Ben hadn't seen Sloane in two weeks, not since she climbed out of his car. He had wanted to follow her and kiss her all night. He wanted to do more than just kiss and had hoped to see her before her party. Instead, he followed his GPS west on the pike. He still didn't know what to expect. Some of his teammates in Texas had obscenely huge homes, but her family had old money.

His palms were sweating by the time the voice directed him to turn right in one mile. After a few other turns, he was on a short tree-lined street and turned into the first drive on the left. Multiple cars were parked along the pavers and he pulled in next to an expensive BMW. He looked at the cars and didn't see Jett's big, black SUV.

A man with an accent answered the door. His jaw dropped open. "You're Ben Lynch."

He smiled. "I am. Be prepared, Jett's been invited too."

"I like Javier." The man confided.

"Javi is an outstanding player and a better man."

"Your arm is all right?" He asked, concerned.

"The cast could come off next week." He had an appointment on Wednesday.

He smiled. "They're gathered in there." He pointed to a doorway.

"Thank you."

"Julio."

"Thank you, Julio." He repeated as he walked away. Obviously, the man was the hired help, but to him he was a fan.

He stood in the doorway and scanned the crowd. His eyes stopped when he saw her. She was laughing, and a man had his arm around her. He was the one she had left with at the gallery. Before he could walk over to her, the doctor appeared.

"Hey Ben. How's the wrist?"

"Better, I hope. I'll know more next week. So doc, are these all Sloane's friends?"

"Noah, please. Some friends, some family. Go say hello to the birthday girl."

He looked up and Sloane stared at him. He lifted his hand and waved. She started across the room and he felt everyone watching him. He was afraid they knew how he had treated her and hated him. His eyes scanned her mini dress down her legs to her toes at the end of very high heels.

She approached him with a smile. She hardly had to tilt her head to meet his eyes, because of her shoes. "No one told me they invited you."

"My invitation said it was a surprise party."

"No, and I felt awkward including you because..."

"Because half these people know I treated you like shit." He smiled.

"Maybe, not half." She smiled as if she were nervous too. "Just my friends and their other halfs. I'm glad you came."

"I wanted to see you."

"Why?" Her face looked serious.

"Because I missed you and I wanted to tell you again, I'm done with Angela. I'm sorry about that picture."

"I saw you."

"Saw me what?"

"Checking out my legs. You have a wandering eye."

"No! Not how the phrase is intended. I may look, but I never act. Jesus, if I acted, I would have tried when Tex failed that first night." She blushed. "Where's my sister?"

"She said she was running late."

"Did she know it wasn't a surprise?"

Sloane nodded. "I think Sage and Mia did some scheming to surprise me."

He looked at the vast room with honey colored hardwood floors and various seating areas. "So this is your house?"

She smiled. "No, mine is next door. Sage planned the party.  This is her mother's house."

"So is there a pool in the backyard?"

"Nope. Bea has a beautiful garden." She smiled. "We can go for a walk later. My father's coming this way. He'll want to meet you."

"What does he know?" He felt like a child about to be punished.

"Your batting average. Remember, he loves the team."

Remembering his season tickets, he relaxed.

"Daddy meet Ben."

"I see you still have the cast." He held out his hand. "Ed Calhoun. I hear you and my girl have become friendly."

"Your daughter is an amazing woman." He hardly recognized his voice, but it was true.

"I see we already agree on something. Is it true Jett's been invited?"

Ben nodded. "My sister and Sloane are friends."

He smiled at his daughter with the same pride his father always had for him. The same pride that often made him feel guilty.

"What's wrong?" Nothing slipped past Sloane.

"Nothing." It was easy to smile when he looked at her.

"Something is and someday you'll tell me your dark secrets before they eat you alive."

How was she so intuitive? "What do I have to do to get your brother to stop glaring at me?"

She laughed. "Come meet my mother. She'll love you."

Ben suddenly realized who he wanted to love him. Unfortunately, he suspected the price of her love was his secrets and the truth would prove him unworthy of love.

Grace Calhoun looked nothing like her daughter. She smiled a warm smile. Rich people were not as scary as he had thought, except older brothers. Thankfully Jett arrived and took center stage. Sloane abandoned him for Kenzie, and Ben stood near a petite young woman.

"Do you like her?"

He looked down at the woman. "What?"

"I was just wondering if you liked my sister."

"Your sister?"

She smiled. "I'm Victoria Calhoun, Tori."

Ben was wrong. Sloane's mother looked like her daughter, her youngest one.

"You two look nothing alike."

"Believe me, I know. She has the legs, but you are aware."

He blushed. "They're sexy as hell."

She laughed loud enough to draw attention to them. "I like you even though I hate baseball."

He smiled and tested his memory. "What is it you do?"

"I teach first grade."

Nodding, he said, "We're even because I don't like kids."

"You two deserve each other!"

He smiled his smile that made his fans swoon. "I hope so."

Ted's approach interrupted her laugh. "Victoria, are you flirting?"

"No, I'm just making sure he's good enough for our sister."

Ted reached out his hand. "Ben, I'm glad you came."

He shook his hand. "You don't hate me?"

"Not yet. Don't break her heart."

Everyone seemed convinced they should be together. Jett walked over and whispered to him. "The guy answering the door was excited to see me."

Ben smiled. "Julio is a nice guy. I'll invite him to a game next season."

"You'd do that?" Ben turned to see a smiling pregnant woman. "I'm Sage. I sent you the invitation. Julio and his wife are like family."

"But they work for you?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean we don't love them. Sloane loves Martina, who has worked for the Calhouns for over thirty years. She's over there talking to my mother."

He saw a woman with a dark bun talking to a woman in a bright-colored dress. "I saw your mother at the charity golf event. Ted hugged her."

She nodded. "My father played. Make sure Sloane shows you the garden."

He watched her walk away. He smiled across the room at Sloane, who was talking intently with her partner. He walked toward them, but stopped to give them some privacy. Dom stopped talking and smiled. "Your heart throb is here."

She put her hand on Dominic's arm as if to reassure him. "Go have fun."

Dom winked at him and walked away. "Is everything okay?"

"It will be. He has a date, but we were discussing work."

"Why were you working when you're home?"

She smiled. "We have our first client and it's a big one. I'm giving my notice on Monday, effective immediately. They owe me about eight weeks of vacation."

"So you won't be traveling?" He smiled at the thought of seeing her more often.

She smiled. "But you will be."

"Not for a few months. Everyone keeps mentioning the garden."

She smiled. "Do you believe in magic?"

"Why?"

"You'll see. Come on."

She took his hand and pulled him across the room. She stopped by the patio door and reached into a bowl. He wondered if she was getting a key.

The night air was chilly. "You'll freeze." He took off his sports jacket and put it over her shoulders. Then he put his arm around her.

"Now you'll be cold."

"I'll be fine."

Lights lit up the paths and Sloane knew her way through the maze. They reached a clearing with a fountain.

"People believe it's magical. If you make a wish, it will come true."

"Have any come true?"

She nodded. "Most every couple inside believe a wish or two helped bring them together."

He smiled. "I need to kiss you."

She gasped and before she could reply, he captured her lips. She tasted of wine and kissed him with the same urgency he felt.

"I like you. I want to date you."

She giggled. "You want to be my boyfriend."

He groaned at the term. "Whatever you want to call it."

"You'd better make a wish." She handed a coin to him.

He could wish for her to be his girlfriend or even for her to love him, but none of it really mattered if his wish didn't come true. He tossed the coin, as he wished to be worthy of her love.

Thanks for voting ⭐️