Page 56 of Only You and Me

A deep laugh rumbles from Ben’s chest. “I would never. I was going to say great. Yep, that’s what I was going to go with.”

“Liar.” I laugh and reach over to lightly punch him in the arm, but he’s fast and catches me by the wrist, then slides his hand down to mine. I don’t resist when he entwines our fingers together.

“Do you want to know why else it would never work with Emily and me?” Ben’s voice is practically a whisper, his smoky eyes fix on mine, no trace of joking left on his face.

“Why?” I ask in a hushed voice.

“Because there’s only one Flynn sister—one woman period—that I want. And in case it’s not clear who that is, it’s you and only you.”

* * *

Two hours later,I’ve picked up Rose and we’re walking into plarning. It’s my first plarning session since I told Ben about the text messages—which keep coming—and my first time seeing Darren since I told Ben about my few dates with him. I don’t know why, but an unusually awkward nervousness is buzzing through me being here with Darren now.

Ben can’t be right about Darren being a suspect in my case, can he?

Darren is as friendly as always, and he’s super gracious about us going slower than usual while I teach Rose the basics of plarning. In fact, he’s charming as he takes Rose under his wing and introduces her to the rest of the group as they arrive. He even helps her when she gets stuck on a section of the mat we’re working on.

As we near the end of the hour and a half, I tell Rose I want to take her to lunch at the restaurant I go to after each plarning session since they have the best pie I’ve ever tasted. Unfortunately, Darren overhears.

“Oh, Rose, you wouldn’t mind if my grandmother and I join you and Trina, would you? I’ve been promising to take her there.” Darren aims his smile at Rose, but I don’t miss his quick glance over at me as he talks to her.

“Of course not. The more the merrier,” Rose smiles.

I’m suddenly filled with guilt, as if I’m doing something wrong. Which, of course, is ridiculous. It’s not like I planned this. Plus, it’s lunch. Not a date.

An hour and a half later, I’m regretting not speaking up and saying I’d prefer it to only be Rose and me. Darren has shamelessly used the opportunity to have his grandmother try to convince me to go out with him again. Then they both start trying to pull Rose into helping them plead his case—and it clearly is uncomfortable for her. And for me.

I’ve had enough.

“Okay everyone. Let’s remember that I’m a grown woman and I can make my own decisions. I have my reasons for not dating Darren—or anyone else—now. So, if we could please change the subject, I would appreciate it.”

Darren and his grandmother temporarily wear stunned expressions, but Rose is fighting back a grin.

After a few seconds of tension, Darren speaks up, his cheeks a bright red. “I apologize. I guess it’s a little low pulling my grandma in to help me convince you to go out again. You can’t blame a guy for trying, though. You’re a tough woman to get over, Trina.”

“It was three dates. Trust me, you’ll be fine.” Even I hear the aggravation in my tone.

We all go back to picking at our food and, as soon as I can, I signal the server for our check.

When we leave and Rose and I are in the car, I apologize to her.

“I’m really sorry about that situation at lunch. That must have been incredibly painful to sit and watch. You obviously picked up that Darren and I went on a few dates, and I ended things.” I grimace, awaiting her response.

Rose… laughs. “It was odd at first. But it got pretty entertaining once you put them in their places. Besides, it took everything in me not to tell them both that if you should be with anyone, it should clearly be my Ben.”

Thank God we’re at a stoplight because I’m not sure I could keep my head from whipping to the side to look at her if I tried.

“What?” I ask, my eyes feeling like they’re trying to pop out of my head.

Rose grins, and I see Ben gets his smile from her. “Oh, honey. Even though you two kept it under wraps when you were together, Ben told me about it well after things ended. I’ve always thought you’re the one for Ben. I would never try to tell you what is right for you—unlike Darren’s grandmother. In case I wasn’t clear enough at Annie and Jack’s wedding shower, Ben has never gotten over what he felt for you. So, yes, I very much think you’re the right one for Ben and the one he’s always wanted. The question only you can answer to is whether Ben is the one for you.”

CHAPTER18

BEN

Today’s been a damn good day so far and there’s still a few hours left for it to get even better. Still riding the high from a great morning fishing and then a few hours hanging out with my dad, I use the key Trina gave me to enter her house. I’ve got a bag of groceries in one hand and a bouquet of wildflowers in the other. If Trina decides not to give me the sixty days I asked for to convince her we should stay married, it won’t be for lack of trying on my part.

Damn, though, do I ever want her to give me a chance. I lost her once to a combination of my reputation, my own insecurities, and my ego. It’s not like I didn’t try to move on—well, after the first few years, anyway. I dated, but I never came close to feeling for another woman what I felt—and still feel—for Trina. If she gives me another chance, I’m giving it all I’ve got.

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