He hadn’t intended to compliment her like that. The words just slipped out. But they were true. Amywaspretty and had a strength and determination about her that would attract any man’s attention.
She’d earned his.
His chest tightened. He shouldn’t be attracted to Amy.I’m still mourning his Melanie and will be for a long time.Letting go of her hand, he pulled back.
Amy gave him a tight smile. “Lanceisa jerk, and Iambetter off without him. I have to keep reminding myself of that.”
“Was he always abusive?” He caught a glimpse of sorrow in her eyes before she lowered them, and he hated himself for being so blunt. “Sorry, that’s none of my business. You don’t have to answer.”
“It’s okay.” Amy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “He was actually very charismatic, but he was an angry drunk. He didn’t drink heavily when things were good. But... when Kallie was about six months old... his drummer, who was kind of flaky, missed a Friday night gig. If the band didn’t play, they didn’t get paid.” Amy picked at her fingernails. “Lance got very drunk that night. When I took him home from the bar, he got angry over nothing and hit me. The next morning, when he realized he was the one who gave me the black eye, he felt horrible. He bought me flowers, chocolates, and a beautiful gold necklace. I honestly thought it would never happen again, but the next night... the drummer didn’t show again. Things were pretty rocky for a while. But they eventually got a new drummer, and things got better. Until he started sinking in debt.”
Ben curled his hand into a fist to prevent himself from reaching out to her again. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that, Amy.”
She stared at him with eyes full of sadness. “Do you want to know the worst part about it all?” Without waiting for an answer, she said, “I turned out like my mother.”
Her words twisted his heart. It wasn’t sadness that filled her eyes. It was self-loathing.
* * *
Heat coursedthrough Amy’s body. She couldn’t believe she’d told Ben her fear of turning out like her mother had come true. Her horrible habit of speaking before thinking often got her in trouble. This was one of those times when she wished she could take back her words.
“How so?”
So much for hoping he’d ignore her comment. Amy didn’t want to tell Ben how neglectful and selfish her mom had been, so she gave a weak smile. “You know, dating unfaithful, abusive jerks.”
“So, the men your mom dated were abusive too?”
Did she really want to tell Ben about her childhood? She met his gaze. A sincerity filled his blue eyes that opened her mouth. “Some of them. I remember a couple times her pulling me out of bed in the middle of the night to leave.” She dropped her eyes to her lap, knowing how incriminating the evidence was that she was as bad as her mom.
“Hey.” Ben enclosed her hand in both of his strong ones, warming a frozen part deep inside her heart. “From the little you’ve mentioned about your mother, I’m guessing you don’t have a lot of respect for her. I can’t say I do either, but just because you found yourself involved with a man who turned out to be a jerk, doesn’t mean you are anything like her. You said yourself, Lance was charming. You couldn’t have known things would turn out like they did.”
Amy weighed his words as warmth crept up her arm. “Maybe not, but I knew he was a player. With all the women he had hanging around, it surprised me when he took an interest in me.”
“It doesn’t surprise me. You’re beautiful, Amy.”
Amy’s gaze jumped to his.Does he mean it?
Sincerity filled his eyes, along with some other emotion. Something that made her heart race and her mouth go dry. Attraction? Desire?
Ben’s phone buzzed, but his eyes lingered on Amy for a long moment before he pulled his gaze away and released her hand.
Shocked by the powerful attraction arcing between them, Amy sucked in a deep breath. She turned her head away when he pulled out his phone. From the corner of her eye, she saw him scowl at the text message.
Who it was from and why it made him upset she didn’t ask. She was just grateful the moment that seemed to be building between them had ended. She couldn’t get involved with another man. Her focus needed to be on becoming the mother Kallie deserved.
Before either of them could say anything, the front door opened, and a flurry of activity ensued when Paige, Hope, and Kallie entered.
“Mommy.” Kallie ran to Amy.
Amy pulled Kallie onto her lap, spotting the smile on Hope’s face when she saw Ben sitting beside her.
In what appeared to be a burst of nervous energy, Ben bolted to his feet and rubbed his palms down his jeans. He almost acted guilty. Maybe the guilt wasn’t because his mother caught him sitting by Amy, but rather because he felt guilty, period. He was still grieving his wife. Surely, he hadn’t intended to tell her she was beautiful, and if he’d felt the same attraction she did, it probably confused him.
“How are you doing?” Paige sat in the spot Ben had vacated. “Was it broken?”
As Amy told Paige the prognosis, she heard Hope ask Ben to carry something in from the car. The next thing she knew he was gone, and her crutches leaned against the couch. Her spirits drooped even as she bit back a smile. Something had changed between her and Ben tonight.
She wasn’t sure what, but she’d enjoyed talking to him. Even if it meant telling him what a mess she’d made of her life.
Paige whisked Kallie off for a bath and bedtime stories, and a short time later, Amy headed to bed. As she stepped to the window to close the drapes, she spotted Ben’s truck in front of Debbie’s house.
Her stomach plummeted.
He didn’t seem to like the widow any more than his cousins, so why did he always go over there, and so late in the evening?
