Chapter Two
“How’re you doing, hon?” Missy asked as Ben approached the table with a pot of coffee.
He smiled. “I’m good thanks, Miss. How about you?”
“Yeah, doing great.”
He filled her coffee cup and raised an eyebrow at Dan who smiled and nodded.
“Who’s coming this morning, do you know?”
“Jack and Emma are on their way,” said Dan.
Missy nodded. “I think Smoke is. Laura’s away at the moment.”
Ben nodded. “Yeah, I believe she’s in London.”
Missy wrinkled her nose and gave him a meaningful look.
Ben shook his head. He didn’t want to go there.
Missy shrugged. “I won’t push it then, but be warned, Em’s got a bee in her bonnet about getting godparents lined up.”
Ben sighed. Emma had been dropping hints about godparents for weeks now. He knew she wanted to ask Charlotte. She also wanted to ask Charlotte to come to the lake. But Charlotte wasn’t going to come until he asked her himself. And he wasn’t going to ask her until she was a free woman. And he didn’t know when that would be. He didn’t know anything because he hadn’t heard from her in months. He set the coffee pot down on the table and sat down beside Dan.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” asked Missy.
Ben made a face at her. “What do you think?”
Missy patted his hand. “I think Charlotte is taking too damned long. I think I should call her and see what the hell she’s playing at. I think we need to put you out of your misery once and for all!”
Ben laughed. That was his Missy. She didn’t mess around. “Thanks, but you know I’m not going to let you do that.”
“I know! And I’m not going to, but you asked me what I think, and I’ve been biting my tongue for so long, that it’s just a relief to be able to tell you. I know it’s up to you what you want to do. I know I can’t interfere.” Dan let out a short laugh and she gave him a dark look. “I interfere in everything, I know.” She shrugged. “It usually turns out pretty well, if I do say so myself. But this …” She looked at Ben. “You and Charlotte?” She shook her head. “Even I know I have to stay out of it. I can’t say the same for Em, though. I’ve been holding her back as much as I can, but I think impatience mixed with hormones is about to push her over the edge.”
Ben nodded. “I know. You’re all impatient and frustrated, how the hell do you think I feel? But I told Charlie I couldn’t do anything while she was still married. I didn’t even want to talk to her.” He shrugged. “I’m wishing I hadn’t said that now, but she’s only doing as I asked.”
Missy blew out a sigh. “I suppose.”
“Hey everyone, happy Saturday!”
They all looked up to see Angel standing there smiling brightly at them. Ben hadn’t even heard her approach.
“What are all the serious faces about?”
“Nothing,” said Ben a little too hurriedly. Missy shot him a suspicious look. “What are you up to this morning?”
Angel looked a little uncomfortable. “I came to get some breakfast before I head over to the lodge.”
Ben stared at her. She didn’t mean she wanted to join everyone for breakfast, did she? That could get awkward. He’d managed to keep her away from the gang most of the time. He only did it for her sake; they hadn’t been too receptive to her.
“Take a seat,” said Missy with a smile. “There’ll be quite a crowd of us soon, you should join in.”
Ben caught Missy’s eye. Was she just being Missy—welcoming to everyone? Or did she have some ulterior motive?
Angel looked at him. “Oh, that’s okay, thanks. I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just saying hi.”
Great, now Ben either had to insist that she stay and join in or let her walk away to eat by herself—which would leave him feeling like an asshole! “Come on, sit down. You can’t eat by yourself.”
