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Flint drove Mandy to his house to drop off the groceries he’d bought at the farm stand. Every moment with her made him more sure she was the one, only problem being he didn’t believe in that sort of thing: the one, true love, and all that. He had nothing against it, but as his confidence had returned, so had his skepticism about love and romance.
Being with Mandy—he wanted that—but he wanted her to be happy, and he wasn’t sure he was the one to do that for her. Yet as he drove up to the old bunkhouse he and Ethan had had remodeled, and she craned her neck to see everything, and her gaze popped, and she exclaimed over the ranch, he could see her here, with him. Walking through the fields, feeding the chickens together, sitting on the porch with coffee and watching the sunset, carrying her over the threshold...
He shook his head. These thoughts weren’t like him. He’d decided as a teen on a bachelor life, and he saw no reason to change that. Until now.
“You okay?” Mandy asked. “You seem kinda serious.”
He shrugged. His feelings were serious, and it was a change. “Did you want to come in, or wait while I put this away?” He gestured to the bags in the back.
“Mind if I wait in the garden? I want to enjoy the sun.”
“Please do.” Maybe neither of them was ready for the intimacy of being in his home alone together.
Huh, Flint Manning, slowing down and thinking through possibilities with a woman. Change hadn’t just come for his brothers.
His brow furrowed as he put away the provisions he’d bought, wanting to do something for Mandy, wanting to show her he wasn’t just some guy, that he wasn’t trifling, as Mrs. G warned him against. He rolled his shoulders and shelved his thoughts about himself and what all this with Mandy meant. Because today was about having fun, introducing her to the town and people, and, maybe, opening a new path for both of them. While he was used to galloping forward without concern about paths or what lie ahead, this time, with Mandy, he wanted to slow to a trot and take in what was happening and where she wanted to go.
Meeting her outside, he smiled at the way she wandered, touching the leaves on the aspen trees, fingering the growing sweet pea vines, and finding a heart-shaped pebble in the path.
She showed it to him before moving to drop it back down. He grasped her hand and closed his around the stone and her fingers.
“You can keep it.” He placed another hand on hers.
“How about I set it there?” She pulled him toward the porch and he followed with growing appreciation for the surprises she heaped on him. Setting the stone on the little table between two rockers, she turned to him. “I’d like to have it here, for next time.”
“I’d like that, very much.” His voice hoarse, he didn’t bother to clear it, or pretend he wasn’t jumbled with feelings. He wanted to kiss her, but mindful of what she’d said earlier, he held her hands instead and let his gaze travel over her sweet face: her high forehead, her flowing hair, her plump cheeks and lips, her sparkling brown eyes full of fun and fondness.
“I really like...your house,” she said then grinned.
He laughed full-out and held out his arms. “How about a hug, Miss Playing it Like Elizabeth Bennet.”
She joined his laughter. “You surprise me. And you’re not much of a Mr. Darcy.” She stepped into his embrace as he gave her his best prideful, arrogant look that he associated with the Jane Austen hero.
“What, you thought I was a Wickham?” he asked, trying to keep up the playful banter, but instead trailing off and basking in her warmth, how she held him tightly, how perfectly she fit in his arms.
She let out a contented sigh then stepped out of his embrace. He wanted more, but he respected her boundaries.
“People talk about you that way, like you’re a womanizer, but you’re just you. Better than some fictional hero, even.” She grasped his hand and he stepped next to her.
“Thanks. I think the talk about me is greatly exaggerated.” He grinned. “In any case, I’m done with Wickhamming. I’m focused on this woman who’s appeared and who’s worth waiting for. Let’s get to the wedding. I want to dance with you.”
She returned his cheerful expression. “Can hardly wait.” She squeezed his hand and they walked to the truck. Slowly, he handed her into the cab and they gazed at each other, this time more serious and searching.
He didn’t know what to say as they drove off, so, for once, he let the silence sit. He didn’t even mind. Mandy was here with him, her scent of roses and spring and possibility embracing him as tightly as she had.
