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“The Game of Life? Did you purposely spin to get more kids?”
She glances back as we descend the stairs and I strip my eyes away from her ass. “No. But I somehow ended up there. Even after I always paid for college instead of going right to career.”
“I was the career guy.”
“And in real life? Did you go to college?”
We both stop our conversation to say goodbye to Trina, who’s manning the desk.
Once we’re outside and reach my truck, I open the door for her. “I took some classes at a community college, had a great mentor I worked under. What about you?”
“I went to college. Graduated and came back home.”
“And how did you get the inn?” I ask once I climb into the driver’s seat and start the truck.
“It was going under, and my biological dad gave me the money it would’ve cost to send me to school for the fourth year of college. I purchased the property, and here I am.”
Her ambition and self-sufficiency are impressive. She intimidates me sometimes. I know what I’m doing with a camera but sometimes I feel like maybe I just got lucky with a few pictures that garnered attention from magazines.
“Speaking of the inn, let’s start on the web design and brochure stuff. Want to get started on that tomorrow?” I ask so she knows I’m a man of my word. “And we can go over anything you want done at the inn. I’m handier than I look.” I wink at her.
“Hank can help too. He’s back to work now.”
“Great. We’ll figure it out.” I pull into the driveway of her parents’ house and find us at the end of a very long, steep driveway lined with cars. Anxiety makes all my muscles tense. They’re all here for us, because they think we’re in love and getting married because of it. Then I spot my mom and dad’s car and all the reasons I’m doing this rush back to me.
“You ready?” Mandi asks.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
We both get out of the truck, and I take her hand while we walk up the driveway.
“I’m going to warn you, my mom set up a whole newlywed game for my sister when she married Logan Stone in Vegas. So I put nothing past her. For your sake, I hope she doesn’t do some kind of ‘how well do you know Mandi Greene?’ game, because those notecards are in the truck, and you don’t know anything about me.”
I chuckle as we approach the door. “Oh, I know a lot about you. Maybe not all your favorites, but I can hold my own. Can you say the same?” I raise my eyebrows and the door opens before she can respond.
“The happy couple has finally arrived. Did you get lost in all the bedrooms over at the inn?” A young woman with long blonde hair, who I assume is either Mandi’s sister or stepsister, laughs and steps out of the way for us to enter.
Here goes nothing.
Mandiand I say hello to everyone, and I mean everyone because I think her entire family is here. My parents are on the couch, talking with Ethel and Dori, but my dad keeps looking around at Mandi’s family members. My dad is an only child, as am I. Even when my family still all got along, there were only five of us around the table.
But here there are kids running around, babies crying, bickering between siblings, laughter among the sisters… I love it.
I bring Mandi over to introduce her to my parents. I’d rather have taken her to their house for a small dinner, but this came first, so here we are.
“Mom. Dad. This is Mandi.” I put my arm around her waist as I’m introducing her. She slides into my hold, a perfect fit.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Mandi says, and my parents stand from the sofa.
“Mandi, this is my dad, Rex, and my mom, Ursula.”
They all shake hands, and we stand there for an uncomfortable moment.
“Do you need help with the wedding stuff?” my mom asks.
“Um… I’m sure my mom has most of it taken care of, but of course we want you included. She’s infamous for putting together meetings, so I’ll let you know when we have one.” Mandi smiles. “Have you been introduced to everyone?”
“Most, I believe. It’s a very big family.” My mom cringes. “We’re not used to it.”
