Whiskey and Gumdrops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance (29 page)

"And do you?" she asked, swinging her body to the side so she could see him better.

He chuckled and drew her against his firm chest, holding her tight as he whispered in her ear, "I've been here all along, Mandy, loving you every day."

"I like the sound of that," she said, warmth flooding her system.

"Be good to her, man," Cody said as he walked by, his voice a warning.

Laughing, Mandy tossed a crumpled napkin off a nearby table at his retreating form. "I'm not fluff!"

"Oh," he said, grinning as he turned back and caught the napkin, "and by the way, Dad is wondering if he can change out one of the fluorescents. The bulb is flickering."

"Tell him he can help me later. My insurance won't cover him falling off a ladder in an overcrowded building."

Frankie opened his mouth to speak and Mandy gave him a kiss to shut him up. Enough already. Less talk, more action. It was all green lights from here on out and she was ready to see where the road took them.

Devon, tucking his guitar under his arm, began strumming at the checkout counter and Frankie swayed her side to side. "You know, we have a lot of time to make up for as a couple."

Mandy felt her cheeks heat, the fire flowing to the rest of her body. "Do we?" she asked coyly.

He nuzzled her neck and said, "We do."

"Then I think we'd better start as soon as possible." She gave him a deep kiss amidst more hoots and cheers.

* * *

With her place closed up for the night, Mandy held Frankie's hand as they walked down Main Street, all signs of Mandy's grand opening and the debut Blueberry Cruise whisked away. Despite Mandy's exhaustion, she was exhilarated. Everything she wanted was right here in Blueberry Springs, putting a bounce in her step she was certain would be there for some time.

Everything had worked out perfectly. She had her own restaurant, but most of all she'd learned to let go and let others help. Without doing that she wouldn't have had the successful grand opening that she did. And she might not have Frankie.

And although he had to return to finish up the television show, the editors, who had come to Blueberry Springs to catch some footage of Frankie running parts of the Blueberry Cruise, had decided to reframe the footage they'd taken of Frankie's best friend-turned-girlfriend (yeah, that would be her) whispering her feelings on the show. She would be the villain no more when the show aired in December. They'd even requested to catch some footage of Mandy and Frankie kissing a few times in front of the souped-up, restored cars lining Main Street.

But most of all, she had the love of her best friend and couldn't wait to make the most of what was sure to be a long time together.
 

She turned to Frankie, and he drew her close as he clasped both her hands in his, raising them to his lips. "Mm. You smell good, Miss M."

She laughed lightly. "Did I ever tell you how much I love it when you call me that?"

"I know everything about you, Mandy." He lightly kissed her knuckles. "Everything."

"No, you don't. Not yet." She gave him a wicked smile and drew him toward her waiting apartment. "But you soon will. You soon will."

~
THE END
~

Can't wait for the next Blueberry Springs book? Go to
JeanOram.com
and sign up to get email updates on the next book by Jean Oram.

Thank you for reading
Whiskey and Gumdrops
.

Did you enjoy this book? Tell your friends on your favorite online book site or leave a review on your favorite online bookseller. I appreciate your feedback.

Want a sneak peek?

Don't miss the next adventure in Blueberry Springs featuring Jen! How on earth did this girl end up in Blueberry Springs and what's going to happen when she almost burns it down? (Turn the page
to read a sneak peek of
Rum and Raindrops
—coming Spring 2014
!)

Rum and Raindrops

(A Sneak Peek of Book 3 in Blueberry Springs)

Copyright 2013 Jean Oram

By Jean Oram

Coming
Spring 2014

~ Go to
JeanOram.com
to sign up for an email when this book comes available. ~

This time she wouldn't run.

She wouldn't be able to live with herself this time.

As tempting as it was. She could. Not.

Even though this was much, much worse than anything else she'd ever been through—worse than finding her best friend's belt under her live-in boyfriend's bed. Worse than running away from home at sixteen and losing herself in the process.

Completely worse.