Luke and Dolly had decided to have their wedding at West Ranch Bed and Breakfast, so he and Mandy were soon there, having retraced their way out of town. Autumn’s cousin Mike had created a great destination in the old place, cozier than Manning Lodge, and offering outdoor experiences catered from his boyfriend, John Raines, and Wade Davis’s sporting goods store on-site out of the remodeled barn. Flint pulled the truck into the field they used for event parking and he and Mandy walked with others up to the rambling old house, which Mike had renovated last year. As one of the managers at Manning Lodge, Flint liked to keep up with local building and lodging. The ceremony had already occurred, as Luke especially was a private person, so the couple had opted for a small ceremony followed by a big-ish reception held inside and in the garden of the B & B.
“This is beautiful!” Mandy’s smile and wide eyes zinged pleasure through him. “Autumn grew up here?”
“Yep. Her cousin Mike’s done a great job with it.”
“I hear you have a lodge out at your family ranch?”
“True. Happy to show you around anytime. My brother Dean will be getting married there in a couple of weeks. Would you like to be my guest?”
Her steps faltered as they walked up the front stairs of the inn. She pulled him to the side on the rocking chair lined porch. “It feels good that you’re including me in your plans, and I need some time. This” –she waved her hand between them— “is happening really fast, even for me.”
“Understood.” And he did. If she’d consent, he’d elope with her right now, that was how sure he was about her, about them. But he got that commonsense wise, they needed to slow it down. They were both young and there was no need to rush. Except that he wanted to spend every possible moment with her, didn’t want to see other women, or for her to date other people. “I just really want to be with you.” He caressed her arm and met her gaze.
“Thank you. Let’s be together today.” She touched his cheek with a sweet smile, that one he’d first been drawn to when they’d met.
He wanted to be okay with what she was saying. He was okay with it on one level. But that grip of...fear or nightmare shivers that sometimes dogged him rode with him, chasing him down. He swallowed hard and nodded, for now outpacing his pursuer.
Placing his hand on the small of her back, he led her in. Introductions began with Mike and John; followed by quick hugs from the Careys and Georges, who’d already met Mandy; and Mrs. Davis and Ken Taft, who, as close friends of Mrs. G, also knew both of them.
Mrs. Davis smiled at both of them. “So happy to see you two beautiful young people here together. Love is in the air this last year, and it seems to be continuing.”
“The town lives up to its name,” Mandy said with calm and a hint of amusement.
“You’re quite a young lady,” Mr. Taft boomed and clapped Flint’s back. “She’ll keep you on your toes.”
“He’s upright enough as he is,” Mrs. Davis said, waving a hand at Mr. Taft with a sharp look. “Have you met my nephew Wade and his wife Irene, Mandy?”
Wade Davis and Irene Molloy-Davis walked up, both shaking hands with Flint and Mandy.
“Yes, they came into the café a couple of weeks ago.” Mandy nodded to Mrs. Davis.
“Well, you’ll want to introduce her to your brothers,” Mrs. Davis said, tilting her head toward the bar area. He glanced over and sure enough, there were his brothers and their significant others.
He caught Mandy’s gaze, raising his brows to wordlessly ask if that was okay. She nodded, so they moved to the grouping. This was kind of a big deal—Flint didn’t ever introduce women to his family. Maybe it was best that Mandy didn’t know that, since she wanted to slow things down.
His twin, Ethan, stepped over to let him and Mandy into the group. Adam gave him a quick raised brow while his new wife and old love, Minnie, hugged Mandy. Clearly, they’d met. Cousins Maya, Ana, and Nora, who owned Las Tres Hermanas bakery, waved, also obviously already familiar with Mandy. Knowing her now, he assumed she’d been as many places as she could in the short time she’d been in Loving, and probably Mrs. G had introduced her around as well. His brothers Dean, Brandon, and Cutler stood with the cousins, who were also their wives—well, Maya, not yet.
“Everyone, this is Mandy Thurmburg. Mandy, these are my brothers Adam, Brandon, Cutler, Dean, Ethan...where’s Grant?”
“Here.” Grant and his girlfriend, Jena, joined the group. Jena and Autumn, who stood with Ethan, smiled at them, though from Autumn, it was more of a smirk.
