Amy bit back a laugh. Ben was concerned about her reputation? The woman, who had a child out of wedlock with a wannabe rock star. Oh, how she loved this man, and the gentleman he was.
“It’s your home. I should be the one to go.”
“No, it’s my parent’s house. My home is next door being inhabited by a relentless widow.”
“I’ve been told I’m pretty good widow repellent. Do we need to stage a PDA in the front yard?”
“Hmm... sounds tempting, but it won’t be necessary. I told Debbie I’m ready to move back into my home. She’s supposed to be out by the end of the month.” Relief filled his voice. “Do you think you can handle living there? In the future, of course, after we’re married?” He rushed to make his intentions clear.
“I don’t know.” She pretended to contemplate the dilemma. “It’s such a big house, probably bigger than all the apartments I’ve ever lived in combined. It’ll be hard to get used to living in such comfort.” She smiled to make sure he knew she was teasing.
“I meant, will it bother you to live in a home I shared with Melanie?”
“Melanie is as much a part of your life as Lance is mine. Of course, Melanie was a higher quality part than Lance,” she said with a wry smile. “I would never ask you to give up or turn away from that part of your life. You can always talk to me about Melanie, and when she’s old enough to understand, I want you to tell Cassey all about her mom.”
He captured her lips again. The intensity of this kiss told her he’d held back in their previous kisses. Electricity shot through Amy and her heart raced as one kiss turned into many.
* * *
By the timeBen and Amy returned to the gym, the clean-up was well under way. Having signed up for clean-up duty, Amy jumped in, while Hope and James took the girls home to put them to bed. Ten minutes later, with arms full of centerpieces, Amy ran into a scowling Debbie.
“There’s our heroine now.” The venom in Debbie’s voice made her usually attractive features not so pretty. “Look at you. You’re such a do-gooder.”
“Give it a rest, Debbie. I know you don’t like me, and I can’t say I care much for you either, but stop blaming me for Ben, Robert, and Jake’s rejection of you.”
Debbie sneered. “You may have won the date with Ben, but don’t think you’re going to get anything more than that. Don’t forget I’m the one living in his house.”
Not for long.Leaning closer to Debbie, Amy dropped her voice. “And I’m the one livingwithhim. Did you know he sleeps shirtless?”
Stooping to Debbie’s level was petty, but Amy was tired of her better-than-you attitude. Ben was in love with her, and she refused to let Debbie put a damper on her joy.
The other woman’s eyes narrowed. “Well, I guess you really are the slut we all thought you were.” She spun on her heels and walked away.
A gasp behind Amy made her turn around.
Paige, wide-eyed and rosy-cheeked, gaped after Debbie. “I can’t believe she said that to you.”
Amy shrugged. “She doesn’t like me, I get it. I think she sees me as a threat. Kind of ironic, don’t you think? With all the money she has, she’s jealous of poor, little me.”
Paige put her arm around Amy. “My grandpa used to say, you’re never poor if you’ve got love.”
Amy’s gaze drifted to where Ben worked, dismantling the makeshift stage. Despite blowing her savings, Amy felt wealthy indeed.
“Your grandpa sounds pretty wise.”
