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“I feel different now. How is that possible?”
Her cheeks were cupped. “Because it’s time, my love, time for you to change and no longer just exist, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“Me either.”
“Now, your aunt and I think you should be more involved in the parade float this year, dear. Not just help with the decorating; we want you to organize it all.”
“I haven’t had a lot of time to get to the stables yet, but I will,” Mandy said. “And I’d like to do the float with your help.”
“Every year you usually loathe being on it. Maybe this year that could be different? We need to paint the float tomorrow,” Aunt Marla said. “We’ll look after the shop, and you get started.”
You’re strong in here.
“Yes,” Mandy said before “no” could come out. “I’ll do it.”
Chapter 19
Two weeks after Ted had received a little yellow card from Mandy with the words “thank you for my fern” written in neat, precise lettering, he’d had no other contact with her, which he’d told himself repeatedly was a good thing.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.” Ted nodded to some guests as he entered by the front door instead of the rear. He did this often just to make sure everything looked aesthetically pleasing, the buzz words his designer had used when planning the interior of this place.
It’s all about first impressions, Ted.
He loved the wide-open spaces you walked into through the main doors. A mix of greenery and natural colors with some timber paneling welcomed you. Soothing, Ted thought. At least, he’d always felt that way walking in.
“Ted.”
“Lenny.” He acknowledged the manager on duty at the reception desk, who was muffling yet another yawn. “Late night?”
“I helped Mandy down at the stables, getting the float ready till late.”
“Mandy?”
She’d stopped using his gym. He told himself he was happy about that.
“Mandy Robbins,” Lenny said, looking far too happy. Ted didn’t think he had too many years on the man, but they were poles apart in every way possible. Ted was jaded and looked at everything with skepticism, but he was pretty sure Lenny still believed in Santa. “She’s a nice lady, and really sweet. We’re going for pizza tonight.”
“You and Mandy?”
Lenny nodded. “I asked her, and she said she’d love to. I never really looked at her properly before, but now….” He made a sound in his throat that had Ted wanting to lean over the counter and plant his fist in the man’s face.
“She’s a lady. Show her some respect, Lenny.”
The smile fell from his manager’s face.
“Right. Sorry, I didn’t mean offence.”
“None taken,” Ted said and internally winced at his cold tone. “Meeting in five minutes.”
He walked away, pissed off for no other reason that he could think of than he was jealous. That didn’t sit well with Ted. He didn’t get jealous; it wasn’t his way.
He enjoyed the company of women, but he was never annoyed when it ended and they dated someone else. Just another reason why it was better to keep his distance from Mandy Robbins.
Ted didn’t want involvement that could hurt him. Love and all the stuff connected with that emotion were messy. He’d vowed business would always come first in his life. Until now, that had never been challenged.
Mandy Robbins was not important to him.
