“Pretty sure.” He took a step closer. “So? Will you have dinner with me?”
Hide what you love.
But maybe—just maybe—she didn't have to anymore.
“Yeah,” Charlie said. “Yeah, I'd like that. Just give me a sec to do something with my hair so I don’t walk in looking like I have a rat’s nest on my head.”
“You look like a woman who’s spent a happy day in the mountains.” He lowered his voice. “You look gr-great.”
Her cheeks heated. “Thank you.”
The smile that broke across Ben's face was worth the risk.
TWELVE
The restaurant was even nicerthan Charlie expected—white tablecloths, candlelight, soft music playing in the background. She felt suddenly, acutely aware of her tactical pants and the ponytail she'd hastily redone in the bathroom mirror. She wished she’d at least brought along some mascara and made a mental note to add it to her go-bag.
And yet, Ben looked at her like she was…well, a princess.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as Ben held the restaurant door for her, and again when he pulled out her chair before she could even think to sit down. The gesture made her chest go warm.
“Thank you,” she said, settling into the seat.
“Of course.” Ben took the chair across from her, looking equally out of place in his flannel and cargo pants. But that quiet confidence he showed the maître d' made it work.
Their server appeared with menus and water glasses. Charlie opened hers and tried to focus on the words instead of the fact that she was on a date—anactualdate—with Ben Massey.
“The ribeye's good here,” Ben offered. “If you like steak.”
“Are you kidding? I love steak. Who doesn’t?” Charlie looked up from the menu. “You've been here before?”
“A few times. Shane’s dragged us all out here a couple of times for special occasions.” Ben's mouth quirked. “It beats Cocktails and Chicken Strips.”
“Oh, yeah, I actually love Cocks and Strippers,” she said without thinking, just as their server passed their table of course. He nearly dropped his water pitcher. Charlie slapped her hand over her mouth as her eyes bugged out.
Ben laughed, deep and low. He picked up his water glass.
“I would crawl under the table right now but the server might get the wrong idea,” Charlie practically squeaked.
Ben’s face turned bright red as he nearly spit his water out.
“Oh, God, I’m making a mess of this. You’re never going to want to be seen in public with me again.”
“Oh, quite the contrary. I haven’t had this much fun in a while.”
Charlie laughed, and some of the tension eased from her shoulders.
They ordered—ribeye for both of them, medium-rare—from a different server. Suddenly it was just the two of them, candlelight flickering between them, and Charlie's brain went blank.
Say something. Anything. Well, maybe not anything because see how that turned out?
“So,” Ben said at the same time she started, “How?—”
They both stopped. Ben chuckled again.
“You first,” Charlie said.
“I was just going to ask how you ended up in Colorado. I mean, I know Shane recruited you, but that's a big move from the coast.”
