Once in a Lifetime(87)

“Shut up and get your ass to the party.”

By the time Ben walked into the Book & Bean, it was filled, the crowd noisy and happy. The best sound of all was the sound of the register steadily ringing.

He was stopped by Mr. Wilford, who was shocked to report that he actually had pumpkin plants growing—in late winter.

Dee was there, too, and gave him a big hug. Just about everyone he knew was there, except the one person he wanted to see. He strode quickly through the store, completely ignoring anyone else who tried to talk to him.

He finally found Aubrey behind the coffee and tea station, serving a line of customers. She was flushed, looking relieved to be serving at all. She wore a pretty dress, her hair was up, and she was smiling.

She hadn’t fallen apart. She’d picked herself up and carried on. He loved that about her.

He loved her.





Chapter 29



At the hush in the crowd around her, Aubrey looked up, her smile slipped, and all the air vacated her lungs.

“Hey,” Ben said, eyes calm and on hers, his voice quiet. “I’m looking for a book recommendation.”

“A book recommendation,” she repeated, heart pounding so loudly she couldn’t hear herself think. Their rapt audience didn’t help much. “You want a book recommendation.”

“Yes. I need one on male groveling. I thought maybe there might be a Relationships for Dummies or something.”

She wasn’t sure what to make of this, so she lowered her voice. “Listen, about the other night. I wanted to apologize—”

He shook his head. “You already apologized. Several times, in fact.”

“But—”

“It’s enough,” he said, and lithely vaulted over the counter. “And now it’s my turn.” He stepped closer and put his hands on her hips. I’m sorry, Aubrey.” His fingers tightened on her. “I’m sorry I was such an ass that I couldn’t see past my own insecurities and fears.”

Around them, their audience gave a collective “Aww,” but Aubrey ignored them, not taking her eyes off Ben. “Go on,” she said cautiously.

“You said you fell for me.”

She flushed, thinking about everything she’d flung at him that night, including rocks. “Ben—”

“You also said I fell for you. I blew that off, but you were right, Aubrey. I did fall, hard and fast, and”—his mouth twisted wryly—“a little bit against my will.”

She tried to pull free, but he held tight. “I liked it,” he said. “Too much, to be honest. So when you told me about your list, I used it to back away from you. You were right about that, too. Probably we should start a new list now, of all your rights.”

Thoughts rolling in her head like tumbleweeds, heart aching, she shook her head, afraid to hope. “Where are you going with this, Ben?”

“I want you,” he said. “I’ve wanted you every single minute of this entire winter. I also need you. From the bottom of my flawed heart.”

Their audience “aw’d” again, but Ben paid them no more mind than Aubrey did, his gaze still on her. “I can remember every single smile you’ve given me,” he said, “every word you’ve ever said to me.”

She melted a little at the sweetness of his words, but shook her head, unable to give up the doubt, the fear that this wasn’t going where she so desperately hoped it would.

Unperturbed, he smiled. “I also remember every eye roll. And every single time you went toe-to-toe with me and drove me crazy.”

A few people tittered and giggled.

Aubrey tried to free herself again, but he held on to her with shocking ease, even laughing softly, the bastard. He gestured to the store around them. “Hell, Aubrey, I dragged this job out to twice as long as it should have taken,” he said, “just so I could keep seeing you.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” Lucille whispered to someone. “I was beginning to think the boy didn’t know what he was doing.”

Ben slid Lucille a look before turning back to Aubrey. “I loved watching you work. It might’ve been the pretty dresses that promised a softer side to you, a side only I got to see, but I loved watching you run this world—your world. I loved watching you find your place. I loved watching you take me on and calling me on all my shit.” He ran a finger along her temple and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I love your spirit, your passion. I love everything about you. I love you, Aubrey.”

The crowd sighed in unison, and as if they were watching a tennis match, their heads all turned toward Aubrey for her reaction.

She had plenty of reactions, the biggest being the fact that her heart suddenly didn’t fit inside her rib cage. But she wasn’t one hundred percent ready to believe. “You said you liked quiet,” she said. “I’m not quiet.”

“I said I was used to quiet. But I’ve learned something about myself. I also like not quiet.” He smiled. “A lot.”

And just like that, the little kernel of hope she’d so ruthlessly tamped down finally found room to breathe and grow. “Yeah?”

There was a smile in his eyes now. And relief. “Yeah.”

Lucille leaned over the counter toward Ben and stage-whispered, “I don’t think you need a book recommendation at all. You’re doing pretty darn good.”