She stared at the layers of gray drifting lower in the sky. For days, the clouds of smoke had been building, closing in, choking out the mountain town's residents. Jen couldn't hear the forest fire crackling from here, but she knew if the wind changed direction she would never live down being the girl (nature guide, at that) who burned down the small town of Blueberry Springs.

She sighed and wiggled her key in the back door of Wally's Sporting Goods, shouldered open the warped door and flicked on the lights. Normally, in May, she wouldn't need lights at this time of day but thanks to her own neglect, that forest fire was making pretty damn sure everyone was using plenty of electricity.

She stood outside the store's back door and worried her keys. Her car was ready. Packed with the essentials as well as her most prized belongings in case they called for an evacuation. She didn't need to wait; she could just get in and go. Now. She didn't have to stop. Didn't have to come back.

It was right over there. Only a few steps away.

"Jen!"

She jumped, dropping her keys as Wally, her boss, rested a heavy hand on her shoulder. "What are you doing?" His brows folded in concern. "There are rumors of evacuation. Everyone's closing up."

She picked up her keys and stared through the open back door where she'd rediscovered the old Jen—sporting good by sporting good—after her unplanned arrival in Blueberry Springs. The old Jen who used to cross-country ski. Who won swim meets. The Jen who knew her way around a pair of hiking boots and welcomed the adventures they would bring. The Jen she had been before running away from home. Before Ken.

She'd lost that Jen over time, but here in Blueberry Springs she'd found her again. She was thriving. But now...if she ran...

"Look. I'm closing up shop," Wally said gently. "Help people load their cars and then get the hell out of here. In case."

"It smells like rain," she whispered, wishing she could see the sky—see the weather coming over the mountain ranges instead of being blocked by big clouds of smoke that made her eyes burn.

"We're going to need a helluva lot more than rain," he said, turning away.

* * *

Jen moved uneasily down Main Street. Should she simply walk up to people as they were loading their vehicles and start pitching in? What if they were angry with her for what she'd done? Because, seriously, what kind of nature guide started a raging forest fire when out testing equipment?

She couldn't understand it. She was always so careful. She'd gone out with Wally when she first started her excursion business out of his shop and the expression he'd used when she put out their little campfire was anal retentive. But this time, obviously, her anal retentiveness hadn't been enough.

Scott, the local officer and stand-in park ranger, told her she'd been the only one out at Raspberry Creek Park the weekend the fire started. And therefore...well, it wasn't difficult to do the math and figure out where to point the finger. When the fire had been discovered, Scott had his team try to put it out. But nature pulled a fast one, switching directions several times until it was out of control. And now everything was in jeopardy.

Everything.

"Hey, Jen," said Moe, her good friend, as he fell into step beside her. She smiled and leaned toward him. She needed a good friend right about now. And despite the way she'd sorta chased Moe—or at least, hinted in humorous and easy to brush off ways that they would be good together—they were still just friends. Which was probably a good thing. Some days she felt as though she had more baggage than came in a Samsonite world traveller set.

"Heard about the evacuation suggestion?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Don't worry. Nobody's going to crack any jokes about what kind of nature guide burns down her forests. God, that has got to be bad for business."

"Moe! Shut up, it's not the whole forest. It's just Raspberry."

"And Blueberry Springs."

"It's not! Okay?" She turned to him, blinking back the tears. "It's not coming to Blueberry Springs! It's still miles and miles away!"

"Well, if the wind turns, it's in line to take a short cut."

"Shut up." Head down, she turned in the opposite direction and stalked off.

Her jacket pocket started vibrating and she yanked it out to look at the caller ID. It probably wasn't a reporter. Probably. She sighed and answered the call as she resumed her way down the smoky street, the sweetness of the air cloying.

"Hi. I think I'm in your beginner's overnight canoe trip?" the male voice asked, static crackling over the line.

Hell. Not another cancellation. She drew in a deep breath and crossed the street where she usually got better reception.

