“Of course it’s OK.” His voice came out gruffer than he’d intended. He attempted to soften his tone. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“You’re not. I was just thinking it would be nice to have some company. And there’s plenty of food.” The woman—Bella, if he remembered correctly—waved her hand toward the Froggies pizza box. Even from here the smell of hot cheese and his uncle’s secret pizza sauce tantalized his senses. “Would you like to join me?”
“Thanks for the offer, but I have a ton of work to do.” He really did but that wasn’t his prime motivation for turning her down. “And I’m not hungry.” Neither was that.
His stomach chose that moment to betray him. It rumbled like a train coming into the station.
The woman quirked an eyebrow. “Of course you’re not.”
When she opened the lid of the box, Ben couldn’t help but lean forward at the sight of pepperoni and sausage spread generously across the top of the pizza. “I guess I’ll have some.” He reached into his back pocket, snagged his wallet, and pulled out a ten, which he tossed next to her onto the couch. “That should cover my half.”
“Not necessary. It’s my treat.” Bella took a piece of pizza from the box, slid it onto a plate, and held it out for Ben. “Here.”
Ben accepted the plate then shifted on his feet. “Thanks. But seriously, keep the money.” On the off chance she was trying to make this into some sort of date, maybe his insistence would make it clear he was not interested. “I should go back to my office.”
Bella settled back against the couch. “I understand.” Her tone remained crisp, professional. “Hope you get a lot done.” Moving her gaze to the unlit fireplace, she bit into the pizza and chewed.
Aw, man. Something about the interaction wasn’t sitting right with him. His mom’s voice yapping at him to treat women well—dumb chivalry—resounded in his mind, and it seemed wrong to leave Bella to eat here alone in a town where she might not know anyone.
And all because he was, what? Afraid she was flirting with him? Most likely she was just a nice person and offering a hungry guy some food.
Not all women were conniving like Elena.
Besides, he didn’t want to insult the one paying customer willing to stay in an inn falling down around her ears. “All right. I can stay for a few minutes.” Then he’d get out of there and back to the safety of his office. Ben slid onto the other couch and bit into the pizza but didn’t taste a thing.
The clock on the mantel ticked. Loudly.
After several minutes of silence, Bella finished her pizza. Once she’d placed the plate on the coffee table, she wiped her lips with a napkin. “That was really good. Thanks for the recommendation.”
Maybe she’d go back to her room now.
But nope. She stayed put.
Ben suppressed a sigh. “I’ll pass along the compliment to my uncle and aunt. Froggies is their restaurant.”
“Please do. I think I met another Baker when I was out, just before I grabbed the pizza. The owner of Serene Art? Any relation?”
“My aunt Jules.”
Bella crossed her legs. “Your aunt? She looked really young.”
“She’s forty-two.” Only ten years older than him. His first babysitter.
“It sounds like you have a lot of family in town.”
“Yeah. My dad has four siblings, and they’re all here.”
She tilted her head. “Are all of them business owners?”
“Yep.”
“Wait, seriously?”
Was her response disbelief or awe? Or maybe a mix of both. So strange because it was just Ben’s reality and always had been. “My dad owns Walker Beach Construction. Froggies is my Uncle Thomas’s. Aunt Kiki owns the antique store on Main. And Aunt Louise runs a shop that sells fancy oils and vinegars.”
He nearly gagged as the words tumbled out. Since when did he tell strangers his family history? Ben stuffed the rest of his slice into his mouth.
“Oil Me This, right? I stopped in there and bought some smoky bacon olive oil.”
“Mmhmm.” He swallowed. How could he end their conversation without seeming rude?
Bella stood and walked to one of the old brown bookcases flanking the fireplace then squatted next to a stack of board games. “And did I see that the beach and that large community park on the water are named after your family?”
Maybe one-word answers would kill her inquiries. “Yeah.”
She glanced back at him, eyes wide. “Is the entire town run by the Baker clan?”
“We were just one of the founding families.” The way her mouth hung open was kind of comical. Ben couldn’t help but chuckle. “OK, the biggest founding family. I have eleven first cousins on the Baker side, and that doesn’t even include all of the cousins on my great-aunt’s side—the Griffins. Almost all of them live in town.”
“That’s intense.” Bella pulled a red box from the bookcase. “Where does this inn come in? Is it part of the Baker family legacy too?” She wandered back to the couches and sat with Yahtzee in her hands. What did she plan to do with that? Didn’t she know the game required more than one player?
He scratched behind his ear. “My great-great-grandparents originally built the inn.”
“That must be nice—to be part of something bigger than yourself.” Bella’s voice was almost wistful as she cleared a spot on the coffee table then opened the lid of the box. She placed two pads of paper, pens, a plastic cup, and five dice on the table.
Guess he’d been wrong about her not knowing anyone here. Bella was expecting company.
Instead of relief, a hollow ache pinched Ben’s chest.
What was he doing? He couldn’t afford to get distracted by a pretty face. Not again. The inn was too important, and he’d already allowed his grief to overshadow his responsibilities for the last seven months.
Here, at least, was a clear chance for him to escape. Ben cleared his throat. “I guess. It’s a lot of work. And I probably should get back to it.”
Bella eyed him. “You up for a game first?”
“Oh. I—”
“Unless you’re afraid to lose. This was my favorite game when I was a kid, and I warn you—I am good.” She smiled in challenge. The gesture softened the edges of her businesslike aura, making her a bit more . . . approachable.
Definitely more beautiful, if that were possible.
Danger, danger, Will Robinson. “I really shouldn’t.”
“Right. Sorry. I don’t want to stop you from doing your work. Believe me, I understand having a busy schedule.” Bella worried her lip and there—another flash of the vulnerability he’d glimpsed earlier in her eyes.
Was she playing him? Trying to manipulate him? Or actually disappointed he wasn’t staying? Ben couldn’t trust himself to tell anymore.
Curse you, Elena.
Probably he should give Bella the benefit of the doubt. At the very least, he should be a gracious host. “No, no. I’d love to play.” Fine, love to was a reach. A big one.
“You sure? Really, I don’t want to keep you.” The sincerity in her tone rang true. At least, he thought so.