by Vella, Wendy
“How’s Mandy?” It would have been weird if he hadn’t asked, and he wasn’t about to tell them he’d just seen her.
“Didn’t you see her at A. S.?”
“Sure, but we didn’t talk.”
“Well then, go ask her yourself. She’s in there looking at a book of tattoos. Apparently it’s all part of her transformation, and she tells us she’s always wanted one,” Miss Marla added.
“On her shoulder,” Miss Sarah added. “See you at the bar, dear. We’re going to have a sherry.”
A tattoo? Surely not?
“Can you tell Mandy where we are going, please, Ted.”
“Ah….” His words fell away as the Robbins ladies headed off down the street.
Glancing in the shop window, he found Mandy looking at magazines. Was she really thinking about getting a tattoo?
Ted entered the shop and moved behind her. The page she was looking at was decorated with cupcakes.
“Your aunts told me you were getting a tattoo and looking at a design in a magazine in here. Are you thinking that would look good on your shoulder?” He pointed at the cake decorated with a green dragon.
“My aunts like to cause trouble, as I’m sure you know.” She didn’t look at him, just turned the page to a display of cakes covered in what looked like rose petals.
Leaning closer, he breathed her in. It was her hair; she must wash it in something that had roses in it.
“I didn’t get a chance to speak with you before, Mandy.”
“I needed to get in here before it closed.” She was still focused on the magazine.
“And the shop is so far away from where you work that you can’t come back here anytime?”
She didn’t speak.
“I smell avoidance.”
“No. I apologized and then came here.”
“I’m sorry too, Mandy. I shouldn’t have gone at you like I did.”
“That’s okay, I understand.”
“What do you understand?”
“That you were worried I could have fainted at your gym.”
“You think that’s the only reason I was worried?”
He watched as she closed the magazine and then turned to face him.
No longer pale, she had soft color on her cheeks and gloss across her lips. Her eyes seemed darker, lashes longer.
“It doesn’t matter why, I just need you to know it wasn’t a deliberate decision on my part not to tell you I’m a diabetic, Ted. I’ve just never told anyone about it.”
They were close enough that he could see she was still nervous.
“Because you didn’t have people to share confidences with, so you’re used to flying solo?”
She nodded.
“But that’s no longer the case, is it, Mandy? You’ve decided to let people in, and with that comes other stuff. Personal things, like what’s your favorite color and any disease, life-threatening or otherwise, that you may have.”
“I’m coming to this late so I’m getting stuff wrong.” Her smile was small. “I hurt a few people today, namely Rory, because of that.”
But not him.
“And I guess I need to be a bit more open.”
“Are you feeling okay now?”
“Sure. And I ate again before I left the house.”
“Do you carry things with you in case you need them?”
She nodded, then did something that surprised him. Climbing to her toes, she kissed his lips softly.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Ted. I hope we can still be friends.”
“Sure.” He jammed his hands into his pockets. “Friends.”
Chapter 29
Mandy spent time researching business plans. She had people she could ask, but wanted to try and get things started herself. Having never done anything like this before, it was tough to work out a starting point, but the internet had plenty of information.
It took her a few days, but eventually she had what she thought was a comprehensive picture of where she saw the business going. Prospective earnings, plus outgoings. She’d also worked out extensive costings for the renovations and equipment she would need to purchase.
This morning, she’d rung Joe Trainer and asked if she could talk to him about what she’d written. He’d said yes, so she was heading there soon.
“Joe’s a good man,” Aunt Marla said. She still limped a bit. “Between him and Ted, you’ve got all the business knowledge you need.”
She didn’t say that she hadn’t spoken to Ted, and that she didn’t plan to.
“You are going to speak to Ted, aren’t you, dear?” Aunt Sarah asked.
Her aunts were dusting shelves in Tea Total. The prize collection of tea pots actually, that they’d got from their travels.
“Of course,” she said. “I’ll talk to Joe first though. But before I do, I need to make sure you’re both happy about this. I don’t want to force you into anything.”
“Mandy, we’ve been waiting for years to see this change in you. We love it and will back you in anything you choose to do,” Aunt Marla said.
“Thank you.”
“I love that dress too, by the way.”
Looking down at the skirt, Mandy thought she liked it too. Rory had picked it. The color was the palest rose, and it was a wrap dress with a ruffle hem that sat a few inches above her knees. She wore flat white slides with it.
“You look lovely, dear,” Aunt Sarah said. “Is there anything you want to tell us?”
“About what?” Mandy was loading all her papers into the folder she was taking to see Joe.
“About Ted.”
She dropped it, and the papers went everywhere.
“I—ah, pardon?” Dropping to her knees, she started gathering them up.
“By that reaction, I’d say there is definitely something between you and Ted Hosking,” Aunt Marla said.
“No.” She kept her head down.
“He’s a lovely man.”
“We’re different.”
“And therefore?” Aunt Sarah asked.
“And therefore, we’re different,” Mandy said, getting back to her feet. “He lives in a different world from me.”
