Page 27 of The Spanish Daughter (The Lost Daughters #5)

26

PRESENT DAY

When Rose stepped out of the taxi this time, Benjamin was sitting on the porch, one leg stretched out as he leaned against the front door. He wasn’t alone, either. The cat she’d befriended was lying in a pool of sunlight beside him, and when they saw her, she wasn’t sure who was happiest to see her.

The cat leapt up and bounded down the steps, immediately wrapping himself around her legs, whereas Benjamin stood more slowly, his eyes never leaving hers as a slow smile lit his face. Rose thanked the taxi driver without turning, hearing him place the bags behind her, but she stayed where she was standing as Benjamin covered the distance between them.

‘I’m so glad you’re here,’ he said, pulling her into his embrace.

Rose held him, too, her arms looping around his waist as she pressed her cheek to his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

‘I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again,’ he murmured into her hair, before loosening his hold on her.

‘I didn’t think I was ever coming back,’ she replied, smiling up at him as he caught her eyes in his gaze.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said.

‘I’m sorry, too,’ she whispered as tears stung her eyes. ‘I’m hoping we can both forget the way we ended things. I said things I didn’t mean, and I’m sorry for that.’

‘So, we can skip the apologies and head straight to making up?’ he asked, looking hopeful. ‘Because I think we can both agree that we didn’t handle things very well before you left.’

‘We most definitely can,’ she said, as a loud meow captured her attention.

Rose stepped away from Benjamin and bent down, carefully scooping the cat up and smiling down at him. ‘He’s never let me pick him up before. It’s almost as if he missed me.’

She gently lowered her head and the cat pressed into her, purring loudly.

‘That damn cat used to live in the stables, and I swear he’s laughing at me because I kicked him out months ago,’ Benjamin said. ‘Then he found his way to the house. And to you.’

Rose put the cat back down and looped her arms around his neck again. ‘He found his way to me, and somehow, I found my way to you. I think we’re a package deal.’

He laughed, but his smile faded a little when he spoke. ‘Rose, I’m sorry if I tried to make you feel as if you had to stay,’ he said as he stared down at her. ‘Whether this will ever feel like home to you or not, whatever your decision is, it’s your decision to make. I should never have acted the way I did, it was out of line.’

‘Coming back to this place, to you,’ she took a breath. ‘I don’t know how to describe it, but the idea of not returning absolutely broke my heart. I felt lost when I left.’

‘How about you stay for now, and see what happens?’ Benjamin asked, holding out his hand. ‘No pressure. We can just enjoy being together and take it one day at a time, although I can’t promise that I won’t try to show you every reason that I love Argentina.’

Rose took his hand, smiling up at him as he linked his fingers with hers and then pulled her closer so that she was standing directly in front of him. ‘I like the sound of that.’

Benjamin’s other hand gently cupped her chin, tilting her face to his, and she parted her lips as he lowered his mouth over hers. Rose shut her eyes, her lips softly meeting his for a kiss that she knew she’d remember for the rest of her life.

‘We can take this as slow as you want, just don’t leave like that again,’ he said, pressing his forehead to hers.

‘I promise.’

The cat meowed at their feet again and made them both laugh.

‘I think he’s trying to tell us he agrees,’ she said.

‘I think he’s trying to tell you he doesn’t ever want you to leave again,’ Benjamin said, kissing her forehead before straightening, still holding her hand.

‘What happened to no pressure?’

He shrugged. ‘I can’t control how the cat feels, but I’m fairly sure he begged you to stay.’

Rose found herself being led up the steps to the house then, keeping hold of Benjamin’s fingers as he opened the door.

‘How about a home-cooked meal out by the pool, and while I cook you can tell me all about what you’ve been doing these past few days.’

She smiled up at him as they stepped inside. ‘You know, I think I’m ready to tell you about my mum, if that’s okay?’

Benjamin lifted her hand and kissed it. ‘It just so happens I love the sound of that. I wish I could have met her.’

She squeezed his hand. ‘I wish you could have met her, too.’ Because I know she would have loved you .