The black patent leather Louboutin’s I wore to Grandmother Audrey’s funeral were still in my luggage.
“I knew you wouldn’t leave me,” I said to Grands as I put the shoes on. “Classic and simple, a shoe that can go with anything for any occasion...even a wedding gown.”
I wiped the tears from my face and went over and quickly touched up my makeup. Dad found me in the doorway and didn’t even ask. The dress was long enough no one would see my shoes. I made a mental note later that I wanted to be sure we got a picture of the Chucks Nik would be wearing alongside my heels.
One thing was for sure, we were a pair.
As Grands had insisted, Nik and I made sure not to see each other before the wedding, and the moment I locked eyes with him coming down the aisle, I knew everything was going to be okay.
He was mint for me and I was mint for him.
Epilogue
After the mints were finished and Nik returned to the Donut Shop the night before the wedding, the guys decided to go out for a beer or two before they turned in for the night. It was, after all, Nik’s only bachelor party.
Gus, Nik’s assistant, told embarrassing stories he had witnessed of Nik and how he and I met the first time. (If you haven’t heard that one, it’s a hoot.)
However, the most interesting topic of conversation that had come up while they were drinking was the bridesmaids.
“They need to get away,” Gage said.
“Like a girl’s trip?” Tricky questioned.
“Yeah, like a girl’s trip.”
“I, for one, know that I’m just an extra here and not in your all’s main squeeze group, but Teagan needs to get away. She also needs a man...and no matter how much she flirts with me, I can’t date her,” Gavin said.
“Do you not like her, dude? Teagan is hot!” Gus said.
“Oh I like her just fine,” Gavin said. “I just don’t swing that way.”
Nik got choked up and he started laughing so loud. “Did not expect you to say that! Anyway… I can tell you that would probably be wonderful for Noey...with all the grief she’s been going through over her Grands and all the stress of the summer and wedding planning, I say let’s plan it…” Nik proposed a few options and the guys were all in agreement that the Eastwood ladies needed some fun.
“Where are we sending them?” Tricky asked.
"Let's think about that, but for sure, we need to find a time all of them can go, plan it and don’t take no for an answer,” Nik said. “And while they’re on a girls’ trip, we can do guy stuff...”
If you enjoyed this story…
Read more in the Mint Condition Series.
S(mint)ten Chocolate Chip—Available Now!
Player Nik has figured out that it’s time to hang up his hat when it comes to one night stands. His pride has been scarred, and his head is hung low when a new lady enters his office at The Mint.
Noey is a successful career woman whose only wish in life is for things to slow down a little. But if things slowed down, would her success continue? She gets passed off to Nik by his boss, who doesn’t seem to have time for a meeting with her, but what she finds instead is a single bachelor she can’t get out of her head.
Noey’s successful blog has her set up to take a road trip across the country in search of the best ice cream spots voted on by her fans. What she quickly realizes is the lonesome trip sounds a lot better with her new friend in tow. Is one night in D.C. enough for Noey to think about taking a stranger across the country? Or will this new relationship melt before her tires hit the road?
Honorary Mint story, It’s My Birthday Cake, tells the story of Gage and Lydia—Available Now!
“Charm and seduce him,” was what he said to do, but Lydia Jackson found herself charmed and seduced by the very person she was supposed to be charming.
Wanting to impress her boss, Lydia accepts a new job assignment to gather Intel from a rival company. Off to small-town Iowa she goes, where Lydia discovers more than she bargains for when she is forced to explore what type of woman she wants to be.
Gage Eastwood is grieving from his grandfather's death and looking to continue his grandfather's legacy and make him proud. He suddenly finds himself enchanted by the new woman who comes to town. With a kind heart and generous spirit, he sets out to make this woman his.
As their worlds collide, will Gage and Lydia be able to find a way to be together or will they be torn apart by little white lies?
Mint to Be—Available Now!
International travel blogger and free spirit twenty-something Brooklyn Eastwood finds herself ending her travel adventures prematurely…landing herself on her brother’s D.C. couch with a baby bump and no idea what to do next. With no clue who the father is (or even where in the world he is located), Brooke decides to return to the past and come home to small-town Iowa to have the baby.
Years before, Brooke and her brother Nik got the heck out of dodge and never returned after they finished college, forcing their now late grandfather to leave his entire estate to their cousin, Gage. Happy to welcome Brooke back to Iowa, Gage offers Brooke the opportunity of becoming the caretaker to Grandfather Eastwood's Estate.
Brooke faces returning to the place she said she’d never return in hopes of doing what is best for her baby. What she doesn’t expect is to find some roots she left behind, a new prospect of love, and a chance at a future that looks sweeter than she deserves. Perhaps it was all mint to be…
Doughnut Shop Experimint—Available Now!
