It Had to Be Them (An It Had to Be Novel Book 4)

by Tamra Baumann

  Ben cleared his throat. “Are you heading to the diner for a piece of Gloria’s chocolate mousse pie?”

  He knew her well after living together for so many years. Then he’d ruined things by dropping the bomb that had exploded all over her life. “I am, actually. It’s the only thing I miss about this place.”

  “Yeah.” His jaw clenched. “You made that perfectly clear.” They were in front of the diner so he opened the door for her. “Enjoy your pie.”

  Perfectly clear? Did he mean because she hadn’t come home to visit for so many years? Or that she hadn’t missed him?

  Crap. She hadn’t thought before she’d said that. She’d had no intention of hurting his feelings.

  She opened her mouth to apologize, but he said, “Don’t. It’s over and done. And you’ll be gone as soon as you can. Let’s not go there. Deal?”

  The pain in his eyes made her feel like a total heel.

  “Okay.” She laid a hand on his that held his medical bag and squeezed. Hopefully he’d take that as the apology she’d meant it to be. “Thanks for checking on my mom.”

  He slid his hand from her grasp. “No problem.”

  Ben waited as she entered the diner and then he let the door slap shut behind her.

  She headed for a stool, sighing at the painful memories seeing Ben conjured up again.

  Their plan since high school had been for her to finish up her teaching degree, get a job to support them until he was done with med school, and then they’d travel the world to help others. She’d teach and he’d heal those who needed care the most. Then one day, out of the blue, he came home and told her he didn’t want those things anymore, that they were just the dreams of two naïve kids, and now that they were adults it didn’t make sense. He still loved her, but she should just go on without him.

  Trusting men had never been easy after that. They’d say they loved her, but she’d never said it back because she feared they’d do to her what Ben had done. Abandon her. Crush her heart.

  Easier to just stay loose and single.

  So where was all that pain and emotion coming from on his part?

  Kline pushed all the bad memories of her and Ben back into the little box where they perpetually lived and then glanced around the diner. She waved to all the familiar people who’d smiled and held a hand up in greeting. Rachel, the last person she’d want to talk to, called out, “Kline. Great to see you. Come join me.”

  It was inevitable she’d run into one of her high school nemeses. Rachel and Lisa Anderson were Ben’s cousins and had made Kline’s life hell.

  Being the daughter of the school lunch lady and the high school’s janitor had already been two strikes against Kline, an ugly duckling who didn’t find her inner swan until high school. Amazing what contacts, getting braces removed, and growing boobs had done for her social life.

  But she’d had to put up with the humiliation when kids like Rachel and Lisa would dump stuff on the floor just to watch Kline turn red when her dad appeared. He’d smile and wave to her, then clean up the mess.

  Refusing to be bullied anymore, she laid a hand on her stomach and drew a deep breath for patience as she approached the red booth in the fifties-themed diner. But she wouldn’t sit. Just in case she needed to make a hasty retreat. “Hi, Rachel. How are you?”

  Rachel laid her burger down and wiped her hands. “Brewing kid number three now. Hence this burger two hours before dinnertime. Cravings don’t help the battle with my waistline, a problem you obviously don’t have. You look incredible. How’ve you been?”

  That was pleasant enough. “I’m great. And that glowing-when-pregnant thing must be true. You look fantastic.” Seeing a classmate pregnant sent a little pinch to Kline’s heart. Not having a baby of her own had recently made her biological clock start clanging in alarm.

  Rachel waved a hand. “Thanks, but I feel like a cow. How long are you staying?”

  “Just home for a short visit with my mom.”

  Rachel nodded and then took a humongous bite and closed her eyes. “God, I need to stop, but I can’t.” She picked up a chocolate milkshake and took a long pull from the straw. “Heard your first meeting with Ben didn’t go so well.”

  Here it came—just when things were looking good, the usual taunting was about to begin. Joyce must have told everyone, as predicted. “Yeah. I’ve had better days.”

  Rachel chuckled. “I did the same thing to him a few weeks ago. This pregnancy has brought along with it my worst bouts of morning sickness yet. Ben’s used to it. Don’t worry about it.”

