Minnie’s head was swimming. Some of what he said made sense, but some of it didn’t.
“I don’t know.”
“Look, I get it. But just because you made a few mistakes . . .”
She let out a hollow laugh. “I think it was a little more than that.”
“Just because you made a few big mistakes doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be happy, and what about me? I haven’t even done anything wrong. Why shouldn’t I be happy?”
“Mitch.”
“Look. What about one date? When is your day off?”
“Monday.”
“Okay, how about I take you out somewhere Monday? Out of town, away from the prying eyes and the gossip, and we just see if we’re compatible, if we get along.”
“When we’re not kissing?”
“Well, there might be some kissing, too, but yeah, when we’re not kissing.”
“I have a sixty-thirty AA meeting in the morning.” She needed to put it out there. This was who she was. She needed to make him understand this was not as simple as he was implying.
“Right, well, we’ll leave from here straight after you get back.” He turned and headed to the door. “Bring your bike and your smile.”
“For the record, I think this is a bad idea.”
He gave her a buzz and a cheeky grin before heading out her front door.
He could buzz all he wanted. Her hormones were dancing, her pulse was racing, and alarm bells were ringing. Ding, ding, ding.
Then, she ran her index finger across her lips, the lips he had thoroughly kissed, and considered the situation. She could go out with him and enjoy the day, one perfect day, then she’d just come clean, tell him the truth about her sordid past, and he’d run for the hills, problem solved. It would hurt her but it was the right thing to do. She deserved to suffer, no one else did.
Chapter 15
Monday morning was bright and sunny, which made Mitch who was already very much looking forward to the day out extra happy. He had plans that revolved around the great outdoors and they were always better in the sunshine.
He’d messaged Minnie yesterday and asked her to leave her bike in the hallway outside her apartment, and he had now loaded it into the back of his van along with his own bike. The one she was borrowing, which he mended for her the other week, was a vintage style with a basket and stood in contrast to his own sleek racing bike. Some might look at it as a clear example of how they were different, but Mitch just looked at them and decided they were both bikes after all, the same but different. Like men and women in general.
Speaking of women, Cheryl was still in situ. Because she had been working in the bar and doing a decent job, and because she did seem to have finally caught on to the fact that their relationship was purely platonic, he had agreed to let her stay another week or so. Her parents were on a cruise and would be back in Florida where they lived then and she’d agreed to go down there when they returned. He felt better about it now. She was still touchy-feely and flirty with him, but that’s how she was with all men, so he had decided to just accept that’s who she was.
He shut the door to the van just as Minnie rounded the corner to the parking lot. He’d offered to collect her, but she’d declined. He got it, she didn’t want to be seen leaving with him, but he didn’t think that many people lurked outside the local AA meeting in the early hours of a fall morning.
It was cool so she was hugging a large woolly coat to her body. When she saw him standing there with the passenger door to the van open, her face broke into a warm smile. He loved that smile and being responsible made him feel ridiculously good about himself.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said as she approached.
“Hey, yourself.”
“I missed you.” He leaned in and gave her cheek a gentle kiss.
“It’s been two days.”
“Two very long days.” His voice was teasing, but the truth was he had missed her. More than once over the weekend he had wanted to text her or call her to tell her something. Yes, he found her sexy and gorgeous, but he genuinely liked her company as well. He found all of her alluring.
He gestured for her to hop up in the van and shut the door once she was settled in, racing around to the driver’s side.
“Where are we off to?” He hadn’t told her what the plan was, mainly because when he saw her Friday night he hadn’t had a plan beyond getting her to agree to spend some time with him. Now he rather liked the idea of keeping her in suspense.
“You’ll see,” he said, getting the car in motion.
“I don’t much like surprises, Mitch.” Her voice was soft and still sounded a little sleepy.
“Everyone likes surprises.”
“Not everyone,” she corrected him.
“Well, I think you’ll like this.” He took the main exit north out of town.
“I guess I know there are bikes involved. So, it’s not a total surprise.” She was sitting very still and he noticed leaning a little on a tilt away from him.
“You look nervous.”
“I’m not.” She shook her head and paused. He got a waft of her shampoo; it smelled like apples. Mitch loved apples. “Okay, maybe a little. I feel kind of naughty sneaking off like this.”
“Naughty can be fun.”
“You know what I mean.”
He took his hand off the wheel and gave hers, which rested on her thigh, a squeeze. “I promise we’re not doing anything crazy.”
“Okay. It’s a beautiful day for whatever it is we’re doing.”
An hour later, they pulled up to a farm stand. Along the way she’d asked him about his travels and where his career had taken him, and he’d been happy to share stories of his glory days. This farm stand was one of Mitch’s favorite spots. They sold all manner of fresh produce, which at this time of year included pears and apples, cider and pies. All things he had a great fondness for.
“Come on, let’s buy our lunch.”
“It’s only nine in the morning,” she said, her eyes furrowing in confusion.
“I know. Come on. It’ll all make sense down the track.”