“In Ryker Falls, five minutes from where you live,” Aunt Marla added. “Don’t put up barriers where none are needed, Mandy. Ted is a good man and he likes you.”
“You don’t know that.” Mandy knew he liked her, they wouldn’t have done what they had if he didn’t. But like was vastly different from the other emotion people shared.
“Yes, we do. I can see it every time he looks at you,” Aunt Marla said.
“I have to go.”
“Very well but think about what we’ve said. Ted Hosking is a good man,” Aunt Sarah said.
Mandy didn’t reply to that; she left… quickly.
“Hi, Mrs. L.” The woman was standing looking at her window display.
“You look pretty, Mandy.”
“Thanks.”
“Wait!” Mrs. L dashed back inside her shop, returning with a silver chain bracelet. In between the links were small circles of rose-colored stone. “This will be perfect with that dress.”
She slipped it on Mandy’s wrist and did up the catch.
“See, perfect.”
It was, actually. Mandy loved it. She opened her purse, but Mrs. L stopped her.
“No, dear, this is my gift to you. It’s wonderful to see you so full of confidence, Mandy. I’ve watched you for many years and hoped one day you’d realized what a special young woman you are. Plus, you’ve done so much for me without a protest, and I’ve been guilty of taking advantage of you.”
“No—”
“Yes. A lot of us have in this town.” Mrs. L’s lips drew into a straight line.
“I let you.” Mandy hugged Mrs. L, and the lined face creased into a smile. “Thank you so much, I love my bracelet.”
“Excellent. Now you go on, I have a window to dress.”
“I’ll come by and take a look on the way back.�
�
She walked down the main street of Ryker Falls with a spring in her step.
You’re strong in here.
Entering A.S., Mandy saw the bar manager.
“Hi, Em. I’m here to see Joe.”
“He’s just had to head home, Mandy. He said to apologize. Benjamin is sick.”
“On no, nothing bad I hope?”
“Between you and me, I think it’s just a cold, but you know what new parents are like.”
Mandy laughed. “Yes, I’ve seen them in action before. I’ll catch him another day then. See you, Em.”
Disappointed, Mandy walked slowly back out of A.S. and headed to her car. Getting in, she turned on the ignition and let it idle. Tapping the steering wheel, she wondered if she had the courage to go and see Ted. They’d parted on good terms the night of the parade, so she was sure they could keep their discussion on a business footing. He could be busy, but then maybe he had a few minutes to see her, or she could make a time to come back.
“Just do it.”
Minutes later, she was driving in the lodge gates. Mandy saw Ted outside the front entrance talking to someone. He wore a suit today. Deep, charcoal gray, with a pale blue shirt and darker blue tie. The man looked seriously handsome.
Parking, she got out and walked up the front steps to where he stood.
“Hello, Ted.”
“Hi.” He looked annoyed. Not a good sign, maybe she should leave?
“You look busy, I’ll come back.” Before she could walk away, he’d wrapped his fingers around her wrist, stopping her.
“Stay.”
“Thanks, Mr. Hosking, we’ll just take some photos before we leave.” The man he’d been talking to shot Mandy a curious look, then walked away.
“What’s the matter?” Mandy could see something was bothering him.
“It’s nothing.” His eyes were over her head, so she turned and saw the man now had a camera and was snapping shots.
“Why is he taking pictures?” Mandy turned her face away quickly and moved so the man couldn’t see her. “I don’t want pictures of me.”
“He’s not taking pictures of you, he’s taking them of me and the lodge.” The last words were muttered in a low growl.
“Surely that’s good for business?”
“One can only hope.”
“Why are you having them done if they’re annoying you?”
Dragging his eyes from the photographer, he looked down at her.
“Come on.” He took her elbow and walked her inside. “You look nice.”
“Thanks. Mrs. L just gave me this bracelet,” she blurted, because she didn’t know what else to say.
“That was kind of her.” He directed them to the stairs. “It’s nice. What did she make you do to get that?”
“Nothing. In fact, she apologized for taking advantage of me. I’m not entirely sure why?”
“It’s true, she did take advantage of you. You were always running about doing her errands, and other people’s.”
Mandy stopped. “Did you say something to her?”
“Now, why would I do that?” He tugged her wrist and she started walking again.
“Where are we going, Ted?”
“To my office.”
“But I haven’t even told you why I’m here.”
He looked down at the folder in her hands. “Is it anything to do with that?”
“It is… but only if you’re not busy.”
“I’m always busy.”
“Then I’ll make an appointment.”
“You’re here, we’ll do it now.”
“Hi, Lenny.” She waved to her friend as he passed.
“Hi, Mandy.”
“Hi, Lenny,” Ted mimicked her.
“That’s not very nice.”
“You haven’t worked out that I’m not very nice yet, have you, Mandy.”
“Of course you’re nice. You wouldn’t have done all the things you have for me if you weren’t.”
“Are you defending me from myself?” He didn’t stop walking once they reached the next level.
“No. Just stating facts. You’re nice to people, you just don’t want them to know that.”