  Huh. She hadn’t expected kindness from Rachel. “I suppose he is.”

  Kline still needed to get her bribery pie before Ben’s office closed, so she said, “Nice to see you again, Rachel.”

  “You too.” Rachel grinned. “Be forewarned. My mom has started a new betting pool. How long it’ll be before you and Ben get back together. There’s already over a grand in there. Everyone saw how Ben changed after you guys broke up, so the whole town is rooting for you two.”

  “Well, I hope you didn’t waste your money because that’s not happening.” Kline chewed her bottom lip, debating if she should ask. “How did Ben change after we broke up? He seems the exact same to me.” Except for his new habit of straightening and organizing spices, and a different kind of confidence about him that was really sexy.

  Rachel shook her head as she finished off the last of her burger. “I don’t want to spread gossip about my cousin and his dating habits, so maybe you should ask him.”

  Rachel had changed. For the better.

  “Okay. I’m sure I’ll see you around. Take care.” What the heck could that have meant? Obviously, they’d both dated others. And Ben must be single now, or else they wouldn’t have a pool going. Geez. One more mystery she’d be compelled to solve during her visit.

  Kline walked up to the counter and was instantly embraced by two strong arms. It was hard to breathe with her face smashed into Gloria’s cleavage. Wearing her typical bowling shirt, blue eye shadow, beehive hairdo, and a perpetual smile, Rachel’s mom was always a breath of fresh air. “Hi, Gloria. So good to see you.”

  Gloria finally released Kline so she could breathe again, then said, “You too, sweetie. Heard you had a little incident with Ben. Are you pregnant, honey? Is that why you’ve finally come home?”

  “No! Food poisoning is all.” She held up her hand. “Scout’s honor.”

  For God’s sake. Someone must’ve posted the news to the town’s private e-mail loop, which had been set up years ago so everyone could keep up with who the latest visiting celebrity was, not to gossip about people in town. Anderson Butte was the world’s best-kept secret celebrity hideout. The mayor’s lucrative 401(k) and profit-sharing plan encouraged the town’s residents to keep their lips sealed about their famous visitors. But man, a girl couldn’t even barf on a guy’s shoes without the whole world knowing, and instantly assuming she was knocked up. One more reason she’d made the right choice to stay away.

  “I’m feeling much better today, thanks. I was hoping to get a chocolate mousse pie to go?” Joyce might want the whole pie, not just a slice, in exchange for a quick peek at her mom’s chart.

  Ben rapped a knuckle on the exam room door before he stuck his head in. Joyce had said Eric might need stitches. His youngest sister, Meg, the family mischief-maker and newly adoptive mother of Eric, sat in the chair beside the exam table. “Hey, guys. How are you?”

  Eric said, “Okay, except I cut myself pretty bad.”

  “We’ll get that all fixed up.” Ben glanced at Meg. “And my prying baby sister? How are you?”

  Meg rolled her eyes. “I haven’t said a word about Kline, Mr. Neat and Orderly.”

  “Yet.” Ben laid Eric’s chart down and washed his hands. “But no doubt you will. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting a little order in my life.”

  “Okay, Doctor Delusional, if you say so.” Meg beamed a mischievous grin. “But you have to admit, Klin
e coming back is the biggest news we’ve had around here in a long time.”

  “Kline is just home for a few weeks. So knock off whatever scheme you’re brewing up, Meg.” Ben shook his head. It was going to be a long three weeks while Kline was home. She’d touched him twice, and both times it had sent an unwanted blast of desire straight through him. The smart thing would be to keep his distance. But all he craved was an hour alone with her in his bed, to show her how much he’d missed her.

  He needed to snap out of it and keep his head in the game.

  Scooping up the supplies he’d need, Ben kicked his rolling stool across the small room. “So Eric, how’d you end up with that big gash?”

  Eric stuck out his hand covered with bloody gauze. “I found a broken beer bottle one of the lodge’s guests left out by the lake. I didn’t want my dogs to step on it and cut their paws, so I picked it up and tossed it into the lake. Guess that wasn’t so smart, huh?”

