by Erica Penrod
“I know you’ll do great.” Brianne’s eyes softened with compassion. “Would you like to come over for lunch sometime? I can make something, which I guarantee won’t be as good as your mom’s cooking, or we can get some takeout. There’s a great little Chinese place here in town.”
Mandy’s apprehension ebbed into something more manageable. She smiled. “I’d love that.”
“How about this Friday?” Brianne put Ava’s pacifier back in her mouth. “I’ve got the day off while Blake does some editing and Tori’s headed out of town with her husband.”
Blake’s name dialed up the anxiety again. She ignored the bubbles in her belly and the thumping of her heart. “Sure, that would be great.”
“I’ll get your number from Jeremy and text you my address. Be sure to bring Kade with you.”
“Okay.” Mandy nodded her head, looking forward to the lunch date and the opportunity to make a new friend. “Just text me and let me know if I can bring anything.”
“I will.” Ava fussed, and Brianne grinned. “Sounds like she’s ready for her lunch now. I guess that’s my cue to finish up my shopping.”
“See you Friday.” Mandy tightened the strap on Kade, who’d finished his crackers. Brianne smiled as she pushed her cart in the opposite direction.
“All right, buddy, we’re almost done.” She glanced at the slip of paper she’d stuffed in her pocket and went over the list. Just a couple more items and they’d be on their way. Her stomach rumbled, and she realized Ava wasn’t the only one who was hungry. “Let’s get this finished up. Momma’s hungry.”
“Hungry?” Kade looked at her. His eyes, a beautiful concoction of her brown and Ted’s green, gazed up at her. His sweet face, with ample cheeks she craved to kiss at least a hundred times a day, pink lips, and a little round nose, still amazed her at their perfectness.
“Yup. Momma’s hungry.” She gripped the cart and took off. Kade squealed with delight as she swerved down the aisle like they were on a mountain trail, full of winding curves. They found the last few items and cruised through the checkout.
Outside, Mandy parked the cart behind her car and unbuckled Kade. It started to rain, and she shivered, hurrying to load her son before she was soaked. She quickly got the door open and Kade strapped in his car seat. “Crap, the groceries.”
“Crap.” Kade mimicked her.
“Oh, no. Don’t say that.” She crawled out of the back seat and shut the door.
“Need some help?” a voice called to her. Mandy turned to see Blake standing next to her cart, and her body warmed as her heart pumped faster. “Pop the trunk. I’ll get them loaded for you.”
She lifted her jacket over her head. “You don’t have to do that,” she hollered as she furrowed her brow. He was being nice, and all traces of anger from their first encounter were gone. Mandy didn’t know what had changed, but she wasn’t about to complain.
“Get in.” Blake laughed. “Before you drown.” The rain was coming down in sheets now.
She hit the trunk button on her key fob as she opened the driver’s side door and got it. Twenty seconds later, Blake shut the trunk door and grabbed her cart. He smiled and waved before he hustled through the parking lot and into the store.
Mandy started the car and put on her seat belt, still baffled by Blake’s change in behavior. Damp hair clung to her skin, and she glanced up in the rearview mirror to brush the strands away from her face. She rolled her eyes at the girl staring back at her. Inside the car was cold, but her cheeks were a warm rosy red. She always was a sucker for Blake Jessop’s smile, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen it. Something in her heart longed to see it again.
* * *
Blake stopped at the red light on his way home and waited. He’d spent too much time in this town and too much time around happily married couples, and it was warping his sense of well-being. Mandy had been on his mind ever since he’d seen her on Monday, and he’d spent sleepless nights reciting all the reasons he shouldn’t try to talk to her. And then he’d seen her in the parking lot, and his heart couldn’t leave her standing there in the rain. Not that she’d asked for his help, but he couldn’t walk by as if he didn’t know her. He didn’t want to. The anger he’d felt when he saw her at the B&B ebbed into frustration, which slowly melted into something akin to empathy, and that let him remember how much he’d loved her.
