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Lynn and Stephanie had joined the Silverberry Book Club about the same time and had hit it off immediately. When Lynn had announced she was pregnant and was buying a house with a full suite to allow for a renter to help with the mortgage, Stephanie immediately asked to be considered. Since their friendship had been new at the time, Lynn had been a little leery about the idea, but had agreed to a three-month trial.
Now, she couldn’t imagine any other arrangement. At first they had pointedly kept to their own spaces, but the line had become blurred after Oscar’s birth. Stephanie had stepped in to help during the early days without being asked, and Lynn had been so exhausted and overwhelmed she hadn’t had the strength to worry whether it might have negative repercussions.
Luckily, it had only strengthened their bond, though the older Oscar got the more careful she was not to abuse Stephanie’s willingness to help. A teenage neighbour took care of him on the rare occasions necessary, but when she hadn’t been available for her last-minute date with Benjamin, Lynn had turned to Stephanie.
Now the two of them were in her bedroom trying to decide what she should wear. Oscar was there, too, busily occupied by emptying and refilling her sock drawer.
“You can’t go wrong with a little black dress.” Stephanie hooked one off the closet rod and held it up for Lynn’s inspection.
She shook her head. “Too formal. We’re going to a restaurant, not a gala.”
Stephanie shrugged and replaced the hanger. “You know me. I’d rather be overdressed than under.”
“You always look fabulous.” Lynn couldn’t help a sly dig. “Peter agrees, given the way his mouth dropped open yesterday when he came to pick you up.”
Stephanie continued to flick hangars, but a slight blush reddened her cheeks. “I didn’t notice.”
“Liar. So, things are going well?” Peter was the date Stephanie had confessed to the night Benjamin had come over for dinner. Lynn had met him twice now, and was hopeful he would soon become a regular presence. He appeared sincerely attracted to Stephanie, and though she wasn’t one to blab about her feelings, Lynn thought she returned his regard.
“I think so. How about this?” She pulled out a silky red dress with a cowl neck.
Lynn took the hint and dropped the subject. They finally agreed on a long-sleeved, high-necked tunic dress in sapphire blue and black silk leggings in recognition of the below freezing temperatures. A silvery belt sparkled at her waist—a waist that still hadn’t quite recovered from pregnancy—and knee-high boots completed the casual but elegant look. Lynn was fastening dangling rhinestone earrings when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Stephanie said, scooping up Oscar. “You can make a grand appearance in a minute.”
Her fingers trembled as she secured the earring back. It had been close to ten years since she’d last been on a date. There’d only been a few months between breaking up with Lance and deciding to get pregnant, and she’d been smarting too much to get into the game.
Her night with Benjamin didn’t count, of course. A hookup at a bar wasn’t a date.
His voice rumbled down the hall, and while she couldn’t understand the words she could tell from his tone he was talking with Oscar. Not that it was the high and squeaky baby talk most people automatically used. She’d noticed at the dinner he’d shared with them that he spoke to Oscar like an adult, if perhaps slightly slower and clearer. It had struck her as incredibly sweet and was one of the many reasons she’d allowed herself to say yes to tonight.
She examined herself in the mirror one more time, drew in a deep breath, and then went to meet her date.
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WHEN STEPHANIE OPENED the door, Benjamin’s heart tripped, hard. Had Lynn changed her mind?
“Come on in. She’s just about ready.”
His relief was short lived. She backed away only enough to allow her to close the door behind him. They were much the same height, and when she leaned in they were nose to nose.
“I like you.” She spoke in a whisper, but there was steel in the quiet tone. “So I’m going to give you some advice. She talks about you, and it sounds like you’ve been running hot and cold. You need to make a decision, and make it tonight.” She stepped closer and he fought the impulse to lean away. “If, after this evening, you can’t be serious about this relationship, you’re going to break it off. Politely, but firmly. She doesn’t deserve to be jerked around, and if you’re just playing with her...well, don’t.”
Benjamin met Stephanie’s dark gaze square on. The woman’s lashes were stubby, lengthened by mascara, and the lids glittered with discreet powder. The makeup did nothing to detract from her fierce protectiveness. “I’m not playing with her. I can’t promise forever”—Stephanie twitched and he braced for a blow that didn’t come—“but I can promise to be honest and committed, at least while we see where things go.”
The silence between them held for one, two, three beats. Then she nodded and backed off. He pulled in a long breath and followed her up the stairs and through the baby gate. In the living room, Oscar sat surrounded by toys of all kinds.
