Whiskey and Gumdrops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance (11 page)

"It is. This wall can come out to create more dining space." She slapped a half wall that cut through the back portion of the room, leaving a dusty handprint. Ugh. She surreptitiously dusted her hands, trying to remind herself not to touch anything else, including her lovely dry-clean-only skirt.

"It's a bit tight but it might do." He stepped to the door.

She met him on the sidewalk, feeling as though he was slipping away. "There's another space that's bigger, although it is at the end of the street. And even though this place is a bit tight, I think it's a better location. Did you want measurements or pictures before I lock up?" She held the door open, in case he wanted to step through it again.

He shook his head and held up his phone. "I've got to skedaddle, but it was a pleasure meeting you." He stepped closer and she could smell his sweet coffee breath warm her cheek. He gave her upper arm a squeeze, his look apologetic. "I'm sorry I wasn't more attentive. I'll look over your application and get back to you within a week."

She watched him peel away in his shiny SUV, feeling as though she'd just lost the winning catch in the middle of a high-stakes fishing derby.

* * *

She let out a defeated sigh as the SUV rounded the corner at the end of Main Street and vanished from sight.

Who had she been trying to kid? Of course she'd lost Seth. She'd dressed up like a businesswoman and thrown some lingo around, but she had to be pretty darn stupid to think all that would fool a true businessman—especially one who had nurtured his successful chain from the ground up. He wouldn't risk his brand and income on some small town girl playing dress-up and hoping to find herself swimming in the big leagues.

The air beside her changed, bringing with it a hint of motor oil and peppermint. Frankie.

"Hey," she said, facing him. Dust from the street blew up and she turned away, shutting her eyes against the grit. She sighed and tried to boost her shoulders up from their slumped position. Maybe when the street cleaners had brushed away the grime and debris from the long winter, she wouldn't feel that oppressing weight pushing her flat against the world and begging her to change her life. Maybe then, she could be happy just the way she was.

"Ran off, huh? I figured he was too slick for us," Frankie said, arms crossed over his chest. He rocked back on his heels and glared in the direction the SUV had gone, as if he had super vision and could still see the man, despite the buildings and distance between them.

"You may as well give in and let Mary Alice open a bingo parlor in your building. I'm pretty sure I won't be needing it." She sighed and began walking toward Benny's Big Burger so she could change into her hideous uniform. If there was ever a fire in the place, she'd become shrink-wrapped in polyester.

Frankie fell into step beside her, walking close, his legs wide, like he was an armed bodyguard with too many muscles to be able to walk properly. Mandy nudged him, trying to knock him out of his tense, protective mode. When he strutted like this, she always feared he was going to go all Mark Wahlberg and lash out at someone as if he was in an action flick.

She turned to face him, jaw set. "What are you doing?"

"Walking with you."

"Why?"

"I can't walk with a friend?" he asked, eyeing other pedestrians through slitted lids as they passed.

Mandy jutted out a hip, arms crossed. "Frankie, you're eyeing everyone like you're angling for a fight. What's up?"

"Nothing." His dark eyes were cloudy.

"Nothing?" She watched him. Then, sighing, she opened her bag and passed him the keys. "Thanks."

"Keep them," he said, pushing the keys back to her, his eyes still on the street.

"Your house keys are on here."

Jaw working, Frankie tugged the building key off the chain and handed it to her. "Who else are you going to interview?"

"That was it. And they interview me, not the other way around."

He pulled the beginning of a fuzzy new soul patch growing below his lip that she hadn't noticed earlier into his mouth and watched her. "Bullshit," he said gently. "You have every right to interview them as well."

"What's this?" she asked and leaned forward to pet the damp bit of hair. Holy hell, that was a sexy look on him. How on earth had she missed noticing it?

Frankie tipped his face out of reach and asked, "What do you mean, 'That was it?' "

"That's the only one I qualify for." She turned on her high heels and began clacking her way down the sidewalk.

"What do you mean the only one?" he asked, his steps timed perfectly with hers.

"Frankie, franchises are incredibly expensive."