He exhaled as the light turned green. Blake stepped on the gas and crossed the intersection. The rain wasn’t much more than a drizzle now, but it was heavy enough to keep his wipers going. His mind drifted to Mandy—again. Her dark hair, wet with rain, made him long to wrap his fingers in her curls, and her brown eyes guided him like a lighthouse to the places he wanted to go. To the place in time where she was his and the future belonged to them, or to now, where anything could be possible. Maybe Blake could try and make things right between them, confess that he’d never stopped thinking about her. But there was also the chance that she’d reject him again, and he wasn’t sure he’d survive another heartbreak like that.
His natural defenses went up. Give it time and wait things out. Things could change, and he’d do well to remember the pain of losing her for now. Blake could hope he wouldn’t see her again anytime soon, and by then his resolve to save himself would be fortified.
But that wasn’t what fate had in mind.
Hazard lights flashing up ahead caught his attention. A rock slammed through his gut when he recognized the car as Mandy’s.
Her car was parked on the side of the road, and she stood to the side, staring down at a flat tire. He exhaled, signaled, and pulled to the curb behind her. Mandy glanced up, and when she recognized him, her shoulders relaxed and a faint smile tugged on the corners of her mouth.
He got out and pushed his ball cap down on his head. “Need some help?”
“I don’t know what happened.” She crossed her arms and kicked the flat tire. “These are new tires.” Mandy shivered as her hair dripped with water and her jacket clung to her body. “I think I can change it. I haven’t done it before, but it can’t be that hard.” A look of determination furrowed her brow and intensified the color of her eyes.
Inside, he chuckled to himself. He loved that about her. Even though she was stranded on the side of the road with a toddler in a rainstorm, she’d still want to fix this herself.
“I think you should know how to change a tire, but maybe right now isn’t the best time to practice.” He kneeled and examined the remains. “Did you run over something?”
Mandy crouched down beside him. “Not that I know of.”
Her scent of lilac and vanilla filled his head, and the proximity of her flesh next to his made time irrelevant. He turned to her, her face more beautiful yet as perfect as he remembered. Blake got lost in her eyes for a moment; then his gaze drifted to the tip of her delicate nose and fell to her full lips and lingered. Everything inside his body longed to taste her again.
“Blake?” Mandy stared at him.
Blake swallowed back his desire and tried to recover. “It doesn’t matter. It’s already done.”
She tipped her head and looked at him as if she were trying to decide whether he referred to the tire or something else. “Okay.” Mandy turned her head and peeked in the window at Kade. “I’ll open the trunk. The spare is in there.”
He stood up and blew on his hands. The temperature had dropped within the last hour, and it wouldn’t be long before the rain turned to snow. “Go ahead and get in the car. I’ll have this changed in no time.”
“Are you sure?” Mandy’s eyes flitted between him and the flat tire and her son in the back seat.
“Of course. Hop in.” If she was inside the car, he’d have a better chance of avoiding a mistake.
Within ten minutes, Blake had the spare securely in place on the rim. Mandy got out and met him as he shut the lid to the trunk where he’d stowed the flat tire. She could take it to a repair shop and they’d take care of the rest.
&nbs
p; “Thank you so much. That’s twice today you’ve rescued me.” Her cheeks blushed when she smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
“It’s nice to see you again, Blake.” Her voice quieted. “You’re just as amazing as you always were.”
Blake nodded. He didn’t trust himself to speak with the knot lodged in the base of his throat. And then he lost control, like his mind separated from his body. He leaned in, ready to kiss her, and he was helpless to stop himself. His fingers gravitated towards her skin and he caressed her face, but she froze at his touch. Blake dropped his hand as she backed up. Without a word, Mandy got in the car and drove away.
Yeah, he was amazing, all right. Just not amazing enough for her to want him.
Chapter Four
Mandy balanced Kade on one hip and a bag of groceries on the other as she made her way into the kitchen. She refused to think about what almost happened between her and Blake, unwilling to ride the roller coaster of feelings just yet.
