Bennett’s eyebrows went up. “Oh? And what would your response be?” He couldn’t decide if he was angry with her or so dang happy to see her he didn’t care she’d left him for a second time.
Because she had come back.
She started tapping on her phone, and a few seconds later, she gave one final push and looked up. Three seconds passed before Bennett’s phone beeped.
Thank you, Bennett. I miss you. I made a mistake. I’m sorry. I love you.
Bennett’s breath stuck in his throat, and his stomach swooped around like it was on a roller coaster without the rest of his body.
I love you.
He loved her too.
Slowly, he lifted his eyes to hers.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jennie felt like she’d swallowed something dry and sharp. She hadn’t wanted to tell Bennett how she felt in a text, but he’d messaged her before she could show up.
Ten minutes. She’d only needed ten more minutes.
“Is this true?” He held up his phone, hope shining in his dark eyes.
“Yes.” That was all she could get her voice to say.
“Well, I don’t know what to say.” Bennett wore a bit of confusion in his expression now.
“You don’t have to say anything.” Jennie took a deep breath. “I’m the one who needs to do all the talking.” She glanced past him, smelling something delicious hanging in the air. “Maybe I’ll have some coffee first?”
“Coffee?” Bennett dropped his hand to his side, still gripping his phone. “You don’t like coffee.”
“Turns out I do.” Jennie gave him a smile, realizing that she had so very much to tell him.
“I don’t understand.” Bennett was so handsome, so strong, and yet so utterly soft too.
Jennie approached him, wanting to touch him to ground herself. She reached up and swept her hand down the side of his face, half-expecting him to slap her hand away.
He flinched, but that was all. His eyes burned into hers, and normally she would’ve looked away.
“I’ve been lost for so long,” she said. “After I realized that I wanted you in my life, I had to do a bit of soul-searching. It took a little longer than I wanted, but still less than Jason.”
Bennett’s eyebrows drew down, and Jennie giggled. “Don’t worry about that.” She stepped past him and moved into the kitchen to pour herself a cup of coffee.
“Seattle has some great coffee shops. I found myself reading a lot in them, or surfing on social media. The apartment my parents have is so small.”
She sat at his counter, both dogs settling at her feet. “And one day I decided I needed to figure out if I liked coffee or not, or if I was just being pretentious with the tea.” She took a sip of her coffee and stirred in another spoonful of sugar. “I suppose you can figure out the rest.”
Bennett crossed the room from where he still stood near the front door. “What else?”
“There’s a great gallery—smaller, but still great—that’s willing to look at my stuff once the new year comes.” She shrugged. “I don’t know if I’ll send them anything or not.”
She thought of the space she’d rented. She’d managed to do two pieces while there, but she hadn’t particularly liked them and had left them with her parents.
“I tried fish I’d never eaten,” she said. “I walked in places that scared me. I read books I’d never heard of.” She chanced a glance at him and found him listening raptly.
“I learned that I mostly know myself. But I do like coffee…and I couldn’t stay in Seattle without you.”
Bennett gazed at her, a small smile touching his lips. “I’ve thought about moving up there,” he said.
“Oh, you’d be so unhappy up there.” Jennie shook her head. “I thought about asking you for about half a second. But that wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“Why? I can make furniture anywhere. And the firemen in Seattle might actually go out on the truck every once in a while.”
She couldn’t tell if he was kidding or not. She shook her head again, appreciating that he’d thought of moving to be with her. He hadn’t said he loved her back, and that stung the slightest bit.
“No, I saw you at that restaurant. It was pure torture for you.”
“It was really loud in there.”
“Exactly.” Jennie gave him a grin so he wouldn’t take that word personally. “I barely like the city, and I’ve lived in one before.” She glanced around his perfect house. “Plus, you have this place, and you could never give it up.”
“I might.” He shrugged one shoulder and reached for his coffee cup. He promptly put it down again when he realized it wasn’t what he wanted.
“This is your grandmother’s home,” Jennie said. “I could never ask you to sell it. Or leave it. I knew that. And I knew I wanted to be with you, so the only choice was to come back.”
“Sounds like a hard decision.” His voice turned hard too.
“It wasn’t, not really.” Jennie didn’t know how to explain. “It wasn’t until Thanksgiving that I realized I was in love with you and needed to do something about it.”
She watched him, desperately wanting him to proclaim his love for her too.
“I’ve been miserable,” he said. “No one at the fire house would sit by me at meals anymore. The dogs have never been in better shape, because I run them every morning.”
“I haven’t been happy either.” Jennie reached out and cradled his face again. “I’m sorry. I thought I needed something I didn’t really need.”
“And what was that?”
“A job.” Fear laced its icy fingers around her heart and squeezed. But she pushed it away, back down, where she couldn’t listen to it. “But I’ll figure something out.”
She hoped. She’d paint oils and setup a stand on the pier if she had to. But she had to be in Hawthorne Harbor, she knew that much.
She wrapped both hands around her mug and absorbed the warmth. “So anyway. It’s quite a long story, and I’ll tell you all about it. Honest, I will. Right now, though, I’m just dying to know how you feel about me.”