Elkton, Iowa didn’t know what hit it when a tornado swept through and destroyed much of the small town. Disaster relief workers flooded from all over to help pick up the pieces, which brought Patrick Reed, a relief coordinator to the town famous for ice cream.
The people he met along his journey made him realize it was time to settle down and dust off his college degree. When Patrick found out about an opportunity for a new business venture through the town’s chamber of commerce, he decided to take a leap and move there…his sights set on opening Tricky’s Donuts, a bakery to rival the other sweet shops in town.
Will Patrick sweep into Elkton with a new idea and be accepted with open arms? Or will the townspeople see him as an outsider and potential rival?
White Wedding Mints— Available Now!
Nik and Noey go together like peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese or better yet, chocolate and vanilla. Upon the announcement of their upcoming marriage, Grandmother Audrey puts a damper on Noey’s wedding bliss when she brings the obvious to light: no white wedding should be had by her hussy of a granddaughter.
Crushed by her grandmother’s stabby words and disapproval, Noey vows to start fresh and purify herself by withholding “the duties of a married woman” from her husband-to-be until their honeymoon. While Nik gains success and is promoted to director of The Mint, Noey continues working diligently to make her internationally award-winning blog, "Say Yes and Noey,” an even bigger success. While planning the wedding of her dreams, starting a new blog tour of candy shops, and fighting the urge to say yes to her fiancé, Noey has her work cut out for her.
Will Nik put up with Noey’s crazy wishes to prove to Grandmother Audrey she is the sweet innocent granddaughter she remembers from her childhood? Perhaps the real question lies with whether Nik ends up saying yes or Noey…
The Engagemint Ring—September 1, 2020
Nik and Noey. Married.
Gage and Lydia. Engaged.
Brooke and Tricky. Engaged and pregnant.
Teagan. Single...and lonely.
Noey's younger sister, Teagan Smitt, had it all going for her: the looks, the style, the disposition. But she's as single as a one-dollar bill. Men date her, even take her home and out a few more times after that, but nothing ever becomes of her relationships.
Teagan was starting to think she was broken.
The men in the Eastwood family decided the ladies needed a getaway, and they would enjoy the bachelor life while the gals were
away. An elaborate GIRLS ONLY vacation leads three ladies in very committed relationships, and one single gal, on a trip with one goal: Teagan’s relationship status being upgraded from single to taken. Luxury spa treatments, massages, Bellini’s by the pool, throw in some mischief at the Sex Shop across the street and they are bound to be successful.
With any luck, she might even end up with an Engagemint ring...
Pink Peppermint Lady—February 1, 2021
Stylish, handsome, metro-sexual Fergus Becker has a high profile job at The Mint, but no prospects for romance. Guys hit on him, girls want to be his best friend, but what Gus can't seem to find is his match made in heaven.
Laken Fletcher has been dealt a bad hand her entire adult life, and despite her best efforts, can’t seem to get back on top. A pregnancy during college had her quitting school only to leave her with a miscarriage and no hopes for her future.
A chance encounter at the local bowling alley strikes Gus and Laken together inside the Pink Lady Lanes famous soda shop. Laken convinces Gus to try the famous pink lady float but wishes he'd scoop her up instead.
Is Laken ready to move on from the past? Will Gus think this new friendship has the potential for something more? Or will both Laken and Gus strike out?
White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha—August 1, 2021
Retiring from his high profile job as director of The Mint, Dr. Hollis Ryan and his wife, Merida, set the wheels in motion for their big move south. Planning to live out their days relaxing, golfing and soaking up the Florida sunshine, Ryan is all but satisfied. His wife, on the other hand, has other plans.
Not quite ready to pick out his-and-her caskets, Merida convinces her hubby she is ready for the next adventure in her life, opening a coffee house. As a former housewife and arm candy for her husband’s affairs, Merida has always enjoyed serving and entertaining others, and now she is ready to do something for herself and on her own.
When Merida gets involved with some shady dealers, she risks her husband’s reputation, potential legal issues of her own, and the worry of having to shut the doors of The PepperMint Emporium. A charming salt-and-peppermint tea man garners the attention of his own while trying to seduce the main Mocha. Will she swallow her peppermint pride and ask her husband for help? Or will Merida be entrapped by this new gentleman in her life who attempts to distract her from her right senses...and her vows of marriage?
Craving Piminto Cheese—January 1, 2022
Pregnant and craving any and all things mint-flavored, famous blogger Noey of Say Yes and Noey has one mint craving which can’t be sated...pimento cheese...Let’s say it again...pi-mint-o cheese. Regardless of Noey’s mint obsession, she cannot find the perfect pimento cheese sandwich.
With her worldwide blogging success, she challenges her readers to send in their beloved and secret recipes for the particular sandwich spread. While testing out pimento cheese variations, doing all the things to prepare for baby, and keeping up with her blog, Noey has her hands full. Not to mention her husband, Nik, has been promoted up the chain and has an even more high-profile job.
