Idle Hours (9 page)

“Lia, it’s nothing personal,” he said as he gripped the steering wheel like it might fall off. “I just…” Just what? He had no good way to finish that sentence. When he dared a glance at Lia, she didn’t look much like she wanted to hear anything else from him anyway. At least not right then.

When Ben pulled the truck to a stop in Lia’s driveway, the feisty female jumped out before he could open the door for her. Hurrying to the front door the way she did gave him hope that the healing they’d discussed on the lake had already happened. She sure didn’t move like a woman with a defective heart.

Once again, Ben set his jaw and started the truck. He got all the way back to the bait shop before good sense bested his pride.Taping a note across the door, he
 
headed back to Lia’s place. He found her sitting on the porch.

“Woman, you and me need to settle this.”

She rose. “All right. Coffee?”

“Not if all you’ve got is that sissy stuff.” He shook his head. “I came here to see you, not to be sociable.”

“If it’s about Will, I-”

Ben crossed the distance between then and embraced her. “No, its not about Will. It’s about you. And about me. And, oh, Lia, I love you. Go ahead and do whatever you want to the bait shop. I don’t mind. Just let’s get back to how it was.”

Lia just stood there.

“Say something, Lia.”

She offered a weak smile as she shook her head. “Did you say you loved me?”

“Yeah,” he said slowly, “I did.”

Falling into his embrace, Lia buried her face in his shoulder. “I love you too, Ben.”

“Then we can get through this.”

Lia lifted her head to meet his gaze. “But you’re leaving,” she said, tears shimmering at the corners of her eyes. “How can I love you if you’re in an RV somewhere on the other side of the country?”

Ben held her at arm’s length and wished he hadn’t been so forthcoming with his life plans. The plans he’d made before he knew he couldn’t go anywhere without her. “Will you trust me?”

Nodding, she gave in to her tears. “Yes, I’ll trust you,” she managed.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The day of the fishing tournament dawned bright and beautiful, with the temperature in a blessedly moderate zone. Ben started the fishermen off then went to sit under the umbrella on the dock. In another hour, Lia would be back from her first round of fishing. While in his official capacity as tournament sponsor, Ben couldn’t play favorites, but right now he was just plain old Ben.

And plain old Ben wanted his woman to win.

His woman. That did have a ring to it, although Lia had no idea what kind of ring.

Skipper’s tail thumped against the wooden deck. Someone was coming. Ben swiveled to smile at a familiar face.
 

Will crossed the dock to clap Ben on the shoulder. “You sure about this, Ben?”

Ben winked and reached out to accept a small paper sack from his buddy. “Positive. And, hey, thanks for the help.”

“No problem, man,” Will said. “Just don’t let my wife know I was involved.” He shrugged. “Unless Lia’s happy. In that case, you can go ahead and give me all the credit.”

* * *

Lia set her rod down on the boat and picked up the oars. The fish were biting, but Lia had no tolerance for fishing today. She owed Ben an apology and she’d failed to deliver it this morning. The tournament would end soon; no time like the present to right the wrong.

Ten minutes later, she tied up her boat at the dock and crossed the distance to where the tournament sponsor sat with his dog Skipper. “I just want to say-“

“No, Lia, I need to tell you something.” He rose to grasp her hand. “Come with me. I’ve got something to show you.”

She followed Ben to the bait shop and ducked beneath the promotional banner that covered the door. “Where are we going?”

“Close your eyes.” Ben wrapped his arm around her waist and nudged her forward. “Okay, now open them.”

Lia gasped as she took in the transformation. While she knew she stood inside Ben’s Bait and Tackle, she might have been anywhere else. Any reminder of the building’s former purpose had been removed in favor of pristine white walls and gleaming white rafters. The old wood floor had been buffed to a gentle shine and the windows were framed in shutters that had no trace of cobwebs of dust.

She caught sight of the framed print between the big windows on the lakeside wall. “Oh, Ben, it’s the Chase print
Idle Hours
.”

“Your mama helped me with that. She also told me that you’d probably prefer an empty room that needed furnishing to anything I might pick out.” He paused to give her a look. “You’re not saying anything. Did I do okay?”

“Did you?” She leapt into his embrace. “Yes, you did great, Ben, but. . .”

“But what?”

Lia lifted her face to look up at him. “I love this place, but I love you more. As beautiful as it is, I don’t want it if you’re not here.”

He smiled as he touched her nose. “I’m glad you think that, because I’ve decided to put off buying that RV.”

“You have?”

Ben nodded. “Yeah, you know that empty lot next door to the shop?”

“That one?” She pointed out the side window. “It’s tiny.”

“Sure, but a man doesn’t need much space to set up a proper bait shop.”
 

She gave him a skeptical look. “You’re not intending to open a bait shop next to the Idle Hours, are you?”

Ben chuckled and gave Lia a hug. “No, of course not, but the money I made from selling that lot to Bill Jenson ought to pay for a new shop down closer to that special fishing spot I like.”

Lia walked to the window to look out at the lot in question. “What’s Bill Jenson going to put on that lot?”

“He mentioned something about a little farmer’s market. You know, a place where farmers can bring their produce for sale.”

“Ben, that’s absolutely perfect.” She returned to kiss him soundly. “And so are you.”

The door opened and Mitch stuck his head inside. “Excuse me but, Ben, they’re ready for you to announce the winners.”

“Be right there.” He stole a quick kiss from Lia. “So I’m on a roll?”

She smiled. “Yes, you’re on a roll.”

“Good.” He linked arms with Lia and led her outside. “Let’s go get this tournament finished.”

Depositing Lia in the deck chair, Ben climbed the platform to test the microphone. Most of the town of Green’s Point stood assembled on the grounds behind what would soon be formerly known as Ben’s Bait and Tackle.
 

He quickly went through the names of the winners, handing out each prize and trophy until the table beside the speaker’s platform held only one item. Ben picked up the small gold plaque and smiled.

“This one’s for our newest resident, Miss Lia Stephanos. Come on up and get your prize, Lia.”

Lia rose to make her way through the crowd with Skipper following close behind. When she reached the platform, she looked up at Ben. “What’s this for?”

“Just read it, Lia.”

She accepted the plaque then held it to her chest. “Thank you, Ben, but I didn’t do anything to deserve a plaque.”

“Read it out loud,” someone in the crowd said.
 

Lia looked up to see that the source of the female voice was Cara Bryan. Beside her stood Mother. Ben grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Go ahead, hon,” he said.

“All right.” Lia held the plaque up and cleared her throat. “To Lia Stephanos, a real keeper. Will you marry me?”

Of course, she said yes.

Do you enjoy reading stories about Texas women,
 

past and present,

and the men they love?
 

Stories that show just what ladies from the Lone Star state are made of?

Stories that prove a cowgirl—or reporter, or Southern belle or…well, you get the

idea—always gets her guy?

Then look for the
Brides of Texas Novellas
logo!

Always set in Texas and never far from happily ever after
..

Books in the series:

Coffee Scoop

Plain Trouble

THE MARRYING KIND

IDLE HOURS

——————

Find out more about Kathleen Y’Barbo
 

by visiting her website at
 

www.kathleenybarbo.com