Page 105 of Just a Plot Twist
“Bens?” I breathe.
His smile is barely there. “How are you, Claire?” His voice is soft. Almost reverent. As if he can’t believe it’s actually me after all this time.
To be fair, it’s only been a couple days.
Or a thousand.
I step to him and grasp his hands. I want to squeeze him in one of those full-body, bear hugs, but I’m in charge around here. The prying eyes of my co-workers abound, and I need to stay professional, right?
“I’m good now,” I say. “How are you?”
He gives a slow smile. “Better now. Congrats on the job. You got things up and going right away.” He gestures to the crowd of people watching the new arrivals with interest.
The Tate family does cause a stir.
I lift a shoulder. “I’ve been planning for this moment for a long time.”
“Do you have spreadsheets about it?”
My cheeks are instantly hot. “Maybe.”
“A woman has to be prepared.” One corner of his mouth lifts in another smile.
Al’s giving instruction on identifying the thistles so it’s easier to deal with them,
and we take a moment to step behind a tree. “I called you,” I say, my voice slipping into uncertainty.
“I called you, too.” A heartbeat. “I should have left a message. I wasn’t sure what
you wanted, but I should have.”
“I didn’t know what you wanted, either.” I dip my chin and then meet his dark,
searching gaze. “I should have kept trying to get a hold of you.”
“There’s a lot to say.”
And do, I almost add. Like, what does a woman have to do to be able to hug a guy around here?
I feel the eyes upon us. The crew and volunteers are ready to go and everyone, including the trail guide, is waiting for me to kick this off.
But I don’t care. They all can wait three seconds while I give the man I love a hug, right?
It turns out to be a few more seconds than three, but far too soon, I break away and turn back to the crowd.
“Let’s get started, everybody! And thanks again.”
That’s the only signal the hiking club president needs, as he steps back and motions wide. “Grab your tools and let’s head up. Watch the trail tread. If you notice any issues with anything that you’re not able to take care of yourself, please alert me or Ms. Lawson.”
The group begins their ascent, and Benson and I stay back and watch people pass us. I begin thanking his family, and I’m emotional again at the big grins coming from all of them.
My sister’s smile is especially big.
“Soph, you knew about this?”
She traps her lip with her teeth and nods. “It was all Benson’s idea. He got everybody to come out.”
“You’ve doubled our numbers. Thanks so much.”
