Forever This Time by Maggie McGinnis Page B

nothing but wet lingerie. If Josie knew exactly how much he’d just seen, she’d probably be appalled that he’d kept looking.
    â€œYou gonna keep sending her out in costume all day long? Or give her something worthwhile to do? Looks like she’s gonna be here for a bit longer, unfortunately. Poor Andy.” Ben shook his head. “Thought he’d have snapped right out of it by now, but I guess that’s not how things work.”
    â€œShe hasn’t been here in ten years, Ben. What am I supposed to have her do? We’re all staffed up, except for Andy … obviously.”
    â€œYou and me both know it takes more than one person to run that office. Why don’t you let her help you up there?”
    Because she’d be way too damn close, old man. Way too damn close.
    Ethan shrugged. “I don’t know what I’d have her do. Everything’s changed since she left. And she’s not staying. By the time I got her trained up—which would take time away from what I’m supposed to already be doing—she’ll be gone again. It’d be a waste of time.”
    Ben picked up a hammer and tapped quietly on the metal, silence stretching between them. “You never know. Ever think maybe a little piece of her might want to come back someday? Might be your chance to help her decide.”
    â€œNo. There’s no way she’d come back here. Even before … everything, she couldn’t wait to leave. Hell, she and Molly made up a new getaway plan every single summer, starting when they were thirteen.” Ethan shook his head slowly. “They both wanted out of this town from the time they were old enough to figure out there was more than this town in the world.”
    Ben laughed his low, rumbly laugh. “Remember Broadway summer?”
    Ethan felt a smile threaten to erupt. “I remember them taking serious liberties with the Christmas songs they rewrote.”
    â€œI thought Andy was going to flip his lid when he found that notebook of lyrics, but instead he just came back here and sat down and laughed till his stomach hurt.”
    Ethan sobered. “I bet Josie never knew he thought it was funny.”
    â€œNo. I imagine she didn’t.” Ben’s laugh rumbled into silence. “He just wanted her to love this place like he did, Ethan. He never wanted to push her away.”
    â€œI know that. I’m sure somewhere down deep she knows it, too. But it’s at least ten years buried at this point. She finally followed through with her getaway strategy, and she has a new life. Molly decided to stay, but not Josie. No way she’ll ever be back for good.”
    â€œMaybe she needs a good enough reason to come back. Ever thought of that?” Ben kept his eyes on his workbench, but Ethan could tell his eyebrows were raised in that way he had.
    â€œWell, I apparently wasn’t reason enough to stay the first time. And now she’s moved to Boston, started a practice, and probably has a posse of cats. Hell, she could be engaged, for all I know.”
    Ben shook his head. “Doubt it. No ring, and she’d have told me that. But you’re right. Cats would definitely be a deal breaker.”
    â€œShut up, old man.”
    â€œNot that much has changed here, Ethan. She knows the business. She knows the people in town. Having her help doesn’t mean you have to give over stuff you think needs your hands on it. But there’ve gotta be things up in that office that are starting to pile up, with Andy in the hospital. Just give her some of that stuff.”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œAfraid to have her so close to you?” Ben turned his head toward Ethan, waggling his eyebrows. “Afraid old sparks will fly?”
    Ethan squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, trying to shake the image of hot-pink lingerie out of his brain. “No. We’re long past sparks.”
    â€œSo give the girl