“Hello, Oscar.” He crouched down and picked up one of the blocks scattered in front of the boy. “Can I help you build a tower?”
He chatted with Oscar and ignored Stephanie’s looming presence until the sound of a door opening at the end of the hall drew his attention.
His gut curled as Lynn approached. At work she dressed in a casually sophisticated style he suspected took time and effort to put together. Tonight she glittered and shone. And took his breath away.
He rose to his feet as if drawn by marionette strings. “You look beautiful.”
She smiled, and for the first time in the months he’d known her he noticed a hint of shyness. “Thank you. You look very nice, too.”
He’d decided against wearing one of his many suits. Lynn saw him in one every game night, after all. Instead he’d chosen black slacks and a bright blue shirt with an argyle vest in coordinating colours. “We match.”
Her smile brightened. “So we do. Maybe that’s a good omen.”
A flurry of activity followed, with Lynn kissing Oscar goodnight, Benjamin helping her into her warm woolen coat, and Stephanie giving him one last, threatening stare. Then they were out in the chilly winter night, breath steaming as he handed her into his car and joined her inside. It was still warm from his drive over, but he kept the heater on low as they made their way through the streets to downtown.
The restaurant he’d chosen was in a block filled with kitschy, trendy retail shops, all closed at this time on a Saturday night. Sadie had mentioned it the last time he’d visited, swearing it was one of the most romantic restaurants in town while good-naturedly teasing Jujhar that he never took her anywhere. He had little time to explore the local late-night scene even if he’d wanted to, so it had been the first place to come to mind.
Lynn didn’t speak much on the drive down, but her silence was calm and relaxed so he tried not to worry about it. He found a parking stall and they met on the sidewalk. He wanted to take her hand but wasn’t sure how she felt about public displays of affection.
“I’ve never been here.” Lynn paused outside the door and he reached for the handle. “I’ve heard good things, though.”
“Me, too. A friend of mine recommended it.” He ushered her in.
As they waited for the hostess, he gave in and twined his fingers with hers. Her eyes sparked, as bright as the stones dangling from her ears, and for an instant he couldn’t breathe, the world around him shrinking to her face, her touch.
Determined not to make a fool of himself by kissing her senseless right there, he sought distraction by scanning the room. Wouldn’t it just be his luck if Jujhar and Sadie had decided to come tonight? Romancing Lynn under his friends’ eagle eyes would definitely crimp what little style he had.
His gaze skimmed over a couple in the far corner, and then snapped back. Shocked, he could do nothing but stare.
His mother. His mother at an intimate table for two, sitting beside a silver-haired man in a grey suit.
A man he did not recognize.
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LYNN HAD THOUGHT BENJAMIN was going to kiss her. His eyes had darkened almost to black and his Adam’s apple had bobbed as he swallowed. When he turned away, she was torn between disappointment and relief.
Moments later, his grip on her hand tightened painfully. She sucked in a breath but he didn’t seem to notice. She followed his wide-eyed gaze to an older couple sitting at a far table. They were doing nothing more dramatic than chatting and laughing and sharing an appetizer. Another glance at Benjamin revealed he had yet to look away.
The hostess bustled up. “Sorry for the wait. Do you have a reservation?”
When Benjamin said nothing, Lynn nudged him. He blinked and eased his hold on her hand. “Oh. Yes. Under Whitestone. Benjamin Whitestone.” His tone was flat and uncompromising.
Confused at his sudden change in demeanour, Lynn followed the hostess, Benjamin behind her. He had recovered somewhat by the time they were seated with their menus opened before them, though his eyes kept darting over her shoulder in the direction of the other couple.
She couldn’t ignore it any longer. “Do you know them?”
He sighed and quirked up a corner of his mouth. The belt of anxiousness around her heart loosened a notch. “I was hoping you hadn’t noticed. Am I behaving that oddly?”
“Who are they?” His gaze dropped and his lips pressed together. She tried not to be hurt by his refusal to answer but his distrust stabbed. “Never mind. I won’t pry.” She focused on her menu.
“She’s my mother.”
She flattened the leather folder to her chest so fast a breeze fluttered against her heated cheeks. “Your mother?” Daring a glance over her shoulder she caught a glimpse of dark hair glittering with silver and cut in a shaggy bob. The high, solid chair back hid the rest of her. “Is that your dad with her?”
“No,” Benjamin said grimly. “It is not.”