He was too close. Too intense. She strained her lungs to slow her breathing so her breasts didn’t heave out and collide with his chest.
“I make my own opinions, Paige. In case you can’t tell, I like what I see when I look at you.”
His gaze lowered to her lips and she had to pull back. She couldn’t stand there teetering on the edge of that cliff. She couldn’t let herself close her eyes and fall, not with Bryce and Mrs. Noble over there, not with her job on the line. And not with Ben being a cowboy Casanova who dated catalog models. That would not end well for her, just like it didn’t at the gala. Just like it didn’t after Jory convinced her to give him a piece of her heart, then threw it in the trash like a cheap dollar-store ring.
She stumbled back a step. “It doesn’t matter if you like what you see,” she snapped. “I’m not interested.”
“Can I ask why?” he drawled.
“It would be unprofessional,” she breathed, inching more space between them.
His lips quirked as he studied her, the expression calling her bluff. He raised a hand up to the wall, trapping her against him. “If I’d have known I was gonna to meet you that night, I never would’ve even looked at another woman. You can’t fault me for not bein’ able to see into the future.”
Resist the drawl. She had to resist the drawl. Inching more space between them, she raised her gaze to meet his and tensed her face to send him a message. “That has nothing to do with it,” she insisted, then shrugged out from under him so her voice would quit trembling.
But his eyes wouldn’t let her go. They seemed so settled on her, so comfortable staring into hers. “Get to know me. Then you can decide what kind of guy I am.” He rested his hand on her upper arm in a gesture of sincerity, but she jerked away.
He shouldn’t touch her. Shouldn’t look at her that way. “I don’t want to get to know you.” Because what good would it do either of them?
His hand dropped to his side, but his eyes wouldn’t let hers go. “I’ll change your mind.”
“I doubt that.” Before he could make good on the threat, she sidestepped him and hurried into the sitting room. Suddenly, sitting next to his mother seemed a lot less dangerous than standing so close to him.
“Paige.” Bryce’s overly enthusiastic welcome revealed his distaste for the present company.
Wonderful. Should be a fun meeting.
Gracie sat taller and stared over Paige’s head without so much as an acknowledgment. “Benjamin. There you are.”
“Gracie.” His head dipped in a polite nod that indicated both distance and respect. Typical Texas boy, always regarding his momma.
“Kev. Glad to see you made it.” Ben sat next to the guy she didn’t know.
As much as Gracie Noble seemed determined to ignore her, Paige couldn’t afford to be ignored. She stepped closer to where Gracie sat and smiled. “Mrs. Noble. It’s wonderful to see you again.”
That seemed to stump the woman. Her hands fidgeted with the strap of her Coach purse. She cleared her throat. “Yes. Well. It is interesting, isn’t it? It’s hard to believe you’re a waitress and a guide.” Gracie gave her a cool look, to which she beamed her brightest smile.
“Sure is.” Paige sat on the opposite side of the coffee table. As far away as she could get from Ben and his mother.
Ben scooted forward in his chair and gestured to the man sitting next to him. “Paige, I’d like you to meet my campaign director, Kevin Mackey.”
“Very nice to meet you.” She snuck a glance at Bryce. See? She knew how to be polite and refined and all of those other things he didn’t think she could do.
“Nice to meet you as well.” Kevin lifted a glass of red wine off the coffee table and sipped. “Thank you for accommodating us on such short notice.”
Bryce waved him off. “Anything for Noble.”
Anything except a date. Paige gracefully crossed her legs all ladylike and folded her hands in her lap. “Mr. Mackey, why don’t you give us the rundown on plans for the publicity aspect of the trip and the ceremony?” she offered in a professional tone. “Then I can go over a couple of safety items and preparations we’ll need to make.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Bryce said with a hint of pride in his voice. He gave her a look of approval.
“We’ve got big plans.” Kevin set his wine on the coffee table. “During the trip, we’ll be live blogging and tweeting updates. A local station back home will run a series of videos we capture.” He drummed his fingers against his knee. “Oh, and we’ll need plenty of footage that shows Ben out in the woods, one with nature, et cetera, et cetera.”
