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Liz flashed a smile, and he couldn’t tell if it was sincere. “And I’d like you to meet Bennett Grayson,” she said. “Ben, this is my former husband, Brandt Matthews, and Marissa Kincaid.”<br /> The guy stuck out his right hand, keeping his left still linked with Liz’s. “Hi there. Nice to meet you.”<br /> Brandt shook his hand. “Likewise.” He looked at Liz. “You didn’t tell me you were bringing a date.”<br /> Her brilliant smile of a moment before faded. “I wasn’t aware I needed your permission. We’ve been divorced seventeen years,” she reminded him needlessly. “Besides, you brought a date.”<br /> “Yes, I know. I just never expected to actually see you with another man, and least of all at our daughter’s wedding? ” <br /> ————————<br /> “Brandt thinks we should have the traditional parents’ dance at the reception, even though I’m sure his latest girlfriend will be in attendance,” Liz explained. “My daughter, meanwhile, would like to forgo any dance with her father, and she thinks I should bring a date.”<br /> “That’s a terrific idea,” Maggie said.<br /> “Are you kidding? It’s a horrible idea.” Liz had said the same thing to Chelsea when she suggested it. “I’m not into the dating scene. You know that.”<br /> “Yes, because you spend way too much of your time preoccupied with one man, even though you’ve been divorced from him for seventeen years,” Maggie gently chided. “Much to the detriment of your emotional well-being, I might add.”<br /> Liz stifled a sigh. “Oh, come on. Don’t start.”<br /> Maggie held up a hand. “Hey, I’m not judging. I’m well aware that at his best, Brandt Matthews is a very appealing man. Unfortunately, at his worst, he can totally screw with both your head and your heart, and he’s done way too much of both to you,” she said. “If you ask me, it’s time to screw with his a little.”<br /> “Meaning what?”<br /> “Look, you just said yourself that Brandt will almost certainly bring his current squeeze with him, but he still expects you to be there for him, too, even dancing with him for appearances sake,” Maggie said. “If you’ll forgive the cliché, Brandt likes to have his cake and eat it, too.” The corners of her mouth turned up in a mischievous smile. “Imagine what it will do him if he sees you show up on the arm of another man.”<br /> “I doubt he’ll much care,” Liz said. “He might not even notice.” Still, she couldn’t deny that the idea of making Brandt a little jealous appealed to her.<br /> Maggie shook her head. “You underestimate yourself, something else I blame Brandt for. Trust me, he’ll notice. And he won’t like it one bit.”<br /> Liz remained skeptical. “Even if I thought this was a good idea—and I’m not saying I do—where would I find a date on such short notice? I’m a little too old for the bar scene.”<br /> “Perhaps.” Maggie shrugged. “I actually know the perfect man for the job. He’s gorgeous. And younger.”<br /> Gorgeous sounded good, but Liz’s brain tripped a little on the second part. “How much younger?” she asked. “Because you know what they say about women who prey on younger men.”<br /> Maggie let out a laugh. “He’s forty-seven. I doubt seven years puts you in cougar category, and besides, if it’s not a real date, you won’t exactly be ‘preying’ on him, will you?”<br /> “Fair enough,” Liz conceded. “Who is this guy, and how do you know him?” Her curiosity was now getting the better of her.<br /> “His name’s Ben Grayson. He’s a former client of Todd’s.”<br /> “Oh, no.” Liz shook her head vehemently. Maggie’s husband was a fellow therapist with an office in the same professional building as Liz. “We’re not going there. If I wanted someone messed up, I could date one of my own clients.”<br /> “Yes, and lose your license in the process,” Maggie reminded her needlessly. “Ben’s not ‘messed up’ as you put it. He’s a really good guy. He’s just had a hard time dealing with his wife’s death.”<br /> “In that case, he has my sympathies,” Liz said, regretting her earlier snap to judgment. She knew full well that not everyone who sought out a therapist classified as ‘messed up.’ “He’s probably not ready to date again, though.”<br /> “No, but he makes an ideal fake date to mess with your ex’s head,” Maggie said. “What do you say? Give me the word, and I’ll have Todd set it up.”