“Briefly,” Mandy muttered, slowly pulling herself to her feet. “I’ll be by tomorrow with a new treat for you to try. Thank you again, Betty.”
“It was nice seeing you again,” he said before she could walk clear out of the room. He offered her a firm handshake, solely for the excuse to touch her soft skin.
Mandy yanked her hand away. Her face twisted into an uncomfortable grimace. He was just about to ask what was wrong, when she lurched forward and threw up all over Mrs. Blue’s cow print blouse.
Chapter 5
“Oh, dear! Oh, dear!” Mrs. Blue cried as she held the sticky blouse away from her chest.
Mandy was horrified. She’d hardly experienced any morning sickness at all up until this point, and this was how it chose to finally present itself? At least, she’d already received her feedback from this particular taste test subject. That didn’t make her any less mortified, though.
Luke ran to the front powder room as if he knew the layout of old Mrs. Blue’s house intimately, and soon came back with a heaping wad of toilet paper. He tried to help her clean herself, but given the size and position of the elderly woman’s breasts, the task proved quite difficult.
Mandy wanted to cry, but instead she ended up erupting in a burst of giggles. It was all so absurd. The cows that decorated every square inch of the place, the puke that may have actually improved the aesthetics of this particular outfit, and it all happening right in front of a man she’d perhaps not-so-secretly spent the past few nights dreaming devilish things about. Oh, life could be cruel!
Luke and Mrs. Blue stared at her with question marks in their eyes. Then all at once, Mrs. Blue too started to chuckle and shake her head.
“Oh, dear… Well, I best visit my room for a clean change of clothes. It was nice meeting you, Mandy. Dr. Luke, do you mind if we reschedule? I’d like to take a hot shower, if I may. And this young woman here seems to need your kind attention more than I do at the moment.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Luke took a step back and gestured for the old woman to go ahead. “We’ll just let ourselves out. I’ll come back tomorrow. Same time?”
“That would be fine. Well, goodbye now.” A genuine smile flashed on her wrinkled face before she turned to hobble away—and clean up the mess that covered her from chest to… more chest.
When at last they heard the door to the master suite latch, Mandy and Luke once again broke into a fit of hushed laughter.
“I can’t believe you did that!” he whispered.
“Oh my gosh! I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. That’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time, and now Mrs. Blue will have a story to tell over bridge.”
They slowly made their way toward the door and slipped into their shoes. Mandy felt lighter already, whether from Luke’s company or from losing her lunch, she couldn’t be sure. Whatever the case, she felt as if she were walking on air rather than cheap, plastic flip flops.
He studied her for a moment, perhaps expecting her to look worse than she actually felt. Either way, she wasn’t going to pass up the chance to snag a bit more time with the most intriguing man in the entire village—at least so far as she was concerned.
“Can I give you a ride home?” he asked.
“That would probably be for the best.”
“But Mandy?”
“Yeah?”
“Promise me if you feel more sickness coming on, you’ll turn the other way.”
“Ha ha.” When she was in Luke’s company, it almost felt as if her life hadn’t taken a wrong turn, as if she hadn’t a single care in the world.
He placed a hand at the small of her back as he led her through the door. They walked toward the golf cart parked on the street outside.
“Nice ride,” she joked, gesturing to the red cross painted on the hood.
“About that, I’d open the door for you. That is, if I had a door to open.”
Worrying about manners after the stunt she’d just pulled? Was this guy for real? She wasn’t sure what to say, so she just laughed.
“I’ll make it up to you,” he promised. “You get better, then let me take you out for lunch. I promise to open the door for you next time, if you’ll grant me a next time.”
Was he asking her out? It sure felt that way. Oh, and she so desperately wanted to say yes, but…
He’d actually done it! He’d asked Mandy out for a date. Even though he knew he’d have to face his demons much sooner than originally planned, she was worth doing that and so much more. They felt too right together to keep making excuses, and they were clearly going to keep running into each other in the small community regardless—so they might as well intentionally meet up and enjoy each other’s company without having to share their time together with a rotating group of retirees.
True, he hadn’t dated much in his life. He’d always been so focused on school and, after school, work. A lot of good that had done him. Now he was thirty years old with no wife or girlfriend or really much of anything. Maybe taking Mandy out was the first step to changing all that. The possibilities both terrified and delighted him. The only way to find out where this could go was to take that first step. But first she just needed to say yes.
She stopped laughing abruptly, her mirth buried behind a freshly blossoming frown.
Oh, no…
She fixed her eyes on him and explained, “Luke, I’m not really looking for a relationship right now. With the baby and everything, it’s just too complicated.”
Of course, of course! How stupid he’d been to only think of himself and what he was ready for. Mandy had a lot on her own plate that needed clearing. Still, there was something special between them, and if that was only meant to be friendship, very well. Perhaps they could work through their issues together… platonically.
Time to backpedal. “Understood. I could use a friend, though. It’s a bit lonely being the only man under sixty-five for several miles.”
The smile returned to her face, though it wasn’t as big as before. “Me too, actually,” she said. “Okay, you’ve got yourself a deal.”