“Oh my gosh.” Her mom rushed over. “You’re soaked.”
She handed Kade to his grandma and put the bag on the counter. “I got a flat tire on the way home.”
“What?” Her dad walked in. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“I was okay.” She peeled off her wet coat. “Blake saw me pulled over and changed the tire for me.”
“That’s a relief. I don’t like the idea of you and that baby stranded on the side of the road.” He moved towards the back door. “Are there more groceries to bring in?”
Mandy nodded. “Just a couple more.”
“Okay, I’ll grab them.” Her dad walked towards the door.
“Are you hungry?” Her mom took Kade’s jacket off, and he took off towards their bedroom.
“I’m starving.” She’d forgotten about her boisterous belly when she’d gotten the flat. “I’ll fix something. Have you and Dad eaten already?”
“No. I was just about to mix together some tuna salad for sandwiches.” Her mom uncovered a pan of homemade wheat bread.
Mandy went over to the sink, turned on the faucet, and let the warm water cascade over her cold fingers. “I’ll make lunch. I’m sure you’re busy getting ready for the guests.”
“That would be nice. I’m just finishing the last change of bedding upstairs.”
“Don’t worry, I got this.”
Her mom’s eyes clouded over, and she swallowed. “Okay, honey. But before you do, something was delivered for you today.” She walked over and picked up an envelope.
Mandy didn’t need to be told what was inside. She’d expected it any day now, but what she hadn’t anticipated was the rush of emotions, like a tidal wave crashing over her. She braced herself against the counter and sidestepped until she reached the safety of a barstool. Her mom handed her the letter.
“I guess it’s finally over.” Mandy’s fingers trembled as she ripped open the envelope.
Her dad came through the door at the same moment. He stopped in his tracks, and sadness wallowed in the creases at the corners of his eyes.
“It’s all right. This is a good thing. Now I can finally move on with my life.” Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She’d mourn the loss of her marriage later in private. Having a child, she understood the pain her parents felt in her behalf, and she didn’t want to give them anything more to grieve about. “And I’m not sad about losing Ted. I’m just saying goodbye to a chapter in my life.” One that she’d thought would tell her life’s story, but now she would begin another.
For too long, she’d been weighted down by her failing marriage, and now she was finally free. Free to remember the girl she’d been before she’d worked so hard to be someone else for Ted. She’d never been one to back down from a fight, but after one too many fights, Mandy retreated, trying to keep the peace, and that wasn’t who she wanted to be anymore. She wanted to go after what she wanted. To live life to its fullest. Her relationship with Ted left scars and her journey to self-discovery might be one step forward and two steps back, but she’d get there.
Her mom wrapped her arms around her. Two seconds later, her dad was there to hold her too. Their love gave her the strength to smile. “I love you both so much and am so grateful to you. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“We love you too.” Her dad let go and went back for the groceries. Kade came running in with a toy truck in his hand.
“Come on, bud. Why don’t you bring your truck upstairs with Grandma?” Her mom held out her hand to the little boy, and he grabbed on quickly.
“Thanks, Mom.” Mandy scanned over the letter to make sure it was what she’d thought it was, then folded it up and placed it back in the envelope. She’d go over the details later. She stood up. “I’ll get lunch going.”
Mandy washed her hands again and found a mixing bowl. A flat tire and a final divorce all in one day was deflating, but then she heard Kade giggle and her heart lifted. She smiled, thinking of her little son, but was taken aback when Blake’s face arose in her mind like a bubble of hope. Mandy had the power to burst it, but to her astonishment, that was the last thing she wanted to do.
* * *
Several days later, Mandy had a hard time explaining her actions to herself, so she didn’t know what she’d tell Blake when he opened the door to find her standing there with a plate of cookies in her hand. Maybe she should’ve went old school and sent him a card in the mail and then she wouldn’t be in this predicament.