<br /> <br /> It took until the third try, but Liz managed to press all seven digits in the phone number Maggie gave her. It rang twice before a man answered. “Hello.”<br /> “I’m trying to reach Bennett Grayson.”<br /> “This is Ben. Who’s calling?”<br /> Liz took a deep breath. There was no going back now. “My name is Liz Matthews. I’m a friend of Todd and Maggie Wallace.”<br /> “Right. Todd said you’d probably be calling. I understand your daughter’s getting married. Congratulations.”<br /> He had a pleasant enough voice, Liz decided. Friendly. “Thank you. Her fiancé is a really nice young man,” she said. “By the way, I’m very sorry for your loss.”<br /> “That’s kind of you. It’s been a difficult time, but Todd’s helped me a lot...” Ben’s voice trailed off briefly before he continued, “Anyway, I hear you need a date for the wedding.”<br /> “I wouldn’t say I need one, exactly.” It made her sound rather desperate, which was the last thing she wanted.<br /> “Of course not. I didn’t mean to imply... No offense intended.”<br /> “None taken.” Great, she already had him backpedaling and apologizing. Don’t be too prickly, “So Todd filled you in?”<br /> “Yes, I think I got the gist of it,” Ben said.<br /> “I realize it probably sounds rather juvenile, and I don’t want you to feel used. If you want to back out, I completely understand.” She hoped he wouldn’t, though. In spite of her initial reluctance to Maggie’s idea, Liz now found herself kind of looking forward to it. And Ben really did sound nice.<br /> “I don’t feel used. I’m flattered, actually,” he said. “I don’t have anything else planned for Saturday, and Todd tells me you’re very charming.”<br /> Charming. Maggie described Ben as ‘gorgeous,’ while he’d been told she was merely ‘charming.’ She wondered what his expectations were and what he would think when he saw her. You’re being she chastised herself. It’s not a real date, anyway. Who cares what he thinks? What mattered was what Brandt thought. “If you’re sure, then...”<br /> “I’m sure,” Ben said. “What time on Saturday?”<br /> “Two o’clock. If you give me your address, I can pick you up.” He rattled off an address in a rural community just outside of Concord, and Liz wrote it down. “Great. I’ll see you then.” She stopped short of telling him she looked forward to it.<br /> <br /> ***<br /> <br /> When Saturday afternoon approached, Ben was relieved that Landon was off at his friend’s house playing video games. At least he wouldn’t have to explain to his son why he would be spending the afternoon in the company of a woman. If Ben wasn’t sure he would ever be ready to date again, there was even more question whether Landon would ever be ready to see his father with anyone other than his mother. The boy only recently became less withdrawn and was getting back to the fun and outgoing teenager he’d been before Amy’s death. The last thing Ben wanted to do was disrupt Landon’s life again.<br /> So why had he agreed to this date? Ben was fully aware that Todd hoped he would somehow hit it off with Liz Matthews, in spite of his protestations that he had no intention of dating again. As for Ben, he hoped his date would be every bit as likable as his friend promised, so at least the afternoon passed by pleasantly, but they would have little in common and Liz would remain focused on her quest to reunite with her ex-husband. Knowing she wasn’t interested in dating anyone else either made it a relatively risk-free proposition, right?<br /> When the doorbell rang a few minutes before two, Ben took a deep breath before opening it. The woman standing on the other side was tall, with a slender build and long legs that were emphasized by the knee length of her skirt. Her salt and pepper hair was cut in a close-cropped style that complimented her narrow face. While her appearance was completely different than Amy’s petite, blond looks—and was it even fair to make such a comparison?—she was attractive, and certainly not the desperate woman Ben first envisioned when the idea of this date was presented to him. “Hi. You must be Liz.”<br /> “Yes. And you’re Ben?”<br /> “In the flesh.” He extended a hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”<br /> “Likewise.” She smiled, revealing creases around her brown eyes. “Are you ready to do this?”<br /> “I’m not going to ask to back out now, if that’s what you mean.” He stepped outside and locked the front door behind him.