“You can get naked if you want.”
Time seemed to stop and I wondered where the lever was for the secret door in the floor.
Dear god, tell me they have a secret door in the floor.
“I, ah, mean…” I swallowed, unsure how to say what I’d actually meant. “Oh god.”
“Benny?” Xander asked. I didn’t dare look at him. I could tell from the sound of his voice that he was beyond amused.
“Shut the fuck up,” I muttered. I got up the nerve to look up at Lolly and saw her eyes twinkling. Unfortunately, that’s not all I saw.
“Thank god. That dress itches like a bitch. I feel better now. Thanks, Bennett. Now, spill. I want to hear everything. Does this mean you’re taking my baby away from me?”
Even though there was a smile on her face, I could see worry lines around her eyes.
I tried to ignore the elephant’s boobs in the room and focus on her question.
“No. We’ve decided to settle here, in Haven. Hope that’s okay with you,” I said.
She let out a sound of relief as she stood up from her chair to grab for us, pulling us both into a hug.
If you could let go of the fact she was naked when she did it, the woman was a damned good hugger, and I had the errant thought that I could get used to feeling loved by Xander’s Aunt Lolly.
Was that perverted?
I looked at Xander as if he had the ability to read my mind and reassure me.
He winked, and I let out a sigh of relief. I tried to focus on what Lolly was saying.
“Oh my gosh, you’re really moving here? You and Xander are going to stay here?” she asked after sitting back in her spot.
Xander settled his arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close to his side. “I told Bennett about Gary offering to sell me the business on our drive up here. He’s hoping to retire before next year’s summer season.”
“Xander, that’s amazing. You’ll do a wonderful job with the lodge and expeditions. But, Bennett, what will you do? What do you do for a living?”
I looked at Xander before replying, “We’re going to buy the business together. I can run the business side while Xander does the expeditions. Hopefully, once we get everything running smoothly, I can start a youth adventure program for underprivileged kids. That’s the kind of work I’ve been doing in New York. I have some contacts there who might be able to help fund the first few trips to get us started. Then, if we market the concept well to other corporate foundations, we can help bring youth groups from all over the country here for backpacking, fishing and rafting trips.”
Lolly clapped her hands together. “That sounds absolutely wonderful. If there’s anything I can do to help, you just let me know. I just know it will be a success, though. Xander is very good with kids.”
She looked at him with pride and love, and I was struck by the realization that he had indeed landed in a good place with Lolly like I’d hoped. She clearly doted on him and seemed like a generous, loving soul. I was glad to know he’d wound up with someone as devoted to him as his father had been. But, then again, it made perfect sense. Lolly and Mr. Reed had been brother and sister. They both had the same gentle spirit and loving manner. I hoped like hell any kids we had in the future would inherit that same personality.
“Bennett, I wish Xander and I could have stayed in Greenwich. I didn’t want to take him away from everything that he knew— especially you. I know you two were close. After your dad told me we couldn’t stay in the cottage anymore—”
“What?” I blurted. “He kicked you out?”
Lolly glanced at Xander, who shook his head.
Her hand reached out to pat mine. “Sorry, honey. It doesn’t matter now.”
“I don’t understand. What did my father say to you?”
“He said we couldn’t stay in the cottage, and since Xander’s scholarship would be revoked—”
I felt my heart rate kick up and tried not to lose it. “He said Xander’s scholarship would be revoked?”
Xander put a hand on my cheek and swiveled my face so I was looking at him. “Baby, it doesn’t matter now, okay? It’s in the past. It’s all over now, and we’re together.”
I knew now wasn’t the time for me to rage about my father, so I forced myself to bite my tongue. As Xander told Lolly about Lucky and our trip, I only half-listened.
When Xander told Lolly about the night he caught some of the boys skinny-dipping in the lake, Lolly started giggling.
“When they grow up, send them our way,” she suggested. “Bear Trodden Acres could use some fresh meat around here.”