Page 36 of Mistletoe Dreams
She wanted... to her surprise, she wanted things she'd never wanted before. A quiet life. A cozy home with a loving husband and children running around. It seemed ideal in her head. Even after witnessing the issues that Ben had with Mason, she knew that there would be challenges with any children. Still, the idea of children and a family and building something that was full of laughter and love seemed much more appealing to her than having an illustrious medical career, even one that saved a multitude of lives.
Not that there was anything inherently wrong with that. She admired the people who did it, but now that she'd been yanked off of that track and dropped somewhere where she didn't expect to be, she could only think that it was God changing her life's direction.
She smiled as she got closer to the diner, seeing that Ben was already there, his hands shoved in his coat pockets against the chill of the evening, as a few stray flurries drifted lazily down.
He had been watching for her approach, and his eyes seemed to be glued on her as she got closer.
She liked the way he watched her, like he didn't want to take his eyes off of her, or more like he couldn't. It made her feel feminine and powerful in a not-arrogant but appealing way.
Like the attraction she felt for him wasn't one-sided.
"Good evening," she said as she got closer.
"Good evening. It's a perfect evening for some hot chocolate," he said with a grin.
"Yes, I could definitely use something to warm me up," she said, and then she laughed a little. "Or perk me up. It's been a long, busy week."
"I figured. Mason's been saying how busy you are. A couple of times I felt like maybe I should have let you off the hook for this evening, because I figured you'd be tired. But call me selfish, Iwanted to see you." His eyes held hers, and she had no doubt he was sincere. His words warmed her straight to her bones, and she smiled.
"I wouldn't have let you cancel. I've been looking forward to it all week. I didn't care if I had to drag myself on my hands and knees, I was coming."
"I'm glad it didn't come to that," he said, turning and opening the door for her so she could walk in.
She murmured a thank you and lifted her face to the warm heat that blew over the top of the door as she stepped into the delicious scents of fresh-baked bread mingling with spices and herbs and chocolate.
"It smells delicious in here," he said from behind her.
"Boy, does it ever," she said.
It was a seat-yourself kind of place, and she turned, allowing him to lead them to a spot—a corner booth that was both cozy and intimate and right next to the window where they could watch the flurries, which were looking like they were getting a little more earnest as they began covering the sidewalk.
"Maybe the weatherman was right after all. I was starting to think that it was just wishful thinking when he said we were going to get four inches tonight," she said as she slid into the booth and shrugged out of her coat.
He laid his on the seat beside him and nodded. "I have an old injury in my left knee that usually hurts when we're going to get snow or any kind of weather. It was hurting all day today, so I kind of thought that they might've been a little off on their timing, but it was coming."
"Well, now I know I can just ask your knee if I want to know what the weather is going to be doing."
They laughed together.
"I was kind of hoping that it would be okay for me to actually get food along with hot chocolate. I just got off and haven't had anything all day."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Of course. I haven't eaten either, and if you don't mind, I'll do the same."
"I don't mind at all."
The menus were on their placemats, and she perused it while asking, "What about Mason? Has he eaten?"
"Mom's got him covered. I had told her that I'd be meeting you, and then I called her earlier this afternoon when I realized I wasn't going to be home in time to have supper either."
"I bet your mom loves having you there," she said, deciding on the hot turkey dinner. She was definitely in the mood for some warm comfort food.
"I appreciate her letting us come. With the divorce, I needed to sell the house, not only because I didn't have enough equity to buy it myself, but also because I needed to get Mason away from the bad influences that he was hanging around back in the city."
"I see." She appreciated what that showed about him. The sacrifice he was willing to make for his son.
The waitress came and took their orders, and then she picked up that thread of the conversation.
"I heard from someone that you were on track to be the police chief, and you left that job to take a huge pay cut and demotion by coming out here and working as a deputy sheriff."
