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Both of them gave a moment’s pause at the mention of her dad.
“Like Carl, yes. And since MB Enterprises and its subsidiary, BTM, are arguably the best, it stands to reason they use the best, am I right?”
Maggie leaned forward in her chair, the compliment warming her skin against the cool breeze from the air conditioner overhead. “You have a healthy self-confidence, don’t you?”
His smug grin deepened until his right dimple showed through the scruff. Maggie sat on her hands so she wouldn’t act on her sudden desire to touch the indentation as she had countless times in her youth.
“It’s earned. Anyway, what do you think?”
What did she think? That she’d be a fool to turn down his offer. It was everything she’d imagined for her company when she’d signed the incorporation paperwork. But with Grace Marshall’s and Bob Warner’s watchful eyes on her from the corner of the restaurant, she couldn’t commit. Not yet. All she needed was the town to think the partnership meant they were back together. It wouldn’t be the first time that rumor had surfaced since she’d come home.
“I’ll think about it,” she said.
“Okay.” He paused and smiled. “You ever go dancing, Ms. Newman?”
Her brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t go out often, no.”
“Hmm. That’s problematic, you being in a small, country town.”
“I imagine it is, yes. What do you suggest?”
Was she flirting? With Bennett Marshall?
“How about we hit up Boot and Barrel tonight to go over the details? And maybe a little line dancing, if your ankle is up for it, of course.”
Was he flirting back?
“Obviously. It would be business only?” she asked.
“Of course.”
Her heart sulked a little, but she shook it off. Keeping things professional had been her call and he was just being a gentleman about it.
“I’ll pick you up at six?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Nope. This isn’t a date. I’ll meet you there.”
He shrugged and shot her the same grin he had when he was seventeen and swore he’d win the amateur roping championships in her name. It was mischief and promise rolled into one alluring grin.
“Fine by me. See you there.”
“Yep. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to organize these orders so I can get them processed.”
Bennett nodded and stood up to leave. “One question,” he said, turning back.
“Yes?”
“If these deals go through, do you have to oversee them personally? Back in San Antonio?”
“Initially, yes. Just to make sure each individual order is placed correctly. But then it’s all transferred to the warehouse team, and they take it from there to shipping. The fire system will be different, but I’ll mostly handle that with video conferencing since that team is scattered across the US. Why do you ask?”
He scooped up the black coffee he’d ordered. “No reason. Just curious is all. Have a great day, Maggie. I’ll see you tonight.”
He walked away and a wave of heat passed over Maggie’s skin.
What is Bennett up to?
And why did she feel like the answer to that question could have earth-shattering effects on the life she’d built herself?