He slid out of the van and raced around to open her door as she slid down to the ground. “Well, you’re in charge.”
Funny because that wasn’t how he felt. He felt a little anxious because he wanted this to go well. As well as his travels, they’d spent the ride chatting about their weekends, which both of them had spent working. It seemed like the high maintenance guests for the Inn, a very intense couple from new Jersey, had made their way down to the bar as well.
They’d agreed she sounded like the Nanny and carried on like a New Jersey Housewife and the husband had been so besotted, or so stupid, he didn’t seem to even notice how over-the-top and rude she was. Of course, once she worked out who Mitch was, she’d changed her tune as so often happened.
“So, you play the celebrity card in the bar, huh?” Minnie had quizzed him.
“Well, there is some memorabilia on display and it is called Handlebar, so there is kind of a theme, if people match me with the guy in some of the pictures, what can I do?” he’d told her.
“Should I worry about you being swamped while we’re out?”
“Hardly,” he’d assured her. “Where we’re going there won’t be a crowd.”
“Should I be worried about getting lost in the woods?”
He’d just shrugged at that.
Here at the farm stand, Mitch grabbed two baskets and handed her one. “Show me what your favorite things to eat are.”
“It all looks so good.” She took in the fresh fruits and vegetables. She picked up a Granny Smith and gave it a polish. “I do like a crisp green apple.”
“Is that why your hair smells like apples?” He had to ask, stepping closer to get a waft.
“You noticed that, huh?” She gave him a coquettish smile over her shoulder.
“I did. I notice lots of things about you, Min.”
She dropped the apple and a coup
le of others in her basket. “I change my shampoo with the seasons. Apples are good for fall.”
“See, this is good, I’m already learning more about you.”
She gave her head a shake. “Be careful what you wish for, Mitch.”
He knew it was a warning. She was clearly not proud of all her past, but who was? Still, he knew for her to have gone to rehab and return she must have been at rock bottom, and while he’d never been there himself, he knew it was not a place people liked to discuss.
He wandered toward the pies. They smelled so good.
“You know Lucy is a big wig at Pied Piper’s Pies. She started out in the production kitchen and is now an executive. I’m very proud of her.”
“I did know that, and you should be proud. I’m a huge fan of pie and anyone who brings more of it to the world. Do you have a favorite type?” He waved his hand toward the pies.
“It’s hard to go past peach or apple.”
“It is indeed.”
They wandered around filling their baskets until they were overflowing.
“Seriously, Mitch, how many people are we feeding and for how long?”
“Just you and me for today. We can always take the leftovers home.”
He went to the counter to pay while she disappeared to get them each a coffee from a van by the road. He couldn’t help but snag a beautiful bunch of flowers to go with their already excessive display.
It didn’t matter to Mitch, he wanted to do this right. If he’d had his way, he would be taking Minnie out to a fine dining restaurant. There was a great little French place in the town over that Mike had told him about and he’d been wanting to try it, but he knew that was the wrong approach, and if they were spotted there, which they surely would be, the candlelight and soft music would send a message around the town that they were dating. She didn’t want that. He understood why, but if he was honest, Mitch was on the back-foot here. He wasn’t used to being anyone’s secret. In fact, with his status as a former athlete he had often had the opposite problem—people bragged they knew him or only got to know him because of his fame. Yes, this was entirely new to him.
He paid the cashier and headed back toward the truck where Minnie was waiting. She was breathtaking there in her jeans and plaid shirt, backlit by the soft autumn sun. She was beautiful and she was real and she worth taking a chance on, or so he hoped.
Mitch looked adorable lugging his bags of produce back to the car. Adorable in a sexy heart-stopping way. Minnie needed to remind herself that she was getting this, one day only, and that then she was returning to town and her children and not creating any more drama or trouble for anyone. She could not allow herself to get carried away with the idea that this was going to be the answer to all her problems. There was one answer and it was her.
Still, for this one day, she was going to enjoy crisp green apples, autumn sunshine, and the company of this very hot and very decent man.
“All set?” he asked as he loaded in the supplies.
“Two coffees and two apple and cinnamon cookies that smell like heaven.”
He gave her a big grin. “Awesome.”
“Are you planning on telling me where we’re going yet?”
He gave his head a firm shake and mimed locking his lips and throwing away the key.
“I might hold your coffee and cookie hostage until you crack,” she teased.
“You wouldn’t?” He feigned extreme shock.
“No, I wouldn’t but don’t keep me guessing too long.”
His hands brushed hers as he took his coffee cup, and she felt a warm glow spread through her body. One day, just one day, she reminded herself.
True to his word, they’d barely finished their morning coffee when he took a turn off the main road down a tree-lined but unmarked road. She hoped he wasn’t a serial killer because no one knew she was alone in the woods with him. Her judgement wasn’t great but that was not the vibe he gave off at all. Still, she quickly texted Janet to let her know she was off with Mitch.
The phone immediately pinged back.
I’ve seen him in the bar. He’s so hot. You go, girl.
