Ben made a sound in the back of his throat and said, “Please don’t try to make anything with those three ingredients.”
“What’s in your refrigerator, Mr. Bachelor?”
“A bottle of Ranch and a six-pack of beer.”
“No judging.” I whirled my finger at his smug smile. “At least I have peas.”
The three oldest kids started fighting again over pencils and homework and I had to abandon my conversation with Ben to break them up. ThenJacedecided he would rather stand on the craft table then sit around it and color, so I had to deal with him.
By the time I got back to Ben, he was just ending a phone call.
“Alright,” I teased. “Let’s pool our resources. What can we make if we combine your bottle of Ranch with my bottle of ketchup?”
“No, need to try to figure out that perplexing puzzle. I just ordered pizza.”
My brain refused to accept his words. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Your children seem hungry.” He waved at the hooligans who had just broken out into a fight over an eraser. “You seem hungry.”
“But I-”
“And I really am hungry. I’m afraid of a dinner that consists only of condiments. I thought I would solve both of our problems.”
I was too overwhelmed with his generosity to protest anymore. “Thank you, Ben.”
His smile softened with friendly affection. “It’s my pleasure, Liz. I’m happy to help you.”
“You didn’t just help me, you saved my life tonight.”
He leaned forward so that we were only a few inches apart and he could look directly into my eyes. “Elizabeth, any time I can save your life by ordering pizza, please let me know. It’s a sacrifice I am more than willing to make.”
“I,er, um, thank you.” My words were a rushed whisper. I whirled back around to busy myself with something,anything, in the kitchen. “So what did you really come over for?Unless we’re so loud that you could hear us over at your place?”
“I brought some of your mail. A few pieces got mixed up with mine.Thought you might need your water bill.”He waved a couple envelopes in front of him before setting them on the counter.
“Oh, wow, thank you! That would have been bad. My kids can eat peas and ketchup for dinner occasionally, but they cannot go without baths. They are surprisingly smelly.”
“I don’t think that’s surprising,” he countered seriously.
I laughed and watched Abby try to pencil in a mustache onJace’swiggling face. He was probably right about that one.
“Abby, be careful of his eyes!”
She squinted studiously atJace’supper lip. “I know, Mom!”
Turning back to Ben, I caught him looking at me, not Abby. “I thought you came over to talk about Emma!” I blurted when panic burst to life inside of me.
“Oh, no.Uh, I didn’t come over here to talk about that, or, uh, her.”
“She says you haven’t called her. I thought you said she was fun.”
His eyebrows bunched together. “I’ve called her. She’s called me too.”
“What? She told me you two hadn’t really talked since the first date.”
“Oh, right. Well, we haven’t been on a second date .Maybe that’s what she meant.”
I narrowed my eyes on the giant boy-man in my kitchen and realized he was a terrible liar.“Why not?You said she was fun!” I knew I was repeating myself, but I couldn’t help it. What was his deal with my sister?
