Whiskey and Gumdrops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance (7 page)

She took the first turn neck-and-neck with Frankie, her back end slipping out in sync with Frankie's. Mud spat up from his tires as he straightened out, hitting the body of her truck with great thuds as he pulled ahead to take a short right bend in the track. She tried not to flinch as more mud hit her paint job as his car fishtailed. She pinned it, cutting him off before he could move over and take the inside lead for the next corner. She tore between the stand of poplars, their tender buds tapping her sides as she flew by. Her truck hit the snow and ice and accelerated over the compact ground. She flew into the sun and splashed through a massive, slushy puddle. She grinned, certain she'd splashed Frankie if he was still back there.

Clenching the steering wheel, her arms jerked as she flew through squiggly mud, then over a sudden patch of hard pack. She slowed for the second last turn, her breathing jagged with adrenalin. She waited for the right second to accelerate and pull herself back on a straight path so she could bring it home. One more curve. She saw a flash of Frankie's car behind her and grinned. She was going to win!

For once!

He must be
so
frustrated.

She let out a laugh.

Wait. Unless he was letting her win. No, there was no reason for him to do that. Especially since she'd gloat around town for months.

She went into the last turn, glee making her hit the accelerator too soon. Her back end slipped out. She tried steering into her spin and forced herself to relax. The steering wheel felt locked as momentum morphed her spin into a long, uncontrolled skid. The thick mud and heavy snow worked against her efforts and the built up momentum took her sideways. She steered and played with the gas pedal, afraid she'd hit something hard and overturn. She frantically forced the steering wheel this way and that, in hopes of regaining control.

Nothing.

The bushes and the fence were coming up fast on her right. If she managed to move forward, she'd end up in the creek, taking out the rickety foot bridge. Either option left her with a ruined paint job and quite possibly much more.

The seatbelt dug into her shoulder and her hands slipped on the wheel.

Breathe!

Focus!

Look where you want your vehicle to go.

It wasn't working. Nothing was working! Her heart thundered so hard, she could feel it punching the locked seatbelt.

She was still skidding sideways, Frankie taking the lead as he stayed on the track, going slowly. The old fart! When did he start driving so cautiously? The bastard was going to win while she totaled her truck for nothing.

She let out a cry of frustration and slammed the gas, sending clumps of snow, mud, and grass flying over her truck as her tires tore at the earth, clumps hitting the windshield and obscuring her vision.

In a panic, she slammed on the brakes, Frankie's advice about always accelerating out of bad situations fully ignored. She'd rather get stuck than keep heading for her current options. With both feet jammed down on the brake pedal, she slowly slid to a halt. Her hair fell over her face and she rested her sweaty forehead against the steering wheel. Safe.

She hadn't won, but she was alive and hadn't totaled her pride and joy. Hooray for small miracles.

She slowed her breathing until she was no longer making little gasping yips. There was a low knock on her door and she slowly opened it.

"Okay?" Frankie asked, looking up, pale-faced.

She nodded.

"Good," he said, leaning back on his heels, a huge grin growing like a fertilized weed that she felt tempted to yank out. "Because it looks like you're opening a rent-free restaurant on Main Street."

Chapter
5

Mandy wiped down the window table, watching the couple a few tables away as they enjoyed their coffee, each leaning over the table to catch every word the other shared. No cellphones vying for attention. No kids interrupting and spilling drinks. No staring out the window, waiting for the meal to be over. Just absorbing bliss.

With her hands still trembling from her almost-crash, she emptied the last of the coffee pot in the sink at the back and glanced over her shoulder toward Benny's office. Maybe she could convince him the rumors were simply about her wishes to renovate the place, seeing as it still looked as though two places had been smooshed together—which they had. Benny was well aware she was tired of tripping over the ratty carpet seam between the old and new floor.

The door's bell jangled and Mandy looked up, then glanced at the clock. The kitchen was closing in ten minutes and here was Sophie and her tired looking family. She considered turning them away, but instead, seated them before running to the kitchen to beg Leif to keep the kitchen open.

