird,” Gracie said in a loud voice that carried everywhere in that exact moment Major Gripper chose to stop talking.

  Shit.

  “Sorry, Gracie, that was very naughty of me,” he said. “Uncle Jack was being mean.”

  She was sitting on the side of the float with Dylan, dressed as her favorite character, which happened to be a small pink pig called Peppa. Dylan wore an FBI shirt and jeans, and Luke his firefighter uniform.

  “Where’s Mummy, she having a lie down?”

  “I heard that, Hosking, and let me tell you, I’ve been up all night changing diapers and being a milk bar, so don’t mess with me..”

  Piper looked beautiful dressed as some Grecian goddess in a white flowing gown, her hair a mass of curls.

  “God’s truth, Piper, you look peaky,” Ted drawled, which made the men on the float hoot with laughter.

  “My mummy looks beautiful.”

  “Yes, she does, honey.” Ted leaned in and kissed Gracie’s cheek.

  “Okay, Teddy Bear, you go on back to your jungle now, and we’ll catch up soon for a beer,” Joe said, dressed as a barman. Bailey was playing the piano.

  “So no theme again this year?” Ted looked at each family member. Rory was a cowgirl in a short denim skirt and checked shirt.

  “We never have a theme, we’re simply known as the sexy Trainer/Howard float,” Joe added. “I added you into the mix, Dylan.”

  “Appreciate it,” Dylan said.

  “How come the rest of us have to have a theme?”

  “We’re the bad boys/girls of the town, remember?” Jack said. “Rebels who don’t follow rules. It’s always been that way.”

  “I’m protesting,” Ted muttered as he headed away.

  “Nice shorts, big boy. You be careful of your jewels in those. Wouldn’t want your prowess affected.”

  “I didn’t notice Teddy Bear had jewels on him, Uncle Jack.”

  Ted was laughing when he reached his float.

  They rolled out to Mayor Gripper’s float blaring the hornpipe.

  “My head already hurts.” Lenny had his fingers in his ears.

  The first part of the street wasn’t too full, so Ted relaxed slightly and gave out sweets. He waved, and even started to enjoy himself… a bit. He’d never participated in the parade before, or even watched. It wasn’t his thing; all those people made him shudder.

  Which was
weird, as he’d grown up with crowds. Something wet hit the side of his face. Looking left, he saw Miss Marla had a water pistol.

  “Control your senior citizens, will you?” He shouted so Mandy and the Robbins sisters could hear. They hurled abuse back.

  He kept an eye on her because… well, because she looked hot and Ted didn’t want anyone hitting on her or frightening her. Not when she was just starting to stretch her wings.

  It was as they reached the larger crowds in front of A. S. that he felt the sliver of unease creep in. Making himself smile, he eased back to where the float was.

  He knew the signs; sweaty palms, his head felt all over the place. He just needed to regroup.

  “I’ve run out of sweets, so come on, I’ll help you give out yours.”

  A hand slipped into his, and he gripped it tight.

  “Fear is not rational, nor is it who you are,” Mandy whispered to him. “Remember, Ted, you’re strong in here.” She tapped his head.

  Ted held that hand as if it was a lifeline and let her walk him down the street. She took the crowd and handed out sweets, and he stayed close to the floats. Slowly the fear eased, and the tight band around his chest loosened enough so he could haul in his first deep breath.

  It was her, of course. Being anchored to Mandy had made him feel safe.

  “I’m okay now.”

  “Nice work, and here’s Buzz to watch over you now.” She gave him a final squeeze and then released him. But she didn’t go far, just kept pace with him. He felt her eyes on him every few minutes. The tables had turned; he was the one who needed help now.

  Ted couldn’t be sure, but thought right at that moment he’d never felt as close to a human as he did to Mandy Robbins.

  “I’m in trouble there, Buzz.” He scratched the dog’s head and received a woof. “Big trouble,” he muttered, looking at her legs as she bent to hand out more sweets.

  “Hey, Hosking, don’t you dare rip my shorts!”

  He found Fin in the crowd with a young woman Ted knew was a guest from his lodge.

  “At least I fill them out… all of them,” Ted roared back.

  The banter continued until they rolled on, and he began to really relax again.

  The rest of the trip down Main Street went off without a hitch, and they arrived at the school, where the floats would stop.

  His staff were all bubbling with excitement, and Ted realized he’d been wrong there too. He should have run a float in the parade before now.

  “Do you have any sweets left, Ted? I didn’t get any.” Grace grabbed his hand.

  “You really expect me to believe that?”

  She had that wicked smile on her face.

  “Go and see Mandy, she’s way more gullible than me.”

  “What’s gullible?”

  “She’ll give in. Come on, let’s go see if she has any left.” He took her little hand in his.

  Mandy was laughing with her aunts, and he thought that was a good look on her.

  “Mandy, do you have any sweets left?” Gracie asked.

  “Didn’t you get any?” Mandy dropped down on her haunches before the little girl. “I was just looking for a few to eat myself, because I didn’t get any either.”

  “I didn’t.” Gracie was good, Ted would give her that. She dropped her eyes and looked sad. “We need to find some for us, Mandy.”

  “I’ll get you some then.” Mandy got to her feet and wobbled a bit.

  “Are you okay?” Ted reached out to steady her.

  “Sure. I’ll be back soon.” She walked away to speak with her aunts. Seconds later, Miss Sarah approached with a basket.

  “See. Told you she was an easy mark,” Ted whispered to Grace. He kept his eyes on Mandy, watching her walk away. Something was off with her; she looked almost drunk, yet he knew she’d not touched a drop of alcohol on the walk.

  “I’ll catch you later, Gracie.” He followed Mandy, who was now disappearing around the school building. He found her with her back braced on the wall, trying to unwrap a sweet.

