Whiskey and Gumdrops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance (24 page)

Her feet lifted her up the stairs, any attempts at sliding away foiled by the hands directing her. She sucked in a deep breath and squared her shoulders, even though her heart had torn into jagged pieces. Her head swam; her vision was broken by stars and blackness. The judges, beaming with excitement and pride, handed her the ribbon for first prize.

"Congratulations Mandy! Eighth year in a row and with a new recipe, no less!"

Doubt hit her straight in the gut. Was it a pity win? Or were her new brownies just as good as the old ones?

"Will you be serving these in your new restaurant, Mandy?" asked the main judge.

Mandy snapped to. "I'm sorry?" she asked.

He licked his lips uncertainly and paused to lean close to the microphone again. "Well...I'd heard you were going to open independently."

But everyone had been avoiding the topic whenever she tried to bring it up. How did he know?

"Yes. That is the...plan."

"So? Will you serve your new brownies?"

Mandy assumed her businesswoman stance, head held high and back straight, despite her worn out pair of jeans and flip-flops. She hardly looked like someone to trust with a micro business loan. But then again, on the big screen she'd looked like someone else. Someone she didn't like. And what she was wearing right now was certainly more relatable for the Blueberry Springs crowd. She needed every face in this crowd to get behind her. It was time to trust herself. Trust her instincts.

"As you may have heard," she said in a low voice and the judge nudged her closer to the mic and suggested she speak louder, "the chain I was supposed to open—Wrap it Up, a healthy fast-food alternative—is in dire financial trouble. My restaurant, which was supposed to open at the end of the month, will not be opening. It will be seized by bankers, along with Frankie's building." Her voice caught and she forced herself not to think, just to dictate everything to the crowd. "In eleven days." She looked at the crowd, who had gasped and begun murmuring. "Several other franchisees in our area are in a similar situation. In an attempt to save what Frankie and I have invested, I've teamed together with these businesswomen. We've developed a plan to get our businesses back so we can continue on, or in my case—" she gave a little smile and a pause "—open my doors, and serve the people we love the best food we can."

Her mind went blank. Where was she going with this? Her sales pitch was turning cheesy. She needed to get to the point before she plopped down on the makeshift stage and started bawling.

She clenched her trembling hands. The crowd already knew she'd failed. They already knew she'd asked Frankie to be hers and had been rejected. What did she have left to lose? Where could she go from here other than up? If she was at least honest with them, they could decide whether to support her or not.

"I really want to do this. More than anything. You know how much I loved working at Benny's and I wouldn't give up working with him for anything that wasn't dear to my heart. As a waitress at Benny's—" she pointed to Benny, who was standing close to the front of the crowd "—I loved serving people. I truly enjoyed being able to serve each and every one of you." She looked to Mary Alice in the crowd, grandkids clustered around her. "After you had a long day in the store, I enjoyed being able to give you a cup of coffee and a piece of Benny's Chocolate Maven Pie. I felt as though I was able to give something back to you, a woman who has given so much to our community." She blinked back the emotion that was threatening to expose itself. She addressed Sophie, the harried mother who was now expecting number four and straining to keep her young son from storming the stage while her husband held his sister on his shoulders. "Being able to help a tired mom so she could stay on top of at least one thing in her day was gratifying. It might sound cheesy—" she gave a self-deprecating laugh "—and it kind of is! But truthfully, I love to serve people. It's my way of helping and contributing. And with Wrap it Up, I thought I might be able to do that for you in a new way with menu items that fit a variety of dietary needs. But in my heart—despite the financial issues with the chain—I knew they couldn't give you what you really wanted. So while Wrap it Up is closing its doors, I'd like to open mine—as a Wrap it Up, but with a Blueberry Springs flair. We franchisees are working to buy out the chain and go independent. If I can raise enough money to pay off my franchise loan, I can save my investment and Frankie's building. I want to serve healthy food on the go, keep on catering for Jen's adventure tours, and have a coffee bar where you can meet up with your family and friends." She held up her ribbon with pride. "And enjoy a good brownie.

