“It’s just a wrinkle, but I’ll get it ironed out. No worries.”
The older woman didn’t look convinced, but she smiled and went back to the eggs, the metal utensil clinking against the side of the bowl. “I know you will, honey.”
Mandy checked the time. “I’m meeting with Preston here in a minute. I should be back in an hour. Call me if something comes up.”
“I’ve got it covered. You should take that young man a muffin or two.”
Not a bad idea. Mandy found a paper bag and put two of each kind inside. She and Preston had agreed to talk for a while this morning and come up with a game plan for when they called the lawyer. They might as well eat breakfast at the same time.
She’d hoped to find a solution by now. She’d even talked to two of her friends about buying the B&B so she could purchase it from them again. Raven said she would if she could, but her job was still fairly new and she doubted the bank would give her a loan that large. Tricia patted her rounding belly and said they were trying to save as much money as possible before the baby was born. Both assured her they would help if they were able.
Mandy totally understood. It’s wasn’t something she’d be able to do, either, if they had come to her asking for the same favor.
In the end, she was right back where she’d started when she first heard about the will.
With the bag of muffins in hand, she waved to Jade and went out the back door. Preston was sitting on the steps waiting for her. He jumped to his feet and turned.
“Good morning.”
Mandy smiled at him. “Good morning.” She held up the bag. “I’ve got breakfast.”
“Nice! Do you mind if we walk for a few minutes before we sit down and eat?”
“Not at all.” They’d gotten a small rainstorm last night, which had cooled the air off. Since it was only six-thirty in the morning, the sun hadn’t yet removed the chill. Mandy enjoyed the temporary change. The summer had been an unusually hot one, and she looked forward to the promise of cooler weather.
Preston led them across the lawn to one tree on the other side of the yard. He motioned to the ground beside it. “How does this look?”
The branches had protected the grass from what little rain they’d received and it looked dry. “Perfect.”
They sat next to each other, their backs against the large tree. Mandy let him choose a muffin first then got a cinnamon one for herself. They ate in silence for a few moments before she spoke. “Did you find a place for the woodworking equipment?”
“Nope. Every place I contacted that had space for rent either wanted way too much, or the place was too small.” Preston polished off the muffin and brushed the crumbs off on his pants. “That’s something I wanted to talk to you about. But first, did you have any luck finding someone to purchase the B&B so you could buy it back?”
Mandy pinched a bite off her muffin and put it on her tongue, savoring the cinnamon. “I talked to someone at my bank and they said they couldn’t do anything like that. I asked a couple of friends, and both of them had real reasons for saying no.” She paused. “I don’t want to arrange something with a stranger, but I may not have any choice. There’ve been a lot of people calling and offering to buy this place. I tested the water and mentioned the possibility of buying it back from them for a little more.”
“And what did they say?”
She frowned. “They said they’d quadruple their money with the plans they had for the land.” The thought of the B&B being torn down and the property filled with back-to-back houses made her sad. “So yeah, I’m not sure what to do. Several of the companies offered me way more money than I thought I’d get. Maybe I should take it and run.” Guilt stabbed at her simply for entertaining the possibility. Granny may have said that option would be okay, but it didn’t mean it was something she or Papa would’ve done. And if Mandy thought they’d avoid it at all costs, then that’s what she planned to do, too.
Mandy turned her head to look at Preston. He was staring out toward the river, his eyes narrowed. His serious expression worried her.
“I have an idea, but you’re not going to like it.” He shifted his focus to her.
Butterflies filled Mandy’s stomach and her heart flip-flopped in her chest. She knew where he was going and shook her head. “No.”
Preston moved until he faced her. They both sat cross legged, their knees touching. “Hear me out. And while you do, think about it logically.”
She fought against the instinct to leap to her feet and walk back to the house. If she had any other options, she probably would have. Instead, she straightened her spine, set the bag of muffins on the grass beside her, and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Go ahead.”
“If we got married—” He held up a hand to stop her when she started to object. “You promised you’d hear me out.” Preston waited long enough to make sure she would keep her word and continued. “If we got married, there’d be no problem with you keeping the B&B. The lawyer said you only needed to be married a year. At that point, the house and land will be yours—just as it should be. You don’t have to put anything in my name.”
Mandy’s jaw dropped. “You’re suggesting a marriage in name only? What is this, the 1800s? You’re insane.” She considered what he said and frowned. “So, we’d stay married for a year, and then what? Get a divorce?”
“If that’s what you want.” Preston’s expression made it difficult for Mandy to tell what he was thinking.
Disbelief toward his idea gave way to anger. “You know what I dealt with as a kid. My parents got a divorce and signed me over to my grandparents like an old car or something. There are a lot of things I’m determined to not do and getting a divorce is one of them. So yeah, that’s not happening.”
“Then we don’t get a divorce.” His brows rose, and he stared at her with a look daring her to counter him. In the past, it usually preceded a list of reasons for why he was right and she was wrong.