“Friends?” He stuck his hand out and they shook on it.
“Friends, and friends can come to each other when they need help, right?”
“Of course,” he agreed.
Mischief danced in her eyes. Had she somehow planned this all along? “Great, because I kind of promised a bunch of people that I’d be by tomorrow with more baked goods for them to try. And I may have over-promised just a touch.”
“And you need my help to get it all done in time?”
“Um, yeah. If you wouldn’t mind.” Her voice soared high, like a child’s. It was adorable.
“No, not at all. That was my last appointment for the day, so I’m all yours. It will be fun... It will be fun, right?”
“Course, but first let’s stop by the drug store on the corner and pick up some ginger ale and crackers. I’m kind of feeling like what happened to Mrs. Blue might not be an isolated event.”
Chapter 6
Mandy worked a dollop of mousse into her unruly curls. Luke would be by any moment to collect her, along with fifty-odd packages of baked goods and feedback cards. She’d told him they were just friends, and she’d stick to that—more for his good than hers. What would a young, handsome, successful, funny, charming doctor want with an unemployed, knocked-up screw-up like her? But just because she wouldn’t act on her feelings didn’t mean she couldn’t still imagine the possibilities, pretend that they could ever be more than friends. That’s why she put extra effort into her appearance that morning—but not so much extra that he would realize that’s what she was doing.
She breezed into the kitchen where her grandmother sat nursing a mug of hot peppermint tea.
“You look nice,” Deborah noted with a sly smile. Of course, she would notice and tease Mandy for it! Nothing ever got by her grandma.
“Thanks, Grandma. Do you have plans with James today?” she asked in an attempt
to change the topic.
“We have a lunch date at the diner. What do you and Luke have planned for your date?”
“Not a date. Just work.” She turned around to give Deborah a warning look.
“Just work? Oh, darling. You know just as well as I do that you can never do just anything with a man you’re crazy about. Everything means that much more when you’re in love.”
“Love? Honestly! I just met the man, and we really are going to work on delivering my bakery samples and collecting feedback cards. See?” She gestured toward the big boxes packed to the brims with mini plates of assorted baked good she and Luke had stayed up well into the evening to prepare.
“Someone’s snippy. That happens when you’re in love, too.” Deborah took another sip of her tea, then sighed with delight as the minty steam warmed her face.
“Why do I even bother trying to explain myself?” And why did it suddenly feel like she was a teenager again? Was it solely a product of living with her grandma again, or did her schoolgirl crush on Luke contribute to the feeling as well?
“No need to explain, dear. I see right through you. Always have. Always will.” Another slow sip.
Just then a knock came at the door. Before heading to answer it though, Mandy gave her grandma another stern look. “Please don’t embarrass me in front of Doctor Luke.”
Deborah winked, but said nothing more. Of course, Mandy couldn’t risk bringing Luke into the house with this particular loose cannon ready to take aim, so she grabbed up one of the boxes into her arms and headed for the door.
The old woman chuckled as she watched her granddaughter struggle under the weight of the overstuffed package. “I’ll be good, I promise,” she said as she leaped up to open the door for Mandy.
“Hello, Doctor Luke. I was just heading out.” Deborah squeezed past them both onto the porch, the steaming mug of tea still cupped between her palms. “Have a nice day.”
Mandy and Luke watched as Deborah walked down the lane in her fuzzy bathrobe and slippers.
“That was weird,” he said once Deborah had turned the corner to the next block.
“Honestly, nothing she does even surprises me anymore. Now c’mon, there’s another box just inside.”
Once they were settled into the golf cart with the boxes wedged tightly into the back, Luke gave her a tight side hug and rubbed the top of her arm. Little tingles ran up and down her limbs as he asked, “How are you feeling today?”
“What? I’m fine.”
“I just mean after the whole Mrs. Blue thing yesterday. Are you feeling better?”
“Oh, yes. Loads! Thanks for your help yesterday… and last night… and today.” She stumbled with embarrassment as she realized just how much he had helped her in the past twenty-four hours.
“Always happy to help out a friend.” He put extra emphasis on the word friend, though she wasn’t sure why. Was he questioning their relationship? Trying to prove they could be so much more?
Whatever the case, they had muffins to deliver—and brownies and cookies and scones as well. Too much to be done to waste time trying to interpret every little gesture, every sentence, every pregnant pause.
“So where to?” he asked, backing out of the tiny driveway.
“Let’s start over on Silver Stirrup Court, then we can move on to Arrowhead Trail, and finally circle back to Wagon Wheel Lane.”
“You’ve got it, boss.”
And their plan proved to be a good one. By the time noon rolled around, all the packages had been delivered—well ahead of schedule, too. She never would have been able to do any of this without him. Was this man some kind of angel sent to grant her a miracle, a wish, a dream? The sun warmed his strong features, and he’d taken on a nice tan since first they met. The extra brown to his skin made him that much more handsome, too. Were they really just friends? Could she really continue to spend so much time with him, all while keeping him at arm’s length? Was she making a mistake?
“You’ve gotta be starved,” Luke said, derailing her runaway thought train.