Ever since she got her divorce decree, Blake had been on her mind, and she convinced herself the persistent feeling was only her mother’s voice in her head, reminding her she’d raised Mandy right and to use good manners. Her hankering to see him had nothing to do with him almost kissing her. She was doing the right thing. Once she told him thank you for helping her with the flat tire, she wouldn’t see his face every time she closed her eyes.
And so she gave in, baked, and prayed she wasn’t making an idiot of herself. She’d texted Jeremy and asked for Blake’s address and planned to do a drive-by drop-off with a little note to tell him thank you again for helping with the flat tire. Her brilliant plan, or scheme, was to leave the plate on the porch, knock on the door just loud enough that he wondered if he’d heard the knock, and run like there was a badger chasing her away.
Her breath floated in the air around her as she moved in to press the doorbell. Before she could press the button, the door swung open. Startled, she nearly fell off the back step.
Blake stood in the doorway, his hair wet and his eyes all aglow. His shirt hung open, revealing the chiseled valleys and peaks of chest and stomach. Her breath hitched, and Brianne forgot about propriety. She stared at the man in front of her and remembered the young guy she’d hung out with at the lake and the way he slid the T-shirt over his head to soak up the sun. He’d looked like a teenage dream back then, but this mature man was even better. Blake was a grown woman’s fantasy. His jeans hung low on his waist, and he was barefoot and looked hotter than any cookie right out of the oven.
“Mandy?” His eyes widened, and his brows rose like an incredulous question mark. “I … I … thought I heard someone sneaking around.” His hands raced to button up his shirt, much to her disappointment. “Sorry, I just got out of the shower.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have bothered you, I just—”
“Come in. It’s freezing out there.” Blake backed up and held the door.
Mandy clutched the plate in her hands. “No, I—”
“I insist.”
The warmth of the house and the heat radiating off his skin was too much to refuse. “Okay, just for a second.” She took a deep breath. This was where she literally crossed the line, from thanks for the help to we’re kind of friends. Mandy stepped inside, knowing she should’ve just handed him the cookies, said thank you, and run. She would’ve appeased her mother with her gesture of gratitude and could sleep well tonight. Ha, yeah, right. She’d be dreaming of bare-chested Blake for qui
te some time.
“How did you know where I lived?” Blake smoothed his hair to the side, and she grinned when the curls haphazardly went right back to every direction.
“I asked Jeremy.” She looked around the apartment. The kitchen was to the left, with marble counters and dark wood cabinets. High-end appliances in stainless steel finished off the space. A living room was to the right, where a large grey leather sectional took most of the space. A massive giant-screen television hung on one wall, and a giant fish was mounted on another. “This is a gorgeous place.”
“Thanks.” Blake leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “I bought it from Jeremy. Luckily, he has nice taste and the place came like this. I just had to get a bigger TV and couch and I was set.”
Mandy noticed the wide-planked hardwood floors. “It’s really nice.” She remembered the plate in her hand. “Here, these are for you.”
Blake took the plate and lifted the tinfoil covering. “Are these your mom’s banana chocolate chip bars?” He took a sniff as he inspected the offering.
“My mom’s recipe, but I made them.” She glanced down at her shoe.
“These are my favorite.” He gazed up and grinned at her. The dimple in his left cheek deepened, and her knees felt like jelly.
“I know.” Mandy wasn’t sure whether she should look him in the eye or stare at the ground. “At least, I hoped they still were.” She grew shy; the words on the tip of her tongue were ones that carried a lot of weight and more than a little of her heart. “I hope we can be friends.”
Blake glanced up from the cookies and studied her face. He put the plate down, and Mandy’s pulse quickened as he continued to stare at her. “Friends?”
“Y-yes,” she managed to get out. There was nothing platonic in the way she wanted to kiss him right now. Mandy reached out, ready to give in, and touched his face with her fingers. The energy between them was palpable and her lips trembled, but something nagged at her. A voice in her head, which she tried to ignore, but it got louder. What are you thinking? Your divorce was just final today.
