Page 107 of Consumed By You
“Well, he loved his company.”
Benjamin is practically oozing irritation. “He would have loved it a lot less if it bankrupted him.”
“That is true.” I sense disapproval from Luke, and for some strange reason, it annoys me.
Benjamin moves over to the sink and gets the bucket. “May I speak to you a moment, Darcy?”
“Um, sure.” I look up at Luke and smile. “I’ll be right out.”
“Okay.” He nods, and with one last glance at Ben, disappears.
I lean against the counter and cross my arms, waiting.
“I can see my being here is making you uncomfortable, and I’m sorry for that.”
His voice is soft and gentle and it immediately calms me.
“I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I didn’t know you were having a party.”
“You didn’t?”
“I didn’t know if you were alone, so I came and brought your present. Things were left really badly between us yesterday. I wanted to make amends.”
“That’s sweet of you to have thought about me.” I fidget in place. “As for yesterday, I do understand why you were upset, I guess.”
“I had no idea he was here or I would have left.”
“Really?” I ask curiously, and his lips turn up slightly.
“No. Probably not.” He sighs and sets the bucket on the counter. “I don’t know what to do right now…what to say.”
Neither do I.“I’m sorry.”
“Are you planning on dating this guy?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“But you like him.”
“Yes.”
“More than you like me?”
“Benjamin, please. You know the answer to that.”
Frustrated, he runs a hand through his hair.
“I wassomad at you.”
“Me too. I don’t know where it went.”
“What?”
He grins. “The anger.”
“I’m sure it’s not far away.” I move to jump up on the counter, nearly missing the edge, and he puts his hands on my waist, lifting me the rest of the way.
