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The men were gentle on the teenagers, for all the teenagers tried to maim them. Mandy got the hang of things, and by the end had even raised her voice a few times.
“Foul!”
“What?” Ted glared at her. “That was not a foul.”
“Sure it was, now be quiet.”
He gave her a mock snarl. When she blew the final whistle, Ted was sweating and Mandy had a wide smile on her face.
“See, it’s not scary.” Ted joined her.
“Oh no, it was terrifying, but I did it. Don’t tell anyone or they might ask me to do it again, but I enjoyed it.”
“A real tough girl now.”
Ted watched the others talk to her and poked around inside his chest and thought that maybe he needed a bit of space from this woman. She seemed to strike sparks inside him, and he wasn’t sure if that was because she was wounded and he felt like he needed to protect her, or that he just plain wanted her.
Whatever the reason, it was time to put some distance between himself and Mandy Robbins.
Chapter 8
Ted walked out the lodge gates the next morning, enjoying the solitude. He had staff sick with some bug that had spread through their ranks. Today would be a busy one, so he’d decided on a walk after he’d worked out, because he’d still be at his desk or dealing with staff and customers long after the sun had set.
The sun was rising slowly behind Phil, crawling up his back to reach the sky. Spinning on his heel, he enjoyed the solitude. Most guests were still sleeping, and he had the morning to himself.
Coming here had saved him. No two ways around that. He’d been on a fast track to burnout when he’d driven into Ryker Falls and fallen in love with the place.
He studied his lodge. Something heavy always settled in his chest when he looked at what he’d achieved.
His alone. No other member of the powerful Hosking family could claim even an inch of Falls Lodge.
It sat nestled in nature like it had always been there, and Ted hadn’t been proud of much in his lifetime, but he was proud of this place.
Making a mental note to have the trees down the driveway trimmed, he headed into town.
It wasn’t cold, but crisp. Ted loved this time of the day. His time. He’d get a coffee, eat something from Phil’s that he shouldn’t, and then walk back. It was something he often did, because if he stayed at the lodge, he’d just start work and eat in the restaurant.
Passing the end of the Trainers’ drive, he saw the lights on in the stables. Jack and Rory would be hard at work.
The Howling boys were off flying about the countryside today in their helicopters, which left the Ryker boys doing some much needed work.
He felt relaxed this morning and weirdly at peace with the world, which was odd. Ted was rarely at peace. Usually his mind was consumed with ways to improve the lodge. He liked it that way, because if he was thinking about that he couldn’t think of anything else. Mandy, or his past.
“Morning.”
He didn’t turn because he knew that voice.
“Morning, Mr. Goldhirsh.”
“Morning, Ted.”
“Miss Marla, how you doing?”
They moved to either side of him.
“Miss Sarah having a sleep in?”
“She chose yoga this morning over running.”