"We're still on in two weeks!" she replied in a chipper voice, trying to mask the strain. Crossing her fingers she looked to the sky hoping that the fire inspector Scott had called in wouldn't pull her guiding license and open-ended, off-trail camping permit after checking things out.

"Uh, the forest fire won't be an issue?" the man asked.

"Blueberry Lake is in a different direction from the fire. I'm confident it'll be just fine. We'll be camping on an island and lakes usually don't burn down."

He let out a deep chuckle that, despite her mood, drew a smile to her lips. Ah, yes. She remembered this man from a few months back when he called to register. She'd wanted to sell him every trip she had in order to hear that wonderful laugh as often as possible.

"The reason I'm calling," he said, "is I booked the trip for myself and my girlfriend."

Uh-oh. Here it comes. She shook her head and waited. The girlfriend didn't want to come and so he wanted to cancel and take her to a B&B instead. Either that or he'd be switching her out for a guy friend. Which was fine by her.

"We recently broke up," he explained.

"I'm sorry to hear that," she said automatically when he paused.

"Oh, don't be. We weren't...well, I guess you could say we weren't well-suited for each other and had a different concept of commitment is." He hesitated. "We were taking this trip because I was trying to get her interested in things I enjoy."

"My friend Mandy always says if you try to change the one you're dating, you're going to end up with nothing but heartache." She paused walking and winced. Holy hell, was Blueberry Springs ever getting under her skin. She couldn't believe she'd just dished out dating advice to a stranger.

She smiled and resumed walking. She could handle Blueberry Springs getting under her skin. "Sorry," she apologized. "The last thing you want or need is advice from a woman who hasn't been on a serious date in over three years." She smacked her forehead. Jesus. What was with her? "Or for her to start telling you the details of her pathetic life. I'm so sorry."

He gave a light chuckle. "It's fine," he assured, his voice dropping in and out because of the poor reception.

Desperate not to lose two more people close to departure, she asked, "So, will you still be joining us? Although it's too late to get a full refund you could bring a friend along in your girlfriend's place." Even better if that friend is as hot and nice as you sound, she thought.

As he 'Hmm'ed into the phone, she found herself imagining the body went with his deep voice. Probably fairly tall. At least taller than her, and she was 5'6". He would be cute, of course. Not much for pudge, but not hardrock buff, either. Just that wonderful in between. Great butt?

"I'm not sure," he said, startling her.

Trying to recover from her daydream, cheeks burning as though she'd fallen into a campfire, she sputtered, "Well...uh...could you let me know when you decide? It'll be a great time. It's so beautiful out here right now." She cringed at her response and cast a glance at the worst of the smoky clouds. "You've already spent the money. You should come."

Assuming she wasn't out of business by then.

He paused. Had she pushed too far?

"Sorry, I didn't mean to push," she added quickly.

"No, no that's okay. You're right. I wanted to do this because I wanted to get out again and enjoy the outdoors recreationally." After a brief pause, he said, "I'm in. I'll see if I can convince a friend to take Cindy's place."

"Great! Call me when you round someone up! I'll need to get their lifejacket size and a few other personal details."

"Okay. See you in a few weeks. It sounds like our connection is breaking up."

"Okay. And if you need anything or have any questions, don't hesitate to give me a call."

She hung up the phone and smiled. Yes! There would be at least one awesome guy on the beginner's overnight trip. And if he was awful, she'd just turn her back and ask him to tell her the story of his life and listen as that deep tenor worked its way into her muscles, setting her at ease.

Assuming, of course, that she wasn't living in some hotel miles from here and wondering where she could restart her life and escape the guilt of destroying the homes and livelihoods of several thousand people who had, several years ago, welcomed her into their community like one of their own.

Yeah, other than that.

She blinked back the tears as the familiar pattern of berating herself set in. How could she do this to them when all they'd done was bring her in? How could she be that careless?

She ducked down a side street, but when she saw people loading up their cars, she turned back to Main, promptly barreling into someone.