Chapter Twenty
Ben still had no idea that Aylin was the one who’d purchased the boutique.
Would he even give it a second thought? His mother seemed to think so. She’d actually been going out of her way to keep Aylin’s identity a secret during the past month while Aylin had been directing the remodeling of the boutique behind the scenes.
But part of the reason for the subterfuge was because both Jake and Aylin’s fathers were in the process of coming up with a plan to trap Ash when he arrived in Crystal Rock.
None of them doubted it would happen.
The problem was it was difficult trying to second guess Ash and what he had planned since he was completely unhinged as well as a sociopath.
She was pretty pleased with the progress that had been made inside her new boutique, she decided on a warm sunny day in April as she studied the different zones throughout the space. They would mostly handle women’s clothing but there was also an area where they would sell some assorted menswear and another where they would offer some exclusive items for kids.
It was time to get the word out. She’d open the boutique next week and prepare for a grand opening sometime during the next two months.
As she was ready to step from inside the boutique and into the breezeway, she saw a familiar face. Aylin took a moment to study Ben before stepping back inside. It was the closest she’d come to running into him. He’d sure filled out a lot during the past ten years. He was so distracted that he didn’t even look up from the notepad he had in his hand as he walked by. He appeared to be wearing an earbud, so he was most likely listening to something that had been recorded.
Once he walked by, she headed toward the restaurant to eat. She’d been staying in a suite here at the Inn for security reasons, but now that the boutique was nearly ready to open, she was thinking about purchasing a house. That way she could have some top-notch security installed and maybe even hire a bodyguard or two to live separately on the property.
Dad had called yesterday morning to tell her they had eyes on Ash. Still in New Orleans, he appeared to be roughing it—although Dad had trouble believing his uncle would leave him high and dry. Most likely, there was some sort of scheming going on since their organization was fond of blowing things up.
Alex and Celine had even invited Aylin to move in with them at their home on the lake but that would be as good as inviting trouble for them as well if Ash was bent on revenge. Besides, they had three kids now, so it was kind of crazy over there.
Joanie was sitting by herself in the restaurant, so Aylin headed over to join her.
“Hey there, Aylin. You’re actually eating in public?”
“Yes. In view of the staff for now, since all of you know I’m here. All the construction work and rewiring is done, so I won’t have any more workers going in and out. It’s just me now. I think we’re going to be opening next week, so I figured it was time to come out of my hole.”
“I can’t wait to see the place.”
“I think it’s going to do well. Meanwhile, sales from my online store are supporting all my renovations,” she said, ordering some clam chowder and broiled scallops from the menu. Everything Aylin had sampled in the month she’d been staying here had been excellent. “I’m thinking about buying a house since I’m going to stay here in Crystal Rock and manage the store.”
Joanie smiled widely. “I’m glad. If you’re looking for a realtor, Jake or Danny would probably be the ones to talk to.”
“I kind of figured that,” she admitted.
“I guess I’d better get back to work,” Joanie said, standing from the table just as Aylin’s clam chowder arrived. “Talk about coincidence. Here come Jake and Danny. They look like they might want to talk to you anyway.”
“Hi, Aylin,” Jake said, motioning at the empty chairs. “Do you mind if Danny and I join you? We need to talk to you. I think we’ve come up with the workings of a decent plan.”
“Of course, I don’t mind. I hope it won’t interfere if I open the store next week. It’s time. I still need to do a little work in the adjoining space, but we should be ready to host events in a few months.”
“I’m going to be so glad to see the store open again. I can’t wait to see your new designs on display,” Danielle confessed.
“I’m kind of excited about it myself,” Aylin agreed.
“I’m pretty certain that opening your store won’t interfere with what your dad and I are planning,” Jake said reassuringly. “At this point, all we want to do is keep you safe, without making it look like you’re expecting trouble. I’m not sure what Ben’s going to think about it though, despite Danny’s reassurances.”
“Jake, dear. I know my own son. There hasn’t been a steady woman in his life during the past ten years. I know he’s still thinking about Aylin. In fact, you’ll get a chance to see for yourself when he meets us here for lunch in another thirty minutes.”
“It was hard finding a house that would meet our security requirements. And harder yet tricking Ben into thinking that it was the house he really wanted to buy,” Jake said.
