by Mia Ross
“I don’t mind,” he assured her smoothly, because it was the truth. Now that Boston was an imminent thing, he wanted to spend every minute he could with her before he left.
At the top of the stairs, she paused for a moment, and he knew she was waiting for Shakespeare’s customary greeting. When her eyes drifted toward the now-empty bay window, she frowned. “I forgot Liam came to get him this morning. We were so crazed getting ready, I never got to say goodbye.”
Her chin trembled, then firmed quickly, as if she was trying very hard to contain her emotions. Then Ben understood, and he gently said, “You’re not just talking about the parrot, are you?”
“I’m so happy for Julia,” Lauren confessed in a watery voice. “She loves Nick, and more than anyone I know she deserves to be happy. In her new house, with her new husband, making memories and a family. That’s all she’s ever really wanted.”
The rambling trailed off into tears, and Ben instinctively took her in his arms. Even though she didn’t come out and say it, he recognized that those things were all Lauren wanted, too. Like him, her problem was she didn’t know how to get them.
He had no clue what to say, so he went with the truth. “I know what you mean. Things change when your friends get married, and I’m gonna miss ’em, too.”
“All my friends from high school and college are married,” she whimpered into his chest. “What on earth is wrong with me?”
Hearing the desperation in her tone just about broke Ben’s lethally soft heart. Stepping back, he gently took her face in his hands. “Lauren, listen to me.” Waiting for her to look up at him, he continued. “You’re an amazing woman, inside and out. Any guy who doesn’t see that isn’t worth having.”
“You really believe that?”
“I really do.”
Smiling, he gently whisked the last of her tears away with the pads of his thumbs. Lashes still damp with sadness, she gazed up at him with so much trust in her eyes, it caught him by surprise.
And it made him want to take her in his arms for a more-than-friends kind of kiss.
The urge was so strong it took everything he had not to give in to the temptation. Instead, he dropped his hands and smoothly pivoted away from her to look around. “Tell you what. Why don’t I stay and help you clean up? Then we can set up the furniture the way you want, so the place feels more like yours.”
“You don’t have to,” she hedged, waving away his offer. “I can manage.”
While he respected her independent spirit, he couldn’t leave her there alone when she’d been in tears only minutes ago. Once he was satisfied she was feeling better, he’d be more than happy to go. Well, mostly. “It’ll go faster with more hands.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Kicking off her shoes, she went into the kitchen to get a couple of garbage bags and a broom. Once the floors were clear of wedding bits, she faced the huge window with its spectacular view of the town below. “Maybe the love seat could go in there. It would make a nice place to sit and read.”
“Gotcha.”
Ben grabbed one end of it while she picked up the other, and they slid it into place, adding a side table for good measure. When they’d spun and repositioned the other pieces Julia had left behind, the space felt much cozier. There wasn’t much they could do about the tall built-in bookshelves, though, and Lauren frowned at them. “I don’t have anything to fill those, so I guess they’ll have to stay that way.”
“Maybe now that you’re staying here, you’ll find something to collect.”
Turning, she gave him a curious look. “Like what?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted with a chuckle. “Books, antique gewgaws, china cows. You could print out and frame some of those pictures you’ve been taking and put ’em in there.”
That got her attention, and her face lit up with enthusiasm. “That’s a great idea! But I don’t want just any frames—they need to be special.”
Ben had a pretty good idea where she was headed, but he decided it was more fun to play dumb. “Whattya mean?”
“I mean, I want them to be custom-made. By you.”
“I don’t know,” he stalled with a mock frown. “I don’t usually mess with small, fussy stuff like that.”
“I’ll pay you, if that’s what you’re after.”
Always the city girl, he mused with a grin. “I’m after something more important than money.”
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Like what?”
“An extra set of hands. My to-do list is as long as my arm, and if I’m taking on something else, I’m gonna need some help.”
Clearly stunned, she blinked at him. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll build you as many frames as you think you’ll need, then you can come over to my place and stain them however you want.”
Judging by the look on her face, that was the last thing she’d expected to hear. She was used to men who took what they wanted, regardless of her wishes, and it had made her distrustful of the male species in general. Before he left for Boston, Ben was determined to convince her that some guys were worth taking a chance on. If she couldn’t learn to believe that, she’d never have the life she wanted so desperately.
Finally, she seemed to make up her mind and smiled. “Fine. I’ll come over and make frames with you. When?”
“Next week sometime. Just let me know how many you need and when you’re coming so I can have everything ready.” He decided he’d pushed her far enough for one afternoon and leaned in to kiss her—on the cheek this time. “Have a good night, Lauren.”
“You, too. Ben?” When he turned back, she gave him a warm, grateful smile. “Thanks for coming up here with me so I wouldn’t be alone the first time. It was really sweet of you.”
He felt an offer to stay longer bubbling up from somewhere and gulped it down to keep from making a fool of himself. With a quick wave, he trotted down the stairs before he could blurt out something they’d both regret.
Chapter Nine
Saturday afternoon, Lauren closed up Toyland at five and headed over to Ben’s. When she got there, she found him in his garage workshop with the front door wide open to the cool breeze blowing in off the ocean. From inside drifted some classic rock song, and she heard him singing along as if the entire neighborhood couldn’t hear him.