The crowd hooted. She sucked in a deep, shaky breath and glanced at the judge beside her. "But I can't do it alone," she said, her voice lacking the strength it had a moment ago. The crowd grew quiet.

"I know I've failed so far in trying to open my own place. It's been hard." Her voice shook. "Unbelievably hard. I've lost a lot." She paused to gulp air. "And I've tried to do it without the help of Blueberry Springs, but the truth is, I need you. I need help." She looked down at her feet. If only she'd had the courage to say those words to Frankie months ago...

"How can we help?" the judge prodded.

She looked out at the town. How could she ask these people who had so little to help her? How could she expect them to step up and help make her dream come true? What made her so special?

"What do you need, Mandy?" he repeated.

"I need a loan. It's a lot to ask, I know," she apologized quickly. "But there's a website where you can make a micro loan. Even twenty-five dollars can help me open my doors. And I'll pay it back. With interest." She held her breath. She'd said it. She'd admitted she needed help. And she was still standing. Albeit on shaky legs, but she was still standing.

The judge took the mic. "Mandy will provide Ed with the information you need in order to help her, Blueberry Springs." He glanced down at Ed, the newspaper's editor, who was standing by the steps. "Isn't that right, Ed?"

"It'll be on our website in twenty minutes!" Ed announced, flipping open a small spiral notebook.

"Okay! Today's winner!" The judge grabbed Mandy's hand and raised it high. "And if you want to support this lovely young woman in her new business venture and get your taste buds on these prize-winning brownies, which are simply delectable—" he paused to smile and pat his mouth with a hand "—go to the newspaper's website and donate to Mandy's cause! She's promised us
brownies
!"

Dazed, Mandy left the stage amid a plethora of back patting that left her shoulder blades stinging, and wondered what kind of wild ride was in store, now that Blueberry Springs had control of her destiny.

Chapter
18

The rumble of Frankie's Harley echoed in the distance, beating an irregular rhythm in Mandy's chest as she stood outside her maybe-soon-to-be-restaurant-if-she-could-pull-a-donkey-out-of-a-money's-butt and waited for his motorcycle to roll into view. The prodigal son of Blueberry Springs: the now soon-to-be famous Frankie. In the flesh.

Two weeks off from the show, according to the rumor mill.

His bike rumbled up the street, sending vibrations through her legs and making her body taut with yearning. In her fantasies, he saw her, offered her his second helmet and took her flying through the mountain passes like old times...

A group of young women dressed to the nines in outdoor gear they must have been convinced was 'the thing' by Jen, elbowed each other, their attention riveted to the tall, lean man rumbling up Main. Sexy and rugged as ever. Confident. In control. Ready to sweep through the crowd and make one woman feel like the only one on the planet worthy of his attention.

In the past it had been her—his best friend—and she longed for those days once more. She rose up on her tiptoes in anticipation and watched as he rode up with the wind, his shirtsleeves revealing the Chinese longevity symbol tattooed on his left bicep. She stepped out of the shadows of the building. He might look like a badass but she knew there was so much more to him that that outer layer. So much more.

Except...something was off with the way he was riding. His helmet seemed bigger. No, there were two of them. There was a small woman hugging his waist the way she should have been. She closed her eyes and leaned against the door to her restaurant, tumbling out of sight as it swung inward.

She fled to the kitchen area, glad the faded paper was still tacked to the windows. She bit her knuckle and stared at the empty fridge, concentrating on making her ribcage contract to let out the breath that had become wedged in her chest.

Fighting the temptation to find out what Blowtorch was doing in town—by yanking her off the back of Frankie's bike by the back of her shirt—she snatched her to-do list and worked until her eyes burned, hoping to find a new pain that would divert her from what she was feeling in her heart.

* * *

Cool drizzle settled on Mandy's arms, chilling her flesh as she stared through the plate glass window of the parts store, peering around a string of 'M's stuck to the window. Her eyes burned from the night spent sleeping in the office of her maybe-restaurant.

Blowtorch. Wearing a parts shirt.

As in, working here. In Blueberry Springs.

With Frankie.

Her heart began acting unexpectedly unstable.

Didn't Blowtorch have a real life somewhere? Away from Frankie? Far,
far
away from Frankie?