“Jake, believe me, I knew Ben would love the place when I saw it. Who wouldn’t? It’s right on the lake. It’s got room for all the toys he enjoys including a speedboat and snowmobile. The interior is beautiful. All it needs is furniture, but I thought that would be best left for Aylin to choose.”
Aylin blinked, looking uncertainly at Danielle first and then at Jake. It was odd how they’d apparently been trying to set her up with her son ever since she’d arrived in Crystal Rock. She’d gone along with it because…well, since the first time her eyes had met Ben’s, she’d never had the same reaction to any other guy she’d met. She’d never stopped thinking about him.
Aylin’s scallops arrived, and she immediately started eating. There was no use trying to figure out what was going on until either Jake or Danielle came right out and told her.
Besides, if Ben was meeting them for lunch, she needed to hurry and finish eating.
“Our idea is to have you and Ben work and live like a couple, even if that relationship isn’t real. The thing is Aylin, Ben is actually a trained FBI agent now,” Jake said. “He can protect you better than any bodyguard, and while he’s at it, he can be on alert for any signs of trouble from your brother. I don’t know if you knew this, but he noticed your brother and his uncle spying on you in the parking lot a few days before they kidnapped you ten years ago. Of course, he didn’t know they were watching you, but he knew enough to know that it was suspicious, so he reported it to me. We have absolutely no idea what to expect, but what we do know is that something is probably going to happen.”
“I knew that Ben had joined the Air Force,” she answered, finishing her lunch. “But he’s an FBI agent?”
“Covert,” Jake admitted. “Domestic terrorism is on the rise.”
Danielle smiled. “You seem pretty calm about all this.”
Aylin shrugged. “I’ve been dealing with security people my entire life. I was thinking about buying a house myself, but I was already figuring on having security people living on the premises.”
“Well, if you live with Ben, we’ll beef up the security to the best available. The only thing we probably wouldn’t want is for you to be there alone. But if you and Ben work the same hours, you can go back and forth every day with Ben to work.”
Aylin grimaced. “What if we don’t get along?”
Danielle grinned. “I’m not sure why, but I really can’t imagine that.”
“How will you tell Ben?” Aylin asked.
“Well, we’re kind of hoping that part takes care of itself once Ben sees you again,” Jake said slyly, suddenly grinning.
“I knew from the beginning that I was being set up for something,” Aylin said dryly. “But let’s see what happens. I will admit, I’ve nearly bumped into him a couple of times, and both times, my heart kind of did a flip flop.”
Danielle started laughing.
“I’d better get out of here before he arrives,” Aylin said, standing.
“Don’t you want to be here to be reintroduced?” Jake asked, looking puzzled.
“I think I’d like to surprise Ben, because that will tell me everything I need to know.”
Jake and Danielle were still laughing as Aylin headed through the restaurant back to her shop.
She had a little preparation to do before her chance encounter with Ben.
* * *
Mom cleared her throat as Ben ordered from the menu.
“You know who I talked to the other day?”
“Who?” Ben asked distractedly, in the process of handing over the menu after ordering a steak sandwich.
“Aylin Broussard.”
Ben stilled, trying to remain casual. But then he dropped the menu as he tried to hand it over to the server.
When Ben became sheepish, he noticed that for some strange reason, Mom was looking at Dad with an impish grin.
“How’s she doing?” he asked, trying to pretend like he didn’t really care.
“Very well, as far as business is concerned. She’s tired of all the security people that have had to tag along with her for the past ten years,” Mom admitted.
“I always got the impression that you were really attracted to her,” Dad said, appearing to study him intently. “I remember the look on your face after you found out she’d left town.”
“Well, it’s been ten years. Besides, why would anyone as famous as she is be interested in someone like me? She’s got dozens of guys coming onto her all the time.”
“That’s sounds kind of crazy, Danny, doesn’t it?” Dad asked, gazing at Mom. “Who does Ben remind you of when he talks like that?”
Mom snorted. “Why you, of course, Jake. You were a tough one to crack. All noble and sweet when all I wanted was you.”
Ben studied them both suspiciously. “Is something going on that I’m not aware of?”
Mom shrugged.
“We’ll see,” she answered, sounding cryptic.
Ben wondered what the heck the two of them were up to but didn’t give it another thought as lunch arrived. They’d been pulling this kind of stuff on him ever since he’d been a kid.