Marg’s lips turned up in a smile as her mind flashed to a smiling Ben. She jerked her head back to clear it. “I’m happy that you have this time together. I hope you’ll enjoy your time here. Let me take you to your room.” Marg rounded the desk, and the couple followed her up the stairs toward the guestroom on the second floor. The room had already been prepared with fresh linen and towels, and the windows opened to let in the refreshing air.
“Here you are,” Marg said, opening the door and stepping aside for the couple to enter.
“Oh, this is lovely,” Arlene complimented. “It reminds me so much of my childhood. Those were simpler times,” the woman continued to say, running her hand over the classic floral-patterned wallpaper.
“I’m glad you love it,” Marg replied with a smile, entering the room. “The bathroom has a clawfoot tub, but there is also a modern stand-in shower. The towels and robes are stocked in this cupboard, and you can place your clothes in the wardrobe. There should be enough room for everything to hold.” After pointing out everything to the couple, she walked over to the French doors and opened them. “You have a balcony that gives you the best view of the harbor and the Cascade mountains.”
The couple walked out onto the balcony. “We are definitely coming back here when we’re done touring the world,” Arlene spoke with awe.
“Definitely,” Joe agreed.
Marg smiled appreciatively at the guests’ looks of contentment, a reminder of why she loved her job. She left them then and made her way toward the stairs. She faltered on the landing when she saw Ben by the reception desk talking to the assistant. As if sensing her presence, he turned just then. A smile graced his lips. Her chest began to thump rapidly as her heart raced. When she realized that she hadn't moved at all since she'd seen him, she forced her feet to walk down the staircase.
Ben walked forward to meet her at the foot of the steps. “Hi,” he greeted.
“Hi,” Marg returned, her brows twitching toward each other. “What are you doing here?”
A look of uncertainty flashed in his green eyes. “I needed to see you,” he replied.
“Oh,” she responded, disappointed. He needed to see her, not that he missed her made her feel as if she hadn’t been as important to him as she’d thought. Maybe this was the reason it had been so easy for him to maintain his distance.
“Marg,” he called to her, bringing her out of her musings.
“What?” she asked, her voice coming out harder than she’d intended.
Ben’s head pulled back as his eyes widened slightly.
“I’m sorry. What were you saying?” she asked in a less sharp voice.
“I was wondering if you were free. I wanted to take you somewhere.”
Again, her brows furrowed. “Ben, we haven’t spoken in nearly two weeks. Don’t you think we need to do that first before anything else?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
Ben scratched the back of his neck. “You’re right, we need to talk, but after today everything will be put into perspective, I promise.”
Marg looked skeptically at him.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
“I do,” she replied, not having to think too hard about it.
“Come with me then.” He offered her his hand, and Marg hesitantly placed hers in it, shivering slightly at the warmth that traveled up her arm from where their skin connected. “I already spoke to Jenny. She’ll take over until you’re back,” he reassured her when she looked toward her assistant.
The young woman gave them a thumbs up.
“Okay,” she acquiesced.
Ben smiled that charming smile that always caused her heart to speed up as the butterflies in her stomach somersaulted. He led her to his truck, and after helping her into the passenger side, he rounded the driver’s side and got in.
“Where are we going?” she asked, noticing that they were headed toward downtown.
“It’s a surprise. But I promise you’ll enjoy it.”
She settled into her seat then, but her chest churned with anticipation. A few minutes later, Ben parked before a small, antique-looking shop. Marg looked through the windshield and noted that the writing on the glass door indicated they were at a pottery shop. Her door opened then, and she allowed Ben to help her down. His hand remained on her waist a little longer than necessary, but she had to admit that she wasn’t complaining. She missed the little displays of affection like this one.
“Why are we here?” she asked as he led her up to the door.
“You’ll see.” He smirked. Opening the door, he led her inside. A woman with her dark hair in a pixie cut and wearing a cut-off T-shirt and jeans jacket stood behind a counter, watching them approach with a welcoming grin on her lips.
