Page 13 of Benedict’s Rejuvenation (Dark Patriots #5)

I was still stunned by how the conversation with Ben went on Wednesday night when we took a drive, and it had been three days ago.

When we returned to the house, Keeley wanted to know what we’d discussed.

She wasn’t exactly happy when we told her it was private.

She’d listed more arguments about why I shouldn’t move out.

The job wasn’t an issue. Ben had backed me by saying it was my decision, and while he was concerned, he would support my choice.

I’d wanted to kiss him, but I held back.

It had caused some strain, mainly between my sister and me.

She was upset, and while I loved her for being so supportive, she was smothering me.

The next morning, I offered them all the chance to see where I planned to move.

All three came, but Ben and I rode separately.

We told her and Beau we had plans afterward.

It was a quiet neighborhood. Rather than opting for an apartment, which mostly turned out to be big communities, I went with something smaller.

I found a two-bedroom townhome. There were four buildings, each with four townhomes.

Surrounding us were single-family homes.

I’d checked, and it was in a good area of town.

It also had a security system installed.

I watched as the guys checked out the townhome, the surrounding parking lot, and the other buildings.

I knew they were assessing security and identifying any areas that were problematic.

When they gave it a thumbs-up, Keeley appeared disappointed.

After we were finished there, we went and had lunch together. That’s when we talked about the move.

My furniture and other things from my place in Billings had remained boxed and stored at Keeley’s after we closed out my apartment there.

Other than clothes, a few decorations, and personal items, the majority I had left packed away.

I had three weeks before I could move in, so that it would coincide with the beginning of the month.

I’d done the smart thing. Although the monthly amount was cheaper if I signed a year-long lease, I opted for six months instead.

I hadn’t discounted the idea that I might want to move and live elsewhere.

Maybe I’d like to move back to Billings or another state.

I wasn’t hemming myself in. Iolani and I had been discussing how, sometimes, to make full progress, one needed a completely new environment.

I hadn’t mentioned it to my sister and Beau because it would only upset Keeley more.

I loved my sister. She’d always taken care of me, but as an adult, she found it hard to let go of me before the kidnapping.

When I moved to Billings, she’d hated it.

It had grown worse since my rescue, and I understood why, but it was hard to handle at times.

I wasn’t ready to fight over something that might not happen.

After lunch, we went our separate ways, and I explained my thoughts on the six-month rental agreement with Ben. He thought it was a good idea to keep my options open. We’d gone for a drive, talked more about the move, and I told him about the job and more about why I picked the townhome.

I wanted a place with a second bedroom because I could use it as an office.

I wasn’t ready to work in an office building with a bunch of people around me for hours at a time.

I’d been lucky with my billing and financial work, which didn’t require my presence in an office, to find a work-from-home job for which I was more than qualified.

The hours and salary were more than good, so I snapped it up.

Of course, Ben insisted he’d be here to help move me.

I told him he might be working, but not to worry.

I could get it done. He snorted and told me that if I thought I’d move and lift a bunch of heavy shit, I didn’t know him or Beau.

He insisted I let him gather the crew to do it.

Somehow, it ended up with us getting into a kissing frenzy. When we stopped, I agreed.

The rest of his time in Montana flew by, and now he was headed back to Virginia and then on to another assignment.

Beau wasn’t needed back, so he stayed here, which allowed me to drive Ben to the airport alone.

I stood with him outside the security gate, trying not to let him see how upset I was.

The fact that we’d taken the step we had made his leaving worse. Ben held me in his arms.

“I hate to leave, Kensy. You have no idea how much,” he muttered.

“Probably as much as I hate to see you go. Why is it so much worse this time?” I asked, my voice breaking.

“Hey, don’t let me see tears. I’ll be back as soon as I can.

I’ll call you every day, if I can. You stay busy getting started on your new job and preparing for the move.

As soon as this assignment is done, I’ll be back.

I’m not sure until I’m briefed on what it is, but once I know, I might be able to give you an estimate of how long it may last. Get Keeley involved, and it’ll make the move easier for her.

Whatever you do, stay alert and be safe. ”

“I will, and you make sure to watch your ass out there. I know you’ll be in the middle of something dangerous. I don’t want you to come back with a scratch on you.”

“I’ll try my best. I’ve got to get going. Give me a kiss to hold me over,” he whispered moments before his lips found mine.

It was probably too passionate a kiss to be PG, but we didn’t care. Once we parted, I stood there until he got through security. He waved one last time before disappearing around the corner. Utter depression hit me. It took all my effort to return to the car and drive home.

Walking into the house, I found Keeley in the kitchen. She was off this weekend and making dinner for the three of us tonight. I had no appetite, but I knew I had to eat. I had no idea where Beau was. With nothing to occupy my mind, I went to see if she needed help.

“You’re back. I assume Ben made it off okay,” she said as she stirred a pot on the stove.

“He did. Mmm, is that your homemade pasta sauce?” I sniffed.

“Yes, it is. I thought I’d make lasagna tonight and do it from scratch. I’ve got the pasta roller out and everything.”

“Ohh, you’re gonna make the noodles, too. Let me wash my hands, and then you tell me what I can do.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing else you’d rather be doing? Reading, or working on getting set for your new job?”

“I’ll read later tonight. And there’s nothing I have to get ready for work.

I’ll do the remote onboarding training this week.

You know, sign paperwork, watch a bunch of boring videos, that kind of stuff.

Then I have a couple of online training sessions with someone who does the same job I’ll do.

They’ll take me through the computer system and such.

From what they told me, it’s one I used before, so it won’t take much to get me up to speed. ”

“How did you find this job? I would think online remote jobs would be hard to get.”

“Someone I worked with at my last job recommended I check it out. She knew it was in my wheelhouse.”

Keeley turned to look at me. I saw surprise on her face. “I didn’t know you were in contact with anyone you knew in Billings.”

“Not a lot, but there are a few. Those who were closest to me and kept checking on me—the ones who did it out of concern and not out of idle curiosity, so that they could gossip. Azalea isn’t one to do that. She was one of the nicest ones there.”

“I’m glad there are a few. Does she know the details?” my sister asked hesitantly.

“Not much. Only that I was taken and held, and when I was rescued, the man got away. I told her I had no idea who he was.”

Keeley remained silent for a few seconds, then asked, “May I ask something?”

“Sure.”

“Do you find those you tell that story to, do they seem to believe it? Or do they push for more details?”

“If they push, I tell them I prefer not to dwell on it. When they persist, I no longer have contact with them. There were a few like that.”

“Please let Beau and me know if anyone gets too pushy or won’t back off.”

“Why? So you can go beat them up like you used to do when kids were mean to me growing up,” I teased.

Her concern morphed to laughter. “Hush, you brat. And yes, if I have to. Now, wash your hands. We have work to do.”

I grinned, then blew her a kiss before doing it. I needed the distraction rather than sitting around counting the minutes until Ben returned. I did pray, though. Lord, please watch over Ben and his coworkers and bring them home safe. And if you can make this trip a short one, I’d appreciate it.

???

The week had been busy, if somewhat dull, during the workday as I got fully integrated into and oriented to my new job.

As predicted, there was nothing vastly different from what I’d done before, in both duties and the computer software and platforms I’d use.

It was easy to slip into that mindset again.

Surviving the boring parts took patience.

The trainer I was given irritated me. I expected her to be at least pleasant.

She was, but in a fake way, and she was obtrusive.

She kept badgering me about where I lived and worked before, and asked if I was married or had a boyfriend.

Did I have kids? I expected some of that to be asked, but how she phrased it made me hesitant to share too much.

I was glad when my time with Maryanne was over.