  “What are you doing?”

  She jumped about two feet in the air.

  “People who react like that are usually guilty of something.”

  “Or scared witless.” She pressed a hand to her chest, and he noticed she had a handful of sweets.

  He’d never been a guy to lust after a woman. He liked them, would even go so far as saying he really liked some of them, but lusted… not so much.

  He lusted after Mandy Robbins, plain and simple.

  “I just wanted to thank you for what you did back there, Mandy. You can never predict when that kind of thing is going to happen. I usually don’t put myself into those situations—”

  “Never?” She stood there in the late afternoon sun, hands on her trim hips, the floral circlet on her head tilting slightly to one side, watching him.

  “If I can help it.”

  He watched as she tried to wrestle the sweet free again.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I need to eat this.”

  He took it and unwrapped the plastic. She grabbed it and popped it in her mouth.

  “I can understand why you avoid situations, actually. I do that a lot.” She braced the other hand against the side of a classroom. “You’ll excuse me, Ted, I need to do something.”

  “What situations do you avoid?” He said, wanting to keep her talking.

  “I’ve missed out on so much fun by staying away from events.” She was speaking fast now. “Excuse me a minute, Ted.”

  “Fun.” Ted tested the word as he looked at her. “Not sure I’d agree with that. Are you all right, Mandy? You look pale.”

  “I don’t feel….” The words fell away as she fainted. He caught her, but only just.

  “Mandy!” He pressed a hand into her neck and felt her pulse beat.

  “Help!” He held her close to his body and ran back to where the floats were. Luke saw him and started running.

  Chapter 27

  Mandy came to in Ted’s arms. She was on the ground, sitting in his lap, Luke kneeling beside them.

  “Mandy!” Aunt Sarah arrived with Buzz. “What’s happened?”

  “She fainted,” Ted said. “We need to get her to a doctor.”

  “Did you eat today?” Aunt Sarah took one of Mandy’s hands in hers.

  “I forgot,” she said, knowing exactly what had happened. She’d been trying to avoid this by slipping away and eating those sweets. She hadn’t made it.

  “Move, fur ball.” Ted tried to nudge Buzz aside, but the dog wasn’t obeying and had pressed himself into Mandy.

  “I’m okay, boy.” She placed a hand on his head.

  “I’ll call the ambulance,” Luke said.

  “No, I don’t need one.” Mandy tried to get off Ted’s lap; he held her in place.

  “Marla, do you have those supplies for Mandy?” Aunt Sarah called to her sister, who was approaching.

  “They’re in my bag.”

  Aunt Sarah got to her feet and hurried away to get them. When she returned, she had Mr. Goldhirsh with her. He carried a blanket.

  “I’m not cold,” Mandy said as he dropped down beside her with Aunt Sarah.

  “You look like a ghost, so you’ll let us fuss,” he said.

  Soon she was handed a sandwich and a bag of dried fruit.

  “You know better than that, Mandy,” Aunt Marla said.

  “I know, I’m sorry, time just got away from me, and I forgot. I was trying to eat some of the sweets, I just hadn’t got around to it.”

  “She needs to see a doctor,” Ted said. “I’ll take her now.”

  “No, I don’t.” Mandy twisted to look up at him. “I’m okay now, or will be once I’ve eaten. I’m sorry for scaring you.”

  Mandy ate the sandwich slowly and drank the soft drink she was handed. Ted lifted her off his lap and onto the blanket, then crouched in front of her.

  She was now subjected to his, Mr. Goldhirsh’s, and her two aunts�
� looks. None of them were happy.

  “People don’t just faint, Mandy. You need to be checked over,” Ted said.

  “No. This happened because I didn’t eat, that’s all.”

  “I don’t faint when I skip a meal.”

  “Tell him, girl,” Mr. Goldhirsh said. “It should have come out before today anyway.”

  “No, I—”

  “Mandy is a type 2 diabetic, Ted.” Aunt Marla interrupted her. “She needs to eat and is not usually so reckless.”

  She didn’t want to look at him. Didn’t want to see the pity in his face. She’d lived with it for a few years now, it was no big deal, but for some people it was.

  “Do you take insulin?” His words were gruff.

  “No, not yet.”

  “Not yet, but you will have to?”

  Mandy nodded. “It’s likely.”

  “And you didn’t tell me?”

  He was angry, Mandy realized. His eyes were narrowed, and he was glaring at her.

  “I didn’t tell anyone. This is private to me, and no one else’s business.”

  “Wrong.”

  She looked at the jut of his jaw. “Why are you angry?”

  “You work out in my gym and you didn’t tell me about your condition.”

  “You work out in his gym, dear? You never told us that,” Aunt Sarah said. “How nice of you to let her, Ted.”

  “Very nice, and so good for you, Mandy. Especially considering your little health issue,” Mr. Goldhirsh added.

  “You knew?”

  “I did.” Mr. Goldhirsh didn’t look intimidated by Ted’s obvious anger. “Mandy and I have always talked.”

  “She should have told me about this. Should she even be working out? What if she fainted and I didn’t know why? What if she fell off the treadmill!”

  “You’re overreacting.” Mandy tried to calm him down. She wasn’t entirely sure where his anger was coming from. Being a diabetic was her problem, not his.

  “Living a fit and healthy lifestyle is what Mandy needs,” Mr. Goldhirsh said. Her aunts nodded their agreement. They’d been after Mandy for years to get fit.

  “They can hear you on the other side of town, Teddy Bear.” Joe Trainer arrived. “What’s the problem here?” His eyes found Mandy. “What’s going on?” He bent at the waist and patted Buzz, who made that little whuffling sound Mandy loved.