He gave her a suffering look. "I've got a life, you know."

"So do I," she replied before wondering whether there was any truth to the statement. She returned to the dining room, grabbing a booster seat on her way to help Sophie seat her children.

"Oh, wait," Sophie said, standing up. "We're at Beth and Oz's table."

"It's okay," Mandy said, feeling the sting. "They're on their honeymoon."

"Oh, shoot. I am so sorry, Mandy." Sophie fell into her seat with a remorseful expression.

Mandy ignored the pity and busied herself settling menus in front of the adults and crayons and coloring pages in front of the kids. She was about to pass some to Sophie's son when she paused, giving him a teasing smile, holding the crayons to her chest. "Wait a second...didn't you have a birthday last week?" She gave him a look. "You're not too big for coloring, are you?"

The boy gave her a devilish look and made gimme hands at the crayons. She laughed and placed the plastic cup of crayons in front of him, along with a coloring placemat.

While she was running the couple's payment through the register, she felt someone behind her. Benny, his face grim, asked, "Can I talk to you when you're done?"

Mandy's stomach felt the way it had the time she'd chased Frankie off the meadow cliffs by the river: it sunk hard and fast. She'd ruined her car, which had, in the end, allowed her to buy her 4x4 as well as smarten up about paying better attention when chasing Frankie. She rubbed her chin in memory of the scar she'd received when she'd slammed into her steering wheel on impact. All these years, she'd worried about almost killing him at the tower? She should have worried about
him
killing
her
.

Following him to his office, she tried to stay cool, running through the long list of excuses she'd thought up during her shift. By the time she reached his office, she couldn't remember a single one. She just hoped he'd be quick about whatever punishment he felt fit for her betrayal.

Benny sat at his desk and tucked his hands under his chin. "What's this I hear about my retiring and you taking over the place?"

"Benny, I'm so sorry." Mandy sagged onto the couch and sighed. "Gloria took a conversation out of context."

Benny nodded, silently. "Are you looking for more?"

Mandy closed her eyes. She was tired. Tired of working so damn hard and not going anywhere. And...tired of wanting more. She opened her eyes and studied Benny, who didn't look anywhere near as tired as she felt.

"I don't know," she said at last. "I just feel like I need to take some control of my life."

"And boot me out of my own business?" he asked in disbelief.

"No. No." She held out her hands. "I'm so sorry. I was just spouting off to Gloria but she's obviously spread the word—wrongly."

"You want your own place?"

Mandy bit her lower lip and held her breath, watching Benny's expression. She didn't know what she wanted. And to her surprise, Benny looked more interested than anything. Not offended. Not insulted. Not peeved. Not angry. Interested. Intrigued. Kind of like Frankie.

"Well," she admitted, not daring to say more.

Benny smiled. "I thought you might eventually. You have a knack for business and this business in particular." He leaned back, hands clasped behind his head. "I think you could be quite good at it."

Mandy let out a breath of relief.

"However," Benny said. "I am not ready to give up this place, as ramshackle as it is. It's what keeps me going. And this town ain't big enough for the both of us." He laughed.

She cleared her throat. "I could never compete with you, Benny."

He grinned. "That's right you couldn't."

She shifted uncomfortably. "But I was thinking if I somehow complemented your menu, there might be room for another restaurant in town."

Benny quirked his head and Mandy leaned forward, not quite sure where her courage was coming from, but she knew he'd hear her out without judgment or taking a bazooka to her flowering bud of a dream. "I think there is a lack of healthy food alternatives in town," she said.

Benny groaned. "Not this again."

"Benny," Mandy said impatiently. "Blueberry Springs has changed from when you first opened up. I'm not talking about things people don't know and can't pronounce. Just simple stuff. The cities have pita and wrap places now." She gave a one-shoulder shrug. "You know? Healthy fast food."

"And?"

"And...I don't have what I need or know how to start something like that." She sighed. "But I really think it could work here."

Benny sat in silence for a moment. "Maybe you need to think smaller."

