Page 85 of A Fool's Game

“We had a feeling there was something going on with the three of you,” Victoria braves, cutting through the tension. “Thanks for letting us know. We’re happy for you,” she adds, elbowing the still silent Ben.

He coughs softly and shakes his head. “Yes, of course. You haven’t brought anyone home to meet me in…” He cocks his head to the side, letting his gaze drift. “Well, ever, really.”

Ben focuses that heavy gaze back on Ainsley as if Ainsley did something wrong, and I can’t help it. The words just slip out.

“Maybe he was worried you’d steal them.”

The women gasp in unison, a sound that would be far more comical in just about any other situation. I brace myself for the lashing, happy to be taking it instead of Ainsley.

But it never comes.

Ben just laughs, leaning back in his seat, wine goblet in hand. “I guess I deserved that.”

He sips his wine and then sits forward again, leaning toward me across the table. “You’re the first person to ever make a joke about it.”

I shrug, unsure where we stand. “I’ve got plenty more.”

“One is enough, I think,” Gem chimes in from beside me.

I can feel her glaring at me, but I don’t look away from Ben. “Ainsley’s doing a great job in the kitchen, you know.” I glance over at Ainsley to make sure he’s surviving all this. He’s a bit flushed, but he looks like he’s recovering from blurting out his deep, dark secret. I look back to Ben, who’s waiting for my gaze. “He’s a natural.”

Ben’s eyebrows raise slightly at the insinuation, and he seems to recover himself. “There are no bad skills to learn. That’s what college is for. It will all serve him well in his career.”

“As an environmental engineer,” I say.

Ben shrugs, sitting back and seeming to notice we aren’t alone for the first time in a few moments. “Or an environmental lawyer or a corporate lawyer for an environmental engineering firm.”

“Ainsley isn’t in law school,” I say, trying to keep my voice as calm as this seasoned attorney.

“Law school,” Ben replies, holding my gaze for another moment before shifting it to Ainsley, “is a graduate program. Ainsley is getting his undergrad right now.”

“I know exactly what Ainsley is doing at college, Ben,” I send my words across the table, speared with sharpened ends, and watch them land. Then I go for the kill. “Are you sure you do?”

“Alright, alright,” Victoria says loudly, at the same time Gem practically rises from her seat, saying “That’s enough of this.”

The two women lock eyes and smile.

Victoria turns back to the table, clearly deciding to take charge. “You two need to let this go. We’re enjoying dinner at a beautiful restaurant. This is not the time for pissing contests.”

She pushes her chair back and half rises, waving to our server. “We’re ready for…something. Whatever you’ve got.”

Settling back into her chair, she smiles at the white cladwaiter who arrives with a pour of red wine. As if more alcohol was what we needed.

“This has been a wild ride of a meal, hasn’t it?” Victoria laughs. “I hope you three start coming out to the estate. You could really liven up the holidays.”

I see the first crack in Ben’s perfect mask when he looks quickly down at his lovely bride to be. “Is life so boring?”

“No, no. Of course not.” She slips one arm through his and leans her chin on Ben’s shoulder. “But this is so fun.”

He smiles down at her in what could be a smirk. “A little drama is what the lady craves?”

Victoria shrugs, smiling up at Ben like he hung the damn moon.

I look away from the lovebirds to meet Ainsley’s gaze for the first time since he claimed me in front of the man he fears most in this world.His eyes are soft, cheeks flushed from the wine and the tropical heat. His shirt still hangs open, boldly displaying his chest at a Pendleton badged restaurant. My own shirt is buttoned up nearly to the top.

“You okay?” I mouth, and he nods.

The subtle intimacy of the moment. The familiarity, like he really does belong to me, hits me hard.Leaving me wide open, vulnerable, and completely unprepared for the next attack.

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