He had a decent voice, she decided with a grin, but the air guitar sealed it for her. When the song was finished, she walked in applauding. “Very nice.”
“Thanks.” He flashed her one of those devastating grins and motioned to the stack of frames on his work bench. “There’s a dozen ready to go, sized just the way you wanted.”
She’d expected some basic frames, but he’d dressed them up with hand carving and other details that made each one distinctive from the others. Touched by the effort he’d put into them, she said, “These must have taken forever. With all the projects you’ve got going right now, where did you find the time?”
“Here and there.” When she tipped her head in disbelief, he laughed. “Okay, you got me. I figured I’ll never finish the house before I leave for Boston, so I quit trying. It freed me up to do a little woodworking.”
“I guess so,” she commented while she assessed the cans of stain on a nearby shelf. “Does that mean you’re going to sell the house as is?”
“Haven’t decided yet.”
That was news to her, and she stared at him in astonishment. “You’re thinking of keeping it? Why?”
He shrugged, and something in his eyes made her heart skip with excitement. Was he considering staying in Holiday Harbor? And if he was, did her putting roots down here have anything to do with his sudden change of heart?
Of course, she’d never ask him that directly. It would sound conceited, and certainly not friend-ish. So she set about satisfying her curiosity in a more roundabout way. Prying open a can of cherry stain to stir it, she casually said, “After all the effort you’ve put in here, I guess it’s hard to think abou
t giving it up.”
“Yeah, it is.”
The gentle tone surprised her, and she glanced over to find him staring at her with a pensive expression. Something told her he wasn’t referring to the house, and she felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. The problem was, she wasn’t really embarrassed. She was pleased. Not terrified, not resistant, but touched. The mere possibility that this solid, stand-up guy could be interested in her made her feel incredible.
Ben had done so much for her, from helping with cookie trays the first day she met him to encouraging her business plans to making frames for her photos. She wished there was some way she could repay some of that kindness. If he decided to stay, she’d have plenty of opportunities, with the added benefit that she’d get to spend more time with the sweetest guy on the planet. Even while her imagination spun through the endless possibilities, she knew they’d never come to be.
She had to let him go. He’d worked hard for years to get this position in Boston, and no matter how much she wanted him to stay with her, she couldn’t bring herself to stand in the way of his dreams. They might be happy enough, but for Ben, something would always be missing. He deserved better than that.
While she slathered on stain and rubbed it off the way he’d shown her, Lauren’s eyes blurred with tears. When she fled New York for the wilds of northern Maine, she’d never expected to meet someone like Ben. Someone who made her feel safe and cared-for, and no matter how trying her day had been, always found a way to make her smile. She realized she hadn’t been saying much, and began searching for a topic that would kick-start a conversation.
While she was struggling with that, a beat-up pickup pulled into the driveway, and Ben angled a look out the door. He was pretty tall, but the man who stepped out of the cab beat him by a good four inches. When Ben’s face broke into a huge grin, Lauren instantly knew who his visitor was.
“Eric?”
Dropping the do-hickey he’d been tinkering with, he flew out of the garage and into a bear hug that would have snapped Lauren’s spine. When they separated, Ben laughed. “When you left, you said you’d never set foot in this podunk town again. What’re you doing here?”
“Dad called. Said you were taking that job in Boston with Davy, so I figured he’d need someone on the crew who’s actually swung a hammer a few times.” Eric’s grayish-blue eyes swung to Lauren with curiosity. “Is this the one everyone’s buzzing about?”
“You’ve still got the manners of a grizzly bear,” Ben chided him. “This is Lauren Foster. Lauren, my big brother, Eric.”
“Sorry about that. It’s been a long day.” Offering an apologetic grin, he held out a hand the size of a catcher’s mitt. “Pleased to meet you.”
“You, too.” She’d heard only the barest mention of this guy the whole time she’d been in town, and now she understood why. Rough around the edges didn’t begin to describe him, but the gentle way he shook her hand reminded her of Ben.
“I can see you two’re busy,” he said, “so I’ll get going.”
“You can crash here if you want,” Ben suggested without hesitation. “I’ve got plenty of room, just not many walls.”
“That’d be great. Where do you want me?”
“There’s a mostly finished room upstairs next to the bathroom. There’s no bed frame, but the mattresses are brand-new. And extra-long,” he added with a grin.
“For me?” When Ben nodded, Eric returned the smile. “Cool. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Eric left the garage and grabbed a single camouflage duffel bag from the front seat of his truck before trudging inside. After the screen door slammed shut behind him, Lauren turned to Ben, whose smile hadn’t faded yet. Despite the ribbing, he was obviously thrilled to see his older brother back in town, but she couldn’t miss the hint of worry in the weathered lines around his eyes. “Let me guess. Military.”
“Army Ranger,” he confirmed proudly. “Ten years of combat duty in places I can’t even pronounce. He’s been out almost a year now, but he’s still adjusting.”