"So? Borrow money."

"It's more than you think. Besides, if it isn't that, it's qualifications. And there's no way I could go independent." Her cheeks burned with the humiliation of not being able to qualify for the one thing she'd finally decided she wanted. Didn't life just love kicking her in the shins? If it wasn't men, it was business—run by men.

She gave Frankie's chest a poke, his leather jacket firm under her finger. "And what about you? I'm pursuing my big adventure." She stepped closer, wanting to take a pound of flesh out of him for knowing how close she was to losing what she wanted.

"And?" he asked, his brows twisted in confusion.

"The TV show?"

His dark eyes narrowed. "What about it?"

She quirked her head. "Are you going to man up and go for it? Or what?"

Frankie pulled the soul patch into his mouth again and she couldn't decide if the action was seductively sexy or simply annoying. Either way, it made her want to move closer and put her fingers over his bottom lip to release the soul patch—whatever that happened to imply.

"I'd have to leave."

"It wouldn't be forever."

"As your business partner, I think I should be around while you set up shop."

"Excuse me? My what? You're my landlord! Should this guy even decide I'm worthy, it could be months before anything actually happens with the building."

"Well, I..." Frankie seemed at a loss.

"There's no reason you shouldn't do this."

Liz, Mary Alice's sister, and second-in-command on the town's gossip circuit, sidled up to them, taking in Mandy's outfit with one sweep and the tension between her and Frankie with another.

"Not now, Liz," Mandy said. "I'm late for work."

"Didn't think you had a shift today," Liz replied. "Who was the man you were meeting with? He had city written all over him."

"A slick piece of work, for sure," Frankie added.

Mandy ignored Liz and focused on Frankie. "Just because he wears a suit doesn't mean he's evil. Some people wear suits and do good, you know." She gave his leather jacketed shoulder a light shove, hating the way his peppermint smell made her want to nuzzle her face against his shoulder.

"He can't be trusted," Frankie said.

"Why? Why not?" asked Liz breathlessly, edging closer.

Mandy rolled her eyes and shoved the door to Benny's open as Frankie caught her elbow. He met her eye and said in a quiet voice, "If it's money you need to go out on your own, I have enough. I can co-sign a loan or I can help you get started with what I have."

"Frankie, you know I can't do that." She caught Liz glancing from face to face, absorbing every word and piling up conclusions like a kid with her first set of building blocks.

"It wouldn't be anything fancy, but it would be yours."

"Look. I appreciate the offer, Frankie. But this isn't about fancy, it's about business, and letting friends be friends and not owing them money or making them business partners."

"You'd rather go with some unknown guy who doesn't give a shit whether you make it or not?"

"Of course he cares! It's his business—"

"Exactly! It wouldn't be yours."

"What do you care?"

"I was under the impression we were friends."

Mandy sucked in a breath, Frankie had moved closer. His breath was hot in her face and his cheeks were flushed.

She took a step back. "Why are you taking this so personally?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"How do you know if he's reputable?" His voice told her he didn't think the man was worth a pickle in a room full of cucumbers.

"Google!" she snapped, backing into Benny's restaurant. "That's how I know. This is
business
, Frankie. There are contracts people sign."

"Big bloody deal, if he's the one writing them!"

"I'll get them looked over!" she retorted, her voice rising. "What the hell is your problem with me partnering with someone that isn't you?"

A warm, firm hand pressed against her back and she found herself being propelled toward Frankie, out of the building and back out onto the sidewalk. Benny gave her a kind but firm smile. "You're a little early for your shift, Mandy. How about you come back in about fifteen minutes." He glanced at Frankie and added, "Or an hour. Take all the time you need—we'll make do without you."

The door swung shut and she had to close her eyes for a moment to brace herself against the wave of embarrassment.

"It doesn't feel right," Frankie said quietly. He was about a foot and a half away and a gentle look had returned to his eyes.

 
"I can't put your money at risk, Frankie. That's all there is to it," Mandy said, crossing her arms. "What if I fail?"

"You won't fail."

