The Military Wife (A Heart of a Hero, #1)(59)

Harper tilted her head and tried to get a read on him. “Are you sure?”

“We’ll be so busy, it’ll make things easier.”

Ben sprang to life to hang on her arm. “Can he stay, Mommy? Please?”

“It’s up to Yaya.”

Her mom had a shoulder propped against the column at the top of the stairs. Ben linked his hands under his chin and repeated his plea. “Please, Yaya. Can he stay?”

“Only because he’s such a gentleman.” Her mom winked at Ben, who did a spastic dance of joy before throwing his arms around Jack’s neck.

“I’ll take really good care of him. I promise.”

“I know you will.” Bennett hauled the dog food and water dish out of the bed of the truck to the top of the porch steps. On his way back, he ruffled Ben’s hair. “If it’s sunny out tomorrow, we’ll throw a ball around as soon as we get back. Sound good?”

Ben’s grin was contagious, and Harper wasn’t even upset that she had to remind him to give her a hug. Ben, Jack, and her mom disappeared inside the house.

Without Jack, the cab of the truck felt cavernous. Bennett’s hands were tight on the steering wheel.

She tiptoed into the silence. “Are you sure—”

“Not a big deal.” His voice was clipped and uninviting.

Except it was. Jack London was part therapy dog, part best friend. She’d noticed the way Bennett reached for him during uncertainty or stress. “Have you ever spent the night away from him?”

“I don’t need a security blanket. I’m not a wuss.” A military-tinged edge was in his voice.

She shoved his shoulder—hard—and broke his stranglehold on the steering wheel. The truck jerked toward the center line.

“What the hell, Harper?”

“Don’t fire evasions in my directions, Caldwell. Not appreciated.” She sat back and crossed her arms and legs. “You’re as bad as Darren. Not admitting a single weakness. Are you SEALs born that way or do they brainwash you in training?”

“A little of both, I suppose. Meek, helpless bastards need not apply.”

“Is that what they put on the recruitment posters?”

The rumble coming from his chest was his particular brand of laughter. Humor interwoven with a dry sarcasm. His hands moved lower on the steering wheel and his body sank into the seat.

“It’s weird not to have Jack’s doggy breath on my neck.”

Tentatively, she touched his arm again, this time with a gentle stroke. “You have me, if it’s any consolation.”

With his face in profile, the tiny hitch at the corner of his mouth could be amusement or annoyance. “Your breath is a sight better than Jack’s. And based on last night, if I wake up from a nightmare you’re a lot more fun, too.”

“Bennett.” It was the first acknowledgment of her midnight invasion of his room and the embarrassment factor was nuclear.

“Are you blushing?” His voice veered from disbelief to amusement. “You literally jumped me last night, and now you’re red as a radish.”

“‘Jumped’ is a strong word. I advanced with intent.”

“Yeah, your intention was to jump me.”

She slapped his arm and would have again if he hadn’t grabbed her hand.

“See there, you can’t keep your hands off me. I’m irresistible,” he said.

Had this teasing, flirty side of him been lying dormant? Did she inspire it? “You are pretty irresistible.” She popped over the console far enough to kiss his cheek.

A familiar solemnness came over him, but instead of ignoring the moment, he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss on her palm. His lips were soft and warm; his beard, scratchy. Her nerve endings fired, overly sensitized to the difference.

He let go and she pressed her palms together as if she could transfer the feeling. A faint awkwardness descended. The new territory they’d entered together held surprises and pitfalls, and it would take time to explore and map.

The rest of the trip they discussed her business plan in depth. He pointed out some places, like advertising, where she would need to put more money. By the time they arrived at a potential property, she felt as comfortable as she ever would with moving forward.

Risk would always be lurking like a dark cloud, but if she succeeded the reward would be worth it. She glanced over at Bennett. Could the same be said for whatever was brewing between them?

They spent an hour looking over the empty retail space. In a strip mall close to the base, it was easy to get into and out of and saw lots of morning traffic. A storage area in the back could hold a roaster and bagging operations. Even better, there was a bakery across the street and possibilities fired in her brain. The coffee shop could sell bakery items and the bakery could sell Home Front coffee. A win-win.

Once they were back in the cab of the truck, she said, “It’s a great location. I need to run numbers on comparable rents in the area, though.”

“He’s asking too much. We need to talk him down.” He reached across her, opened the glove compartment, and dropped a paper in her lap. “Comparable rents in the area for similar square footage.”

She scanned the numbers. The ire that rose was aimed mostly at herself. She should have run the numbers already. It was basic stuff, and she hadn’t thought of it until now. She rattled the paper close to his face. “Why didn’t you share this with me earlier?”