Page 33 of Hello Trouble

“I have a better idea,” I replied. “Let’s go to my place. That way we can sit at the table and enjoy.”

It was already clean, since I liked to keep things relatively tidy (except for my closet. That thing was a mess of epic proportions.) So when we walked inside, I wasn’t embarrassed or anything. In fact, it was kind of fun to see him so at odds with the girly interior.

He carried the food while I made a show of taking the flowers he got me and putting them in a colorful vase I thrifted.

With the flowers between us on the table, we opened the takeout boxes, eating the slightly cooled food with plastic silverware. For a little while, we were quiet, and I almost missed the banter Hayes and I shared. It seemed like conversation flowed so much easier with Hayes. But then I remembered Hayes was a womanizer and certainly not interested in anything real with me. Unlike Bennett.

So I planted myself firmly in reality and took the first step. “How was work today?”

Bennett wiped his mouth with a paper napkin and said, “It was a real headache. I was on a welding job at the feedlot and the wind picked up.”

“Oh no.” I winced. “Liv told me the dusty days were the worst out there. Hard to believe they keep water trucks on hand, not just for fires but to spray down the dust.”

Bennett said, “Thank God for that. How was work for you?”

“It was fine,” I said. “Edna’s stressed about end-of-month reports. Like she is every month. So that adds a little pressure.”

He chuckled. “You’d think she’d be used to it by now. Pretty sure I remember seeing her when my parents dragged me into her office from time to time when I was a kid.”

I smiled because I had the same memories from when I was younger. “I’m pretty sure she’ll never retire. She loves it too much.”

He nodded and put another bite of Salisbury steak in his mouth. And for a moment, it struck me. I could see us doing this twenty years from now. Eating dinner at the table. Talking casually about work.

And my heart sank at the idea.

Is that all there is?

“Is the food okay?” Bennett asked, studying me.

I must have made a face, so I tried harder to school my expression. “The food is wonderful. So... tell me something about you that I don’t know,” I suggested, hoping to learn something that would improve the night—to go a little deeper.

He scrubbed his hand over his face, deep in thought. “Hmm...” Then his eyes lit up. “My right foot is a whole size bigger than my left foot. Have to buy two sets of shoes to get one pair that fits the right way.”

Facepalm. So much for going deeper.

“Is that so?” I managed through the disappointment rising up and threatening to swallow me whole. This surface-level conversation was an echo of every other relationship I’d had in Cottonwood Falls... and a painful reminder of why I’d accepted a job in Dallas.

He nodded. “Buying two pairs gets a little expensive.” He took another bite.

I took a breath. Maybe I just needed to ask a better question. “How did you get into welding?”

“I’m terrible with cars, and Dad wouldn’t pay for a four-year degree. So I asked the tech college which job made the most money. Welding it was.”

“I see.” I chuckled. “Sounds like it’s paying off?”

“Oh, definitely. Guess I’ve always been practical that way.” He shrugged his broad shoulders.

Practical.

Isn’t that what I’d always wanted? A steady man I could count on like my family could always count on my dad?

I tried to shove down my confused feelings and just be in the moment. Conversation went about the same way until we finished eating. And then Bennett helped me clear away the trash. Some guys would have taken advantage of dining at my place and pushed for more, but he gave me a kiss on the cheek and said, “It was great getting to know you a little better tonight, Della. Liv was right about you.”

My eyebrows rose. “She was?” Liv hadn’t told me she’d spoken to Bennett.

“Oh yeah, she told me last week I should take you out. I’m glad I did... I’ll call you sometime?”

I nodded, holding a smile in place.

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