Chapter 25

twenty-five

DANIEL

For the last four hours, I'd been watching the boat races with Ben and wandering through the market. The sun was warm on my skin, and despite the crowds, it had been a peaceful morning. We maneuvered around people enjoying the food and crafts, exchanging small talk that felt effortless, even natural.

Ben smiled as he tucked an apron into his bag. "I'll give this to Paul for one of his Christmas presents. What would you like to do next?"

I glanced at the time. "Lunch sounds like a good option."

"Do you want to grab something here and eat by the lake?"

"Sounds great." I held up a bag. "I've already bought some fresh bread. All we need is something to go inside it."

Ben nodded and led the way to a few of his favorite food stalls. Within half an hour, we were back at the lake, enjoying a simple picnic lunch under the shade of a large tree.

As Ben reached for his can of soda, he looked at me, a gleam of curiosity in his eyes. "What did you think of the regatta?"

"It was bigger than I expected. Where did all the boats come from?"

"Most of them belong to people who live around the lake," Ben explained. "But some come from farther away. They stay for a few of the regattas around Willow Lake, then head home. As summer approaches, the number of boats increases."

I was genuinely impressed. Between the boat races and the market stalls, there was something for everyone. "Does each town around the lake have a weekend market?"

Ben shook his head. "Not all of them. When there are other markets, they're on different days so everyone has a chance to visit."

I picked up my phone and took some photos of the lake to send to my brother. Then, on impulse, I turned to Ben. "Smile!"

His eyes widened in surprise. "Whatever you do, don't post any photos of me on Facebook."

I grinned. "You're not wanted by the FBI, are you?"

"Not quite," he muttered. "I just prefer to keep my personal life off social media."

"You've mentioned that before. Why?"

Ben set his lunch down on a brown paper bag. "I've had a bad experience."

I watched him carefully, sensing there was more to the story. "What happened?"

He hesitated, clearly weighing how much to share. "A friend of mine was accused of copying another artist's work. He didn't do it, but the rumors spread like wildfire. He had to sell his house and move to another city just to escape the gossip."

"Is your friend okay now?"

Ben forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "His life changed, but he's doing better. What happened made him realize that life's too short to dwell on negative things."

I nodded, thinking about the mess my life had been after Tom left. "I know what you mean. When my fiancé broke off our engagement, I was devastated. He spread lies online, and it took a long time for me to trust anyone again."

Ben handed me a can of soda. "Well, you've come to the right place. Sunrise Bay is full of good people."

I nodded, knowing how rare that was. "I'm used to people liking me because of my job, not for who I am. But your friends are different."

Ben looked out over the lake, a faraway look in his eyes. "We all came here looking for something new. Before I moved to Colorado, I had a boyfriend, a great job, and a long list of things I wanted to accomplish. But living in a big city made me feel more isolated than ever, so I came to Sunrise Bay."

Hearing Ben speak so openly about having a boyfriend made my heart pound. Now I understood why I felt such a strong connection to him. I wanted to reach out, to tell him I understood the need for a fresh start, but I was too scared that history would repeat itself. It was easier to push those feelings aside and focus on why I was here.

"I can relate to that. Is being by the lake better than working in your studio?"

Ben grinned, the tension in the air easing a little. "Much better. Dylan was right. I can finish the necklace tomorrow."

"What's it like?"

"It's made from finely spun gold and tiny rubies. My dad calls it my bird's nest creation."

"What inspired you to make it?"

Ben's face lit up with genuine excitement. "A bird's nest. While I was remodeling Acorn Cottage, a bird nested in the oak tree outside. One day, I saw the baby chicks and knew I had to do something to celebrate their birth. So that night, I sketched the design. Making the necklace has been more challenging than I thought, but I'm almost finished."

"Can I see it when we get back?"

"Wouldn't you rather wait until it's done?"

I shrugged, trying to ignore the sudden pang of sadness at the thought of leaving Sunrise Bay. "I might not be here."

Ben hesitated, then smiled. "If you don't mind stepping into my messy studio, you're more than welcome to take a look." His gaze lingered on me, and I felt a strange mix of emotions. "Why are you so interested in my jewelry?"

I picked up my lunch, trying to play it cool. "What do you mean?"

Ben's eyes narrowed. "There are lots of talented jewelers in America. Why are you so interested in my work?"

"Because it's unique," I replied, meeting his gaze. "You create jewelry that complements rather than dominates the person who wears it."

"How many pieces have you seen?"

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the photos. When I found what I was looking for, I handed it to Ben. "I've only seen four in person, but I have photos of twenty-five pieces."

He flicked through the images, his expression a mix of surprise and suspicion. "Have you been stalking me?"

I didn't smile. "I have a proposition for you."

Ben handed my phone back to me, his eyes guarded. "If it's about coming to New York City for the award ceremony, my answer is still no."

"You might change your mind after you hear what I have to say."

"I doubt it."

With so much at stake, I didn't let Ben's less than enthusiastic reply stop me. "I want exclusive rights to sell your jewelry for two years. During that time, Wilson Enterprises will commission three collections from you. We'll feature them in our prestige gallery, where only the wealthiest and most influential clients shop. In return, we'll provide branding and PR services free of charge. We'll handle all sales and distribution, manage your client accounts, and ensure you earn more than you ever imagined."

Ben's mouth dropped open and, for a moment, I thought he'd say yes. But something in his expression changed.

"My answer is still the same as before. Thank you, but I'm perfectly happy with how I'm managing my business."

"My offer is something most people only dream about," I insisted, feeling my frustration build.

"I know," Ben said quietly, "but I'm not interested."

I thought about everything I'd learned about Ben. My offer should have made him jump at the chance of working with Wilson Enterprises, but something was holding him back. "What more do you want?"

"I don't want anything from you," he said firmly, standing his ground.

I took a deep breath, trying to think of another angle. "Pastor Adam has been talking to the owners of five properties near the church. If they agree to sell, he'll have enough space to create the tiny home village. If you sign an exclusive contract with my company, our trust will buy the properties and donate the land to the church."

Ben's eyes flashed with anger as he grabbed his lunch and stood up. "That's blackmail," he snapped. "You don't care about helping homeless people. You just want the exclusive rights to sell my jewelry. I don't know why you think you can manipulate people like that, but it stinks."

I quickly gathered the rest of our food and caught up with him, my heart pounding. "Where are you going?"

"Home."

"Come on, Ben. Look, I'm sorry if I offended you, but this is important."

He stopped abruptly, turning to face me. "You think money can get you everything you want. Well, I'm telling you right now—you're wrong. If your trust wants to buy the land for the village, then buy it. But don't use it as a bargaining chip to get what you want."

"Fine," I said, exasperated. "We'll consider buying the properties regardless of what you decide to do."

"You already know what I'm going to do," Ben said coldly before turning away and walking away.