“I don’t mind.” Ben took her hands in his. “Relax. I can be with you without having your undivided attention.”
She raised her eyebrow. “Can you?”
“I can do whatever it takes, baby.”
“Whatever.” She grinned and rolled her eyes at him, and then went back to reading her program.
“There you are.” Renie plopped down on the bench seat beside her mother. “Check your phone much?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Where’s your phone, Mom?”
Liv reached into her back pocket and pulled out her phone. “Sorry, I must’ve turned it off.”
“No kidding. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you since last night.”
Liv squinted at Ben.
“What?”
“Did you turn my phone off last night?”
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
“What if something had happened to Micah?” Her tone changed.
“Everyone knows where we’re staying, Liv. They would’ve come and knocked on the door.”
“My daughter tried to reach me. What about that?”
“If it had been an emergency I would have done what Ben said. Don’t be upset,” Renie answered for Ben.
The waitress, plus a helper from the kitchen, set plates of food down on the table.
“Who else is having breakfast with you two?”
“You are,” Liv answered, her mouth terse as she spoke.
Yep, he screwed up.
Liv was distracted the rest of the morning. She knew it and so did Jolene.
“Get him out of here. Send him home.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ben. Send him home.”
“I can’t do that, Jolene. It’s one more race.”
“I don’t like having him here. You aren’t focused.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“It’s a simple rule, Liv, and one that’ll make you win more often.”
What was Jolene talking about? Was she suggesting that Liv not allow Ben to come to the rodeos she competed in? That sounded ludicrous.