"Smaller?" She frowned at him. Being a waitress was smaller. She needed to think
bigger
.

"What about a side business to get your feet wet? You could do it while waitressing."

"I did play with the idea of offering sandwiches for Jen's outdoor adventures," she admitted. "Like mini-catering or something."

Benny let out a chuckle. "Don't sound so enthused."

"Making a few lunches isn't really..."

"Big enough?" Benny offered. "Gratifying? Consistent enough? Lucrative?"

"Yeah."

"Well." Benny tilted his head to the side and pursed his lips in thought. "If you decide to go that route, make sure you charge enough to make it worth your time. But maybe you should consider buying into one of those ready-made businesses instead. Those things are a business in a box. Everything is laid out, there's training, brand recognition, marketing, everything. All you need is start-up cash and a place to set up shop."

"That's what Frankie was saying. They're really expensive though."

Benny gave her a look that made her feel bad for not talking to him first. "I'm sorry, Benny. I didn't..." She lifted her shoulders and tried to figure out what to say that would make it okay.

"Well, whatever you decide, make sure you give me at least two weeks' notice before you go." He stood and walked her to his office door, his enthusiasm fading. "Your shoes are going to be mighty big ones to fill."

"Thanks, Benny." She gave him a quick hug, grateful and guilty all at once. "For everything." She gave his beefy arms a squeeze.

"Fly away, little birdie," he chuckled. "And if you need anything—anything at all—you know where to find me."

* * *

Mandy crashed onto Frankie's couch and draped an arm over her eyes. It felt as if her whole life had been turned upside down and given a good shake this week. It was as though she was at a crossroads in high winds and without a map. But it didn't matter which way she went: she'd never be able to return.

Heart's nose nudged her in the ribs and she patted his head, avoiding the tennis ball she knew he'd be offering. The dog, giving up, slumped down with a thud onto the floor.

As the clink of ice cubes against glass moved closer, she held out her hand; a cold, damp glass slipped into her grip.

"Thanks, Frankie." She eased herself into a sitting position and let the vanilla spiced whiskey and Coke cool her throat. "Perfect." Why did Frankie's drinks taste so much better than her own? "You should have become a bartender."

Frankie folded himself into the armchair kitty-corner to her and sipped his own drink. "So the smell of skunk is finally gone?"

She leaned deep into the couch's cushions, smoothing her uniform's shirt. "I think so."

She propped her feet on the coffee table, letting her socks brush against Frankie's feet to absorb his warmth. She gave them a friendly tap with her own. The vibe in the air made her feel as though they might actually be friends again. Him believing she was accepting his building had somehow put things right again.

Frankie let out a hacking cough, his eyes watering as he sat up to clear his chest.

"God, your cough sounds awful." She watched him hack with alarm. "You should see a doctor." She took a large swallow of her drink and checked her watch, perching herself on the edge of her couch. "Or get some rest."

"I'm fine. Just tired."

"I'll go so you can get some sleep." She took another big swallow of Coke and whiskey. It was a good thing she'd walked over.

"No, stay." He leaned back in his chair. "Tell me about your day. After I creamed you in the meadow, of course." He gave her a pleased wink.

She shrugged, not settling back into her spot until the color slowly returned to Frankie's cheeks. "Same as ever."

"Benny hear the rumors?"

She nodded, trying to ease her way back into a comfortable position, but unable to find one.

"What'd he say?" Frankie prompted.

She waved a hand through the air, dismissing the conversation.

"Did you get fired?" Frankie asked.

She scowled. "No!"

"Well, I would have let you go. A subversive employee learning the ropes only so she can secretly go out on her own and take you down..." Frankie tsked and sipped his drink.

Mandy whipped a cushion at him. He caught it deftly and tossed it back, messing up her hair as it flew by. "Hey! My drink!" she said, holding it up out of harm's way.

Frankie held up his own in protest.

"You're such a punk." She tried to hide her smile behind her glass.

"So? When are you opening your own place?"

"I'm not." She shifted, unsure why Benny had all but pushed her out the door.

"Sure you are. You lost the bet."