She couldn’t begin to imagine what kind of mental and physical strength Eric must have just to return home in one piece. Many of the men who worked on the force with her father were former soldiers, and she had tremendous respect for them. “He came back here to work with your dad so you could go to Boston without feeling guilty. What a sweet, generous thing to do.”
Ben chuckled. “He’d be good with the generous part, but I think it’s best not to tell him you think he’s sweet. It might go to his head.”
Raising a brow, she gave him a little smile. “It hasn’t gone to yours. What’s your secret?”
“Simple,” he retorted with a shameless grin of his own. “I know it’s true.”
Arrogant, she complained silently as she got back to work, not to mention cocky. And despite those less-than-stellar qualities, Ben Thomas still managed to be completely and utterly irresistible. If only they’d met sooner, or if she hadn’t been so closed-off for the first month, they might have had something spectacular together.
But he was leaving, and she was staying. No matter what might have been, those were the facts, and she’d have to learn to live with them. And without him.
After a couple of hours, all the frames were stained and varnished and in various stages of drying. Now that Eric was here, Lauren suspected he’d like to spend some time with his brother, so she stretched as if all this brushing and small-talk had worn her out. “That’s all I can do for tonight. I think I’ll head back to Julia’s place.”
“It’s your place now,” he reminded her quickly. “I’d imagine you’ll be calling it home before too much longer.”
“Probably.” It wouldn’t feel the same without him around all the time, but she kept that detail to herself. “I really appreciate all your help with this. I’m picking up my photos from the print shop on Monday, and I can’t wait to see how they look inside their frames.”
“I’ll put in the glass and drop ’em by Toyland on Monday.”
Such a great guy, she thought for the millionth time. If only she’d figured that out sooner. “Thanks. I guess I’ll see you in church tomorrow.”
Cocking his head in apparent confusion, he said, “I was planning to walk you back.”
“Oh, don’t bother. You’ve got company, and I know the way. Have a good night.”
He looked to be on the verge of protesting, so she did the finger-waggling thing and headed out before he had a chance to stop her. She wasn’t in a hurry, and she ambled along the sidewalk, stopping to chat with people who called out to her from their porches and front yards. It hadn’t taken her long to get used to the Mayberry vibe in this town, she thought with a smile.
When she finally ended up back at Julia’s—no, her place—Lauren glanced up at the dark bay window with a frown. Over the past couple of days, she’d become more or less accustomed to having the apartment to herself, but it still echoed with emptiness, as if the building itself was waiting for its owner to return. Lauren cast a long look out toward the harbor, where the last bits of a magnificent sunset were still hanging on.
What a fabulous picture that would make, she thought excitedly. Before the impulse faded, she dashed upstairs for her camera and hurried down to the rocky beach where Ben had begun coaxing her from her self-imposed shell on Easter morning. On her way out to the shore, she caught several shots of the lighthouse framed against an evening sky filled with orange and pink that faded out to deep purple at the edges.
She plunked herself down on that same boulder, snapping frame after frame as the sun gradually slipped over the horizon and out of sight. Leaning back, she looked out on the view she’d grown to value so much. She admired how the ocean was always shifting, never the same one moment to the next. The waves curled relentlessly toward the shore, then back out, engulfing the jagged coastline one minute and then revealing it before rushing in again. Wild and unpredictable, the sea possessed a special kind of beauty even she
couldn’t describe, however hard she tried. There weren’t words for it, or if there were, she hadn’t learned them.
After sitting for a while, she found herself wondering what she’d find a little farther up the coast. As she followed the jagged line of rocks, she found a footpath that led alongside the cliffs that vaulted upward from the water’s edge. Securing the strap of her camera around her neck, she balanced one hand on the rocky wall and picked her way along, pausing now and then to take another picture.
She glanced back and saw absolutely nothing but raw, rugged coastline. It was as if the town had vanished from the face of the earth, and even the lighthouse resembled a model in the distance. Not long ago, she’d have been terrified to be in this situation, but now she found it exhilarating.
Even though she knew her camera wouldn’t capture this untamed scene completely, she kept on snapping pictures, captivated by a world she never knew existed.
* * *
The power went out around ten-thirty that night.
A quick look outside showed Ben the entire town was dark, so the wind must have taken down one of the main lines along the highway. Prepared by a lifetime of living through storms, earlier he’d battened down everything outside and had gotten a fire going. With Eric snoring away upstairs, Ben lit the camping lantern sitting on the table and returned to the latest bestselling thriller he’d been trying to find time to read. Written by his favorite author, it had all the twists and turns a mystery fan could ask for.
As an added bonus, it was keeping his mind off Lauren. Well, mostly. He still couldn’t shake the impression that she’d wanted to tell him something while they were working on her frames. For some reason, she’d uncharacteristically held back and kept it to herself. She’d tell him when and if she was ready, he reasoned as he settled in and got back to the story. He was in the middle of a spectacular chase scene through the Amazon jungle when it hit him.
Lauren was alone at Toyland.
With no power, she was in the dark in a place she still didn’t know all that well. Being a small-town guy, he dealt with this kind of inconvenience all the time, but a lifelong city girl? Probably not.
