Page 31 of Wine, Whiskey, & Lipstick 2

Concerned, Dillyn stopped walking too. She placed a gentle hand on his forearm, “Ben?”

Her soft voice brought him back to the present, but his throat was thick. There wasn’t any way he could respond.

After another moment, Dillyn spoke again, “Are you okay?”

Ben couldn’t look at her. Not yet. He had to get his shit together first. He gripped his phone so tight he thought it might shatter. After another few seconds, he cleared his throat, “Uh. Yeah. Just reading this message that came through.”

Dillyn didn’t believe him. “Problems?”

He took a quick breath, lifted his head, and gave her a lop-sided grin. “All good. Work stuff.”

Dillyn’s gaze locked with his. Ben’s face was pale, making his piercing blue eyes even more pronounced.Was it about Selah? The abduction?Whatever was going on, Ben wasn’t ready to share, and wouldn’t she be the biggest hypocrite trying to force him? Instead, Dillyn trusted that he would tell her whatever was happening when the time was right.

Ben could see that Dillyn was worried. She didn’t quite have the poker face she thought she had.Nope. She didn’t need to be worried about me. Not on my watch.Ben flashed her a full-reassuring smile that he didn’t feel.A worried Dillyn wasn’t a healthy Dillyn. She had had enough of that for a lifetime, and Rylee reminded him to handle his business. This time, he would not fail. Ben would make sure that Dillyn felt both physically and emotionally secure. That brought him back to his original question. “When are we going to see the doc again?”

Gah! That again.For some reason, the hallway to the kitchen felt miles away as she continued toward it. They were never going to get there. Dillyn had no idea how to answer Ben when her head was so mixed up.What are you going to say?After the accident, she wondered if she should continue this pregnancy.Better question, what are you going to do?Given everything that had happened with Lana and Rylee, Dillyn had to tread carefully. Ben had been through enough, and she didn’t want to add to his pain.

The problem amongst so many was that heneedednormal, and Dillyn wasn’t sure she could give him that. She was a walking disaster, and every day was a struggle.

Dillyn was fighting hard to silence the noise, butyou’re too damned damagedkept echoing throughout her mind, and those words had never been louder.

She was pregnant with Ben’s baby, and he simplywanted to know when her follow-up doctor’s appointment was. He wasn’t asking for the world. Still, the question itself felt overwhelming.I need a little more time.The doctor had confirmed that she was healthy, and so was the baby while she was in the emergency room.

Did she want to be a mom, or was she just afraid?It was an internal battle Ben had no idea she was fighting and a question Dillyn didn’t have an answer to.

Longest walk ever to the kitchen.Dillyn thanked her lucky stars that Cat was filling her water bottle at the sink. She would serve as a much-needed buffer.

Ben hadn’t even noticed Cat. He was entirely focused on Dillyn and doing his best to maintain patience. “So . . . when are you going to make it?”

“Why do you keep asking me that?”

“Because you haven’t answered. If you answer, I’ll stop askin’.”

Cat was a hot, sweaty mess from an early morning run around the house grounds.

If Dillyn’s exaggerated faux smile didn’t give away the ballgame, speaking several octaves higher than her normal voice certainly did, “Morning!”

Cat glanced between them. Initially, her lips parted as if she were going to return her greeting with one of her own, but then she snapped her mouth shut. A person would have to be blind to see that Ben and Dillyn were fighting, and Cat wanted no part of it. Instead, she grabbed the morning paper and sat at the table.

Dillyn was irritated with Cat’s knowing gaze. Almost as irritating as she was with Ben. She had a way of seeing right through to a person’s soul.Today, that shit was annoying.Dillyn’s face must have expressed exactly how she felt because Cat didn’t say anything. Instead, she ignored them both.

“I’m not letting this go.”

Has Ben always been this pushy?“I knowwwww!” Dillyn placed both her hands flat onto the island's surface and lifted her head heavenward as if asking God to give her strength. “Please . . . STOP hovering.”You’re driving me fuckin’ nuts!

Equally frustrated, Ben ran a hand through his already tousled hair, “Since askingwhen are you going to make a doctor’s appointmenthovering?”

Dillyn turned around to face him, “How about right now?”

Why was she being so difficult?Being patient and understanding were not Ben’s best qualities, but dating Dillyn had forced him to work on both. However, Ben had had enough of Dillyn procrastinating. He wasn’t going to compromise regarding the health of their baby. If she didn’t make an appointment, he sure as hell would!

“Hey . . . y’all back here?” Saved by the bell. Dillyn was glad for another slight reprieve since Cat decided to be zero help.

Wyatt came sauntering into the kitchen. “Actually . . . you don’t need to answer that. I heard y’all as I was walking in.” He chuckled. “Lover’s quarrel?”

This time, Dillyn didn’t mind Wyatt’s interruption. It probably saved Ben’s life. On the other hand,she was tired of the Cash brothers acting like this was their house.

Wyatt was speaking toBen and Dillyn, but his line of sight landed squarely on Cat. She was the real focus of his attention.

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