“An all-round good guy, then,” he drawled.
“I wouldn’t go that far. Ted?”
“Hmm.”
“Do you have a few minutes to spare?”
“For you, yes.”
“Ted! That guy in room 345 is causing trouble again. He tried to grab Belinda when she brought clean towels. And we heard breaking sounds.”
“Have you called security?”
“Yes.”
“All right, Jay, let’s go and see what’s happening,” Ted said. “You stay here, I won’t be long,” he said to Mandy before disappearing down the hall.
She gave it ten seconds, then followed.
Mandy took the stairs up and heard someone yelling as she reached the next floor.
“Step aside, Mr. Paton, I want to inspect your room.”
Poking her head around the door, she saw Ted standing halfway down the hall. She couldn’t see who he was speaking to.
“You have no right to come into my room!”
“I own this lodge, I have every right. No one abuses or touches my staff members. Now you step aside, or I will have you removed from the premises.”
Ted spoke in a cool, calm voice. Looking at him no one would know he was angry. The only sign was his right hand that was clenched into a fist.
“Fuck you!”
The scream caught in her throat as a fist appeared. Ted ducked. Then he lunged and disappeared. He reappeared with a man in his arms who was yelling obscenities at him.
“Call Chief Blake, Jay.”
The staff member pulled out his phone and made the call.
The man managed to wriggle free and lashed out a fist at Ted. He didn’t duck in time, and this one connected with his jaw. His head jerked back.
“Not a wise move, Mr. Paton. I can now have you arrested for assault as well as charging you for whatever damage done to my hotel room.”
Mandy slipped back down the stairs with her heart pounding. Ted could have been hurt, and that rocked her. Seeing that man lash out had scared her, but more than that, it made her angry. She’d wanted to rush in there and defend Ted.
What did that mean?
Mandy made her way back to Ted’s office and sat in a chair outside as the door was closed.
He appeared twenty minutes later looking no different from when he left her. He stopped when he saw her.
“I thought you would have left.”
“No.”
He took her hand and pulled her out of her chair, then opened his office door and nudged her inside.
The first thing she noticed was the view. It looked over the mountains.
“That’s breathtaking.”
He grunted something.
“This is huge.” Mandy walked around the room. Sofa, fridge, coffee machine, even a TV. “Why do you need all this when you have staff, kitchens, and your rooms a few minutes away?”
“I like to be comfortable, and sometimes I work late.” He sat on the edge of his desk, watching her.
“Did you sort out that guy in 345?”
“I did. He’s going to spend a nice comfortable night in the Ryker Falls cells to sober up, and when he has, he’ll be charged.”
She searched his face but couldn’t see any bruises. In fact, he looked calm and in control. She could be that too. What they’d shared was in the past now. They were friends, Mandy reminded herself.
“So what’s in the folder?”
She stood before him, but not too close.
“Okay, so don’t be mad—”
“I hate when people start a sentence with ‘don’t be mad.’ It usually means that’s exactly what’s about to happen.”
“I went to see Joe about my business plan, but Benjamin was sick, so I came to see if you’d look it over.”
Ted was running his
eyes over her slowly.
“Stop doing that.”
“What?” His eyes were coming back up her body now.
“You know what.”
“You look really hot in that dress, Mandy. With your hair all mussed and those long, sexy legs—”
“Stop it!”
His smile was pure menace.
“We’re friends, remember, nothing more.”
“Okay,” he sighed. “So I’m your backup to look over the business plan.” He shrugged. “Joe was a good option; he opened his bar and knows his stuff. I don’t have a problem with that.”
“Really?” Mandy was relieved.
“Really. Contrary to what people are saying, I don’t have a huge ego. Oh wait, that was you.” He got up and pulled a chair up to his desk, then took his seat behind it. “Lay it on me then.”
“You have time?” Mandy wasn’t sure why she suddenly felt reluctant to show him what she’d done.
“I already told you I have time. You came here to show it to me, so show it to me.”
“Right.” Mandy opened the folder. “So I’m not sure how accurate I’ve been, or even if I got it right, but here goes.”
Chapter 30
Ted made himself switch to business mode. He’d calmed down now after seeing the mess that douchebag had made of his hotel room. It happened, but it pissed him off each time. Mr. Paton would be paying heavily for damages, Ted would make sure of that.
He hadn’t seen that fist coming, but the impact hadn’t been huge, so there would thankfully be no bruising. It was never a good look for the owner of Falls Lodge to look like he’d been brawling.
Seeing Mandy in that dress was helping ease his anger. He really wanted to pull her onto his lap and devour her. That flirty little hem had his fingers itching to touch her soft skin.
“It’s not like I’ve done this before.”
“Just show me already, will you. I’m sure you did great.”
“No. I probably—”
“Mandy.” He placed his hand on top of hers. “You have to start somewhere. Stop putting yourself down, it’s annoying.”
“Right… you’re right. It’s a go-to for me, and I know I need to change that.”
Surprised that she was talking like this to him of all people, Ted said, “It’s hard to change what we’ve always been.”
