The Military Wife (A Heart of a Hero, #1)(44)

“Yep. That’s one idea we came up with. Most people love coffee, right? But there’s a coffee place on every corner these days. How would we compete?”

“Exactly. What else do people like?”

“Uh, pie?”

“Well, that too. Especially pecan.” He pronounced it “pee-can,” which made her smile for reasons she didn’t want to delve into. “But, more specific to you, they like to support a good cause.”

“I’m not following.”

“You have a noble cause. Exploit it.”

“How?”

“You’d need a good spin. A catchy name. Acquire the beans, roast, and sell them yourself. You could ship around the country. Maybe even get a deal to supply them to the bases themselves.”

Her steps slowed to accommodate the thoughts racing breakneck through her. His suggestion was daunting in scope. Bigger and riskier than she’d envisioned. Yet … it was a good idea. Even better, it was something that could be duplicated across bases around the country and world. But, for now, she could start small at Fort Bragg to gage its success.

“I love the idea, but realistically, how much money would it take to start up this sort of business?”

He rattled off a number that made her choke on a gasp of air. That would be a good chunk of the money he’d given her. Money she’d planned to put toward Ben’s college fund. Or give back to Bennett out of a sense of honor.

“I’d have to use the money you gave me. It wouldn’t be right.”

“Bullshit. It’s perfect. I’m not taking the money back, so get that out of your head, and this way you can appease any guilt from accepting it.”

“I’ve read the statistics. Small business usually fail.”

He took her arm and drew her to a halt, facing him. “What happened to the woman with balls enough to confront me and when that didn’t work to plan this escapade?”

“You’re confusing balls with confidence. And competence. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“You graduated top of your class with two degrees.”

“Two degrees I never had the chance to use.” Her voice rose, but she wasn’t sure what she was mad about.

“Dust ’em off and put ’em to work.” His eyes narrowed. “Anyway, you wouldn’t be doing this alone. You have Allison and the other ladies, don’t you? Plus, I can offer advice.”

“Considering the seed money would be coming from you, I’d say you’re doing enough.”

“I’ll make sure you avoid the mistakes I made starting up the survival school.”

“Why are you suddenly willing to help me?” She couldn’t help her suspicions. The day before he was willing to play dirty to get her to leave him alone.

His focus shifted from her to the floor. “Noah would expect me to help.”

“Because of that mysterious promise you made? Don’t bother. I’m doing fine on my own.” She went to step around him, but he shuffled to block her. They repeated the movement in the other direction.

His smile was like the sighting of a rare bird, and it filled her with the same kind of wonder. “I’m not offering my expertise just because of Noah. Starting a new business will be a challenge, and I like challenges.”

“It’s a huge risk.”

Behind the tease in his smile was a risk-taking badass. “Yep. Trust me, we’ll have fun. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“Total humiliation. Poverty. Failure.”

He made a throaty noise between laughter and frustration. “This is money you were going to throw on my porch in a duffel bag. In fact, unless you use the money I gave you to start a business, I want it back.”

“You what?”

“Use it or lose it, sweetheart.” His tease took on a wolfish quality. He had her cornered. And, like any cornered animal, she would fight her way out.

“Fine. I’ll use your money and start up the best new business Fort Bragg has ever seen.”

“Yeah, you will.”

Her frustration and nerves eased. The amorphous vision of what she and the other women could accomplish was becoming solid. Could they pull it off?

He stamped his feet. “Only a few miles until Seth’s cabin. Let’s go.”

They walked and shared favorite movies and books. The small talk seemed inconsequential, but taken as a totality, it deepened her understanding of him. Jack bounded through the woods and a few minutes later the park ranger’s station came into view through the trees. Disappointment zinged through her. Not how she expected to feel at the end of their time together.

She only had moments of solitude left with him.

“Bennett?” She laid a hand on his arm, and he glanced over, his steps slowing but not stopping. “I want to know…” The cold and her nerves stalled the question. She’d lied and manipulated and engineered the weekend to ask about Noah.

Yet she couldn’t force the words out. Not right now at any rate. She hadn’t considered the emotional toil the retelling would take on him; she’d thought only of herself. But the guilt and regrets he bore from that time were obvious.

“You want to know what?” As if he suspected the bend of her thoughts to the past, his brows drew in and his mouth tightened, emphasizing his intimidating good looks.