  It was a deep cut, so Ben held out a lollipop for Eric and then got the novocaine ready. “Nope. But your heart was in the right place. Bet you’ll never do that again?”

  “Nuh-uh,” Eric mumbled around his candy.

  Meg said, “Back to Kline . . .”

  “Dim that unholy gleam in your eyes, Meg. Nothing is going to happen between Kline and me. She just made it perfectly clear that the only thing she’s missed since she’s been gone is Gloria’s pie.”

  “Ouch.” Meg winced. “She said that? Straight up? Kline was never mean on purpose, Ben.”

  “Maybe she’s changed.” He shrugged a shoulder to make it appear he didn’t care. But Kline’s words had stung. More reason to shut down his feelings for her. After so much time had passed it should have been easier. But just being in the same room made him realize how much he’d missed her.

  He prepped the area on Eric’s hand, then handed over his cell as a diversion tactic. “Think you can beat my top score in Zombie Wars? I’ll give you a hundred-point handicap for only having one thumb.”

  Eric’s lips tilted into a grin as he killed zombies on the phone’s screen. Ben hurried and neatly closed up the wound.

  Meg asked, “So how’s the fight going with Dad about your new clinic?”

  Ben shook his head. “He doesn’t understand how badly we need a bigger facility with maybe one or two more docs to keep up with demand. As it is, sharing after-hours calls and days off with a doc sixty miles away isn’t cutting it. We both usually end up working on our off days anyway. And it makes more sense to turn this building into commercial space because it’s closer to Town Square, and then let me have the land currently earmarked for the new distillery. There’s plenty of room for the distillery just outside of town.”

  “Yeah, but then it’d be on Grant land, and you know Dad would never go for that.”

  “The land across from the hotel is the only large parcel left. The council is casting the final vote tomorrow night to change the zoning.”

  “So it’s not even final, and yet Dad has already announced the groundbreaking ceremony will be next week? That’s not looking good for you.”

  “I’m going to try to talk to him one more time before the vote. Try to rally some support.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  “Gonna need it!” He finished up the stiches then laid a bandage over his handiwork. “Time’s up. Let’s see how you did.” He took the phone from Eric. “You obliterated my score. You’re killing my zombie-hunting ego. Get out of my office before I have to hurt you.”

  “’Kay.” Eric laughed and hopped off the table.

  Meg said, “Thanks for stitching him up. And while you’re fighting for your clinic, maybe Casey and I will work on Kline so you can have everything your heart wants. You coming to Brewsters tonight?”

  “Yes. Now go away. I’m busy.” He tossed a tongue depressor at her.

  Meg caught it and laughed as she walked out the door. He should tell Casey and Meg not to bother, that it’d do no good. But his sisters were as stubborn as two rusted-out lug nuts. Their family gathering after work was going to quickly turn from a fun time to catch up into a “how to get Kline back” session. But trying to win her back would surely just end badly again.

  Kline, pie box in hand, opened the clinic’s front door. The theme from those Pink Panther movies ran through her head, tempting her to tiptoe in time to the da-dum, da-dums echoing in her brain as she snuck to the front desk. She must be spending too much time around her middle school–aged students.

  Laughing at herself, she looked both ways to be sure Ben wasn’t around, then she darted for Joyce’s station.

  It was near closing time and the waiting room was empty, but where was Joyce? Maybe it was a good time for a quick snoop. If she found the file on her own, maybe she’d just keep the pie for herself. Total win-win.

  One last glance over her shoulder showed the coast was still clear, so she laid the pie on the high reception counter and then circled behind. It was so quiet the only audible sound was the second hand moving rhythmically on the clock above her head, reminding her to hurry.

  The file cabinets were labeled alphabetically so she headed for the Gs. There was a whole vertical file drawer dedicated to just that letter. Probably because more than a quarter of the town’s residents were Grants.

  She slowly slid the drawer out, making as little noise as possible, and quickly fingered through the tabs. Aunt Abigail was first, then her uncle Andrew. Cousin Barbara was next but then it skipped to her aunt Connie. Betty was missing. Or misfiled, darn it. She glanced over her shoulder again and noticed a large stack of files on the countertop next to Joyce’s coffeemaker.

