Whiskey and Gumdrops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance by Jean Oram Read Free Book Online

hops, landed on the windowsill, where she began rubbing the glass with the top of her head. In her happy kitty ecstasy, she pushed herself forward, knocking herself off the ledge. Mandy laughed as Portia strutted away, head held high, nose pointed upward, and that gargantuan tail definitely giving Mandy the finger.
    Mandy closed her laptop and crossed the room when Portia returned to the windowsill to scan the street. This kind of behavior usually meant Frankie was out there. Portia, despite her typical haughtiness, had a thing for Frankie, even though the puss did her best not to let it show around him.
    Mandy leaned closer to the glass in order to peer at the sidewalk below. There, amongst the elms, was Frankie, pacing back and forth, gesturing as though he was trying to convince an invisible friend of something important. Intrigued, Mandy perched on the back of the sofa and watched. Back and forth he went, hands gesturing every so often.
    A tiny hope in the back of her mind wondered if it was about her. But at the same time, another hope wished it wasn't. While the thought of Frankie being worked up about them was terrifyingly exciting and made her feel important and needed—and quite frankly, that sort of feeling shot by about as often as Haley's Comet when it came to guys, these days—the thought also made her cringe. She needed Frankie long-term, not for some romantic fling.
    Mary Alice passed Frankie and glanced up at Mandy's window, shooting her a wink.
    Shit.
    Mandy dropped out of sight before Frankie had a chance to follow Mary Alice's gaze.
    She duck-walked across the open room, staying low and out of sight.
    Whatever should she do next week to stay on top of the local gossip list? This week, there'd been the plethora of sick days following Oz's wedding noticed, then the rumor of her opening her own place, and now she was spying on Frankie....
    She busied herself tidying up her small apartment while she waited for him to knock. A minute later, she was rewarded with his rat-a-tap-tap on the door at the door at the top of the steps. She opened the door and Portia strutted straight to Frankie, wrapping her tail around his leg before stalking off so he couldn't reach down to give her cuddles. Same as always.
    "Women," Frankie grumbled as he straightened up.
    "Hey," Mandy said, heading to the fridge. "Want something to drink?"
    Frankie shook his head, remaining in the doorway.
    "Well? Did you want to come in?" She gave a short laugh that sounded nervous to her ears. Her gaze flicked to his perfect lips and in her mind, she relived that amazing kiss they'd shared in his garage. She shook off the moment and headed through the open living area to the kitchenette, distracting herself with a glass of water.
    Frankie paused, glancing around her small living space as if he was expecting high-speed traffic to run him over if he stepped inside. Finally, he strode to the kitchen table and gripped the back of the chair as if it was a life raft and he was being tossed about in high seas. She stayed by the sink, waiting for him to speak.
    "I think you should go ahead and open a restaurant and I think you should use my building to do it."
    "Um." Mandy squinted at Frankie. "Okay?"
    Various expressions flitted across Frankie's face and he shifted his weight to one side. "You do want to open your own place?" he asked, his voice short.
    She shrugged. "It's an nice idea. But honestly?" She fidgeted with the smooth water glass, rubbing it against her palm. "I don't think I have what it takes."
    Frankie sat in the chair, hands clasped. "Of course you do."
    She shot him a skeptical look and frowned. "I don't have the money for that kind of a venture."
    "Partner with someone."
    She made a face and set down her glass.
    "What? You have to be Miss Independent and Miss In Control and can't accept anything from others? Things that might be good for you? And them, too?"
    She leaned back, raising her palms. "What the hell? All I'm saying is I don't