She shrugged, smiled. “Oh, I’m okay.”
“Well, I’m starving. Let’s go grab some lunch at the diner.”
Thankfully, Mandy remembered that her grandmother and James would be at that same diner right about then, so instead she suggested, “Let’s go back to my place instead. I make a mean turkey sandwich.”
Luke wanted so desperately to kiss Mandy, to tell her that they had to at least try to see what was between them. But instead he ended up sitting across the counter from her and chewing the hay as she prepared two heaping turkey sandwiches with giant pickle spears on the side.
“When do we go back to pick up the cards?”
“Later tonight.” She dropped the mayo to the counter and spun to face him, biting her bottom lip shyly. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m asking way too much of you. I’m sure you have tons to do other than help me with my last ditch attempt to follow this ridiculous dream of mine.”
Now he wanted to kiss her even more, to show her that she was the farthest possible thing from a failure. That she was all he could think about, the one thing he now wanted in the world more than anything else. For now though, his words would have to be enough. She’d set clear boundaries, and he didn’t want to disrespect her by crossing them, especially when she was already down like this.
“Hey, it’s not ridiculous,” he argued, perhaps a little too loudly. “Your cookies and cupcakes are amazing. Great even. Why do you get so down on yourself like that?”
She shrugged. “I just don’t want to be so needy. One of these days I’m going to have to learn to get everything done myself. There won’t always be some random stranger around to help me out.”
“Ouch.”
Her frown deepened. “I didn’t mean it like that. I really like you. I…” She set a sandwich down before him and lingered at the edge of the table.
“It’s okay. I know what you mean, but do me a favor and don’t be so cynical, okay?” Luke grabbed her hand before she could turn away. Her pulse fluttered just beneath the skin. There was that danged urge to kiss her again.
Words. If he kept his mouth busy with words, he wouldn’t be able to find other ways to use it… like up against Mandy’s soft lips and—
Words, now!
“So, yeah, you are strong and I’m pretty willing to bet you can do anything you set your mind to, but you shouldn’t have to do it alone, even if you’re capable of going solo.”
She shimmied her hand loose from him and then dabbed her eyes with the corner of her apron. This one had a cheerful kitten print rather than raunchy text splashed across the front. “What is wrong with me? We were having such a nice day, and ugh. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I understand. Pregnancy hormones can drive even the sanest woman crazy.” Besides, you have no idea the kinds of thoughts that keep peeking into my mind. I’m ruining this, just as much, if not more.
She took a deep, shaky breath. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
Mandy looked so sad and alone that Luke couldn’t resist the opportunity to wrap her in a tight, not-exactly-platonic hug.
“Thanks,” she murmured into the fabric of his shirt. Then, pulling back and brushing a few stray curls from her face, she asked, “How do you know so much about pregnant women anyway? Do you have kids too?”
“What? No, no, no kids. At least not that I know of.”
She forced a laugh, and he realized just how inappropriate that offhand statement had been. Did Mandy know who the father of her baby was? Did he know she was pregnant? He must not. Otherwise how could he ever let such a beautiful bird fly away?
He cleared his throat and swallowed down any other inappropriate words that may have been waiting to escape. He was crazy about her despite everything, and that made him nervous. Her emotions already ran high. If he explained what he’d done back in New York, would her eyes still sparkle whenever she looked at him? Would she still confess her worries and share her dreams? S
till welcome him into her home to spend the afternoon? He just couldn’t chance it. Being with Mandy had helped him feel happy in a way he didn’t think he’d be able to again. Her smile kept his thoughts away from the terrible flashbacks. Her jokes and quips quieted his own inner critic, washed away the flood of guilt he’d been so burdened by. He wasn’t ready to lose that, to go back.
Oh, it was selfish, but something told him she needed him too. Did that make it any more forgivable, withholding his truth? Maybe, maybe not. Either way his mind was made up.
“Sorry, that was a bad joke,” he said at last, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe the words that had escaped his mouth—and, really, he almost couldn’t. Time for the lie of omission. “And I know a lot about babies and pregnancy, because I’m a doctor, right? Doctors know things like this.”
She nodded. “Sorry I asked. I didn’t know it was such a touchy subject.”
“Let’s rewind five minutes, okay? Can we go back to the part of the day where you’re smiling and I’m not a complete moron?”
Or a liar.
Chapter 7
Charlie picked up on the first ring. “Sis, is everything okay down in the lone star state?”
Mandy smiled at her dorky sister’s non-humor. “Yep. Think you might come down for a visit? Grandma misses you a ton.”
“Maybe. Will has a conference in Houston in a couple months. I thought I could fly down with him and then hop a bus over to Abilene to see you guys. What’s it like there by the way?”
“In Texas?”
Charlie laughed, and somehow the miles between them melted away. “Well, I was more interested in how you’re doing living with a bunch of geezers, but sure. How is it in Texas?”
Mandy shrugged even though her sister couldn’t see the gesture from the other end of the line. “Fine. What’s going on back home? Have you set a date for the wedding yet?”
She Will Be Loved (Cupid's Bow Book 6) Page 4
