seat.”
“Juli and I had brunch at the grill and then walked over. I wanted her to see the gallery. She’s going to pick out a few things for the house.”
Luke nodded, at a loss for words. He looked away. “She’s here?”
He lowered his voice. “I left her with Maia. I hope they’ll hit it off. From what Juli’s said, I don’t think she has many friends and no family at all. She’s always worked too hard, no time for play. It’s going to be different now.”
Different for all of us , Luke amended, silently.
Ben touched the folder on the desk and spun it around. “Charleston? How’s it going down there?”
“Hal’s a good manager, but he doesn’t have what it takes to make bigger decisions. He had an opportunity for a nice show by a local artist, but passed on it because it would’ve meant a quick turnaround—quicker than he could handle.”
“What about Jerri? From the Dunes Gallery? She was looking for a position with more responsibility. Hal isn’t big on ego.”
Luke leaned back in his chair and it squeaked. He felt more peaceful than he had in a while, almost pretending it was old times again. “Dunes got smart and offered her more.” He glanced down. His running shoes were peeking out from under the desk like an invitation, a reminder.
“There are other prospects.”
“But it takes time and more time. I’m short on that.” The brief, easy mood evaporated. He reached up and pressed his hands against the sides of his head, then worked his fingers against his temples. Shake it off, Luke .
“I know I left you hanging.”
“No, you didn’t. I procrastinated.” He slid the folder back and flipped the top shut. “I’m glad Maia wasn’t interested in leaving the sales floor. No one has her skill with the customers. I couldn’t manage without her there. The rest I’ll figure out.”
“We already talked about this, but….”
Luke knew Ben wasn’t referring to their current topic, the staffing problem. He shook his head, no. He didn’t want to go there again. “Drop it.”
“I’m happy.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
“I mean it. I feel like I have a fresh start.”
“Look, Ben, it’s simple biology. You’re not the first guy to fall for a pretty woman who’s a few years younger. I just wish—”
“Wish what?”
“You could’ve taken her on a few dates. Gotten to know her—to know you could trust her. I get that you don’t approve of people just moving in together, but marriage can be inconvenient in a real life kind of way when the whole thing goes south.” Or if she turns out to be a thief. He hadn’t told Ben what he’d seen at the party in the coatroom. Now, while he might grouse about Ben’s actions, it was too late to lay that kind of speculation on the table. He rapped his knuckles on the desk.
Pastor Herrin should’ve talked sense to Ben, not given his blessing. But who was closer to Ben than Luke? No one. And even he had failed to convince Ben to settle for something other than marriage. Ben had moved forward so uncharacteristically fast he’d caught them all by surprise. In the end, what did you say to a dying friend, a cousin who was more like a brother, who was determined to have his way?
You showed up at the wedding and kept the peace by keeping your mouth shut.
“Come on out and speak to her.”
“I saw her yesterday at the wedding.”
Ben sat in silence.
“I spoke to her yesterday.” Exasperated, he threw in, “Alright, but Ben, don’t push this too far—you might be mesmerized by a pair of blue eyes and good legs, but she’s not my type. I prefer a woman who doesn’t marry a stranger for money. A little integrity and self-respect would be a good start. You married her, she’s nothing to me.” Nothing but the woman who was going to break his cousin’s heart. He froze at the hurt on Ben’s face wishing he could call back the angry words.
Ben rose and rearranged his expression into a smile. “I understand, Luke. I know you
“Juli and I had brunch at the grill and then walked over. I wanted her to see the gallery. She’s going to pick out a few things for the house.”
Luke nodded, at a loss for words. He looked away. “She’s here?”
He lowered his voice. “I left her with Maia. I hope they’ll hit it off. From what Juli’s said, I don’t think she has many friends and no family at all. She’s always worked too hard, no time for play. It’s going to be different now.”
Different for all of us , Luke amended, silently.
Ben touched the folder on the desk and spun it around. “Charleston? How’s it going down there?”
“Hal’s a good manager, but he doesn’t have what it takes to make bigger decisions. He had an opportunity for a nice show by a local artist, but passed on it because it would’ve meant a quick turnaround—quicker than he could handle.”
“What about Jerri? From the Dunes Gallery? She was looking for a position with more responsibility. Hal isn’t big on ego.”
Luke leaned back in his chair and it squeaked. He felt more peaceful than he had in a while, almost pretending it was old times again. “Dunes got smart and offered her more.” He glanced down. His running shoes were peeking out from under the desk like an invitation, a reminder.
“There are other prospects.”
“But it takes time and more time. I’m short on that.” The brief, easy mood evaporated. He reached up and pressed his hands against the sides of his head, then worked his fingers against his temples. Shake it off, Luke .
“I know I left you hanging.”
“No, you didn’t. I procrastinated.” He slid the folder back and flipped the top shut. “I’m glad Maia wasn’t interested in leaving the sales floor. No one has her skill with the customers. I couldn’t manage without her there. The rest I’ll figure out.”
“We already talked about this, but….”
Luke knew Ben wasn’t referring to their current topic, the staffing problem. He shook his head, no. He didn’t want to go there again. “Drop it.”
“I’m happy.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
“I mean it. I feel like I have a fresh start.”
“Look, Ben, it’s simple biology. You’re not the first guy to fall for a pretty woman who’s a few years younger. I just wish—”
“Wish what?”
“You could’ve taken her on a few dates. Gotten to know her—to know you could trust her. I get that you don’t approve of people just moving in together, but marriage can be inconvenient in a real life kind of way when the whole thing goes south.” Or if she turns out to be a thief. He hadn’t told Ben what he’d seen at the party in the coatroom. Now, while he might grouse about Ben’s actions, it was too late to lay that kind of speculation on the table. He rapped his knuckles on the desk.
Pastor Herrin should’ve talked sense to Ben, not given his blessing. But who was closer to Ben than Luke? No one. And even he had failed to convince Ben to settle for something other than marriage. Ben had moved forward so uncharacteristically fast he’d caught them all by surprise. In the end, what did you say to a dying friend, a cousin who was more like a brother, who was determined to have his way?
You showed up at the wedding and kept the peace by keeping your mouth shut.
“Come on out and speak to her.”
“I saw her yesterday at the wedding.”
Ben sat in silence.
“I spoke to her yesterday.” Exasperated, he threw in, “Alright, but Ben, don’t push this too far—you might be mesmerized by a pair of blue eyes and good legs, but she’s not my type. I prefer a woman who doesn’t marry a stranger for money. A little integrity and self-respect would be a good start. You married her, she’s nothing to me.” Nothing but the woman who was going to break his cousin’s heart. He froze at the hurt on Ben’s face wishing he could call back the angry words.
Ben rose and rearranged his expression into a smile. “I understand, Luke. I know you
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