She’d have an earful for him later, since he’d made such a vocal front of being anti-relationship. Autumn’s favorite pastime seemed to be giving him a hard time.
“Grant’s the youngest.” He glanced at Mandy, who had finished greeting everyone with a smile.
“You really are seven brothers, alphabetical names and all.” Mandy’s cheeks reddened.
Adam laughed. “That’s us.” He shot Flint an approving look. Huh.
“They can be a lot, but they’re loveable.” Minnie tweaked Adam’s tie and leaned into her husband.
“No red hair, though,” Maya said, ruffling Dean’s dark hair.
Mandy laughed. “Oh, good, a fellow classic movie fan. I can’t believe I said that out loud, though.”
“It’s a lot, meeting these guys,” Ana said from her spot in front of Brandon, who embraced his friendly wife.
His brothers had all found happiness. He’d been left out. Maybe not, with Mandy here. Maybe being different wasn’t all he’d cracked it up to be. Maybe he was just one of seven Manning brothers, and proud of it.
“But they grow on you,” Nora quipped. Cutler grasped her hand and kissed it.
“Hey, can we send you an invite to our wedding?” Maya asked after she and Dean had whispered to each other.
“You don’t need to,” Flint said. He edged closer to Mandy, who stiffened her back. “She’ll be with me.”
“I’d love an invitation, if you can.” Mandy’s smile wasn’t as bright as it had been.
Yeah, he shouldn’t have said that, but it had just come out. He wanted them all to know how he felt, that she was important to him.
Mandy put up a hand. “Nice to meet you all. Jena, Grant, see you tomorrow.”
“Looking forward to it,” Jena replied. Grant tilted his head at Flint, which Flint read as a you-better-check-with-your-date look. Grant was a master at saying a lot with one gesture. As the youngest, words hadn’t always been effective with several outgoing and sometimes teasing older brothers, one of whom had been Flint.
His family all returned her polite words then Mandy moved toward the bar. He followed. So sometimes he still spoke out of turn. He hung his head. And his brothers had schooled him that you had to apologize and make amends.
Mandy ordered a rum punch, so he did the same. She scanned the room, waving to a few more people, like Nathan Shepherd and his wife, Maura; Lorna from the café; and Tim Raines and his wife, Denise. Seemed like half the town was here.
“Can we talk in private?” he asked.
They both had their drinks and he followed her again as she edged around the room.
“Please?” He touched her arm.
She glanced at him and his gut contracted at the slight downturn of her plump lips. “All right, but only for a few minutes. I’d like to find Mrs. G and congratulate the bride and groom before dinner.”
“Of course.” He put out his arm, directing her to one of the double doors that led to the porch. They eased outside. No one else was on this end of the area. He shut the door behind him and faced Mandy, who sipped her drink.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have spoken for you.”
“I appreciate your apology.” She took another sip from her glass.
That rider who’d been dogging him caught up to him and pulled him to the ground. He stood stunned for a moment, hit with the fear. That she’d leave, or he’d messed up and would retreat in defeat. She took a step toward the door.
He grabbed her arm. With a frown, she turned back to him. He released her arm.
“I, uh...” Maybe this had been the real reason he didn’t do relationships. Too much hurt, too much at stake, too much humiliation. Better to keep everyone at arm’s length. He breathed in and out, a technique he’d seen—and teased them for—Ethan and Grant practicing. He added in their calm words, their quiet confidence, in his mind.
Mandy’s expression evened, as did his breathing and the fear that had thrown him. Flint Manning could get thrown and get back up.
“I’d like to talk more,” he said, “but like you said, this isn’t the best time. Can we shelve this til later? May I still be your date in there?” He tried to force a charming grin, but he couldn’t. And Mandy didn’t need that kind of show gesture. She was a woman who wanted the real thing.
“I like your honesty, Flint. Yes, we can talk more later, and yes, I’d still like you to be my wedding date.” She slid her arm in his. “Let’s go find Mrs. G and the happy couple.”
“As you wish,” he whispered and led her around to the back garden. He hoped there was a happy coupledom in his future, but only if it featured Mandy.