Love Imagines (Sully Point, Book 6) by Nicole Smith Page B

congratulations to Anna.
    "The food!" Anna said and ran from the room.
    Soon they were all seated around the dining room
table, and Ben was once again impressed with Anna's cooking. This time she'd
roasted a pork loin perfectly, steamed broccoli, and made the best macaroni and
cheese he'd ever tasted.
    "Anna," he said. "This is fabulous. Are you sure
you don't want to come to L.A. and open a restaurant?"
    She smiled at him. "No thanks. Sully Point has
everything I need or want. But I do love cooking for family and friends.
Everyone, save some room for dessert. We're having peach cobbler."
    Ben watched Rose interact with her parents. They
seemed very comfortable together and he realized he was in the midst of a real
family. He had been close to his mother, but there had always been a distance
in his relationship with his father.
    "Doc Rosie, Doc Rosie, come play," Joshua asked as
he was leaving the meal to go to his room. Ben had been impressed that the
little guy ate steadily and didn't cause a ruckus like some kids his age.
    "Why does he call you that?" Ben asked.
    Rose flushed a becoming shade of pink.
    "Cause she's the doctor," Joshua said, in
condescending tones that implied Ben was clearly not very bright.
    "That's right, honey," Anna said firmly. "You go
set up the hospital in your room and Doc Rosie will come play soon."
    "Okay," he said with a grin and ran out of the
room.
    "Kids. They love playing doctor. He just had a
check-up recently and is all into it," Sam said.
    Sophia leaned toward Ben. "Tell me, do you plan to
stay in L.A.?"
    "Uh, yes ma'am. That's where my work is, the
business I'm in."
    "But from what you said earlier, your work takes
you all over the world. You could live anywhere."
    "I suppose that's true," he said thoughtfully.
"I've lived there for a number of years now, and my whole life is there. I
never thought of leaving."
    "It's just an idea," Sophia murmured, after a
glance at her daughter.
    "What I want to know is, what's this rumor I heard
today about some actress new in town? Says she's your girlfriend," Ed said in
his deep voice.
    Rose choked on her sip of wine, while Sophia
glared at Ed.
    "How many times do I have to tell you not to
listen to Maelynne?" she asked.
    Rose finished coughing, and said, "That's actually
why we came to dinner here tonight. The new actress in town, Suzanne, is
someone Ben knows. Ben needs some advice from Sam and Anna."
    Ben lifted an eyebrow at Rose, and she shrugged.
He sighed and realized they were all looking at him.
    "Let me explain. It all started some time ago in
L.A. when I dated this young woman."
    As he told them the story of Suzanne, he realized
it was a relief to share it and to hope someone would have an opinion on how best
to handle it. Plus, Rose's father was a retired cop. Surely he'd know what Ben
should do.
    "It's like Patrice all over again," Anna said,
face grim.
    "I have to admit, it does sound like that to me,
too," Sam said. "Ed, what do you think?"
    "I think you've got trouble," the big man said.
"And it won't be simple to deal with either. The stalker mentality is a crafty
one. It would almost be easier if she just hated you and was trying to kill
you."
    "Dad! That's awful!" Rose said.
    "What I mean is that she thinks she loves you. In
reality, she loves and hates you. She's gone to some trouble to appear normal
enough that William would hire her for the play. You could take out a
restraining order, but she hasn't actually done anything yet to warrant it.
William can let her go, get out of the contract, but that doesn't mean she'll
leave town. Furthermore, if she thinks you and my daughter are dating, she may
go after Rose, possibly violently. I'm not happy about any of this, not at
all."
    "Are you saying Ben and I shouldn't date?"
    "Yes," Ed said.
    "No," Sophia said.
    "It will put her in danger," Ed said.
    "She deserves to date whomever she wants. Why let
this Suzanne win?"
    "I don't want Rose to be in danger," Ben said.
"But I also want us