When Noey finds the one recipe she loves the most, she will travel far and wide to find the restaurant where the perfect pimento cheese sandwich is served. Her cautious husband, on the other hand, isn’t thrilled about his ready-to-tip-over wife traveling in her last trimester. Will Noey wander to the ends of the earth to get her hands this Utopian pimento cheese? Can Nik’s nerves handle his wife’s adventurous personality? Or will a monu(mint)al disaster ruin everyone’s fun?
Knee-high to a (Mint) Grasshopper—July 1, 2022
Kyle and Megan Eastwood couldn’t be happier with how wonderful their kids have turned out: their eldest Nik is now a high-profile executive working at The Mint; their daughter, Brooke, has settled nearby and has started a family of her own. Gage, their nephew, is proudly managing Frost Ice Cream Company, the business Kyle’s father started when he was young.
The Eastwood’s thought they had the cherry on top of their ice cream sundae of life…that is until a familiar face comes back to town. A childhood friend of Gage and Nik’s surfaces with a secret that may jeopardize the future of Frost Ice Cream and tear apart the Eastwood family. Nathaniel Hopper returns to Elkton all grown up and seeking employment at the local cupcake shop. Revealing news he’s just learned about his childhood and the Eastwood family, Nate has intentions on setting things straight.
Will this 30-year-old secret close the doors of Frost Ice Cream Company? Will this familiar face be welcomed with open arms after the truth comes out about his return to Elkton, Iowa? Or will this all frost over and put an end to the Eastwood’s happiness?
Mint Julep Sunsets—December 1, 2022
After the successful wedding of high profile Mint Executive Nik Eastwood and his infamous blogger bride, Noey, of Say Yes and Noey, the gorgeous, outgoing, and very single Blaire Astin finds herself with some downtime and an all-expense-paid vacation to Florida, compliments of the happy couple.
The Kentucky-native turned nationwide wedding planner extraordinaire embraces the gift and looks forward to the chance to unwind. She finds herself in Grouper Cove, an idyllic beachside town perfect for quality alone time. An unexpected bout of homesickness leads her to the Rocky Bottom Tavern where she orders a classic Kentucky staple, a Mint Julep, which starts a conversation she never saw coming.
Mojito Merrimint—December 25, 2022
The Eastwood Family is going international for an epic Christmas vacation. The crew has their sights set on Fiji, a place they know will be bursting with warm weather, sunshine and plenty of Christmas cheer. Their suitcases are filled to the brim with everything but the snow from their hometown of Elkton, Idaho, and they are ready for a grand adventure.
The grandparents will be in charge of the youngsters, and the others will have mojitos in their hands and bikinis in the sand. What the Eastwoods are not expecting is an unplanned wedding on their destination vacation and trouble at the resort. Will their holiday spirit melt like the snow? Or will their shades slide back on and their presents be full of sunshine?
About the Author
Tiffany Carby
Author Tiffany Carby is a Kentucky native skilled in the art of storytelling. A journalist, columnist, and blogger who now works in the corporate world as a Creative Director, she has a knack for narrative that keeps her story flowing.
Not all of her storytelling skills came from the classroom. Being born in Louisville and spending time in central and southeastern areas of the commonwealth, Carby developed a sharp ear for dialogue and an appreciation for the tales spun by friends and family from the South and Appalachia. As a Southerner, yes, she says "y'all," drinks sweet tea, and shares a love of college basketball with most of her fellow residents of the Bluegrass state.
Writing wasn't just a goal; it was destiny for Carby. She wrote her first book while in the fifth grade—a story about an alien with a one-of-a-kind name, Orangepeachrumple. Though it didn't circulate farther than her parents, she was hooked. Though publishing many non-fiction works over the years, She's a Tiger Lily was the debut of her fiction work and beginning of her Company of Griffins series. Since then she has added another growing series called Mint Condition.
Carby resides near Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband, curly-headed moppet of a daughter, and two cats (only one of whom actually likes her).
Connect with Carby through social media, email and her website listed below…
Email: [email protected]
Site: www.tiffanycarby.com
Profile: facebook.com/tiffanycarbyauthor
Page: facebook.com/authortiffanycarby
Reader’s Group: facebook.com/groups/authortiffanycarby
The Shop Series Reader's Group: facebook.com/groups/theshopbookseries
The Shop Series Page: facebook.com/theshopbookseries
The Crazy Town Series: facebook.com/TheCrazyTownSeries
Possessed by Passion: facebook.com/PossessedbyPassion
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Possessed by Passion Party Room: facebook.com/groups/PossessedbyPassion
Crazy Ink: facebook.com/crazyink
Crazy Ink Anthologies: facebook.com/CrazyInkAnthologies
Twitter: twitter.com/tiffany_carby
Instagram: instagram.com/authortiffanycarby
Bookbub: bookbub.com/profile/tiffany-carby
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