“He’s not interested in me, okay? Now can we go?”
“He was definitely interested in the park yesterday. I was about to tell you two to get a room. What changed?”
With a sigh, Caitlyn realized it would be quicker to satisfy Mia’s curiosity than try to get past her. She did so in as few words as possible, starting with her inability to scale the climbing wall and ending with Ben’s fall and angry words.
“So he helped you all through the course, but when he screwed up he sent you packing?”
“That’s right.”
“Honey, that has nothing to do with you; that’s all about his pride!”
A ray of hope pierced through her, but Caitlyn refused to let it touch her heart. “It’s about reality. A guy like him doesn’t want to be saddled with a single mom.”
“A guy like him wants it so bad he doesn’t know what to do with himself. He was trying to impress you, Caitlyn—and he fell, instead. He’s embarrassed!”
She thought it over. Maybe Mia was right. Up until his fall, Ben had focused on her like there was no one else in the world, and he’d been so proud when he reached the top of the ladder. He was the one who’d made the bet about the dance in the first place, after all. “You know what? I think you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. Men are bastards when they’re embarrassed. Give him a little time to settle down. It won’t take long—one look at you in this dress and he’ll get over it pretty quick.” Mia took Caitlyn’s arm and led her to the door. “Come on, Cinderella; let’s get you to the ball.”
Chapter Seven
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“YOU’RE LIKE A wolverine with its foot in a trap. What’s wrong with you?” Dan said the second time Ben bumped into something and swore. He’d dragged himself inside from the course, took a quick shower and changed, but the pain from his fall had left him pale and haggard. Dan’s description of his mood was all too accurate. He’d seen Caitlyn’s face when he’d crashed to the ground and the mixture of horror and sympathy there told him all he needed to know. She didn’t see him as a man; she saw him as an invalid, and that was the last thing a single mother needed—a man to take care of along with her baby.
“I overdid it a little, that’s all.” He braced himself for more sympathy.
“Serves you right, the way you were showing off out there.”
Ben glared at him. “What do you mean?”
“I went out to the course to tell you it was time to get ready for the dance. I saw you flexing your muscles and helping Caitlyn do the obstacles.”
“You watched us?”
“Hell, no. I turned right around and walked back to the Hall. Why, did you two have some fun?”
Judging by Dan’s smile, Ben figured he hadn’t seen him crash and burn at the salmon ladder. Thank God. “No,” he said shortly. “We decided we weren’t right for each other.”
Dan’s disbelief was clear. “You looked right for each other when I saw you. What happened?”
“Can’t you just drop it?” Ben tried to edge around him, but Dan blocked his way.
“No, I can’t. Because my gut’s telling me this is more of your poor me bullshit.”
“You don’t know anything about it.” Ben shoved him aside, but Dan blocked him again.
“I limp a little, therefore I am no longer any good to women,” Dan mimicked in a high-pitched voice.
“Shut the fuck up.”
“My ankle’s sore which means my dick no longer works—”
“Fuck off, Hemmins!” But despite himself he was fighting back a smile.
“I can’t hop on my right foot! What the hell will I do with my life?”
“All right, all right; I get it. I’m being ridiculous.” He stopped trying to get away. “But it’s true—I can’t do the things I used to do and it sucks!”
Dan sobered. “It does suck,” he said in a normal voice, “and I’m sorry as hell it happened to you, but you can’t give up on life—or on Caitlyn. It was clear as day to me she was into you out there.”
“Really?” Ben forced himself to think over his encounter with Caitlyn on the course. She had seemed to be having a good time—up until the end.
“Really. So what happened, did you have a fight?”
Ben wished that was the case. “I was a first class asshole.”
“Then you’d better go put things right.”
“Yeah, I guess I’d better.”