Wally showed the paramedics out, and Charlotte watched them go just to have something to focus on other than the handsome man in front of her. “There are a couple of fast-food places with drive-thru windows a few miles from here, and then there’s King’s. It’s a little hole-in-the-wall place which serves mostly pub food. They don’t deliver, but you can probably get something to go.”
“Then there’s Mona’s. I was about to head out there myself, and you both are invited.”
Charlotte whirled around to gape at Wally. His invitation shocked her more than realizing she attacked a motel guest.Wasn’t this the guy Wally wanted her to stay away from? Now, he was inviting the stranger to his girlfriend’s home and putting her in a position to sit at the same table with the stranger she’d just injured. Before she refused the invitation, the stranger interjected.
“And what is Mona’s?”
Wally puffed his chest, his mouth broadening into a wide smile. “Mona is my girl and a mighty fine cook. She’s making her famous pork chops, and I guarantee they will make you forget all about your broken nose.”
“Wally—” Charlotte began, but the man talked over her.
“I wouldn’t want to intrude, and I’m not sure I’m in any shape to be good company. I haven’t even had a chance to clean up from work.”
Charlotte tried again. “And I—"
Wally shook his head. “Nonsense. It’s the least we can do for you, being such a good sport about what happened. Besides, the more, the merrier where Mona is concerned. She always makes more than the two of us can eat anyway. I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Wally, I can’t,” Charlotte finally blurted, close to shouting just to get her boss’ attention. “I have to finish up the last of the rooms, and then I’m sure Ms. Miller will have something for me to eat. I hate for it to go to waste.”
Wally waved off her attempt to use her landlady as an excuse to refuse his invitation. “Just call Birdie and tell her to wrap it up for you to have tomorrow. You know she won’t mind.”
Charlotte opened her mouth again, but no words came out. Wally wasn’t wrong. Birdie Miller would have food waiting forher, but Birdie always cooked enough for several people. Since moving into the woman’s garage apartment, Charlotte had been treated to many home-cooked meals under the guise that the food would spoil because Birdie couldn’t possibly eat it all. Birdie had gotten used to cooking for her husband and boys over the years, and now that she lived alone, she’d not learned to prepare smaller portions.
Charlotte’s eyes pleaded with Wally to let her off the hook, but he chose to focus on the stranger to wait for a reply. She almost whimpered in frustration when the stranger addressed her.
“I’m game if you are.”
Charlotte raised her gaze to meet his before she thought better of it. His expression had softened, his eyes lightening to a warm, molten chocolate meant to reassure her. He smiled, and she blinked at how potent the simple gesture was.How could one man be so scary and so devastating at the same time?
Once he had her attention, he continued. “If they don’t mind holding dinner up for us, I can follow you to Mona’s house after you finish your work and I clean up.”
Charlotte opened her mouth to refuse, but Wally interrupted her this time. “Great. I’ll call Mona and let her know. I’ll even call Birdie for you, Charlotte, so you can get back to your work.”
Wally hurried to his office to make the call, leaving her alone with the stranger — something he said he didn’t want to happen. Charlotte’s mind whirled with how quickly the situation spun out of her control. She blew out a frustrated breath at a loss as to what to do now.
“I’m sorry. I feel like we railroaded you into this dinner.”
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “It wasn’t you. It was Wally. He can be very pushy when he sets his mind on something. He feels bad about what happened. We both do. He prides himself on the hospitality of the motel, and he feels it’s his personal mission to make sure his guests have everything they need.”
“The special treatment isn’t necessary, but I won’t turn down a home-cooked meal. I don’t get many of those these days. I understand if you decide not to join us, but I hope you do.”
“Surprised you’d say that after I broke your nose,” Charlotte grumbled.
Ben chuckled. “I told you, this isn’t the first broken nose I’ve had, and it probably won’t be the last. I can’t complain, especially since I’m getting a home-cooked meal and some great company out of the deal.”
Realizing there was no point in arguing, she finally nodded. “I guess I’d better get to work then.”
“Before you do, can I get those towels from you first?”
She turned back to the stranger and felt a million butterflies flutter in her stomach to find him so close. “Of course.”
Charlotte led the way down the sidewalk to where she left her cart. She heard the man’s footsteps behind her at first, but then he was at her side, walking to the side of the walkway to give her plenty of space. She tried to relax the tenseness in her shoulders. It was hard to pretend she wasn’t bothered when she felt his presence intently.
When they reached her cart, she managed to keep it between her and him as she gathered a stack of towels and passed them over.
“Thank you, um… Did I hear Wally call you Charlotte?”
“Did I hear Wally call you Charlotte?”