  Her mom had mentioned she’d been to see Ben just yesterday. Maybe her chart hadn’t been refiled yet.

  She quickly closed the drawer and then crossed to the messy stack of files. She tilted her head to read the mishmash of name tags sticking out and she finally saw it. Betty Grant.

  Bingo.

  She reached out to slip the file from the stack, her hand shaking a bit with nerves. Just as her fingers were about to tug, Ben’s voice sounded from behind her. “What are you doing?”

  Crap!

  Her eyes darted to the coffeepot beside the stack of files. Snatching up a cup, she poured out a mug and then spun around. “Just pouring you some coffee to go with the pie I brought you as a peace offering.” She pointed to the box on the countertop. “That is if you still like coffee with your pie these days?”

  “Peace offering?” He smirked and crossed his arms. He didn’t believe a word of her BS.

  Ben was going to make her say it. No doubt as punishment for her almost crime. “For the ‘only missing the pie’ comment. I didn’t think before I said that, and I clearly hurt your feelings. I’m sorry for that.” She was sorry for hurting his feelings.

  He opened the box and looked inside before quickly snapping it shut. “So was the pie really the only thing you missed after you left?” He stared deeply and longingly into her eyes as he waited for her answer.

  The same look he always had in his eyes right before he made love to her.

  After seeing him the day before, part of her wondered. Would her body still crave his touch like it did before, even though her heart had written him off?

  Without breaking their shared gaze, he rounded the counter and moved slowly toward her.

  Her heart galloped and left her with a distinct lack of air in her lungs.

  Ben wanted her to say it out loud. But she’d been so hurt she’d sworn to never admit how much she’d missed him to anyone. Rather, she’d learn from her mistake and never make it again.

  She stalled by offering him the mug, but he just shook his head and then tidied the crooked stack of files, so she laid the cup on the countertop.

  After the files were aligned, he still stood so close she could detect traces of his sexy aftershave. A scent as dangerously alluring as Ben.

  He said, “So your lack of an answer means the pie really was all you mis
sed?” His right eye twitched like it used to when he was really irritated.

  She swallowed the lump forming in her throat, blinked back the tears that threatened to fall, and whispered, “No. I missed one other thing in particular too. So much, and for such a very long time, I didn’t know if my heart would ever heal.”

  He nodded in understanding, slipped his arms around her, and pulled her against his hard chest. “I missed something that much, and for as long too, but now I understand how futile it was to ever think it would work. So I had to let it go.”

  A rogue tear slid down her cheek. “And I had to learn to forget. But looking back, it was never wrong . . . just not entirely right?”

  “Yeah.” He wiped her tear away with his thumb, then whispered, “But this part was always right between us, don’t you think?” His mouth slowly moved closer to hers, giving her the chance to push him away, but damn if she didn’t meet him halfway. He gently laid his soft lips on hers and kissed her.

  Warning sirens in her head screamed that it was a mistake to kiss him. But she couldn’t deny how much she’d missed it. The way his lips fit so perfectly with hers. How his touch was so soft and gentle on her mouth, but at the same time filled with so much passion he made her spine turn to a puddle of goo.

  So she had her answer. Their chemistry hadn’t dimmed in the least.

  Really, she should make it stop. It’d be the smarter thing to do rather than closing the little gap between their chests and wrapping her arms around his neck like she’d just done. And to angle her head just a bit to the right, at the same time he leaned his to the left so it’d deepen their kiss even more.

  His kiss left her in need of air but she didn’t want to stop long enough to take a breath. Her hormones screamed for more while her oxygen-deprived brain tried to talk some sense into her. But then, thinking—and breathing—were overrated. Every nerve in her body was on fire. And she wanted Ben to put the flames out.

  When he let out a low, sexy moan she was tempted to drag him into an exam room and put them both out of their misery. Then as if reading her mind, he wrapped his big hands around her waist and lifted her onto the countertop. With his lips never leaving hers, he used a muscular thigh to spread her legs apart and then moved between them.