One with nature? She glanced at Ben, who hadn’t stopped looking at her even for five seconds. Great. He was going to be a problem.
“The ceremony is planned for three o’clock Saturday afternoon. It’s a big deal. Food, bands, the local government,” Kevin continued in his monotone. “Everything’ll be set up near the property line, where there’s access from the road. We’ll need to arrive via boat by two o’clock to get ready.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Paige lied. Sounded like a headache and potential disaster. Things were too unpredictable out there. But…the customer is always right, so she moved the meeting along. Quickly, she walked them through the waiver they had to sign before the trip and reminded them what they needed to wear: swimsuits, and the ranch would provide wetsuits and booties. “Don’t forget to slather on the sunscreen,” she reminded them, glancing at Gracie’s perfect pale skin. “You’ll also need sunglasses that are secured with a band around your neck.” She sat back, relaxed by the shift into professional mode. She could do this. She could make it through the week. “I think that’s it for now. I’ll give you more information on safety procedures before we get on the river.” Her face hurt from smiling so much. “Does anyone have questions?”
For the first time in a half hour, Gracie looked at her. “I’d like to go along,” she said, lips curled in a smile.
“What?” Ben practically shouted. “You? You want to come on a whitewater rafting trip?”
“Yes.” Gracie directed a smug look at Paige. “It sounds awfully exciting.”
Exciting her ass. This woman was unbelievable. She wanted to go to keep an eye on her. But why? What had she done to deserve her scrutiny?
“You do realize there’s no shower, right? No mirrors? No gourmet meals?” Ben looked at his mother like she’d dyed her hair purple.
“Of course. I’m fine with no shower. Really, Benjamin. It will be wonderful quality time for us.”
Quality time. Right. Because they clearly enjoyed each other’s company. Paige shook her head but bit down hard on her lower lip. Don’t say anything.
Ben jumped to his feet. “You’re not going on this trip, Gracie.”
Bryce made a show of checking his watch. “Wow. Would you look at the time? I’m gonna go make sure Ma is good with the meal plans.” He stood and gave Paige a look that clearly translated, give them a minute.
“Yeah. Wow. I have to…” She mentally cataloged through a list of excuses. “…make a phone call real fast. I’ll step outside.”
Slipping past Ben, she shot him a good-luck look. He could argue until he ran out of breath, but something told her Gracie Hunter Noble always found a way to get what she wanted.
* * *
Paige escaped outside and closed the door behind her. The chill in the air offered a welcome change from the stuffiness that clouded the sitting room.
Outside the French doors, tiki torches flickered a glowing perimeter along the edges of the stone. Farther down, the fire pit sputtered and glinted a warm glow that never ceased to draw her in. She took the steps two at a time, craving the space, the solitude. How would she manage the trip if Ben’s mother came along? How would she survive his ogling glances and Gracie’s snide comments with her job intact? How could—?
She stopped.
The girl from the restaurant—Ben’s sister?—sat in her wheelchair a few feet aw
ay from the fire pit. “Hi there,” she said, setting down the paperback in her hand.
“Hi.” Paige walked slowly to the bench. Seemed like his sister had the same idea she did. “Sorry to barge in. I didn’t know anyone was out here.”
“Oh, please. Don’t worry about it,” she said, patting the bench beside her. “The more the merrier.” The girl grinned at her. She had an ease about her, a pretty but approachable face. “I hear you’re guiding the rafting trip.”
“Yep.” She settled on the bench next to her. “Just so you know, I’m better at that than I am at waitressing.”
She waved her off. “You were great.” When the girl smiled, dimples snuck into her full cheeks. “We haven’t been properly introduced. My name is Julia.” She held out a hand, which Paige shook with a smile. Too bad Julia wasn’t going on the trip with them. If her attitude at the restaurant was any indication, she seemed to know exactly how to defuse her mother.
“The meeting’s over already?” Julia asked, turning her chair slightly so they were facing.
