Page 48 of Cups of You

“You inspire me.”

Crap.

That was not what Benjamin intended to say at all and by the look on Amber’s face, he could tell it surprised her too. He scrambled to figure out how to walk his statement back before he made things even more awkward.

“I wasn’t half as strong as you were when I found out my ex cheated on me,” he said quickly. “It’s inspiring to see how you are moving on and not letting him control the next steps you take.” He sighed in relief when she smiled.

Amber picked up the cup and her eyes closed slowly as she breathed in the thick steam emanating from between her hands. Benjamin couldn’t have looked away even if he wanted to. She took a careful sip humming slightly.

“Honestly, I don’t feel very in control right now.” She opened her eyes and looked at her cup. “I’m a bit stuck about how to proceed next. I’m having to start all over again and it’s…uncomfortable.”

Benjamin nodded in understanding. He twisted his lips as he tried to think of what to say that wouldn’t scare her off. Now was not the time to tell her he wanted her to start over with him.

SIXTEEN

Amber winced internally once the words had left her mouth. She didn’t know what it was about Benjamin that made her feel like blurting out all her shit, but she wasn’t sure how to handle it.

On one hand, she knew he was a nice guy and not in the way men always seemed to declare that they were “nice guys”. He hadn’t seemed to hold any of her grumpiness against her which was more than a little confusing. She wouldn’t have put up with her own shit if she were him, and yet he seemed to navigate her moods like it took no effort at all.

Equally perplexing was that he didn’t come off as being a pushover. Most times when people responded to her caustic words with retreat, Amber tended to bowl them over. She wasn’t in denial about it happening; it simply was. But though Benjamin didn’t respond harshly or react defensively, he also wasn’t cowed. He had a quiet strength that Amber found very intriguing.

Just tell the truth, girl. You find it hot as shit.

And now the fucking coffee art was another layer unraveled of who Benjamin was and damnit Amber was not trying to jump into bed with someone only weeks after breaking up with her ex, but the times since then that she had spent hanging out with Benjamin under the guise of just being friends had been pushing her buttons in all the right ways. The man could cook, cleaned, and had his familial and career shit together without being an arrogant asshole.

This was apparently Amber’s kryptonite.

“Well, you certainly took control here today,” he said with a toothy smile. His beard had grown fuller in the past couple days and it plus the smile had Amber wanting to reach out and touch.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Amber had potentially gone overboard, but it was nice to fall into the motions of fulfilling orders and stocking things. It allowed her to get lost in motions rather than her own thoughts. “I didn’t intend to take over your place.”

Benjamin shook his head. “No, it was good. Normally I would have to remind Olivia not to let things get too low before restocking but you were…well, honestly you were amazing.”

Amber chuckled as a bolt of heat shot through her. Being called amazing was apparently a turn on when not getting laid on the regular. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

He shrugged. “I would. It was nice to be able to just depend on someone and know they had your back without you having to ask. It’s been a while since I felt that with anyone outside of my family or Sam and Randy.”

“Oh,” Amber didn’t know what to say to that. She didn’t want to trivialize his feelings and it was nice to know that at least one person appreciated her.

Well, okay, that wasn’t fair. Jackie appreciated her and told her that multiple times a week, but it was different hearing it from someone who wasn’t related to her. It made her realize just how little she had felt appreciated for quite a while.

“Well, if you ever need help while I’m here, just let me know.”

“I’ll do you one better, come around the counter whenever you want, and you and Ms. Jay can have coffee and muffins on me.”

Amber chuckled. “That is a dangerously sexy proposition. My desire for coffee is strong and I don’t know if you have the beans to handle it. Plus, auntie will eat everything if you tell her about that, so we are going to keep it just between us.”

Benjamin’s laughter was loud and carefree, and it loosened something in Amber’s chest. She somehow felt lighter now than she had when she came in. She quietly mused on that as she enjoyed another sip of her coffee. She didn’t know where these feelings were coming from, but they were warming her up more than the smooth brew in her cup.

“I don’t know if I could hide anything from Ms. Jay especially when it came to muffins. You know how gossip is in this town.”

Amber snorted. “True. If she got wind that I was standing between her and your goods, she might actually follow through on her past threats to strangle me.”

“She is a feisty one,” he conceded. “If I had to place a bet, I’m sorry to say that I might go with Ms. Jay as coming out on top.”

“I don’t blame you. I would probably bet against my damn self if it came to that.” Amber blew softly on the liquid in her cup before taking another sip. She couldn’t stop the noises that flowed between her lips at the creamy taste of hazelnut. “Besides, I could never deprive her of that. Your muffins are too damn good.”

Benjamin’s soft cough made Amber realize at some point she had closed her eyes to savor her drink. She opened them a bit and noticed that Benjamin’s gaze was focused somewhere below her eyes.

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