Debbie Macomber - The Manning Grooms Book 1

To Virginia and Dean,
whose fifty years of love have inspired me.
Happy Golden Wedding Anniversary!

I t was one of those days. Jason Manning scrubbed his hands in the stainless-steel sink, then applied ointment to several scratches. Hed just finished examining and prescribing antibiotics for a feisty Persian cat with a bladder infection. The usually ill-mannered feline had never been his most cooperative patient, but today shed taken a particular dislike to Jason.

He left the examining room and was greeted by Stella, his receptionist, who steered him toward his office. She wore a suspiciously silly grin, as if to say this should be interesting.

Theres a young lady whod like a few minutes with you, was all the information shed give him. Her cryptic message didnt please him any more than the Persians blatant distaste for him had.

Curious, Jason moved into his book-lined office. Hello, he said in the friendliest voice he could muster.

Hi. A teenage girl who seemed vaguely familiar stood as he entered the room. She glanced nervously in his direction as if he should recognize her. When it was obvious he didnt, she introduced herself. Im Carrie Weston. She paused, waiting expectantly.

Hello, Carrie, Jason said. Hed seen her around, but for the life of him, couldnt recall where. How can I help you?

You dont remember me, do you?

Ahno. He couldnt see any point in pretending. If a cat could outsmart him, he was fair game for a teenager.

Were neighbors. My mom and I live in the same apartment complex as you.

He did his best to smile and nod as though hed immediately placed her, but he hadnt. He racked his brain trying to recall which apartment was hers. Although he owned and managed the building, Jason didnt interact much with his tenants. He was careful to choose renters who cared about their privacy as much as he cared about his. He rarely saw any of them other than to collect the rent, and even then most just slipped their checks under his door around the first of the month.

Carrie sat back down, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. IIm sorry to bother you, but Ive been trying to talk to you for some time, andand this seemed to be the only way I could do it without my mother finding out.

Your mother?

Charlotte Weston. We live in 1-A.

Jason nodded. The Westons had been in the apartment for more than a year. Other than when theyd signed the rental agreement, Jason couldnt recall speaking to either the mother or her daughter.

Is there a problem?

Not a problemexactly. Carrie stood once again and opened her purse, taking out a thin wad of bills, which she leafed through and counted slowly. When shed finished, she looked up at him. Its my mother, she announced.

Yes? Jason prompted. He didnt have a clue where this conversation was leading or how long it would take the girl to get there. Stella knew he had a terrier waiting, yet shed purposely routed him into his office.

She needs a man, Carrie said, squaring her shoulders.

I beg your pardon? The girl had his attention now.

My mother needs a man. Im here to offer you one hundred dollars if youll take her out on a date. You are single, arent you?

Yesbut Jason was so surprised, he answered without thinking. Frankly, he didnt know whether to ask which of his brothers had put her up to this, or simply to laugh outright. He couldnt very well claim hed never been propositioned before, but this was by far the most original instance hed encountered in thirty-odd years.

Shes not ugly or anything.

AhIm not sure what to tell you. The girl was staring at him so candidly, so forthrightly, Jason realized within seconds it was no joke.