She had had plenty of time to think about what he’d said the other night. In some ways, he had valid points. A major airport nearby would be more convenient but Caine Tech had several jets at company disposal and it was only a ninety-minute drive to Boise and the major airport there. She didn’t see it as a deal breaker.
She happened to think the quality of life here made up for some of the area’s shortcomings.
She also couldn’t avoid thinking about the irony. After he closed the boatworks five years earlier and turned his holdings over to an idiot who mismanaged everything, Haven Point had struggled just to survive.
Of course they didn’t have all the cool stuff a more prosperous town like Shelter Springs might offer: the big-box stores, the trail systems, the gleaming new parks. They were lucky to have any stores left, because of Ben. With a major new employer, that would change very quickly.
She sighed and told herself to get over it. Ben had made up his mind. As far as he was concerned, the only logical decision had been reached before he ever came back to town. Now they all had to live with it, unless Aidan and the Caine Tech board of directors overruled him. She would just keep praying for a miracle.
“Isn’t it convenient that Ben is staying next door to you?” Lindy-Grace said with that teasing grin. “All you have to do is walk over and invite him.”
She knew her friends well enough to be certain none of them would rest until she made some sort of response. “If I happen to see him, I’ll mention it,” she said stiffly.
This earned her a surprised look from both Megan and Lindy-Grace, who had heard her say much more positive things about Ben in the past.
Ben might have come a long way to overcoming his reputation as the town villain over the past week in the minds of many people. Once word trickled out that he had once more betrayed his hometown, the tide of public opinion would turn faster than Eppie Brewer’s horrible potato salad.
* * *
SHE MANAGED TO put the conversation with the Helping Hands out of her head the rest of the afternoon. It helped that she was far too busy at the store to think much about him. She and Lindy-Grace had volunteered to do the table decorations for the dinner that night so they had twenty-five centerpieces to finish and deliver.
Whose crazy idea had it been to throw an impromptu quilt-tying party in the middle of it all? Devin’s, actually. Her sister had claimed it was urgent and the Helping Hands had hurried into gear.
Aware of the time crunch—it was already five-thirty and the spaghetti dinner and auction started at seven—she made a quick trip to the small grocery store on the edge of town for dog food, which she meant to buy a week ago. Poor Rika was down to the very last dregs in her container.
As she moved into the dog food aisle, she spotted a familiar figure perusing the dog treat options with a rather dazed expression on his gorgeous features.
Why couldn’t he look like a troll, darn it? If she had her way, people’s appearances ought to match their personalities.
Despite her frustration and hurt with him, she had to pity him a little as she watched him look dumbfounded at the many choices on the shelves.
From the top shelf, she pulled down the gourmet treats the grocery store owner stocked just for her dog and a few other spoiled canines around the lake.
“Rika likes these,” she offered. “Hondo probably would also.”
He looked down, clearly surprised to see her there. An odd mix of emotions crossed his features. At first she thought he looked happy to see her—which she told herself absolutely should not send this shaft of warmth through her—but his initial reaction was quickly replaced by wariness, as if he expected her to start yelling and throwing dog treats and canned dog food off the shelves.
He cleared his throat. “Thanks. Actually, I think that’s the one I’ve been looking for, now that I see the shape of the thingies. Marshall left a supply of food and treats for Hondo but they weren’t in the original packaging. It’s been a struggle to figure out which brands he likes.”
“You’re welcome.” She ought to just grab her dog food and go but as she hadn’t seen him since Monday night, curiosity took over for common sense. As usual.
“I’m surprised you’re still in town,” she commented. “Your work here is done, isn’t it?”
Okay, that sounded a little more bitter than she intended, but it was too late to take back her words.
His mouth tightened a little, obviously picking up on it. “I’m going to dinner with my mother and Doc Warrick tomorrow night. My plan is to take off Saturday morning so I can be back in California for work on Monday.”
The man was dealing with some serious life changes. She had been so angry with him, she had almost forgotten that element in all this.
She wanted to ask him how he was doing with everything but somehow she couldn’t seem to find the words. Why did everything have to be so awkward between them now? She hated it.
She was about to make some excuse and continue on her way when she happened to look at the end of the aisle and saw Barbara Serrano pushing a cart loaded with the Diet Coke she loved. Barbara’s mouth opened a little at the sight of her and Ben together, then she wagged her finger between the two of them and gave McKenzie a significant look.
Right. The service auction. She was supposed to ask him to go with her. McKenzie huffed out a breath. She didn’t want to, but Barbara was standing there waiting, blocking the whole darn aisle.
Okay, she would ask him, he would turn her down and she could get on with her night. At least she could tell all the Helping Hands she had tried. Let them be mad at Ben, too.
“Do you have plans tonight?” she mumbled.
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
He gave her a suspicious sort of look, obviously caught off guard by the question. “Hanging out with Hondo and watching the Portland Pioneers play the Rockies. Why do you ask?”
