Now that she understood the source of Ben’s pain, his fascination with Kallie didn’t bother her so much. He and his parents undoubtedly saw the resemblance between Kallie and Ben’s daughter, Cassey. Even their names were similar. Her heart hurt for them. She couldn’t imagine losing Kallie.
She studied a picture of the Young family on the mantle. To the right of Hope stood a pretty girl she assumed was Ben’s younger sister. On James’ left stood a younger, beardless Ben.So that’s what he looks like when he smiles.
“Nice,” she murmured. “Heishandsome under all that facial hair.”
Realizing she’d spoken aloud, she checked over her shoulder to see if anyone had heard. She was alone, except for Kallie, who played on the floor with toys that hadn’t been there this morning. Kallie was used to hearing her mom talk to herself.
She stared at Ben’s picture again. His full beard hid strong cheekbones, a chiseled jaw, and a dimple in his left cheek.
A wedding photo of Ben and his wife caught her attention. “What a beautiful couple.” Not only was he handsome, his wife looked like she’d walked off the cover of a magazine, with beautiful brown eyes, and long, blond hair hanging in loose curls. The Ben she met today looked so different from the happy groom in the picture.
“Poor Ben. He lost everything in that accident.”
Tearing her eyes away from the wedding photo, she studied a picture of Ben’s little family. His wife held a beautiful baby girl about six months old, with fluffy blond curls, and her father’s sapphire-blue eyes.How adorable.No wonder everyone grew emotional when they saw Kallie. The baby in the picture resembled Kallie at that age.
Amy studied the next photo, a close-up of the baby’s smiling face. She looked familiar.Is it because she has her father’s blue eyes?
Hearing the front door open, Amy stepped away from the photos not wanting Ben to catch her snooping.
He entered the family room and smiled. “I hope you’ve settled in.”
Amy’s heart stalled, and a smile pulled at her lips when she took in Ben’s appearance. Was this the same man she met this morning?
He’d cut his hair and trimmed his beard down to the jawline. His cheekbones, now more pronounced, emphasized his slenderness.No wonder everyone wants to feed him.
Despite his lean build, prominent biceps showed below his sleeves. The blue of his t-shirt emphasized the intensity of his eyes.
Amy had never seen eyes so blue.Nor had she ever seen eye so full of pain.
“Yes, we have, thank you.”
“And Kallie is adjusting okay?” His face filled with longing as his gaze rested on Kallie.
“I think so. She’s such a good-natured baby, it takes a lot to upset her.”
“As long as her tummy is full, right?” Ben gave a slight smile.
Amy laughed. “Yes, she’s not happy when she’s ‘hangry’.” Pointing toward his head, she said, “You look different, I mean... nice.”
Ben dipped his head and scratched his jaw. “Thanks.”
Amy soon found herself seated across from Ben at a gleaming cherry wood dining table. Kallie sat in a highchair beside her. Hope must have had it stored away in the basement with the playpen and baby toys. Had they been for Ben’s baby? Would seeing Kallie in this highchair be a painful reminder of what he’d lost?
Throughout dinner, Amy felt Ben’s gaze on her and Kallie. Of course, her eyes were often drawn to him too. She’d never been a fan of beards, but she couldn’t deny Ben was hot.
What’s wrong with me?She’d left one attractive man last night and now was ogling the next one to come along?Boy, am I messed up.
“Amy got a job at the sheriff’s office,” James told Ben. “She’ll cover for Janice’s maternity leave.
Ben’s eyebrows arched. “You’re sticking around? That’s... that’s great.”
Was the stumble in his words caused by surprise, or didn’t he like the idea of her staying with his parents indefinitely?
“And Faith’s going to tend Kallie,” Hope added.
“Why am I not surprised?” Again, a half-smile lit his face.
Amy saw a glimpse of the dimple in his cheek at the edge of his newly trimmed beard. The sight of it caused a funny flutter to race through her stomach.
