Page 27 of Let's Call a Truce
Niran scoffed. “The best Thai food, period, and it’s about time you brought in a date. It’s been years since Ste—”
“Oh, we’re not a date. I’m not a date. I mean, this is not a date,” I stumbled, cutting him off in my haste to explain our relationship. Niran looked at me like I’d lost my mind, while Ben ran a hand over his mouth to hide his smile. I forced an awkward smile of my own. “We work together.”
“In that case, let me give you my number.” Niran gave Ben a conspiratorial smile, and I saw Ben roll his eyes. Niran laughed again. “Well, whatever you are, you’ll be treated tonight. Is there anything you don’t eat, Juliana?”
“Not when it comes to Thai food.”
He settled us into the chef’s table and promised to bring us a bit of everything to try. I laughed at his enthusiasm but was shocked when I realized that when he said everything, he meanteverything. His team kept a steady stream of food coming. Coconut shrimp, fried scallops, and fried calamari. Spring rolls and fresh rolls, satay and peanut dip. I was stuffed by the time the curries came out, but I couldn’t deny myself a small taste of each. I moaned as the massaman curry hit my taste buds. Clearly, I needed to make friends with more chefs.
“This is my new favorite place.”
“Well, it seems like you’ll always be welcome here if Niran has anything to say about it. He keeps sneaking glances over here when he should focus on the food in front of him.” He yelled the last part across the kitchen, giving his friend a pointed glance. Niran’s laughter boomed around us in response. I searched Ben’s face to see if I found jealousy or amusement. Maybe a bit of both.
“I’m shocked to realize anyone else besides Asia can tolerate you,” I said with a small smile. Ben laughed loudly, and my smile grew from the infectious sound.
“You can’t help yourself, can you?” That beautiful smile made his eyes crinkle. There was a spark in his gaze, an intensity thatmade me feel like the most important thing he had ever looked at. I couldn’t look away, drawn in by the addictive warmth. “And just so you know, I have plenty of friends. There’s a whole life outside of KMG’s walls you could learn about if you wanted. Like I said, all you have to do is ask.”
My heart flipped at the idea of becoming a part of his life. My mind, siding with my disloyal heart, conjured images of us grabbing lunch together between meetings, snuggling on the couch after my kids were asleep, sneaking kisses when we passed each other in the hallway. Despite my insistence to the contrary, it was a tempting picture. But that seemed like a big step. If I couldn’t get him off my mind when we were enemies, what would happen if we became more?
I laughed awkwardly. “No, thanks. I’m good.”
My laugh turned into a grimace as the words left my mouth and I saw the transformation in Ben. His face fell, and he looked down at the food, busying himself with the different plates. The overwhelming urge to bring his smile back shot through me. I wanted to walk around the table, sit on his lap, and make him laugh like he did right before our kiss. But that option seemed like a bomb, blowing up my walls and my plans. I couldn’t take the step.
“Ben.”
When he didn’t respond, I reached across the table to grab his hand, waiting for him to meet my eyes. His own were guarded, and I hated making them look that way. My words came out in a rush.
“I’m sorry. That was… I shouldn’t have said that.” I rolled my lips together, trying to figure out just how much I was willing to reveal. “This has all been a lot for me. We couldn’t carry on a civil conversation a couple weeks ago, and now we’re here with the teasing, flirting, and kissing. It’s just… a lot. There hasn’t been anyone I felt anything for since Jason.”
My voice cracked on his name. Was I betraying his memoryif I explored things with Ben? I knew there wouldn’t be a middle ground if we started seeing each other. Either we’d blow up and destroy everything in our path, or I’d fall in love with him. How could I even think about loving someone else when I already had my one great love?
“I need some time,” I finished, my voice just above a whisper.
He nodded, a tiny smile curving his lips. “Baby steps. I’m patient.”
“Baby steps sound good.” I looked back down at the food to break the tension from the past few minutes, fighting the smile spreading across my face. I searched for a safe topic of conversation. “How long have you been at KMG?”
“I started right out of college. I did a five-year architectural degree, so I came in as a fresh-faced twenty-three-year-old who thought he knew everything about architecture but actually knew nothing. I can’t believe I’m coming up on fifteen years with the company, but Eduardo’s made it easy to stay.”
We spent the rest of the meal talking about work projects and office gossip, never again straying into dangerous territory. Ben was open and friendly, leaving me in stitches with stories about clients with absurd requests outside the possibility of physics. He didn’t push it again. Didn’t slip in a story about friends or how he spent his weekends. The way he respected my request, seemingly unreasonable as it was, made me soften another fraction toward him.
But as much as he controlled the conversation, he couldn’t seem to control that look in his eyes. The one that said, if I gave half a word, he’d pull me across that small table and pick back up where we left off in his office.
Niran refused to accept our money, and I felt like doing a little happy dance that I not only had the best meal of my life but also didn’t have to spend a cent of my itty-bitty food budget.
When we stopped by my car, which Ben had insisted he walk me to, I froze, unsure of our next step. Ben smiled, leaneddown, and gave me a lingering kiss on my cheek that made my heart fly around my chest. My eyes drifted closed at the contact, and I sighed softly.
“Good night, Juliana.” He stared into my eyes for a few seconds before backing away. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to write up this whole night in our battle log, or decide who won. Or why we were even fighting anymore.
Chapter 9
Nothing gave memore clarity than my feet pounding against the pavement, the syncing of my breaths and footfalls becoming almost meditative. Breathe in for two steps and out for two steps. The world faded, and I tried to let my mind go blank after yesterday’s upheaval, focusing on the backs of my kids on their bikes and the steady footfalls of my friends on either side of me.
My experiences with Ben over the past month had thrown me for a loop. I was so sure of my opinion of him a few weeks ago. Now conflicting memories flooded my mind: his arms around me as we danced, the defiance in his eyes when we bickered after our meeting, the touch of his lips on mine, and the patience in his eyes when I said I needed time. My stomach was in constant knots—of apprehension or anticipation, I couldn’t say yet.
I tried again to shake off my thoughts, focusing instead on my favorite trail passing around me. It was picturesque, the main street of the small town lined with unique stores, restaurants, and strangers who greeted you like friends as you ran past.
A path cut down the center, filled with comfortable swings and a beautiful mosaic fountain that was the town’s pride. Pergolas surrounded the fountain covered in purple wisteria blossoms, flooding downtown with their intoxicating scent even as they fought for dominance over the delicious smells pouringout of the surrounding restaurants. I let the scenery wash over me, counting the blossoms and mosaic tiles to shut my brain up.
