Monday is hectic at work, and by the end of the day, I’m wiped and having second thoughts about agreeing to my dinner with Ben. When I check the clock, I realize I only have forty-five minutes to get home and change. Luckily I only have a five-minute drive home.
I dress casually for work, so when I get home I take a quick shower and change into a black pencil skirt, royal blue sleeveless silk blouse, and black pumps. As an afterthought, I grab a light sweater as Ben arrives, just in case the restaurant’s air conditioning has me freezing during dinner.
“You look the picture of the high-profile corporate events planner,” he says.
“Thank you, I think. And you’re not so bad yourself.” He wears the traditional dark suit, crisp white shirt, and I have to laugh when I notice his royal blue tie. “Looks like we did some matchy matching.”
He doesn’t get it at first until he realizes what I’m talking about. “Oh, Dad will love this.” Then he laughs as he opens the car door for me. It’s a two-door sporty Jaguar the color of granite with buttery leather interior. I’m happy he didn’t let me climb in unassisted—Ben Rhoades has manners. We drive to the restaurant, and he displays every gentlemanly characteristic while I make sure to check each of them off my list. Helps me in and out of the car, escorts me by taking my arm, walks on the outside of the sidewalk, opens all doors, and stands until the host seats me at the table.
A stately couple stands and eyes Ben then each other. I get the feeling they had no idea Ben would be bringing me.
“Mom, Dad, this is Samantha Calhoun,” he announces, giving his dad a handshake and kissing his mother on her cheek. He says something to her I can’t hear.
His parents, holy shit, he didn’t mention I would be meeting his parents. Don’t think too much of this. It’s not like we’ve been dating and he wants me to meet them. This is business.
When he introduces me to them, I realize his father has the same name as he does. Ben explains with a wink that his dad goes by his middle name, Martin. That answers one question.
“Samantha Calhoun? Are your parents Randy and Michelle?” his mother, Julia, asks.
“Yes. Do you know them?”
“We do. From the country club.” His mother’s smile is warm and genuine.
“Oh. Do you golf?” I’m curious to know if she ever golfs with my mom.
“Sadly, no. Do you?” she asks.
I screw up my face. “Not even a bit. I gave it a shot and the best I could do was hit the tee further than the ball.”
That gets a laugh out of everyone at the table. We chat for a few minutes and just as I’ve told them about my work, their clients show up.
Julia leans to me and says drily, “Here comes the fun stuff.” I hold back my chuckle.
“You must be Karen,” the woman says.
I stare blankly, unsure what to say. Thankfully, Ben steps in.
“No, Mrs. Sadler, this is Samantha, my date for the evening. She graciously agreed to accompany me tonight.”
Ben is smooth as he’s easily taken the awkwardness out of the woman’s misstatement.
“Why don’t we order?” Ben’s dad says.
We take our seats and I study the menu wondering who Karen is.
Mrs. Sadler leans over from her seat next to me. “I’m sorry. I thought Julia said Ben’s fiancée’s name was Karen.
My jaw drops, but thankfully the waiter shows up. Ben reaches over and squeezes my hand under the table while I ponder the million and one questions that have popped in my mind.
The Sadler’s are interested in converting their investments over to Ben’s firm. I listen with half an ear because this is the type of thing I hand over to my dad and say, Here. Take a look at this for me, please. I can only hope our solo dinner discussions don’t involve this stuff because so far, I’ve counted six yawns that I’ve had to swallow.
We finally get to dessert and I think my face almost falls into my turtle cheesecake when Martin asks if anyone wants coffee. Thankfully, everyone declines. Then I feel a hand on my leg and I jerk to attention, only to see Ben shaking with barely contained laughter. God, did I almost fall asleep? How embarrassing is this?
Mrs. Sadler hasn’t given up. “Julia tells me you’re a lawyer.”
“No, Karen’s a lawyer. Samantha here is an event planner,” Julia corrects.
Ben’s mom didn’t sound condescending when she said it. So why do I feel so small?
“That’s exciting,” Mrs. Sadler says.
I glance over at Ben who looks ready to cut in, but I decide I can hold my own.
“It is actually. There is a certain thrill in seeing the excitement and happy faces when people enter a space I’ve prepared. And my company is thriving,” I’m compelled to say.
“I happen to find lawyers boring. Samantha is anything but,” Ben adds.
I blush because the way Ben looks at me sends a wave of lust washing over me. He has no idea if I’m boring or not, but I give him points for the save.