“Oh. Well. That sounds fun. I guess you’re booked.”
“Did you have something else in mind?” he asked slowly.
She sighed. Barbara was obviously eavesdropping. If McKenzie didn’t follow through, she would go back and report to all their mutual friends.
“I can’t see any point to it, for obvious reasons, but my friends thought you might be interested in coming to the annual spaghetti dinner and community service auction we’re having tonight. I’ve been ordered to invite you. I tried to tell them all it was a waste of time, given the circumstances.” She lowered her voice so Barbara couldn’t hear. “Without violating the confidentiality you demanded, I obviously couldn’t say much.”
“Service auction?” He looked both surprised and intrigued.
“I told you about it the other day. This is where everybody donates their skill or talent and we all bid on what we want someone else to do. It’s kind of a big deal around here and all proceeds go to the library foundation.”
“Right. Sure. I’ll go. Sounds fun.”
She stared, totally taken off guard. “Really? You actually want to go?”
“Why not? The truth is, I haven’t enjoyed the Pioneers as much since Smoke Gregory left.”
That distracted her a little from the shock, since she was a huge Smoke fan. “I mourned along with everybody else when he had all that trouble a few years ago. Did you know he’s married to Aidan Caine’s sister? Oh. Of course you would.”
He was Aidan’s best friend. He probably knew all the Caine family members quite well.
“He came into the store at Christmastime,” she told him. “I just about had a heart attack when I saw him walk in. I expect he’ll come back for Eliza and Aidan’s wedding next month.” She paused. “It’s supposed to be a huge bash. I’m doing the flowers and I’m scared to death I’ll mess it up.”
“You won’t.”
He said
that with such confidence, she was almost willing to feel a little charitable toward him, especially considering they were apparently going to be spending the evening together. Drat her luck.
“What time should we go?” Ben asked.
She hadn’t really thought ahead to the two of them arriving at the event together. As much time as they spent together over Lake Haven Days, she was afraid people would already think they had a thing going.
Not that they did.
She was about to suggest they travel separately to the community center so things would be less uncomfortable but that seemed rude after she had issued the invitation.
“Um. It starts at seven. How about twenty to?”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
Barbara grinned at the end of the aisle, gave her a thumbs-up and continued on her way with her Diet Coke.
“Can I help you get your dog food?”
“No,” she managed to answer. “I’m good.”
It was a bald-faced lie. The idea of an evening spent trying to be nice to Ben when she really wanted to strangle him was the exact opposite of good.
She didn’t want to admit that a small part of her was relieved she would have the chance to see him one more time before he left town.
* * *
HE HADN’T BEEN this anxious about spending time with a woman since he was sixteen years old, taking the busty and beautiful Alice May Parsons to the junior prom.
This wasn’t a date, he reminded himself. They were going together to a community event, where they would be surrounded by plenty of people who, like McKenzie, blamed him for the way the town had fallen on hard times.
Why had she invited him to attend? More important, why had he agreed? As one of the public faces of Caine Tech, he attended charity events all the time, black-tie and otherwise. In general, they weren’t among his favorite activities—too many stuffy people, making boring conversation about inconsequential things, all while trying to make themselves seem benevolent and altruistic.
At least he would have another chance to spend a little time with McKenzie and try repairing the rift between them—as much as she would allow, anyway.
She was furious with him. Some part of him acknowledged she had just cause. Perhaps he should have tried harder to sell the boatworks to another company that would have been able to pour the necessary time and energy into it.
He definitely should have paid more attention to the reports he received monthly from the property management company. Perhaps he would have been more diligent if the sight of those reports hadn’t filled him with memories he preferred to avoid.
He glanced at his watch and realized they would be late if he didn’t hurry. He didn’t need to give McKenzie another reason to be annoyed with him.
He grabbed his jacket and an umbrella. Hondo immediately raced over, hoping they were going for a walk.
“Sorry, buddy. Not now. You wouldn’t want to go out in that rain, anyway. Five minutes and you’d be whining to come back inside.”
This steady rain the past few days reminded him forcefully of Portland weather from the three months he spent working on a Caine Tech project there.
Hondo sighed a little but padded back to the living room, where he plopped down on the rug.
“I’ll be back in a few hours. Be good.”
The dog was already closing his eyes as Ben headed outside. Rain thudded against the umbrella as he walked across the space between their houses. He rang the doorbell, anticipation curling through him.
She didn’t answer right away, until he waited a moment then rang the bell again. When she came to the door, he felt his heart rate kick up several notches. Why did he always forget how lovely she was? With her silky hair down, loose and wavy, she looked fresh and lovely, bright as a summer afternoon.
It didn’t matter, suddenly, whether she was angry with him or whether he deserved it. He couldn’t resist leaning in and brushing his lips against hers. She smelled of laundry soap and some kind of watermelon shampoo and the almond-vanilla scent that always seemed to cling to her.