"Independent businesses have an eighty percent likelihood of failure in the first two years, whereas franchises have a twenty percent chance of failure."

"That's got to be an exaggeration."

"Even if it is, wouldn't it be better to go with some big business that can afford the blow, rather than my best friend? Especially for something as risky as a healthy alternative? Who knows if this place can even sustain another restaurant?"

Frankie's expression softened and he opened his mouth to say something but she continued. "Money between friends is like microwaving butter. It's never the same, nor as good afterwards. It changes."

"At least talk to the Chamber of Commerce and Wini and a few others, okay? I don't like the feel of the guy."

"You didn't even meet him!"

"I didn't have to."

"What? What was wrong with him?" asked Liz.

Mandy jumped, turning to see Liz, her eyes still gleaming, like a child overhearing her parents discussing a possible trip to Disneyland.

"You guys are infuriating," Mandy grumbled. She addressed Frankie. "You need to trust me. I'm a big girl."

"Promise me," Frankie said, gripping her elbow. "Promise you'll look into him more before you agree to anything. Ask for financial records and talk to other franchisees. Okay?"

"Oh, for crying out loud. Is this because he's from the city?"

"Ohhhh," Liz crowed, her hands clasped. "It's going to be like Beth and the Nash-hole all over again!"

Mandy rolled her eyes. It was not going to be like when Nash Leham, the doctor from Dakota, came to Blueberry Springs for a term contract and ended up engaged to Beth while she and Oz were on a break. The town had shot straight into overly helpful and, basically, butted in where they weren't needed making things extra messy for Beth and the two men. And just because she was now looking outside Blueberry Springs as a way to open her own restaurant it did not mean Blueberry Springs needed to get their 'helpful' on and make things messy.

Frankie pointed down the street in the direction Seth had vanished, his eyes flashing. "You were flirting with him, for Christ's sake."

Mandy stepped back as if she'd been slapped. Guilt crept over her before remembering she didn't owe Frankie anything.

"Were you
spying
on me?"

"Oh, my!" Liz squeaked.

"Liz,
fuck
off!" they both shouted. They faced each other and exchanged humorous looks as Liz scuttled off.

Mandy stared at Frankie. Flirting was nothing. Heck, it was even
expected
in the business world. It was one of the currencies gals had. Plus, she was a lowly country girl trying to break in. She needed to work every angle she could. And flirting meant nothing. The men she really couldn't care about were the ones she felt safe pouring it onto.

"You can't discount Seth because of what I do."

Frankie reached out as though he was going to brush her cheek with his thumb but changed his mind at the last minute. "Have some faith in yourself, Mandy."

Mandy drew in a breath. "I appreciate you trying to look out for me. I really do, but..."

"Fine." Frankie threw his hands in the air and backed away, disappointment darkening his face. "Believe what you want to—I'll just shut up."

"Frankie, don't be that way."

"He's in a different league, Mandy. He's not small town. He's trying to accomplish something...different."

"Maybe that's exactly why I need him."

Chapter
8

Mandy glanced out her apartment window and tried to avoid looking at the For Lease sign in Frankie's window. After not hearing from Seth for over two weeks, Mandy had insisted he post the sign to see if he could get a better offer than Mary Alice's.

Gathering up the lists and drawings she'd done for the cruise night website, as well as the prizes list she and Frankie had been working on as separately as possible (he was not impressed with her giving up on her dream so easily), she tucked them in a file folder to take to her brother. She returned to the window to give Portia one last scratch behind the ears, and as she turned to head to the door, she noticed something out of place across the street.

"Son. Of. A.
Bitch
!"

She didn't know whether to giggle with glee or to panic. Hide or run across the street? She opted for run, dropping the file folder on the kitchen table on her way out. She took the stairs down the narrow passage two at a time, her hands stretched out to the walls to help her keep her balance. She wrenched open the street door and braced herself for a second, gathering her wits.

Seth.

In the flesh.

With his hands cupped around his face as he peered into Frankie's building. Leaning back to check the phone number on the For Lease sign as he pulled out his phone.