Spontaneous - Brenda Jackson [50]
“That’s nice,” Kim said, closely watching the interaction between the two.
Her mother had crossed the room to check out the basket, and Mr. Bennie said something to make her laugh. But he’d always made her mother laugh. They were old friends and enjoyed each other’s company, which was why Kim had never paid them any attention before.
And she had never paid any attention to the fact that Mr. Bennie was rather nice-looking. Tall, with dark hair, gray eyes and a roasted-almond skin tone. It was quite obvious that he had kept himself in good physical shape for a fifty-seven-year-old man. For years he’d owned a hardware supply store in town but had sold it not long after Valerie graduated from college.
Wynona crossed the room to open the refrigerator and Kim watched as Mr. Bennie’s gaze followed her mother’s every step. And then, as if he remembered she was in the kitchen, he glanced over at Kim and gave her a nervous smile, knowing he’d been caught ogling her mother.
He cleared his throat. “So, Sunshine, how long will you be in town?”
“Just until the weekend. I’m flying back out on Sun day,” she said, hoping that was true. She was thinking about contacting the hospital for extended time if she needed to do so.
Her mother returned to the counter with the eggs for the cake. “Kim came home to meet Edward,” Wynona said, smiling. “She was afraid we would marry before she had a chance to do that. Now she’s talked to me about putting off the wedding until next month, when she could get more time off work. Of course Edward will have to agree to it.”
Mr. Bennie nodded, and Kim could tell that Wynona’s wedding to Edward was not something he wanted to talk about. “I called Sweet Pea last night and told her all about you making medical school,” he said, as if he needed to change the subject. “She told me to tell you congratulations and that she knows one day you’ll make a fine doctor.”
Kim smiled. “Thanks.”
“And just so you know, Sunshine, I like your young man. He’s nice.”
Flutters kicked in Kim’s stomach. If only Duan was really hers. “Thanks again.”
Mr. Bennie rubbed his hands down his jeans. “Well, I’d better be getting back next door. I need to check in on my computer to see if any orders came in this morning.” Kim knew he had an online business that specialized in selling figurines. Customers placed orders through the Internet and he sent them to the factory where the merchandise was kept. That way he didn’t have to worry about inventory. “I hope to see you again before you leave, Sunshine,” he said.
Kim nodded. “And I hope to see you, as well. In fact I’m going to make a point of stopping by and saying goodbye. You have a nice day, Mr. Bennie.”
“You do the same, Sunshine.” He smiled at her mother. “I’ll talk to you later, Nona.”
When the door closed behind him, Kim knew Duan was right. Although her mother was clueless, Mr. Bennie was sweet on her.
“HEY, YOU’RE NOT a bad fisherman,” Edward said, smiling over at Duan.
Duan forced a smile back. “Thanks. I try to get out on the water as often as I can. It relaxes me.”
“Same here. Do you own a boat?”
Duan shook his head. “No, but my brother has a beauty of one in the Keys. He lets me use it whenever I want, and I fly down there every chance I get.”
Edward nodded. “And that’s how you met Kim?”
Duan remembered Kim had told the story of how they met to both Edward and Wynona and wondered if perhaps the man was trying to compare their versions. “Yes. Her best friend Sherri is married to my brother Terrence.”
Edward grinned. “That’s right, the Holy Terror. I used to keep up with him when he was playing pro with the Miami Dolphins. I hated when he called it quits.”
“A number of people did, but it was his decision to make. Terrence had played football since he was in grade school and always said he only wanted to play until he was thirty. He didn’t want an injury to take him out. I agreed with and respected his decision.”
“So are you and Kim thinking of having kids?”
Duan nearly dropped