Chapter 14
Maven
“How’d that go?” I asked Ben as we started the drive back toward Autumn Ridge. “Is everything ready to go for the barn raising?”
“It will be by Saturday.”
Finn rested his head on my lap, his pouty eyes aimed at Ben.
“What, boy?” Ben asked, petting the top of his head.
I stroked Finn’s back. “He’s sad you didn’t want to play fetch with us.”
Ben’s gaze shifted to me. “You’re a dog whisperer now too?”
“Look at that face.” I cupped his cute face and lifted it from my lap to better show Ben. “He’s clearly disappointed you wouldn’t throw the stick.”
At the word stick, Finn perked up.
“There wasn’t time. I told my parents I’d be there before eleven.”
My gaze shot to him. “To your parents’ house?”
He nodded.
“Can you drop me off at my mom’s on your way?
” Did I sound overly desperate? It was probably because I was.
Not that I hadn’t seen Tom and Ann from time to time over the years, but it had always been in passing.
And I hadn’t been to the Walker house since the divorce.
There wasn’t a memory I had of that place that didn’t involve Ben, and today was not the day I wanted to face the onslaught.
Honestly, I’d just prefer to avoid it indefinitely.
“With my mom working today and Carson having to digitize all the dental records, Penny would probably love some auntie time.”
Ben considered me for a bit too long, but he finally nodded his agreement.
Thank heavens!
Thirty minutes later, we pulled onto our lane. As we neared my mom’s, Carson’s black Lexus was backing out of the driveway.
Ben rolled down his window with a few swift rotations and leaned out when Carson had pulled forward. “Where are you two headed?” Ben asked.
“Penny and I are going to lunch.”
“Just the two of us!” she said excitedly from the backseat.
I stretched up far enough to get a glimpse and wave.
Of all the times for a daddy-daughter date, it would be today.
Ben glanced at me, silently asking what I wanted to do. Too bad my mom was at work or I’d just go hang out with her.
“Were you two headed here?” Carson asked, clearly sensing our hesitation. “Because if so—”
“We’re on our way to the Walkers’ house,” I said before he felt obligated to extend an invitation. Taking over a new dental practice had required more time than Carson could have imagined, so there was no way I was ruining this chance for Penny and Carson to have some special one-on-one time.
Carson’s brows rose, and he gave me a blink-twice-if-you’re-not-okay look.
Tempted to blink twice, I instead pasted on a smile. “I wanted to come by at some point today, so text me when you’re home.”
Carson gave a hesitant nod, glancing between us. “Will do.”
“Have fun!” I called, waving at a smiling Penny.
“So…” Ben let his truck idle in the middle of the lane. “I’m guessing you don’t really want to head to my parents’?”
“That would be super awkward, right? Especially considering our situation.” I unbuckled my seatbelt. “I can just wait here for Carson and Penny to—”
The sound of Ben’s phone ringing—well, not ringing exactly, considering it was playing the song I’d just set as one of his ringtones—echoed through the cab.
Ben glanced around as if trying to find the source of it before realizing it was his phone blaring: I’m too sexy for my shirt.
Too sexy for my shirt. So sexy it hurts.
His lips parted.
I grimaced. “You really should have changed your password.”
With an exasperated expression, he accepted the call. “Hey, Mom. Yeah. I’m actually just passing the Prices’ and will be there in a few minutes.” Whatever Ben’s mom said next caused Ben to send me a pointed smirk. “Yep, Maven’s coming with me.”
Despite Finn’s happy prance ahead of us, my heart rate steadily increased with each step I took toward the Walkers’ yellow two-story farmhouse.
“You okay?” There was not an ounce of sympathy in Ben’s expression, only that familiar hint of amusement. “You look like you’re about to be sick.”
“Just know, if I throw up, I’m aiming for your boots.”
Ben chuckled. “You’ve been here a thousand times. This isn’t any different.”
“Yes, it is,” I whispered in case any of the windows were open and there were listening ears around. “We’re divorced now.”
Ben leaned in close, his shoulder grazing mine. “We’re actually not.”
My stomach lifted, and I hated that he still had such a physical effect on me.
So much for it being an old habit I simply needed to overcome.
That was clearly never happening. “You know what I mean. I haven’t been here since…
” How was I supposed to finish that? Since you left me?
Since you shattered my heart? Since you chose this life over me?
I cleared my throat. “…since you moved back to Vermont.”
“And?”
