Page 52 of Catching Mr. Right

“I might.” I nod. “But I won’t know if I don’t try.”

“Okay. You’ve got yourself a restaurant.” He lifts his glass, tips it to mine. “As for your reputation, I’m well aware of my daughter’s downfalls, but I thought with you…” Shaking his head, he drains his glass. “You’ve been like a son to me. Always with your head on straight and a steady tread. I thought you could keep her out of trouble, but I don’t blame you for her behavior.” He pushes away from the bar. “Good luck. I’m going home to L.A.”

I stay at the bar, sip my scotch. Feels pretty good to stand in the middle of my own place. Their car pulls away from the pavement. A loaner SUV.

Mandy stands on the other side of the road, watching the traffic. In a minute, she’ll crash through my door, and I’ll tell her how I’m buying the place, how I’m sticking around.

Maybe she’ll tell me she broke up with Cas. I’m not sure he’s as much of a creep as I wanted to believe. Mandy Pearce is just so much bigger than the number of her years. She’s a tidal wave of energy and life, bearing down on me. She’s impossible to resist.

Putting my glass down, I stride across the room and out the door to meet her on the pavement.

“Oh.” She jumps as she almost runs into me, then she smiles while she grips my biceps to steady herself. “I was coming to find you. You seemed a little put out when you left Eat Me.”

“I was.” I take her elbow, hold her close as I open the door for her. She smells like lemonade and cupcakes and sunshine. I want to breathe in the scent of her still pink hair. “I’m better now.”

“Good.” She smiles, tucks some of that hair behind her ear as she takes note of the glasses on the bar. “Unless that’s your way of saying life is going to shit.”

“Actually.” I rub the back of my head as it hits me. “I made an offer on this place. It’s as good as mine.”

“You’re buying the restaurant?”

“Yes. Thanks to you.” I tug her closer. Without her I would probably be winging my way back to L.A. with Claudia, getting married, and spending the rest of my life wondering what if.

“What do you mean?”

“You go after what you want no matter the consequences. You keep trying until you realize your goals. You don’t play it safe.”

“I don’t know about that.” A shadow passes behind her eyes before she hides it. “But good for you. I’m so excited for you. This place is going to be beautiful.”

“It is.” I grab her up and spin around. I’m so damn ecstatic. She’s looking down at me, her hands braced on my shoulders, her lips parted. “It’s got nothing on you, though.”

I slide her down my body, clasp her face between both my hands and plant my mouth on hers. Her fingers flutter on my chest, then she’s pushing away from me.

“I can’t. I’m with Cas. Shit. I can’t do this anymore, Sam. I can’t.” She stumbles backwards.

“Do you love him?” I follow her, needing the answer more than air.

She bites her lip, hesitates. “I can’t love him. He can’t be the one to make me happy.”

“Then leave him.” I grab her arm. “You should do whatever will make you happy.”

“Like you, staying in Reverence?”

“Exactly. Because of you I’m following my heart. And maybe, we could see if there’s something here. With us.”

“You want me to be your girlfriend?”

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that, Mandy.” I deflate. I’ve only recently gotten out of a relationship that wasn’t right, and as much as I’m fascinated by Mandy and care about her I’m not certain about jumping into anything serious.

She casts her gaze downward, refuses to look at me. “I need to think about it. I need time. It’ll hurt him. I don’t want to hurt him.”

“Whatever you need.” I duck my head to steal another taste of her lips. “I’ll be here.”

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