Page 93 of The Fear of Falling
I hate those words.Still in town. My misery leaks into my voice as I say, “Oh. That’s good.”
Benson’s expression softens even more, and I can feel Melissa’s attention shifting from me to him and back again. I don’t blame her, since we’re giving each other all sorts of heavy looks. “He wants to talk to you now,” he says. “I can hang with Melissa and walk her through some of the plans of action I’m putting together.”
“What about Eric?” Heat splashes across my face when that question evokes instant memories of Saturday morning, the last time I said those words. Memories of the way Benson kissed me senseless when I told him that I was choosing him too.
Benson chuckles and looks at Eric’s closed door behind him. “I think he’s busy. But Rogers specifically wants to talk to you, so I don’t think he’ll mind.”
Taking a steadying breath, I stand to swap places with Benson. As we pass, his hand brushes against mine, giving me some much-needed reassurance. I’ve lost track of the number of times he’s told me that he’ll find a way for us to be together, but without any solutions, it isn’t easy to believe it. Either one of us loses something we love, or we never see each other.
But I trust Benson, and that will have to be enough for now. We have a couple of weeks to figure things out.
I find Rogers at the same table we sat at the first time we were here, his gaze on the mountains and looking far too relaxed given the waves of heat rolling off the building. Summer temperatures are still holding strong. “Mr. Rogers,” I say when Ireach him. “I’m so sorry we don’t have more space. You must be melting out here.”
“I like the heat.” Grinning, he gives me a firm handshake before gesturing to the chair next to him. “I spend half my time in Arizona and the other half here.”
“A bit different from England.”
“Indeed.”
When we sit in silence for a moment, I figure I should nudge our conversation forward so I can get back to Melissa. Back toBenson. “You wanted to talk to me?”
“I did.” He stretches his legs out, looking like he’s never been more comfortable. “After talking to Benson, I wanted to get your opinion on something, as the two of you seem to work rather well together.”
We more thanworkwell together, but Rogers doesn’t need to know that. “Okay?”
“Do you think there’s any chance Benson might consider selling his business?”
My jaw slips open. “You want to…buy Benson’s consulting business?”
“Heavens no.” Rogers laughs, the sound deep and hearty. “I’m simply curious if you think he would ever sell and come work with me.”
I have no idea why this is the topic he wanted to discuss with me, and I wish I had a way to get out of it. The last thing I want to talk about right now is the biggest thing standing in the way of Benson and me being together. “Benson loves his business,” I say quietly. It’s the very reason I haven’t suggested exactly what Rogers asked about. Everything about our relationship still feels tenuous, and I’m terrified to push Benson more than he’s already been pushed.
“He loves what hedoeswith his business,” Rogers counters. “There’s a difference.”
“Maybe.” I shrug. “But I’ve only just managed to convince him to give a long-distance relationship a try, and I don’t know if he would be ready to uproot the life he’s built in New York.”
“Ah, I wondered if there was something brewing between the two of you.” He sits forward, his eyes dancing with interest. “I saw it the last time I was here, but it has certainly evolved.”
“Yeah,” I breathe, too mournful to hide it. I run my finger along the edge of the table and consider Rogers’s question again. Would Benson ever sell his business? “I can’t ask him to do something that big, though. He’s worked so hard to build his company, and I just want him to be happy.”
“That’s very selfless of you, Miss Baldwin.” Rogers offers a softer smile this time, a thoughtful look in his eyes as he studies me. “It would be a lot to ask of someone, I agree, and my line of work can be incredibly difficult, which makes it an even harder decision. Not many people want to dive into something so unpredictable—most prefer something more consistent—but Benson…”
I can’t help but laugh a little despite everything. “Benson loves a good challenge.”
“I’ve noticed that about him. It’s probably why he asked if I would be interested in taking him on as a partner.”
“He’s really…” I stop. Blink. Look at the man next to me with my eyebrows drawn. “Wait, he did what?”
Rogers chuckles, taking in my shock with a new light in his eyes. “He called me early this morning and asked for a chat, and he was quite determined to convince me of the idea.”
Benson is thinking about selling his company? “And…” I shake my head to try to clear my thoughts. They’re all buzzy, like my head is full of static electricity. “And what did you say to him?”
His smile grows. “I told him I would only consider taking on a partner when I found the right person.”
“Oh.” There goes my hope.
“And I don’t think there would be anyone more perfect to join me than him.”
