Seeing the joy and trust on her face, Curtis felt that helping her get this burden off her chest was totally worth it.
“He just wrapped things up abroad.
We’ll go over the details when he gets here,” he said, then paused before adding, “I’ve already arranged for someone to pick him up this afternoon.”
With that, he reached over to the nightstand and dialed Noah directly.
*****
The afternoon sun was warm and mellow.
Curtis sat quietly in his wheelchair, speaking softly with Noah about the final wrap-up work.
Noah, as usual, stood respectfully, focused and jotting down key notes.
Just then, light, quick footsteps approached, accompanied by a cheerful voice: “Honey, what do you think of my new dress?”
Delia stepped out from the room, smiling brightly.
She had changed into a pale pink, knee-length dress.
The cut was simple and elegant, making her skin look even fairer.
She looked delicate and full of charm.
She walked over to Curtis, leaned down naturally, resting her hands on his wheelchair’s armrests.
Delia tilted her head, eyes crinkled with a playful smile, clearly waiting for his reaction.
Curtis looked up, his gaze lingering on her for a second.
But before he could say anything, Delia blinked and teased in a gentle but accusing tone, “By the way, hubby, we were sooo close last night, and then you just bailed to answer a call?
Seriously?”
She looked all pouty, like she was genuinely bothered.
Honestly, it was just her way of getting back at him for cutting things off last night.
They were this close to kissing!
She couldn’t help but feel a bit miffed.
“Ahem!
cough cough!” Noah suddenly choked on his own spit, letting out an earth-shattering cough.
His face turned beet red instantly.
The dude looked like he wanted to vanish right there.
His eyes darted everywhere, anywhere but at Delia or Curtis.
He was already screaming inside.
Ma’am, could you please read the room?
Who talks about that kind of private couple stuff…
out loud…
in front of other people?
Like, me?
Curtis clearly hadn’t seen that coming either.
The tips of his ears turned visibly red, the blush creeping down his neck.
His fingers tightened slightly on the armrest, obviously flustered, avoiding her teasing gaze.
“We’ve got company.
Maybe…
tone it down a bit?”
Only then did Delia snap out of it like she’d just noticed something, straightened up, and turned toward the entrance of the living room-
As if realizing for the first time they had an audience.
She still had that playful smile on her face, but now there was a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
So this must be…”
Curtis finally let out a silent breath-thank goodness she wasn’t teasing anymore.
He straightened up, regaining his usual calm demeanor.
“He’s Benjamin Bennings, a friend of mine.
Just flew back from overseas,” Curtis introduced, then gestured between them, “and this is Delia Fleming, my wife.”
Benjamin had been checking Delia out the moment she stepped in.
The guy was tall, in a relaxed yet sharp suit with no tie, cool and effortless without looking sloppy.
His features were striking, and there was a natural smirk on his lips that made him look easygoing and confident.
As soon as Curtis finished the intro, Benjamin stepped forward, flashed a grin that could sell anything, and reached out his hand.
“Hey, nice to meet you, Mrs.
Stockton.
Curtis’s talked your ear off to me a bunch-finally get to meet the real deal.
Gotta say, you’re even more stunning than I imagined.
No wonder you two are such a killer match!”
His vibe was all warmth and friendliness, breaking the ice like a pro.
Delia took his hand with ease and replied, “Nice to meet you too, Mr.
Bennings.”
“Benjamin’s a close friend,” Curtis said.
“He’s sharp, and I brought him back to help you out.”
Delia’s smile paused for a beat.
She hadn’t expected he’d go this far, actually bringing someone back from abroad to help her.
A soft warmth bloomed in her chest, and her nose tingled slightly.
He always had her back, even when she didn’t know it.
Quietly doing everything he could for her behind the scenes.
“You’re too good to me,” she said, eyes misty.
Curtis looked at her gently, speaking in that calm tone, “Your problems deserve the best solution.”
Benjamin had been watching them quietly, catching all the unspoken emotion in the air.
That smirk on his face got even more devilish.
He rubbed his chin, glancing back and forth between the couple.
Then he said, “Mrs.
Stockton, I gotta ask-because what I’m seeing right now is not what I was told.
What’s the real story with you two these days?”
He was clearly poking for fun, the type who enjoyed stirring the pot.
Delia, still a little teary from Curtis’s thoughtfulness, caught on in an instant.
She fake-pouted, eyes narrowing just slightly, and tossed a playful glance at Curtis.
Then she turned to Benjamin and played along, “Oh, he’s always swamped with work, and even when he’s off, he acts so distant.
I try to get a little close and he suddenly has urgent emails or mystery calls to take care of.
Just like last night…”
“Whoa!” Benjamin whistled, eyes wide, totally going along with the drama.
He looked like he just uncovered some spicy gossip that made his day.
“No way, Curtis!
Delia’s that pretty and she literally came on to you, and you still acted all stiff and proper?”
you know, something’s off with you!”
“Benjamin!” Curtis finally lost it, his ears practically glowing red.
His face was burning.
Honestly, he couldn’t remember the last time he was this embarrassed.
He turned toward Delia, who was totally playing along, and gave her a half-defeated look.
“You could tone it down a bit too.”
Standing just behind Curtis, Noah was already cringing so hard his toes were curling up in his shoes.
He seriously wished he could morph into one of the potted plants in the living room and just disappear.
He kept his head low, eyes fixed on the floor like he was trying to meditate away the secondhand embarrassment.
Delia, sensing she’d pushed it far enough, saw how flustered Curtis was but was clearly loving it.
That look of his-awkward and helpless-totally made her day.
But she knew it was time to wrap the teasing up.
Push him too far and it wouldn’t be fun anymore.
She quickly dropped the joking expression and turned to Benjamin.
“Mr.
Bennings, please don’t mind the joke just now.
Since Curtis trusts you, I do too-completely.
Do you have any initial thoughts about what’s next?”
Benjamin dropped the playful act as well and straightened up, looking calm and sharp, like he meant business.
“If I give my word, I’ll see it done right.
I’ll need to look through the materials first, then I’ll put together a full plan.”
“With him onboard, Edward won’t be able to stir up much,” Curtis chimed in, having calmed down a bit.
Noah didn’t say anything, but gave a small nod, showing he agreed.
Delia looked at Benjamin, who was radiating confidence, and at that moment, all her worries melted away.
Relief and genuine gratitude flooded in.
“Thanks so much for helping.
And thank you too, honey.
You always have my back.”
She said that and then turned to Curtis with a soft, happy smile.
Benjamin, watching the whole husband-wife exchange, rubbed his chin.
“Delia, I like your vibe-straightforward, no BS.
Curtis, man, how are you still not making the most of this?
If I were you-”
“Benjamin!” Curtis interrupted again, clearly desperate to put an end to this torture.
Then he turned to Delia.
“Delia, I need to go over a few things with Benjamin and Noah.
Can you take care of your stuff first?”
She could tell they were about to talk shop now.
A little disappointed, she still nodded sweetly.
As she walked out, Benjamin leaned over with a grin, wiggling his eyebrows, “Your wife’s got spice.
I like her!”
Curtis shot him a glare, but his ears were still red.
“Enough already.
Let’s get to it.”
Noah quickly followed, finally feeling like he could breathe again.