Page 55 of Only You and Me

“Stamina, huh? What for?” I tease.

Ben grins and shrugs, then takes a sip of his coffee before answering me. “You never know when you’ll need toperform.”

Now I can’t help but outright laugh at him. “Anyway… What do you have going on today?”

“Pretty low-key day for me. I’m going fishing over at Fitz’s. After that I’m going to get the catering order placed for Jack’s bachelor party next weekend, maybe go hang with my dad for a bit. Then I’ll be back here for tonight if that’s okay. How about you?”

“First, yes, it’s okay if you want to stay again tonight. But don’t think you have to. In a little while I’m picking up your mom and she’s going plarning with me.”

“What?” Ben's voice is low and almost growly, but not in the good way.

My eyebrows practically fly up to my hairline at his tone. “Excuse me? Are you annoyed I’m hanging out with your mom?”

“No. Of course not. I love that you’re doing something with my mom. I’m annoyed you didn’t tell me you were going to Meadow Creek today. You shouldn’t go.”

Heat rises in my chest. “Well, last I checked, Chief Jameson is my boss, not you. So, I’m going. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“It’s not safe. I’ll cancel fishing and come with you.” He says it as if it’s a done deal, like I have no choice, and my hackles rise.

“No. You’re not coming. That’s not yours to decide. I already have one stalker. I don’t need to add you to the list. It’s perfectly safe. I won’t be alone. And it’s at the library. It’s not like we plarn at some secluded warehouse on a deserted road.”

“God, you’re so frustrating sometimes,” he hisses. He leans his head back and sighs.

“Yeah? Well, you’re ridiculous sometimes, so we’re even,” I retort.

We sit quietly for several minutes, both of us stewing in our irritation with the other.

“What time will you be back at the house today?” Ben asks quietly.

I feel his gaze on me, but I refuse to look at him because I’m peeved.

“Dunno,” I answer dismissively.

Ben reaches across the small table between us and grabs my hand from the armrest. I try to pull it away, but he doesn’t let me.

“Hey, look at me, please.” His words are soft, almost pleading. “I’m not asking to be controlling. I want to make you dinner tonight, if you’ll let me.”

I’m distracted by his thumb caressing lightly over my palm—it feels so nice—that I take a second to process what he said. “You cook? Since when?”

A chuckle escapes Ben, and he smiles. “My mom taught me. Every Sunday for about three years, I went over and helped her make Sunday family dinner so I could learn how to make all her recipes.” His cheeks turn a light shade of pink and he shrugs. “I find it relaxing. Plus, I enjoy seeing people happy, and eating a good meal makes them happy.”

“You really should have married my sister instead. You two are like personality twins.”

“Ew! Don’t say that,” he yelps.

“Hey, what’s wrong with my sister? She’s amazing. And you’re both such people persons.”

“You’re right. Emily is amazing. But she’s too young for me. Plus, she’s been around so much since she and Shayna became friends she’s like a sister to me.”

“Even so, she’s much more your type.” I don’t say it to be contrary, but it’s true. Ben and Emily are like walking balls of sunshine most of the time and they naturally draw people to them.

“Okay. If you want to go with that logic, you should have married Fitz.”

I rip my hand from his. “Gross! He’s my best friend.”

“Yeah, but you’re both not bigpeople persons. You can both be a bit gr?—”

“Don’t you dare say grumpy,” I warn with a chuckle.

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