Ben shrugged. "Thanks."
I had to change the subject. I did not understand how sick his dad had gotten, but I sensed it was bad, judging from the look on Ben's face. "So, what made you originally decide toopen a location all the way out here?"
Ben stopped writing and looked up at me, his expression going from familiar and friendly to utterly intense. I'd seen that look in his eyes before, and the second his dark eyes hit mine, I felt that familiar feeling in my stomach, the same one I had gotten the night I had told him about my opportunity. "Needed a change of pace, I guess. You know how that is," he gritted out.
I flinched at his comment. Those were the same words I had once used. I tried hard not to let it get to me. "I'm glad that you've done well for yourself."
Ben cleared his throat and put his pencil down. "Why don't you flip through these sample books and tell me your choices," he said, handing over the book.
I hesitantly started flipping through the books, making some choices and trying to envision what it all would look like changed, while Ben continued taking measurements. Once I had picked some things out, I pointed to each of the samples I liked and Ben nodded, making his notes.
"All right, well, let me know once your husband is home and we can discuss pricing," he said, looking down to my left hand where the indent from my wedding right was still prevalent.
I covered my hand and looked at Ben. "I'm not technically married, so you can just leave me the quote. I'll be the one taking care of this." I was about to branch out into a deeper explanation I felt that I perhaps owed him when he held up his hand, stopping me.
"Hey, no need to explain. I really don't care either way. Leave it with me. I will get you a quote in two days." Ben grabbed his belongings, and I walked him to the door. "I can reach you at the number you gave my office?" he questioned, glancing down again at the notes.
"Yep."
"It was nice to see you, Jess," he said, leaning in and giving me an awkward hug.
"You too." I smiled, trying hard to keep my composure.
Seconds later, I watched Ben as he walked down the hall, not turning to look back. I watched as he stood at the elevator, and I stayed there until the doors to the elevator shut. Then I shut and locked the apartment door and walked back over to the dining room table. In a matter of a half an hour, I had gone from getting quotes from annoying contractors to regretting the day that I got on that bus and left my sleepy little town even more than I already did.
Chapter 9
Ben
It had haunted me all weekend, the memory my mind held. Still, after three days, the only image in my mind was the night I had dropped Jessica off at her house. I remembered those gorgeous eyes as they filled with tears and the look of hurt that sat on her face and in her eyes because of me. The more I thought about it, the more that feeling crept over me as it had that night, and for the past five years.
I was glad that the office was quiet because my concentration was all over the place. I sat staring at the mess of numbers on my screen, not really seeing any of them. I had been trying to make sense of everything for the entire weekend. Had she looked me up and knew that this was my company? Was this some sly way of getting back at me for what happened between us all those years ago? I shoved that thought out of my mind. I was being silly. There was no way she would have called for a quote from me purely out of spite. However, I feared that our past probably would have a direct impact on whether I got this job. That much, I was sure of.
I ran my hand through my hair and blew out a frustrated breath. I should have been at my cottage, sitting in my boat on the lake, my fishing line in the water. I would have had a peaceful day out on the lake and brought back fresh fish for dinner. Instead here I sat after a weekend of not being able to get her off my mind, more wound up than I had been on Friday. It would have been better if I had handed off the pricing job to Julie or one of the other guys, I thought as I typed in the wrong figure and then erased it.
I stood up to grab a bottle of water from the fridge and dug my hand into my pocket. I held onto that tiny circular item and sat back down at my desk, once again hitting the calculator.
"Oh my god, tell me you aren't playing with that thing again?" Julie asked from the doorway, laughing.
I rolled my eyes. I'd figured she was long gone by now, not standing here skulking around watching me. I gripped the ring I'dpinned to the inside of my pocket. It was the same ring that I had given to Jess all those years ago, and I clenched it in the palm of my hand. "Hilarious, Jules."
She leaned up against the doorway studying me. "What are you working on that's got you in such a mood? It's almost time to go."
"Working on that quote. You know, the one that took away my week of solitude," I said, slamming the keys of the calculator again, trying to be as competitive as I could be.
"I see," Julie mumbled and sat down across from me, taking in what I was sure were worried lines on my face. "Is it a problem with what the person wants?" she said, reaching for my paperwork.
I let out a huff as I once again made a mistake on the calculator, causing me to look up at her. Irritated, I mumbled, "No, it's not that." I paused. "You'll never guess who I saw today."
"The Pope?" Julie said mockingly, putting her feet up on the edge of my desk.
"Jess."
I heard the soft inhale from Julie and looked up. Judging from the look on her face, I was glad she was sitting down. She gripped the edge of my desk and sat forward. "Whoa! Tell me EVERYTHING! You can't hold back anything! When, where, how did she look? Did you talk to her?"
"Funny, the look on your face is probably the same one I hadwhen she answered the door."
"Answered the door?"