It had been nice spending one-on-one time with Quinten, eating breakfast together, and then playing on the pier. “So you have me all to yourself tonight?”
Her pleasure must’ve shown on her face because he said, “Yes. We’re making it a priority to have time alone with you. Ethan mentioned a long time ago that they make it a priority to have regular time alone with Grace. She seems pretty happy, so we’re taking a page from their playbook.”
“I love being with both of you, but I do honestly need this time with you alone too. We’re only as strong together as we are when it’s just two of us.”
They decided to drive back to Divine and have a quiet supper at Rudy’s before going home. At the restaurant, Ben asked, “What did you think of Keller Matthews for the restaurant manager position?”
“I liked him. He worked his way up in his family’s restaurant, from busboy to management, so he’s bringing practical knowledge in addition to his business degree. I feel confident about him if Ethan recommended him. I offered Sylvan Anders the club management job because I think she is qualified. She said the reason she applied for a waitress position was because she moves around a lot and didn’t want to commit long term anywhere. She’s supposed to let me know her decision this week. She has this unflappable vibe, like nothing surprises or fazes her. And she has tons of experience. If I can get the right people in there in those two management positions, I’ll be very happy. I appreciate Ace and Kemp’s efforts with the background checks too.”
Ben smiled. “Did you think you were going to be doing everything on your own?”
“Yes, actually I did.”
“Any regrets?”
Camilla chuckled. “No, I’m relieved. It’s a lot for one person to manage, much less handle each task on their own.”
“There wouldn’t be enough hours in the day for all the work, if you did. You’d burn yourself out in no time. And you wouldn’t have any time for your men, either. We were worried you’d think we were being pushy or high-handed.”
“I might’ve, a few weeks ago, but not now. I’m learning my limitations.”
“You’re still looking tired. Did you make a doctor’s appointment?”
“Yes, I did. I see Emma later this week.”
“Good. I know it makes me sound like a caveman, but you’re my woman, and I want to take care of you.”
“Pushy caveman. You’ll have to put me to bed early,” she murmured suggestively.
Ben arched an eyebrow and gave her a sexy smile, his dark-brown eyes promising all sorts of fun. “Don’t think I won’t, sugar.”
The waiter brought their food, and as they ate, Camilla decided to broach the subject that had been on her mind since her talk with him about his family. He might be more willing to answer her questions if it was just the two of them.
“Ben?”
“Hmm?”
She turned slightly in the booth so she faced him and said, “Remember when you told me about your mom and dad…and what happened?”
“Sure.”
“Could I talk to you about that? I’ve been curious.”
His expression was more guarded but he nodded. “There isn’t much more to tell but you can ask me whatever you want to know. I’m not hiding anything from you.”
“Thank you. Do you ever feel…angry toward your mom?”
“You mean for dying?” He paused and thought the question over and she remained silent. “For a while, yeah, I did. I remember thinking, as a teenager, that I should’ve been enough of a reason for her to…”
“To keep living? To persist?”
Ben nodded at her affirmatively, and though the subject was sad and serious, she could see appreciation in his eyes that she got what he was trying to say. Boy, did she understand that sentiment. She’d always wondered why she’d never been enough to keep her mom going, pushing forward despite the heartache, just to see her daughter grow up.
“Do you miss your grandparents?” She’d never really known either set of her grandparents. She had some fuzzy photographs but her recollections were dim and from the perspective of a very small child.
“You said that you and Ethan had a dream of starting a saloon together, remember?”
Ben’s eyes twinkled with good humor, which made her feel better for poking at potentially tender areas in his past. “To get chicks, yeah.”
“Did you ever feel—I don’t know—odd about opening up a nightclub that serves alcohol, when your dad had drinking problems?”
“If I blame the alcohol for what happened then that takes the responsibility off of my dad. He made those decisions, to give in to an addiction that ruined his health, hurt my mom, and ultimately deprived me of both of them. He chose to drive while intoxicated and that was on him. Have you ever once seen me drunk?”