<br /> “I appreciate that.” She led him to a burgundy Mercedes M Class parked by the curb in front of his house. Not bad, Ben decided. She was apparently successful and had good taste in cars. “This is a nice neighborhood.”<br /> “Thanks,” Ben said. “We wanted something quiet and a little outside the city.” He walked around to open the driver’s side door for her. She might be driving, but he could still be chivalrous. “Do you live nearby?”<br /> “I’ve got a townhouse downtown,” Liz said. “I live alone and I’m not into maintenance.” She stepped into the vehicle. “And it’s close to my office.”<br /> Ben got into the passenger side. He wondered how long she’d been divorced, but didn’t know if it was an appropriate question to ask only a few minutes after meeting her. Instead, he opted for a safer topic. “You’re in the same office building as Todd, right? And a therapist too?”<br /> “That’s right. That’s how we met.” Liz started the car and pulled away from the curb. “Maggie’s also my yoga instructor.”<br /> “Todd’s my golf partner,” Ben said, not adding ‘former therapist’ to the role. He suspected Liz knew, but that didn’t mean he was ready to discuss it. “He and Maggie are good people.”<br /> “Very good,” Liz agreed. “The wedding is at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, if you’re wondering.”<br /> A twenty minute drive. Hopefully they’d find enough to talk about. “I’ve heard of it, but I didn’t know they hosted weddings.”<br /> “Chelsea and her fiancé are both artists, so it appealed to them,” Liz explained. “They went to MassArt. Well, actually Chelsea graduated last year. Hayden is a senior.”<br /> “Interesting,” Ben said. “I look forward to the wedding, and to meeting your daughter. Is she an only child?”<br /> Liz nodded. “Yes. What about you? Any children?”<br /> “A son, Landon. He just turned sixteen and got his driver’s license,” Ben said. “I’m still adjusting.”<br /> “It can be a scary time, for sure.” Liz chuckled. “I blame Chelsea driving for most of my gray hair.”<br /> “I’m sure I’ll have plenty myself, soon.” He let out a sigh. “My wife was killed in a motor-vehicle accident, so I didn’t even want Landon to drive. It still scares me when he’s out by himself, but I also know I can’t shelter him. He deserves to have the same teenage experiences as everyone else.”<br /> “That’s very good of you to recognize that,” Liz said softly. “And again, my sympathies for your loss. I apologize if I inadvertently touched on a difficult subject.”<br /> Ben shook his head. “No apology necessary.” Still, he appreciated her compassion. It didn’t surprise him, given the line of work she was in. “It’s hard, but each day gets a little better.” He settled back into his seat and tried for a change of subject. “So, is there anything I should know in order to play my part well? I took a theater class in high school, but I never thought it’d come in handy.”<br /> “I guess that makes it more useful than Algebra,” Liz deadpanned.<br /> “No kidding.” Ben found himself laughing. Todd was right. She had a good sense of humor, and he looked forward to spending the afternoon in her company.<br /> <br /> ***<br /> <br /> The drive to Manchester passed quickly. Liz had feared they might not have anything to discuss, leaving uncomfortable lulls of silence. Instead, after a brief awkwardness over the subject of Ben’s late wife, they’d found plenty in common, from a shared hatred of Algebra to a love of classic movies, the beach and New England craft beverage. So far, so good. It might not be a real date, but at least it wouldn’t be insufferably boring. And Maggie hadn’t lied. Bennett Grayson was definitely gorgeous. If seeing her with Ben couldn’t make the great Brandt Matthews jealous, then that situation was officially beyond hope.<br /> She’d barely turned the car off when Ben jumped out and came around to open her door, just as he’d done when they’d left his house. So he had manners as well as looks. Good job, Maggie. “You don’t have to keep opening my door for me,” Liz said.<br /> “Maybe not, but I was raised to respect women, and I have a part to play, remember?” Ben smiled, a twinkle in his blue eyes and a dimple forming on in his chin. “I don’t want your ex thinking you’re dating some loser.”