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“Can’t force it, I guess.”
“Nope.” He stabbed a potato with his fork and chewed it, then said, “I had high hopes for this date. I’ve always thought you were really cute, but I figured you were too good for me.”
Not again. Amelia stared. That was crazy talk. “That’s crazy talk.”
Ben chuckled. “Come on. Beautiful, talented, clever, and runs her own business? What guywouldn’tbe intimidated?”
The words rang through her like the peals of a massive bell. She frowned, mulling over the words, thinking about that last day with Leo in the car. “Intimidated?”
“Of course.” He ate another potato.
Amelia sipped her drink as her heart began to pound. Here she thought Leo had pushed her away because he wanted to keep living the single life, playing the field, sowing his wild oats. But that was the opposite of everything she’d learned about him. Leo craved companionship and closeness. Was it possible he’d beenintimidated…byAmelia?
“Who was that guy you were with at the bakery a couple of weeks ago?” Ben asked, going in for a third potato. In his defense, they were delicious.
“Huh?”
“The one who sat with you when you came to pick up your sister’s wedding cake.”
“Oh,” Amelia answered, already knowing who Ben had been talking about. It wasn’t like there were many guys who sat with her at Camilla’s bakery. “That’s Leo.”
“And you and him…?”
She let out a long sigh. “I don’t know.”
A sad smile tugged at Ben’s lips. “You and I never had a chance, did we?”
“I’m sorry,” Amelia exclaimed. “I shouldn’t have agreed to this date, but everything’s so confusing, and—”
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Ben cut in. “I’ve wanted to try this restaurant since it opened. This gave me the perfect excuse.”
“You’re not mad?”
He shrugged. “Nope. Might be time for me to enter the hellscape of online dating, though.”
Amelia laughed. Relief swept through her, cool and sweet. Sure, the date had been an utter failure as far as romance went, but she’d come here, and she hadn’t messed up. She hadn’t been unconscionably awkward, and she hadn’t scared Ben away.
“So you and Leo. What’s going on there?” Ben asked.
Amelia grimaced. “Nothing, unfortunately.”
“You like him?”
She let out a sigh. “Yes. A lot. Too much. He was clear with me about what he wanted, which was nothing serious, and I went ahead and opened my heart to him anyway. It’s my own fault for feeling heartbroken about it.”
“Did you tell him how you felt?”
“No, but thanks, Dr. Ben.”
He grinned, hair flopping down over his eyes as he leaned forward to grab a little crispy piece of chicken skin that had been pushed to the side of one of their plates. The food had been truly divine tonight, so that was another bonus. The evening hadn’t been a total waste.
“I think you should tell him,” Ben said.
“He’s probably gone by now.” Amelia tried to gulp away the lump in her throat. “I probably won’t see him again.”
Ben chewed, his gaze drifting over her shoulder. Eyes widening slightly, he swallowed and said, “I’m not so sure about that.”
“Amelia!” a familiar voice screamed. Murmurs grew behind her, and Amelia spun in her chair, heart thundering.
