“I’d be doing him a favor?”
“Yes. He wouldn’t worry about you working two jobs and so on. You owe him some peace of mind.”
I’ll burn in hell for this but it might all be worth it, because by the pensive look on her face, she’s considering this. Then she narrows her eyes at me.
“Alice Bennett, you trying to guilt me into accepting my son’s help?”
Damn it. I wasn’t expecting her to catch on so quickly. Am I really such an open book? At least if I confess, I might stay out of hell.
“Yes, ma’am.”
To my surprise, Babette bursts out laughing. “Girl, you’ve got a sharp mind to go with that sharp tongue.”
“I do what I can.”
Shaking her head, she dials down the laughter to a chuckle, then frowns. “He really worries about me?”
“Yeah. A lot.”
“But I don’t want him to worry.”
“Which is why letting him help you is a good idea. Look, my brother Sebastian also bought my parents a house.”
Her fingers slash the air, pointing toward me.
“I know the whole story. Your parents sold the ranch to give him capital to start Bennett Enterprises. Not the same.”
“Babette? Don’t be so stubborn. It’s good to know when to give in. And allowing your son to do something nice for you doesn’t in any way mean you’re less hardworking or that you don’t deserve what you have.”
Well, well, well, listen to me, morphing into Logan. Just a few years ago, I cringed when he was saying those things to me, but in the meantime, I agree with him. The wisdom of age. Maybe I should listen to my older siblings more often.
Babette winks at me. “You sure as hell have a way with words.”
We put the topic to rest afterward, talking about everything else under the sun, but I’ve planted the seed and she’s seriously considering it. That was my goal for today, because I know one thing about stubborn people: it takes time for them to change their mind.
After what seems like forever, Nate joins us again, announcing that he’s finished fixing everything. We stay with Babette a while longer, then head out.
Babette’s house is in a clearing surrounded by a small patch of forest, and we had to leave the car at the edge of the land. I’m trying to be careful where I step because the tree roots are thick, protruding from the earth. Nate’s arm is around my waist, firm and dependable. He usually keeps his hand entwined with mine, or at the small of my back when we’re walking. It’s endearing because it always seems like he’s doing it to protect me, and I love his protective side. I usually don’t need it, but by God, I’m glad he’s with me right now. Twice his strong grip keeps me from twisting my ankle when my heel catches on a root.
Once the road evens out and surviving doesn’t require our utmost concentration, he asks, “Did you manage to talk to her about the house?”
“Yes, and she’s considering it.”
“Impressive. Every time I talked to her, the only thing she was considering was slapping me through the phone.”
“I have my ways,” I say with a shrug. “And I might or might not burn in hell for them.”
“Am I supposed to know what that means?”
“It means I play dirty to get what I want sometimes.”
Nate tucks me into his side as we head to the car, which is still a few minutes away. But I’m glad we get to walk a little more around here. There’s something peaceful and serene about this sleepy town. I can almost understand why Babette moved here. After a tumultuous life, she probably needed this calm and silence. Hard as I strain my ears, there are no sounds reaching me beyond the chirping of birds. The other houses are miles away, so there’s only the occasional sound of a car in the distance.
“Ah, but I already knew that about you, darling.”
“So, what are the plans for the evening? Do I get you all to myself, or do you have to work?”
“I have to finish some stuff for the London studio, but it won’t take me too long.”