That wouldn’t work this time. He hadn’t dared her to climb a tree or race him to the edge of the river. This was marriage they were talking about. And since she didn’t believe in divorce, they were also talking about forever. It’d take a lot more than goading or stroking her ego to get her to agree.
She stared at him, waiting for the punch line. When he didn’t break eye contact, she let her eyelids fall, blocking her view of him. She took a moment to gather her scattered thoughts. “Granny wanted this, you know.” She opened her eyes again in time to see the shock on Preston’s face.
“Wanted what?”
“For us to get married. She all but said that in the letter she wrote me.” Mandy’s mouth went dry, and she wished she’d brought something to drink along with the muffins. She cleared her throat. “I admit, if I want to keep the B&B, I don’t have any other option. I’d rather sell this place than do something stupid. Or selfish.”
Preston shook his head. “You’re not being selfish. Or if you are, I’m just as bad. This will help me, too. I’ve dreamed of starting my own business, but I can’t catch a break. The way things are going, I may never get the chance. Even with the equipment your grandfather gave me, I’m hard-pressed to find a place to store it or the funds to move forward with my plans.” He scratched at the base of his neck and then ran his fingers through his dark blond hair. It was clear he wrestled with what he planned to say next. “I’m losing my job at Clearwater Lumber. Saturday’s my last day. I have had little luck finding somewhere else to work. I don’t want to, but I’ll have to look outside of town if something doesn’t come up soon.”
Mandy blinked in shock and held up a hand to stop him. “What happened? You’ve worked there for years.”
“Mr. Logan can’t compete with the new home improvement store. He’s going out of business.”
She thought about all the employees who were now going to have to find somewhere else to work. “That’s terrible. I’m sorry.” And equally as sorry that she’d been in her own world to the point wh
ere she didn’t realize this was happening.
His gray eyes settled on her and softened. “If we get married, I can help you with the B&B like I have been. I can also keep the equipment in the workshop and work toward my goals. Our goals.” He paused, a small smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “So, you see, this would be helping me out, too. We can take the money I’d save by ditching the apartment and open a savings account. I’d like to get to the point where neither of us is strapped for money like this again.”
Mandy didn’t deny the idea held a lot of appeal. She grimaced. How could she consider this crazy deal? Her mind kept listing objection after objection, while peace flooded the rest of her body. With the mixed signals, how was she supposed to know what to do? She couldn’t marry Preston, could she?
Chapter Six
Preston watched the war being waged within Mandy as different emotions played across her face. The woman was stubborn, and he knew she was going through a mental pros-and-cons list. Everything about a marriage of convenience made sense to him. It would solve both of their problems and, if things went forward with his business like he thought they would, in a few years they could be financially stable. Something he’d fought for all his life. Come on, girl. Give us a chance.
“We can’t do this.” Mandy stood, dusting off the back of her shorts.
He scrambled to his feet. “Why not?”
“I’ve never wanted to get married, and I’m okay with that. But you…” Her voice trailed off, and she lifted her big brown eyes to his. The sadness and uncertainty made his heart twist in his chest. “You want a family someday. You’ve always told me that. What if you meet the woman you want to marry while you’re saddled with me? I’ll sell this place to be bulldozed before I get a divorce. Where does that leave you?”
“I’m not worried about it.”
“You should be.”
Preston slowly shook his head as he placed his hands on her shoulders. “I’m not worried about it because I met that woman years ago.” He looked up at the branches and leaves above them. “Do you recognize this tree?” It took her a moment before realization dawned. A blush climbed her neck and crept into her cheeks.
He removed one of his hands from her shoulder and gently touched beneath her chin with a finger. “I told you then I thought I’d found the girl I wanted to marry. I won’t fall in love with anyone else.” He let that sink in a minute. Maybe he shouldn’t have overwhelmed her like that. But if they were considering this, he wanted her to know where he stood.
Mandy took a step away from him and turned toward the tree. She let her forehead rest against the bark.
Preston wished she’d say something. Anything. “I can convert part of the workshop to a room and stay out there.”
The words had barely left his mouth when she rotated to face him. “No. There are plenty of rooms in the house. You’re not staying in the workshop. That’d just be wrong.”
“I’m not?” He couldn’t contain the grin. It only spread when Mandy planted her fists on her hips as she caught onto what he’d done.
“You think you’re funny, don’t you?”
He got a great deal of satisfaction out of flustering her. But, if there was one thing he wanted to be clear about, it was how he felt toward her. He sobered. “No, Mandy. I’m being serious here.” He reached for one of her hands. “Will you marry me?”
“I…we…we have a lot of details to go over. We need to know what we’re talking about before we call the lawyer,” she stammered.
It was adorable. “Mandy.”
“What will we tell Jade and Elise? What about your parents?”
“Mandy!”
She stopped talking, her complete attention on him.
Preston brushed some of her silky hair away from her face and left his hand on her cheek. “Will you marry me?”
