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He was a man who took action; that was his way and always had been. He didn’t know what to do about Mandy Robbins, however. She was really messing with his head.
He wanted her but knew that he couldn’t commit to her. So how the hell was he going to put her back in the friend zone and not drag her into the nearest closet every time he got her alone?
“Here’s your basket, Ted.”
He looked down at what Niki was handing him.
“You have to be messing with me.” It had flowers on the handle, and red ribbons. “You cannot seriously expect me to carry that?”
“I kind of do.” Niki nudged it into him. “Come on, you’re not going to let a little old basket upset your masculinity, are you? This will make all the woman swoon.”
“I liked you better when you were angsty and pissed off.”
She didn’t reply, just smiled at him and climbed back on the float.
Someone blew a whistle. Buzz barked from his place next to Joe on the Trainer Float. He wore a bow tie and a small black hat on a band.
“If I could have your attention please!”
Mayor Gripper was on the first float, which held the Ryker Falls council and committee members. This year they were dressed as sailors and the float was a boat.
“What do you think the significance of the boat is?” Jack moved to his side. He was dressed in cowboy gear, as he was every year.
“Hard to say what Mayor Gripper or Mary Howard, for that matter, are thinking. No one else would have had a say.”
“True that.”
The mayor was dressed as Napoleon and stood with a megaphone at the ready.
“The arm sleeve sewn to his jacket is a nice touch,” Jack said.
“The man always looks immaculate,” Ted added.
“He’s just one of those guys.”
“One of those guys?”
“No matter how long his day is, or what he’s doing, he always looks good. Pristine.”
“Unlike you.” Ted looked at his friend.
Jack wore jeans low on his hips, and there was a button missing on his checked shirt. Even the brim of his cowboy had was curling on one side and not the other.
“Rory says it’s part of my appeal.”
“You know she’s lying to you, right?” Ted said, shooting a look over his shoulder. Mandy was standing beside the Tea Total float, swinging her basket of sweets back and forth, looking like a lush little woodland creature who needed a big bad bear to run off with her.
“My girl doesn’t lie, and I’ll challenge anyone who says differently.”
“You know you’re totally whipped right? The great stud muffin of Ryker Falls has been dropped to his knees, and his revolving bedroom door and condom machine have been retired.”
Jack smiled, and it was wide and full of so much that Ted had to swallow. He’d never really wanted to smile like that… actually, not exactly true. When he’d made love to Mandy, he’d felt like he could scale Phil in the winter naked.
“Damn straight.” Jack slapped Ted on the shoulder hard. “You should try it, bud. Love is a grand thing.”
“I just threw up a bit in my mouth.”
“Mandy looks good,” Jack said with a sly look on his face. “Really good. I wonder what, or should I say who, brought about that change.”