We headed up the steps to the back porch. “And your parents probably think—”
“Maven.” He had reached the door, but instead of opening it, he stopped and faced me. “My parents adore you.” His expression softened, and his teasing morphed into something achingly familiar. “Nothing’s going to change that. Ever. Okay?”
My mouth suddenly felt like I’d tried to swallow a wad of cotton, so I just nodded.
“Good.” Ben glanced down at Finn, who sat on the step patiently watching the two of us. “Go on, boy. Just don’t get into too much trouble.”
Having received permission, Finn took off running in the direction of the stream.
“You’re not the only one who likes to hunt for frogs.” Ben turned the knob and held open the kitchen door. “After you.”
With my pulse still racing, I stepped through into the kitchen.
It looked exactly the same. The worn porcelain sink.
The same copper teakettle on the stove. A collage of pictures decorating the surface of the fridge.
The same delicious smell of fresh-baked bread lingering in the air.
It was as though I’d crossed a time barrier that had brought me back to a simpler time. A time where nothing would ever change.
I pushed the thought away. “Where is everyone?” I asked, realizing how quiet it was. An oddity for the Walker home.
“Oh, no one’s home.”
I spun toward Ben, my mouth open. “You let me get all worked up for nothing?”
“It wasn’t for nothing. I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Probably almost as much as you did when you broke into my phone. Speaking of which, I’m going to need that new password.”
I clasped my hands behind my back and smiled up at him. “What will you give me?”
He considered me for a moment. “How about a ride home?”
“Tempting,” I said dryly, trying not to be disappointed he hadn’t used the perfect setup I’d handed him to tease me. “I’ll have to think about it.” I looked around the kitchen again. “Why are we here exactly?”
“Archer Rockwood is running the hayrides at the festival and wanted to come have a look at the hay. My dad’s busy with the straw maze and my mom’s doing something for the wedding, so I volunteered to meet with him.”
I searched my mind for the name. “Archer?”
“James Carver’s cousin.”
My brows lifted. “The rodeo star?”
Ben nodded. “He moved to Autumn Ridge about five years ago. He owns Horseshoe Holler.” He’d either done really well in the rodeo or he’d come from family money because, from what I’d heard, Horseshoe Holler was a high-end stable.
I made my way to the fridge, scanning the pictures hung across the front with an eclectic collection of magnets.
Some photos were newer, including a wedding announcement for Jaxon and Landrie, and some were older, like the one of Ben and Tate in their football gear, Ben’s senior year and Tate’s junior.
There was also a recent family picture of the six of them—Tom, Ann, and their four boys.
My gaze caught on a picture of Ben and me at the lake. He stood behind me, his arms wrapped around my shoulders, my hands resting on his forearms as I leaned into him. We couldn’t have looked more in love.
“Told you,” Ben said, suddenly at my side, his gaze having followed mine. “She also hasn’t taken down the one your mom gave her of the two of us at your first violin recital. It’s still framed in the other room.”
I smiled. That one was one of my favorites. I was so clearly smitten with Ben—a massive smile on my face and leaning my head on his shoulder—while he looked more shocked than anything. Well, there was also a hint of panic in his eyes.
“She refuses to take them down until…” His words trailed off.
He didn’t need to say it. I knew. Until he found someone else.
My stomach twisted at the thought, but I glanced over at him, pretending it didn’t. “Just FYI, I would hate seeing old pictures of my boyfriend and his soon-to-be ex-wife proudly displayed when I visit his parents’ house.”
Ben shrugged. “It hasn’t been a problem.”
Because his girlfriends weren’t as jealous as I was? Or because they didn’t come to the house? Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of how to ask for the information in a non-incriminating way. I didn’t want Ben to think I cared. I honestly was just curious.
Okay, maybe a part of me cared.
Which was a problem and meant it was time to change the subject.
“I’ve always loved this one.” I pointed to a picture of all four Walker brothers at Leeland’s pond, Luke on Ben’s shoulders and Jaxon on Tate’s.
If you didn’t know the boys, the silly grins on their faces would seem to contradict the intense physical battle they were engaged in to unseat the other pair.
If you knew them, it captured their relationship perfectly—rough and tumble boys who enjoyed nothing more than being together.
Well, besides thrashing the others when the opportunity arose.
“Remember how you cowered near my mom, refusing to join the fun?”
I glanced over at him. “I must have been having an off day. I’m usually all about testosterone-driven competitions to establish hierarchical dominance between brothers.”