"Want me to run her out of town?" somebody whispered over Mandy's shoulder.

Mandy fumbled the damp package she had tucked against her chest and turned to face Mary Alice.

"We ran Dr. Leham out of town," Mary Alice said in a confidential tone that had Mandy picturing Mary Alice knocking a fist into the palm of her opposite hand as she trapped poor outsiders in dark alleys.

"No you didn't," Mandy said. "He transferred to the city when his contract was up. It was always his plan."

Mary Alice faced Mandy, hands on her hips, looking like the kind of person nobody in her right mind would mess with, let alone talk back to. "What that woman is doing is despicable," she spit. "Just like that Nash-hole nosing into town and honing in on Oz's fiancée just when he was trying to get his act together. Sometimes people need time, not some foreigner meddling and messing with things. Men just need
time
." Mary Alice shook her head and clucked her tongue.

Mandy scratched her ear and turned back to the window.
 

"She's trying to get Heart out of the store," Mary Alice grumbled. "That pup is an institution."

Mandy felt the earth shift. Damn, that woman was a fast mover. She only just rolled into town and she was already making changes? Mandy was going to have to step up her game.

What was it about Blowtorch? Sure she was cute, but she was messing with his dog and they'd barely just met each other. Mandy couldn't believe the Frankie she knew was standing for that.

Mary Alice leaned in. "That girl spells trouble. And if we let her succeed, what's next?"

"Mary Alice," Mandy groaned. This was going to get messy if she didn't push Mary Alice away and get her to leave Blowtorch alone. Frankie had to come to her, Mandy. On his own. The next move was one he had to make without the town getting involved. "Frankie makes his own choices."

Mary Alice continued, "Is she going to stop Benny from making the best burger in town?"

"You from gossiping?" Mandy retorted, crossing her arms.

Mary Alice laughed appreciatively, her bosom heaving with the effort. "And you from winning the brownie ribbon every year?"

Mandy felt a shiver dance down her spine and she rolled her shoulders, trying to put herself back at ease. "Good luck with that," she muttered.

Mary Alice let out another round of wheezing smoker's laugh.

"She's another Nash Leham," Mary Alice warned.

Mandy waved her off and headed for the entrance. "Give the girl a break," she said. "She has good taste in men." She flashed Mary Alice a wink to try and keep her from going after Blowtorch.

"We don't need a city slicker after Frankie," Mary Alice called, eyes flashing. "Not when he's got homegrown hankering after him."

Mandy ignored her and pushed her way into the store, knowing all she could do with Frankie was play the longtime best friend card and do a little reconnaissance. It wasn't the time for grand gestures and desperate humiliation. Not yet. But mark her words, if she was going down, she'd be engulfed in flames and kicking and screaming and fighting it all the way.

Mandy stopped inside the door and shifted from foot to foot, the store's silence sending creepy crawlies up her back. No radio station declaring the weather. No dog greeting her. Nothing. The shelves were covered in their usual amount of dust and the floor had the grime buildup at the edge of the shelving feet as usual, showing her that Blowtorch wasn't able to change everything overnight. Alex called out from behind a large parts catalog, "I was wondering when you'd finally come in."

Mandy jumped and squeaked out a reply that didn't make sense.

"He's in the back," Alex said without looking up. "Go on, through, if you'd like."

Blowtorch popped out from behind the parts shelves, her expression wary. Mandy gave her a smile and a slight nod of acknowledgement as she passed, gift tucked under her arm. Heart unfolded his long legs to amble after her, but Blowtorch grabbed his collar.

"Stay!" she commanded. To Mandy she said, "Sorry."

"It's okay," Mandy said. "Heart and I go way back." She gave Heart a scratch behind the ears, talking to him in a thatta-boy voice that made his tail thump the nearby shelves, sending boxes of bearings skittering across the floor.

Mandy snatched up the boxes and began placing them back on the shelf.

"I can do that," said Blowtorch in a firm voice.

"That's okay," she replied cheerily.

"I know where they go."

Mandy placed the last box on the shelf. "All done. Come on, Heart," she called, moving between the tall shelves, assuming Blowtorch would release the dog.