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“I…er…don’t have an awful lot to do with our residents. No time - I’m always in the office or out at meetings. But I did meet him the corridor one day. He knew me. Said I was the one that got away.”
That will teach me. Shouldn’t have asked. That wasn’t the answer I was expecting.
“He did always like you,” I admit.
Ben gives me a cheeky grin. “So did you.”
“Yeah, until you dumped me.”
He shakes his head and stubs his expensive shoe into the gravel. “Yeah, that was a mistake. Just me being a stupid, immature boy. You know we could have worked it out.”
“Hmm.” I raise an eyebrow.
“It is nice to have you back in town. Place hasn’t been the same without you.”
I’m not letting him off that lightly. “Weren’t you married?”
“Yeah. Until she left me for my golf-partner. I’m a free agent now.”
My stomach flips. I’m in dangerous waters here. Part of my brain is screaming at me to retreat, to bid him good day, and to get swiftly into my car. But there is another part, a smaller but incredibly insistent part that wants to know. Is Ben the missing piece of the puzzle?
I look at him, standing in the sunlight, his dark hair peppered with grey at the temples, his deep brown eyes crinkling at the edges as he smiles at me. He is smart, successful, reasonably amusing. Bit bold, bit flashy, but he’s always been the same.
Could it work?
He seems to be thinking on the same lines. “How do you fancy going for dinner? Catch up properly.”
I take a deep breath.
Why not?
“Sure,” I reply.
His face breaks into a wide smile. “Really? Brilliant. How does Friday at seven p.m. suit? I’ll pick you up. I know a great place…”
“Wait…” I hold my hand up. Ben’s face falls. “You aren’t taking me to the golf club, are you?”
He grins. “You remember!”
“How could I forget?”
“But you enjoyed the chicken-in-a-basket!”
“That was retro dining, even back then.”
“Uh, you are so demanding. Okay, so no golf club. Even if they have revamped the menu since then.”
I give him a warning look.
“Alright, alright. Friday. Seven. You and me. I’ll book somewhere that isn’t the golf club.”
“Okay. I’ve gotta go. Got an appointment. See you on Friday.”
I give him a cheery wave and walk to my car without a backward glance. As I drive off down the long driveway, I look in my rear-view mirror. He is still standing, leaning on his car door, watching me go.
CHAPTER 7
Corran