“Not exactly.” Paige widened her eyes with a sharp intake of breath. Something told her the meeting between Ben and Gracie could last all night.
Ben’s sister seemed to get the picture. “Let me guess.” Her mouth pinched like she was deep in thought. “It ended in a fight between Mother and Ben.”
“Something like that,” she sighed. For being only nine o’clock, she was suddenly so damn tired.
“What happened?” Julia asked, leaning forward with a look of anticipation.
“Your mother wants to go on the trip with us.”
She burst out laughing, the high-pitched giggle contagious. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Julia dabbed at her eyes with the corner of her sleeve.
“I wish I was.” Oh, how she wished it was all a big joke.
“You know why, don’t you?” Julia asked. “It’s because Ben likes you.”
“So he said.” She groaned. So he’d been saying since he’d seen her again.
“You don’t like him?” Julia drew the question out into an investigative tune.
That was a loaded question. She liked certain things about him. The way his backside looked in his jeans, for instance. The charm of his drawl. She’d always had a thing for cowboys. “I don’t know him,” she admitted. “And I’m kind of focused on my job right now.” She didn’t have room for someone like him, someone larger-than-life, someone who lived in the spotlight. She’d had that before and her heart still hurt to think about how it had ended.
“Actually, my brother’s a pretty good guy.” Julia’s eyes sparkled in the fire’s light. “He takes me all over the world with him. Makes sure I get to see everything he gets to see, even if I can’t experience it.” A hint of sadness, or maybe loss, weighted her words.
“He does seem like a good guy,” she confessed, because she wasn’t a liar. He really did. Especially bringing his sister along everywhere. A lot of guys wouldn’t think twice about that. But…as nice as it was, it didn’t seem fair that Julia always had to sit on the sidelines. She shouldn’t sit on the sidelines just because she was in a wheelchair. She could do anything Ben could do…
Wait a minute. Her heart lifted into that joyous elation she felt whenever she thought about chasing her dream. “Have you ever ridden a horse?” Her eyes were probably too wide and her voice was probably too wound up, but she couldn’t help it.
“I used to. Before my accident, I loved to ride.” Julia’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
The fatigue that had blanketed her dissolved into a burst of energy. Her pulse thrummed and her hands clasped. “I can take you. I used to work at a therapeutic riding center. We’ve got a stable full of horses.” And she’d worked to train them for this exact thing. “There’s the most amazing view of the Bells from the ridge.” That would be a short, easy ride for a newbie. “Do you want to see it? Tomorrow?”
Julia only blinked back at her, hands gripping the armrests. “I…can’t.” Her gaze fell. “I mean, I would love to, Paige, but I haven’t been on a horse since—”
“I’ve taken paraplegics.” And though she hadn’t yet learned about Julia’s injury, she’d seen the woman shift in her chair and move her legs, which meant she hadn’t severed her spine.
Really?” Julia breathed like she was almost afraid to believe. Tears glistened in her eyes. “Are you serious?”
“Of course!” She scooted to the edge of the bench so their knees were almost touching. “We can go first thing after breakfast. Meet me at the stables. I’ll have everything ready.”
The tears made their way down Julia’s cheeks. “Oh, wow. Thank you, Paige. Thank you so much.”
In the radiance of Julia’s open-mouthed grin, the impending week turned brighter, hopeful. She might never please Gracie Hunter Noble, or her own family for that matter, but this…this she could do.
Chapter Ten
Quality time? Now Gracie wanted quality time with him? She’d hired a nanny raise him, but now, when he was thirty years old—a grown man who shouldn’t have to run everything by his mother—she wanted quality time.
Undeterred by the twenty solid minutes of arguing with her, Ben strode to the fireplace and back, jaw clenched so tight his temples ached. “Why don’t you try being honest for once?”
His mother’s eyes widened into a fabricated innocence. “Whatever do you mean?”
Oh, yeah. Right. Like she didn’t know. “You don’t trust me.”