Just friends, she replied.
If you’re smart, friends with benefits.
Minnie shook her head. If she was smart she wouldn’t be here at all, but she wasn’t, so when Mitch asked if everything was okay, she nodded and assured him it was. She didn’t mention that she hadn’t felt this comfortable and content since Nick had died and that had her terrified. She didn’t beg him to take her back before she did anything stupid. She just gave him a smile and turned her eyes to the road ahead that widened to reveal a perfect blue lake.
“This is Lake Finn. It’s a finger lake that runs off the main lake.”
“It’s so pretty.” She leaned forward in her seat to take in the pristine blue water lined mainly by pines but dotted with the odd maple and other deciduous varieties that were turning riotous shades of orange and yellow.
“I fell in love with it the first time I saw it. It’s the reason I moved up to this part of the world.”
“But you don’t live here?”
“Not full time, not yet anyway.” He was moving? She didn’t like that idea, but she pushed it aside. He’d brought her to his favorite place, that was so sweet.
They drove a few more minutes and took another turn down a tree-lined drive before coming to a stop lakeside beside an old silver Airstream trailer.
“This is yours?”
“Yeah, it’s my secret hideaway. Come look.”
He leapt from his seat and came to let her down, offering his hand, which she took. He stepped her through the property, which also had a large barn and the frame of a house in the distance.
“So, the trailer is there for now. I keep all my toys in there.” He gave her a cheeky grin, pointing to the barn. “Bikes, boats, kayaks, toys. And that will be the house when it’s done.”
“Wow.” She craned her neck to take in as much as she could as quickly as possible. “It’s amazing.”
“It’s a perfect spot. And when it’s done, it will be amazing.” He smiled at her. That smile, that would be her undoing. “There’s a great bike trail, so I thought we could maybe have a ride before lunch.”
“That sounds perfect.” It did. She’d get to really see the place from his perspective.
“Great. All right, let’s get this stuff loaded inside.”
Mitch knew the trailer didn’t look like all that much from the outside, but inside it was kitted out with everything a man could need. In fact, he could hook it up to the van and just go. He’d had it fitted out when he bought it, so everything inside was new and sleek. He liked the vintage lines and look of it, but he wanted it to be practical and liveable.
He unlocked the door and stepped aside for Minnie to enter, and he heard her let out a sexy little gasp.
“You like?” he asked, entering behind her and brushing past to put their supplies on the counter.
“I love it. It’s so . . . modern.” It was indeed, all stainless steel, wood, and white from the countertops to the walls to the window coverings. “It’s deceptive from the outside. You have quite an eye.”
“Well, one of my sisters, Harper, is a graphic designer, but she has a good eye overall, so she gave me some help.”
Minnie ran her hand along the smooth counter. Mitch couldn’t help but envy the counter. “You guys did an excellent job.”
“I’ll give you the ten-cent tour.” He showed her the kitchenette, the dining nook, bathroom, and the bedroom, well, he showed her the partition that separated it from the main space. He didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, bundling her out of the car and showing her his bed all in five minutes.
“Can I peek?” she asked.
“Of course.” He slid back the partition to show the master suite, which was stacked with crisp white linens. Mitch wasn’t a fussy guy, but he liked nice sheets.
She turned and gave him a warm smile. “The whole thing l
ooks like it belongs in some designer magazine. It’s gorgeous.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to say, “not as gorgeous as you,” but he was trying to be an adult. He’d noticed on the drive up that everything would be going fine, and then Minnie would get a look on her face that was filled with nerves and questions. He didn’t want to fuel any fears. He wanted to take the day to show her how much they had in common and that she was more than her most recent mistakes.
“Let me put the things in the fridge that need to stay cool, and then we can go for a ride.”
“Sounds perfect. Mind if I freshen up?”
“Go for it,” he said, heading off to unload.
Two hours later, they’d had a really fun ride and she’d held her own. Her bike was less suited to the slightly rocky path than his, and as she reminded him when they set out, until a week ago she hadn’t been on a bike in at least a decade.
“Take it easy on me,” she’d warned, and he had.
They stopped at the building site, and he walked her through the foundations of the house. “It’s not going to be crazy big or anything. The view is the real feature of the place. And I liked the idea of somewhere to come back to. A permanent address.”
“Are you leaving?” Her face crowded with concern.
“Oh no. When I was on the road, I was kind of homeless. I had a series of rented apartments but nowhere permanent. I’m not from around here, and when I started I didn’t even have the bar yet, but I like the idea of having a fixed address to return to, regardless of what lies ahead.”
“Which one never knows,” she said, her voice sad.
“Exactly. And I didn’t want to build some huge lake house that I just wandered around lost and alone in when I visited. I want something that feels like a home.”
“The house Nick and I bought was the first and only home I had. I remember that feeling that finally I belonged somewhere.”
“Do you still have it?” They hadn’t talked much about her past before she left the kids or about her late husband. Mitch hadn’t wanted to pry.
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