Warm Hearts Read Free

one of her clients.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œCaroline?”
    Her pulse faltered at the familiarity of the voice. It had been six months since she’d last heard it, but when one had been intimately involved with a man for over a year, there were certain things one didn’t forget. Like his voice. And the promises he’d made … and those he’d broken.
    â€œBen.”
    â€œHow are you?”
    â€œJust fine,” she said. Actually, she was trying to figure that one out. The initial sound of his voice had touched off a reaction, but it seemed to have been more one of surprise than anything else.
    â€œI’m back in town.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œUh-huh. I finished up in Madrid.”
    Benjamin Howe was a floating member of the diplomatic corps. Only after the fact had Caroline realized that he manipulated his assignments to coincide with his love life. Or vice versa.
    â€œHow was it?” she asked, plucking uncomfortably at those parts of her shift that were clinging to her skin.
    â€œInteresting. But it’s good to be home. Tell me about you. What have you been up to?”
    She shrugged. “Same old thing, Ben.”
    â€œStill counseling?”
    â€œIt’s my field.”
    He paused as though trying to think of something else to say. Or waiting for her to pick up the ball. Eventually he asked, “Have you had any interesting cases lately?”
    â€œThey’re all interesting.”
    â€œI mean, anything out of the ordinary?”
    â€œUnfortunately, broken homes aren’t out of the ordinary nowadays. Neither are disturbed children, unfortunately.”
    â€œFortunately for you, or you’d be out of business.”
    She tried to take his words for the humor she knew he’d intended, but still they sounded crass. She was beginning to feel uncomfortable in ways that had nothing to do with her stifling apartment. Ben, who’d once fascinated her with his good looks and exciting position, no longer did. She wasn’t sure why he’d called.
    â€œI’d be very happy to be out of business,” she said, “if it meant there was less unhappiness in the world, just as I’m sure an oncologist would be thrilled by a cure for cancer.”
    â€œAh, so lofty.”
    â€œNo. But I do mean what I say.”
    There was a long pause, then a quiet “Touché.”
    Caroline’s lips formed the reluctant beginnings of a smile. Ben had always been astute to the nuances of words. It was necessary in his work. Apparently he hadn’t lost his touch while he’d been in Spain.
    â€œYou’re still angry at me,” he decided. If his perceptiveness was off just a hair, it was because he couldn’t see her indulgent expression.
    â€œNo.” She’d grown a lot since she and Ben had broken up. “I’m not angry.”
    â€œBut you haven’t forgotten.”
    â€œNo woman forgets promises of undying love. That doesn’t mean she has to wither and die when the promises are broken.”
    â€œSo you’ve moved on? That has to say something about the love you felt for me.”
    â€œI never said that I loved you. Not once.”
    In the lengthy silence that followed, Caroline tugged open a kitchen drawer, took out an elastic band and, balancing the phone between jaw and shoulder, scooped her hair into a high, makeshift ponytail. The ends were wet. Her neck was even wetter. She wanted that iced tea. She wanted the window seat. She wanted peace and quiet.
    â€œNo, you never did say that, did you?” Ben asked, then went on before she could agree. “But, look, I didn’t call to rehash the past. I just thought it’d be fun to get together. How about a drink? For old times’ sake, if nothing else.”
    â€œTonight?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œUh, thanks, Ben, but I’m beat. Maybe another time.”
    â€œHow about tomorrow?”
    She shook her head. “Late