<br /> “I doubt that will be a problem.”<br /> Ben reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. No, not a problem at all.<br /> “This place is stunning,” Ben observed as they walked into the museum’s Italian-Renaissance themed Historic Court, where the ceremony would take place.<br /> “It is,” Liz agreed. “I toured it with Chelsea a few months ago when they were planning the wedding. She absolutely fell in love with the idea of walking down the marble staircase and joining Hayden on the landing to say their vows.” Liz knew her daughter was less excited about her father escorting her down the staircase, but at least she never considered bucking that tradition.<br /> “I don’t blame her. It’s so unique,” Ben said, glancing around. “So who are we looking for? What’s he look like?”<br /> “Brandt?” Liz thought for a second the best way to describe him. “Tall, silver hair, brown eyes,” she said. “Arrogant smile, and he’ll probably have a redhead on his arm.” She stopped short of saying a ‘bitchy’ redhead, which Liz thought showed great restraint on her part.<br /> “Got it.” Ben gave a subtle nod of his head. “Is that them walking toward us?”<br /> Liz stole a quick glance in the direction he indicated. Sure enough, Brandt headed in their direction, and he wasn’t alone. “Yes.” And now that she was there, about to come face to face with him, Liz again questioned the merits of this plan.<br /> “You’re nervous, aren’t you?” Ben asked.<br /> “My sweaty palm must be a dead giveaway, huh?”<br /> Instead of answering, Ben leaned his head down and whispered in her ear. “Relax. I got this.” He brushed his lips across her cheek, momentarily causing her breath to hitch.<br /> “What are you doing?”<br /> “Playing my part.”<br /> And playing it well. If her palm was sweating a moment ago, now Liz felt flushed, and for an entirely different reason. Ben took a step back, but not before caressing the cheek he’d just smooched, and Liz found herself face to face with her ex-husband and his current girlfriend.<br /> “Hello, Brandt,” she greeted him.<br /> Brandt stopped dead in his tracks. Liz wasn’t alone. No, she was holding hands with some guy, and he’d just smooched her cheek. And it looked as if she liked it too, because a flush came over her face. The same flush he could elicit from her when he turned her on, which never took a great deal of effort. His ex-wife was a strong, independent woman with one great weakness—she couldn’t resist Brandt, and that was exactly how he liked it.<br /> So who was this guy and what was Liz doing with him? In the time they’d been divorced, Brandt could scarcely recall any men Liz dated. In his most arrogant moments, Brandt liked to believe it was because she still carried a torch for him. In more humble moments, he suspected it was because he’d hurt her so badly that she remained leery of any relationship.<br /> “What is your problem?” Marissa tugged at his arm. “As if I don’t have a pretty good idea.”<br /> “No problem.” Brandt recovered his composure and finished closing the distance between them and Liz just as she greeted him.<br /> “Hi, Liz. You look lovely,” he said. Stunning, actually, in a shimmery gray dress. Then again, she’d always had good taste and wore clothes well. “I believe you’ve met Marissa?” Brandt knew he wouldn’t win any points with his daughter for bringing Marissa to her wedding, but Marissa had all but insisted. Any chance to be seen on his arm, and the wedding being held in an art museum had to be an added bonus to the status-conscious gallery curator. <br /> “Of course.” Liz flashed a smile, and he couldn’t tell if it was sincere. “And I’d like you to meet Bennett Grayson,” she said. “Ben, this is my former husband, Brandt Matthews, and Marissa Kincaid.”<br /> The guy stuck out his right hand, keeping his left still linked with Liz’s. “Hi there. Nice to meet you.”<br /> Brandt shook his hand. “Likewise.” He looked at Liz. “You didn’t tell me you were bringing a date.”<br /> Her brilliant smile of a moment before faded. “I wasn’t aware I needed your permission. We’ve been divorced seventeen years,” she reminded him needlessly. “Besides, you brought a date.”<br /> “Yes, I know. I just never expected to actually see you with another man, and least of all at our daughter’s wedding? ”

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