“Benjamin.” She swept her hand down his arm and squeezed his hand in hers. “You’re wrong. Of course I trust you.” Gracie’s other arm gestured to the French doors where Paige had disappeared. “It’s her I don’t trust. Look at what you’ve been through. You have to be very selective when you’re in our position.”
In other words, you were only allowed to interact with people on the preapproved list. Every item had to be checked off. Wealthy? Check. Well-respected family? Check. Designer clothes, hairstyles, shoes, handbags, etc.? Check.
Well, he was done checking items off the list. He was done with her list. It was time to make his own.
He shut down her mollifying smile with a pointed glare. “It has nothing to do with careful and everything to do with judgmental,” he bit off. “You don’t like her because she doesn’t come from money. Very honorable.”
“Gracie has a point, Ben.” Kev spoke up from the sidelines. “Now wouldn’t be a good time to start a relationship with anyone.”
“Who said anything about a relationship?” He was well aware that his volume had exceeded a normal conversational level, but he didn’t care. All he wanted to do was get to know Paige. Spend time with her. Figure her out. It wasn’t like they were getting married or anything.
Kev and Gracie shared a look. “Even being seen with someone new could work against you right now.”
“I’m not worried.” If they wanted a pawn to cater to the attitudes and prejudices of everyone out there, they should’ve found someone else to run for senator and represent the family. When he was in Congress, people actually liked his honesty, his lack of superficiality. He pointed at his mother. “You can dislike Paige all you want. But I won’t treat her like dirt just because you don’t like her.”
His mother stomped closer, heels click-clacking on the wood floor. “How I feel about that girl has nothing to do with it. You have a reputation to repair.” Her mouth pinched into the same crease she wore when he used to come home drunk. “I’m going on the trip with you and that’s that.” Stifling any further argument, she stalked away from him. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to rest. This day has completely exhausted me.”
With a roll of his eyes, Kev followed her into the foyer. “I’ll see she gets to her cabin.”
The door slammed shut and Ben had the urge to run after her, to keep arguing until she changed her mind, but he knew better. Dad always called her a stubborn old goat, and the only way to get her to change her mind was to convince her he didn’t even notice Paig
e. Which would be quite the challenge.
Ah, hell. What a mess. He needed a beer. Leaving the unresolved business behind, he hoofed it to the kitchen.
Bryce was already raiding the huge stainless refrigerator. Which meant he’d be having a Coke, seeing as Bryce was a recovering alcoholic.
“You two can still put on quite the show.” His friend dug out two Cokes and handed one to Ben. “You really think she’ll go on the river?”
“No.” He gave his head a firm shake. She absolutely could not go. She’d complain about everything—the bugs¸ the dirt, the cold water, the fishy smell. He could take his mother in small doses, but all day on the river with her would be an overdose and someone wouldn’t make it out alive. “I have two days to talk her out of it.”
Bryce cracked open his soda. “Seems like she made up her mind.”
He took a long drink. Then he’d have to find a way to change her mind. “I’ll talk up the dangers. Risk of death, injury, bear attacks, her son going postal on her…”
Bryce laughed. “Whatever you think, man. From what I’ve seen, her and Paige on the river together would be a disaster.”
“You’re telling me.” Gracie seemed to know exactly how to push Paige’s buttons. That was the only reason she wanted to go. She wanted to make sure to keep a wedge firmly between them. “Don’t you have some kind of age limit on the waiver? Under fifty-five?”
“I wish,” Bryce said, raising his Coke in a toast. “I could always write in a clause about yuppie senator wives.”
He laughed again. “Nah. That’d only make her more determined.” As much as it got to him, he knew because he was cut from the same stubborn cloth. Tell him he couldn’t do something—or have someone—and he wanted it even more.
Bryce clapped him on the back. “You’ll figure it out.” He glanced at the door. “I should head home. Promised Avery a quiet dinner.”
A quiet dinner. He pictured it. Sitting across from a wife who loved him, a baby in her belly. Jealousy stabbed him. “You’ve got it good.”
Something Like Love Page 9