She abandoned the coffee cup and turned fully toward him.
His expression blazed, and he asked, “Jennie, do you really not know?”
She felt very near tears, and her fingers shook as she shrugged just the slightest bit.
“I’m in love with you,” he said. “I have been since I was seventeen years old.”
A tear splashed Jennie’s cheek, and her whole face felt like it was squished up in the most unattractive way.
“And you don’t need a job. I’ll take care of you, so you can just throw pots to your heart’s desire. And you’ll move in with me after we’re married, and I’ll build you an art studio right beside my wood shop.” He gently touched her arm, his skin warm and electric at the same time. “Okay?”
“Is that a proposal?” Jennie sounded like she’d sucked in a lungful of helium, but she didn’t care.
“Oh, no,” he said, deadly serious. “When I propose, I’ll be down on both knees, begging you to be my wife.”
Jennie leaned toward him, taking his face in both of her hands. “I’m sorry, Bennett.”
“No more apologies,” he whispered, his eyes already closed. They suddenly sprang open again. “I mean, I want to hear all of your stories about why you came back. I do. But I really just want to kiss you now.”
Jennie wanted to kiss him too, something she much preferred over talking anyway. So she did, thrilled that it felt like the first time for the third time in her life.
This time, though, it was much, much better, because she was kissing the man she loved.
* * *
“Okay, so are your eyes closed?” Bennett stopped walking, and Jennie squeezed her eyes closed a little tighter.
“All the way.”
“Okay, no peeking.”
After they’d kissed and made up, he’d leapt to his feet, claiming to have a surprise for her.
S
he knew he’d taken her out onto the back deck, down the steps, and out toward the wood shed. The anticipation of seeing what he’d built for her when he had no idea if she’d even come back to town had her heart flopping around in her chest.
“Okay, just a sec.” He let go of her hand, and she could hear him fumbling with the latch on the wood shop door.
The scent of Bennett—wood and sweat and machinery—hit her, and she startled when his hand slid down her arm to hers. “All right, come with me.”
He led her, taking stilted steps, into the shed and turned her slightly. “This way. Go this way.” He kept nudging her until he was satisfied with her position.
“Okay, you can open your eyes.”
He stood next to a huge piece of carpentry that had been intricately carved. She knew immediately that it was a headboard for a queen bed, and she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Bennett.” His name was made mostly of air, and Jennie couldn’t take all the details fast enough. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’ve obviously never been in your bedroom,” he said. “But I thought….” A blush crept into his face, clearly seen even through the dimness in the shed. “I thought I’d like to know that you were being watched over by the things you love most.”
He stepped closer to the headboard and pointed. “See the hawthorn trees? You love those. And I know they’re not as good as the one you did, but I think they’re recognizable.”
He looked at her for confirmation, and she pressed her palm over her heartbeat as she nodded. “They’re great.”
“I know you love watching the birds flying over the ocean. And the beach is one of your favorite places. And these are lilies. And—”
“Okay, Bennett.” His nerves were cute, really. “I love it. It’s fantastic.” She stepped over to him and ran her fingertips along the top, where most of the birds were. “Thank you.”
“Happy birthday.” He took her into his arms and swayed with her. “I almost didn’t make it. I was so mad at you.”
“I know.” She pressed her forehead to his and closed her eyes. She didn’t know how to apologize enough.
He kissed her then, stealing the I’m sorry she was about to utter for the third time that morning.
Jennie never wanted to be without this man, and while she may have second-guessed herself on the two-hour drive from Seattle, she knew now that she’d chosen correctly.
No piece of art was as valuable as Bennett Patterson’s kiss. His love. And Jennie counted herself lucky to have experienced both.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Bennett couldn’t believe his beautiful, stubborn Jennie had come back to him. He hadn’t believed her twin brother when he’d stopped by last week, and he could barely believe it now, though they sat across from each other in a quiet restaurant in Bell Hill.
He couldn’t help himself as he continued staring at her. Every once in a while, he realized he wore a goofy grin, and he worked to straighten his lips.
She’d been talking for quite a long time, and he enjoyed listening to the sound of her voice as she detailed how she’d gone from gallery to gallery until she’d found the smaller one.
As she told about the studio space she’d rented, but how sterile it was and how she felt stifled there.
As she told him about the tiny apartment, and how her mom wanted a small dog to comfort her after her treatments.
“So do we get to keep Patches and Gemma?” he asked, hopeful.
“I’m sure my parents will come back to town eventually,” she said. “Probably before summer, for sure.”
“Yeah, I know.” Bennett tried not to sound forlorn, but he sure would miss Patches. “Maybe I’ll get Gemma a friend when I have to give up Patches.”
Jennie laughed and took a sip of her peach lemonade. “You’ll be happy to know I learned I actually like dogs on my little personal exodus.”
“That’s great news.” Bennett sat back as their food came, and he gazed at his pulled pork macaroni and cheese with great appreciation.
