Page 71 of A Sip of Sherry

“I never would have met you.I would have lived my life, not knowing that the person I needed most was in a small town in the Pocono Mountains.”

His hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing soft, soothing strokes along my jaw.My eyes fluttered closed, relishing in his touch, even if only for a few

stolen seconds.

“It’s the best fuck up I ever did, and I wouldn’t change it.Not for nothing.”

My eyes popped open.“Did you just call meeting me a fuck up?”

“The best of my life.”

A laugh broke through the tightness in my throat.“Maybe let’s not tell people that.”

His thumb ran over my lips.“Just that?”

God, I wanted to kiss him.I only had to rise, or he could bend slightly, and our lips would meet.But kissing him would mean I was ready to move forward, to put all this complicated bullshit behind us, but I wasn’t sure if I was being played.

I wanted to believe that Ben wouldn’t do that to me.That he did miss me.That he loved me even.But I’d watched engagements fall apart, marriages end after six months, and promises made only to be broken.

His green eyes stared down at me, his hand still on my face, his thumb now lovingly caressing my cheek.I leaned into his touch, absorbing the gentleness and the warmth.

“Sher—”

A knock on my door jolted us apart, making me feel like teenagers who were caught behind the bleachers.I glanced toward the door.Carlos stood there, concern etched into his dark eyes.

“What’s going on?”Ben asked.

“We’ve got a problem.”

“What kind of problem?”I asked.

Carlos glanced between us, mouth parted, but he hesitated.

“Go on,” Ben said.

“The rental company is here to pick up their chairs and cake stands and all that stuff.”

“Is there a problem with the invoice?I had already approved payment and sent it over,” I said.

“No, ma’am.Several of the chairs have deep scratches in them like someone dragged them across the gravel.”

“What?”I exclaimed and snapped my attention to Ben.

“That’s impossible.”Ben ran a hand over his face.“I put the chairs away myself.”

Carlos shifted from one foot to the other.“That’s not all.The driver said we have to pay for the damages, and if not, you could get blacklisted from future rentals.”

“Blacklisted?”I squeaked.“I’ve worked with Murray for the last three years, and we have never had an issue.Is he out there?”

“No, ma’am.It’s the new guy.Alec.”

“I’ll handle this,” Ben said, already pulling out his phone and heading toward the door.

“No.”I shook my head.“This is my business.I’ll handle it.”

Ben met my gaze.“Then let me help you.We made a good team once or twice.”

With the fire raging through me, I wasn’t in the mood to stroll down memory lane or fight him.He stood there, waiting for me to give him an answer, and I realized this wasn’t about the rentals.

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