She would probably find him more than a little weird if he told her he wouldn’t mind spending the whole evening with his face buried in the crook of her neck.
Too bad for him, she stepped away, a little breathlessly.
“Sorry. I’m running late. I had a phone call from the public works director just as I was finishing my hair. Do you mind waiting a moment while I finish getting ready?”
“Not at all.”
Rika came over and sniffed at him, though she seemed quite disappointed that he didn’t have Hondo with him. As he waited for McKenzie, he looked around her house, struck by how warm and comfortable it was, filled with pretty folk art, pillows, flowers and books.
He had given a designer free rein at his house in San Jose. The result was modern to the point of stark. He had always been fine there, but now it struck him as cold. Maybe he needed to figure out a way to add a little softness to his environment. Or maybe he just needed someone in his life to help him do that...
He shied away from that thought just as McKenzie came back in. To his disappointment, she had tamed all those luxurious waves into a French-twist thingy that only made him want to pull away all the fastenings and run his hands through it.
“I just need to grab my purse and umbrella.”
“I’ve got one. We can share.”
He held it over her as they made their way to his SUV. As he backed out, the wipers beat against the window in a steady rhythm. Even on the highest speed, they weren’t clearing the water away fast enough.
“This rain,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s crazy this time of year in Haven Point.”
“I remember rainy springs and some stormy autumns. In my memories, at least, summer days were always sunny and beautiful.”
He had loved summers. The boatworks had always been busier than the rest of the year and he hadn’t had to interact much with his...Joe.
“We get rainstorms in the summer, just not this heavy and for so long. It’s causing all kinds of trouble for the public works department, dealing with road rot and trying to keep the gutters cleared of leaves and debris so we don’t have any flooding.”
“At least it’s this week and not last, in the middle of all your Lake Haven Days activities.”
“I’ve thought of that. Believe me. It would have been a nightmare. We were lucky to have perfect weather. I’m hoping this weekend will be the same so the city workers can have a bit of a break from dealing with weather stuff. Which day did you say you were having dinner with your mother and Dr. Warrick?”
His fingers curled around the steering wheel. “Tomorrow night.”
“Have you had a chance to talk to him since your mother told you?”
“No,” he admitted. “I have no idea what I’m going to say to him when I do. Hi, Dad doesn’t quite seem appropriate.”
“I’m sure you’ll both figure it out as you go along,” she said, her voice sympathetic. It was the most warmth he had received from her since she got angry with him for having dinner in Shelter Springs and he basked in it.
“I can’t help thinking how difficult things must have been for Dr. Warrick all these years, knowing you were his son but having to keep his distance from you. It’s bound to be a challenge on both sides.”
He had been so consumed with his own muddle of feelings, he hadn’t given much thought to Dr. Warrick’s. Would the man be here tonight? He also hadn’t thought about that. Now, as he pulled into the parking lot, he was grateful he would have McKenzie along, just in case he needed the moral support.
The place was packed. Apparently plenty of people were looking for something to do on a rainy July night.
“Looks like a good turnout,” he said as he barely managed to find a sp
ace at the edge of the lot.
“This is always one of our more popular civic events. People love feeling like they’ve found a good deal on work they already needed—and they love it even more when they know they’re helping the whole town with their donations.”
The moment she walked in, McKenzie was hit from all sides by people who needed something from her. The event organizers couldn’t find the microphones to plug into the sound system at the community center, the crew organizing the low-key spaghetti dinner was afraid of running out of paper products, a new photographer in town was offering to auction a boudoir photography session and wanted to display some very racy examples that were freaking out some of the church tabbies.
She dealt with each crisis with patience and concern. Within minutes, McKenzie quickly located the microphones in their usual place, which had been concealed from view behind a few other boxes, then sent someone to the grocery store for more plastic silverware. Finally, she quietly and diplomatically spoke with the photographer and helped her select one or two photographs more appropriate for a general audience.
If Ben had worried he would feel like an outsider, that lasted for only about thirty seconds, until a friend from high school he hadn’t seen since his return stopped to chat and slap him on the back, then McKenzie’s sister, Devin, joined the conversation, along with two older ladies he remembered McKenzie introducing him to during the barbecue.
His cynical heart wasn’t quite sure how to deal with all this warmth and welcome. After a few moments, he decided the wisest course would be to simply relax and enjoy it.
He and McKenzie ended up at a table with her sister, his high school friend and several people he didn’t know. The conversation flowed over him, warm and comfortable.
They were just finishing up dessert—gelato from Carmela’s, along with fresh berry and peach pies from the bakery in town—when he heard a commotion by the nearest door and a moment later heard his name.
“Ben! Ben! Hey, Ben!”
He turned and found Maddie Hayward, adorable curly-haired six-year-old daughter of Aidan’s fiancée, Eliza. She waved vigorously and raced over to him, followed more slowly by Aidan and Eliza.
Redemption Bay_Contemporary Romance Page 23