He noted the pulse in her neck quicken, and she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “Yes.” That one word caused relief to flood his system. Before he said anything, she lifted a hand and placed it between them. “But if you even try to kiss me, Preston, I swear…”
He tilted his head back and laughed. Now that was a challenge he was happy to accept. “Don’t worry. Next time I kiss you on the mouth, it’ll be because you initiate it.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” Flustered, she retrieved the bag of muffins from the grass at her feet and tossed it at him.
He caught it easily. “You sure about this?”
“Yes.” She still looked embarrassed, but that one word radiated confidence.
That was all he needed to hear. Truthfully, he had figured it’d take a lot more convincing for her to agree. “Let’s sit back down and finish our breakfast. We have a lot of planning to do.”
~
“You can still back out.” Raven used a clip to secure part of Mandy’s hair at the back of her head. “No one would blame you.”
Tricia stood from the bed where she’d been resting her feet. “You’re not helping.” She pinned Raven with one of her patented friend glares before turning her attention to Mandy.
Mandy checked her reflection in the mirror. She almost didn’t recognize herself in the traditional white bridal gown. In fact, she had originally intended to buy and wear a simple dress, but Tricia insisted she borrow the dress she had gotten married in since they wore the same size.
Or used to. Tricia turned sideways and stuck her baby belly out as far as it would go. “You’d never guess I could fit into that dress myself a couple of years ago.” She laughed and then gave Mandy a hug. “You look beautiful, girl. I’m glad you decided to wear it. Every woman deserves to feel pretty when she gets married.”
The dress flowed to her ankles and just barely covered the white slip-on shoes Mandy wore. With the exception of her grandparents’ funerals, Mandy didn’t wear dresses. How was it possible to feel weird, feminine, and confused all at once? She hoped Preston didn’t take one look at her and think she looked silly.
Her palms were sweaty and her pulse racing. No, she wouldn’t back out of this marriage, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t scared.
Mandy squared her shoulders. No one else had to know, though. “Thank you, Tricia. It truly is a beautiful dress.” She gave her friend a hug. “I’m glad you girls could be here for this.”
It was Sunday afternoon, less than a week since she and Preston had agreed to get married. It was also the first day of October. A new month, a new phase of her life. It seemed fitting, even if it was scary all at the same time. Thanks to Jade and Elise keeping an eye on the B&B, Mandy could get away for the rest of the afternoon and early evening.
Preston wanted his parents to be there for the tiny ceremony and encouraged Mandy to invite someone, too. She’d shocked Raven and Tricia when she told them about the engagement. Even though Mandy didn’t get to hang out with them very often anymore, she considered them some of her closest friends. Despite their surprise, they were thrilled to be there for her, even if Raven was a little more reluctant to agree the wedding was a good idea in the first place.
Mandy was truly glad her friends were standing with her, but it didn’t distract her from the knowledge it ought to be Papa and Granny. Although the fact she wouldn’t be getting married in the first place if they were still alive hadn’t escaped her.
She checked her watch for the tenth time in as many minutes. Preston had promised to keep it casual on his side, too. It would only be the two of them, Tricia and Raven, then Mr. and Mrs. Yarrow, and the preacher. It’s not like they needed to make a big show of the event.
At least they all knew the details of this marriage. That made it a little easier. Even Pastor Dan, who had known both Preston and Mandy most of their lives, agreed their marriage and the reasons behind it had merit. Especially since neither of them were going into it with the purpose of divorce. Mandy had half expected him to laugh in their faces and suggest counseling. Instead, he’d met with them, asked questions, and given advice for how they could best
start their new lives together.
Minutes later, Mandy received a text. Time to go. The three ladies exited the house and picked their way across the yard until the tree where Preston had proposed came into view. He thought it would be the perfect place for the ceremony.
Raven and Tricia walked in front of Mandy to partially block her view from the waiting groom. It blocked Mandy’s view a little, too. But she could still see someone had decorated the area beneath the maple tree. Large pots of red roses lined a path to the base of the tree. There, Pastor Dan and Preston waited. Mr. and Mrs. Yarrow stood beside him. Another man Mandy didn’t recognize held a camera and took photos as she approached. They’d all promised to keep the ceremony between the seven of them and Mandy would’ve been annoyed about the stranger if she hadn’t been so nervous.
Her friends walked single file down the rose-lined aisle. The scent of roses filled the air as the hem of her gown swished around her ankles. When Raven and Tricia reached the end, and stepped to the side, Mandy got her first real look at Preston. This was the first time she’d ever seen him in a tux, and she had to admit, he cleaned up nice. The muscles he’d built up from years of woodworking and heavy lifting stretched his jacket across his shoulders. What caught her attention the most was the smile on his face and the intensity in his eyes.
And it was those gray eyes that pulled her to his side. She couldn’t miss the mixture of appreciation and something else in his expression. He leaned over to whisper in her ear.
“You look beautiful, Mandy.”
Was it his words or the fact his breath fanned her ear as he spoke that sent chill bumps chasing one another across her skin? Preston took her hand in his. Suppressing a shiver, she turned to face Pastor Dan, vaguely aware of the unknown photographer who had moved to get a better view.
Marrying Mandy (Brides of Clearwater Book 1) Page 5
