right now,” Jeff added. “Danny’s been doing a great job.”
“Good to know,” Ben said, his smile dying. “Maybe I’ll hang out here and convalesce for a few more weeks then.”
Jeff snorted. “Like the Morgans would let you.” He turned to Silver. “You have a safe trip home, now, honey, and remember what I said.”
“Thanks, I will.” Silver nodded.
He tipped his hat to her and went back down the steps to his truck. As he drove away, another car came into the drive and stopped by the steps. Silver’s dad got out and waved up at her.
“Silver! You look great!”
She felt Ben come to stand behind her and found a smile somewhere as her father came bounding up to the porch.
“Hi! You made good time!” She turned to Ben. “Dad, this is Ben Miller, my fantastic trail guide.”
Ben held out his hand. “Good to meet you in person at last, Mr. Miller.”
“Good to meet you, too.” Her dad glanced down at Ben’s hand. “What did you do to your wrist?”
“Nothing much.” He gestured to the door. “Would you like to come in and speak to Mrs. Morgan? I think she’s expecting you to stay for lunch.”
* * *
Ben answered Mr. Meadows’s questions as best he could, but happily let Mrs. Morgan and Silver direct the conversation. He had the beginnings of a headache, and he was painfully aware of the minutes ticking down before Silver would be gone, and he’d never see her again. He reminded himself that she wasn’t dying, that even if she left him she’d be fine, and that he wouldn’t have to feel guilty about anything he’d done.
Eventually, he pushed back his chair and turned to Mrs. Morgan. Maybe he should get out while he could—avoid saying good-bye altogether.
“I’ve just got to fetch something from the barn. I’ll meet you by the Jeep, Silver, okay?”
“You go ahead, Ben, dear.” Mrs. Morgan smiled at him, and then turned to Mr. Meadows. “Would you like some more apple pie? Silver made the pastry for it.”
Unfortunately, by the time he got back to the house, there was still no sign of Mr. Meadows, but Silver was putting her purse in the passenger side of the Jeep. She looked up when she saw him approaching and smiled so brightly that he had to catch his breath. She came toward him and took his hand in hers.
“Thanks for everything, Ben. I mean it.”
“Hey, you saved my life, so right back at you.”
She held his gaze, and there was a shimmer of tears in her blue eyes, which made his chest tighten.
“Ben...”
“Hey”—he cupped her chin—“no tears, remember? We had a good time together, I like and respect you, and I will never tell another soul what happened between us.”
She clutched his arm. “I wish I didn’t have to go. I want—”
He couldn’t let her finish because if he did it would tear him apart.
“Don’t you remember our conversation, Silver? You don’t always get what you want.” He found a smile somewhere. “Let’s not spoil it, okay?”
She blinked hard and let go of his arm. “I just want you to know that you’re the best man I’ve ever met, and that I don’t think I’ll ever find anyone I want to make love with except you.”
Jeez, he was going to have to break this connection right now before he caved and did something monumentally stupid like beg her to stay.
He held up his hands. “Look, I’m the first person you had sex with. You’re going to think I’m some kind of god because that’s the first time you’ve ever had those particular feelings. But I’m not a god, and there are loads of guys who can give you that feeling and probably better.”
“Don’t patronize me.” She took a step backward, her face white. “Don’t trivialize how I feel.”
He shrugged. “I’m just trying to be honest here.”
“You think I’m infatuated with you because you’re the first person I had sex with?”
He winced at the hitch in her voice, but he couldn’t back down. Whether she realized it or not, he was offering her a way out. In a few months’ time she’d be thanking him for not hanging around and making things difficult.
“Yeah, pretty much.”
He leaned in, almost hoping she’d slap his face and walk away, but she was made of sterner stuff.
“Thanks for your input.” She glanced toward the ranch, her head held high. “I’m going in to say good-bye to the Morgans. You don’t need to be here when I come back out.”