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She was new to this, but had a feeling that wasn’t going to be as easy as it sounded.
Chapter 21
He needed to do something about Mandy, but just wasn’t sure what that something should be.
Every time he closed his eyes, Ted saw her naked from the waist up. Saw the sultry look in her lovely eyes. He was hard so often, it was getting embarrassing.
He had to date someone. Someone who understood it wouldn’t be serious. They’d have fun, then move on. The thought didn’t infuse him with anticipation like it should.
Ted was running his eyes over the paper in his hand when his phone rang. Seriously? The cost of the laundry in this place was rising every month. He made a mental note to check why as he picked up the receiver.
“Hosking.”
“Goldhirsh. Ted, any chance you could drop that book on poetry back to me? I’m feeling a little down today, nasty cough, and I’d like to spend the day reading.”
“Ah, sure, Mr. Goldhirsh.” Ted looked at his in tray, which was full of paperwork needing his attention. “I’ll get someone to run it over.”
There was a loud hacking cough on the other end that had him wincing.
“You doing okay there?”
“Fine.”
He couldn’t remember a time when Mr. Goldhirsh had ever been sick. Ted started to feel a niggle of worry.
“I’ll run it right over. You want me to pick up anything on the way?”
“Six of those cinnamon and hazelnut donuts from Phil’s would be nice. I’ll have the money for when you arrive.”
“You planning on sharing, or eating all six?”
“The only way to cure a cold, son, is to eat your way through it” came the dry reply.
“Be there soon.” Ted ended the call, then did a few more things before grabbing his keys. The book was in his desk drawer and was something Mr. Goldhirsh had insisted he read, the poems of a Persian poet, mathematician, and astronomer born in 1048 who actually had some pretty interesting things to say. Ted had read it from cover to cover.
On his way out of the lodge he answered a few questions from staff as he always did. It was busy at this time of year.
He knew it wasn’t his imagination that his staff seemed happier, and happy to talk to him. He’d been a fool not see that he needed to be more approachable.
Thank you, Mandy Robbins.
The day was building into one of those hot, steamy ones. The sky was blue and cloudless, and people were dressed for the conditions as they wandered up and down the main street of Ryker Falls.
He walked into Phil’s. Piper was behind the counter, looking like she hadn’t just had a baby in a fitted sundress in blazing yellow. Her mother-in-law sat beside Grace with Blake in her arms.
“Morning. Can I have six cinnamon and hazelnut donuts?” he said to Piper.
“Hi, Ted.”
“Hey, Gracie, you stealing your nana’s breakfast this morning?”
She smiled and continued to eat the piece of bacon in her hand.
“Ted. You’ll want to watch your guests. Last night one sped through town at 11:46 p.m. Nearly ran me over. I literally had to leap onto the sidewalk to safety.”
Mary Howard had never been a favorite of Ted’s. She reminded him pretty much of every mother he’d encountered growing up, obnoxiously righteous in the belief they and theirs were better than everyone else.
“I can’t control what my guests do away from the lodge, Mrs. Howard. And how do you know they were my guests, anyway? They could have been visiting anyone or staying in other paid accommodation.”