He’d like to get a diamond on Jennie’s finger as fast as possible, but he was still unsure about her thoughts on marriage. When he’d mentioned it earlier, she hadn’t commented.
He didn’t want to push her on her first day back in town, but he also wanted to make a plan. Get a date set. Know how much longer he had to wait until he could come home and find her there.
“So talk to me about marriage,” he said slowly, spearing a forkful of pork along with a few noodles.
Sure enough, her eyes held anxiety as she lifted them to his. “I want to marry you. I do.”
“The I do’s come later, sweetheart.” Bennett could only make this as light as possible, hoping to eliminate that panic from her face.
“I’ve always wanted to get married in the summer,” she said, swallowing.
So another seven months. He could wait that long. Maybe.
“And?” he prompted, because she had more to say. “Are you worried I won’t show up? Because, Jennie, we can go to City Hall today, if you wanted.”
Her face lit up. “Really?”
“I’ve been married before,” he said. “It’s a lot of ceremony for a five-minute thing.” He shrugged like it was no big deal, but he knew it was. Besides, marrying Jennie was something he wanted to savor, enjoy every last moment, and if she wanted to go to City Hall, he’d do it. But the idea of a big wedding at Magleby Mansion also appealed to him.
“What do you want to do?” she asked.
“I want to marry you in Magleby Mansion,” he said, leaning forward. “I promise I’ll show up. I’m not your ex.”
“I know that,” she said as she picked up her fork and started stirring her salad. “I do, Bennett. I know that.”
He wasn’t sure if she was trying to reassure him or herself.
“So what do you want?”
She took a bite of her salad and chewed, obviously thinking about it. “If we get married in the summer, could it be an outdoor ceremony?”
“Sure.”
“At the Mansion. In the gardens.”
“Or the beach,” he said. “Reception at the mansion.”
“Oh, I like the way you think.”
“So there are options.” He was just glad she was discussing the M-word with him. Now he just needed a really great way to ask her to be his wife.
So the following day, he fibbed a little and told her he had to work first thing in the morning. The truth was, he didn’t have to go into the fire house that day at all.
Instead, he parked near Wedding Row and started down the street, where two jewelry stores sat across the road from one another.
He didn’t think for a single moment that he could pick out a ring for Jennie. She’d want to choose her own, but he could get a very simple wedding band to propose with. Then, once she said yes, he’d take her to pick out the diamond she liked best.
He entered the shop to the sound of a bell, almost cringing and wanting to rush right out again. Four women trained their eyes on him, and he knew all of them.
“Bennett Patterson,” Sue Grafton said. “I thought I’d see you in here again one day.”
“Is it Jennie Zimmerman?” Nadiya Harris asked. “I heard she was back in town.”
“This is confidential, right?” he asked, glancing around. He wasn’t sure he’d fare much better across the street. Maybe he should’ve driven to another town to make this purchase.
“Absolutely,” Sue said with authority. “Not a word about anything purchased or said in this shop leaves the shop.” She glanced at the other women, and it was clear she’d be handling this sale. They wandered off, where Nadiya started wiping the already clean glass.
“What are you looking for?” Sue asked.
“I just want a band for now,” Bennett said. “Then I’ll bring Jennie here to pick out her own diamond.”
“Smart man.” Sue grinned at him and led him to a case with gold and silver bands. Bennett had no idea, and he asked a
lot of questions.
In the end, he left with a gold band with ridges around it, and he hurried back to his truck before anyone else could see him with the delicate jewelry store bag.
After all, the last thing he needed was gossip getting back to Jennie that he’d been spotted on Wedding Row without her. That would completely ruin the surprise.
Not that he had a surprise in mind. Or a plan. Nothing. He took the ring out of the black, velvet box and slipped it into his pocket. He’d carry it around until an idea struck, and then—then, he’d ask Jennie to finally be his.
* * *
He didn’t come up with anything that week. Sure, he walked through the Festival of Trees hand-in-hand with Jennie. They bought a few gifts for their family members, ate more peppermint-flavored foods than was humanly possible, and enjoyed the themed Christmas trees.
But the ring stayed in Bennett’s pocket. He took it with him to the fire house, when he ran on the beach with the dogs, or into the wood shop. His brain constantly whirred, and yet all he could think of was pulling it out one day and asking her to marry him.
He wasn’t sure what was so hard about the proposal. They’d already talked about marriage. He knew she’d say yes. Somehow, though, he wanted the moment to be special. More than a mutual agreement that they should get married. After all, he knew what a big deal it was for her to commit to wearing that white dress again, and waiting to walk down the aisle, hoping he’d be standing at the altar like he promised.
So the proposal had to be perfect.
Bennett went to the Internet for ideas, but everything seemed trite and something a much younger couple would enjoy. He didn’t want to fish the wedding band out of a piece of cake or have her swallow it by putting it in a drink.
He just wanted to ask her to be his wife.
On his days off, he worked in the wood shop, a jewelry box coming to life before his eyes. Suddenly, an idea hit him. He could finish this jewelry box for Jennie and when he gave it to her for Christmas, the ring could be inside.
Hawthorne Harbor Box Set Page 60