Millionaires' Destinies(200)

And maybe, just maybe she could be brave enough to put that kindness to the test and give him a chance…if he wanted one. Now there, she thought, was the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question.

“Stay here for a few days, Mother. Meet Ben,” she pleaded.

“Not this time,” Prudence said. “But I will come again soon.”

“Promise?”

“Absolutely. The ice is broken now. It won’t be so difficult next time. Perhaps your grandparents will come, too.”

“I’d like you to meet Ben’s aunt, too. She’s a remarkable woman, and she’s an artist, as well. I think the two of you would hit it off.” She imagined the two women sitting in the sunshine on the coast of France, easels in front of them. She could see the image quite vividly. It made her smile.

Her mother gave her a fierce hug. For the first time in years and years, Kathleen felt that she had a real mother again. Not that there weren’t likely to be bumps in the road. They were both, after all, strong-willed people in their own very different ways. But today had given them a fresh start, and Ben, even though he hadn’t been here, had played an amazing part in that. It was just one more thing she owed him for.





Ben was feeling fairly cranky, and he wasn’t entirely certain why. Okay, that was a lie. He knew precisely why he’d been growing increasingly irritable over the past week. He was growling at everyone who dared to call or come by. Even the usually unflappable Mack had commented on his foul temper and taken a wild stab at the reason for it.

“Something tells me you haven’t seen Kathleen lately,” Mack had observed in midconversation. “Do yourself a favor and go see her or call her. Do something. Otherwise the rest of us are going to have to start wearing protective gear when we come around.”

This last was a reference to the mug Ben had tossed across his studio at Mack’s untimely interruption of his work. Not that his work was going all that well, but he was sick of people turning up without so much as a phone call to warn him. Not that Mack had ever called ahead. He just brought food to pacify his beast of a younger brother.

“My mood has nothing to do with Kathleen,” Ben had all but shouted.

“If you say so,” Mack responded mildly.

“I say so.”

Mack had wandered around the studio, careful to keep a safe distance away from Ben, then asked casually, “Have you slept with her yet?”

Ben’s gaze shot to his brother. If Mack had been closer, he’d have slammed him in the jaw for asking something like that. Fortunately for both of them, there was enough distance between them that it didn’t seem worth the effort. Besides, Mack still had a few quick moves left over from his football days. Ben probably wouldn’t have caught him squarely on the jaw, anyway.

He scowled at Mack instead. “Do you think I’d tell you if I had?”

Mack, damn him, had grinned. “You haven’t, then. I figured as much. You need to make your move, pal. I think you can chalk this black mood of yours up to suppressed hormones.”

“I think I can chalk it up to an interfering brother who doesn’t know when to mind his own damn business.”

Mack had shrugged. “That, too.” He’d headed for the door, then. “Think about it, bro. If the woman’s tying you up in knots like this, it’s time to do something about it. Stop sitting on the fence. Get her into your bed or out of your life.”

Ever since Mack had walked out, Ben had thought of very little else. It was true. He wanted to make love to Kathleen, had wanted to for a long time now. Hell, he’d even started to miss her popping up out here, pestering him, bringing along those delectable baked goods of hers.

And despite all of her declarations reminding him to keep things professional, he was all but certain she was going just about as crazy as he was.

He’d eaten every last muffin, every scone, the rest of the blueberry pie and all those raspberry tarts, all the while mentally grumbling that if she kept it up, he was going to gain twenty pounds before Christmas.

And yet, when no further pastries had appeared, he’d felt oddly bereft. The running he’d been doing to burn off calories suddenly had to burn off the restless frustration that plagued him.

Mack was right. He needed to do something and he needed to do it now.

As if Kathleen were once more attuned to his thoughts, he heard her car tearing up the driveway, taking it at a reckless speed that only she dared. He’d mentioned that more than once, his heart in his throat, but she’d remained oblivious to his entreaties. Because he hadn’t wanted to get into why her driving terrified him, he let it pass each time. Today she seemed to be in a particular hurry.