Chapter 15

Jaz was tired, but happy. Her initial meeting with Jenna Malone had gone really well and Jaz was feeling confident that they could have a successful working relationship.

Jaz walked into the house and was greeted by a laughing Kelly who was covered in pasta sauce and Ben feeding her. It was such a welcome sight, she thought.

"Hey Darling!. How was your day? Want to taste this sauce? I'm not sure I've got the seasoning right." Ben brought a spoon over to her and put it to her lips. She took a little sip and smiled.

"Tastes great, honey. Thanks for getting Kelly fed, and for getting our dinner going. I know it's normally my night." said Jaz.

Jaz licked the sauce off her lips and kissed Ben right on the mouth.

"I figure you can make up for it and make me a feast tomorrow. You'll owe me a feast fit for a king!" Ben teased. "I know this was a big day for you with Jenna arriving. I just wanted to make your day easier. How did everything go? How is Dallas settling in?"

"Everything went as well as I could hope for. She and I are on the same page about her training plans and Dallas seemed to handle the journey pretty well. They both seem excited to get to work. Matrix was off his feed today, but Dave checked him out and everything should be fine."

"That's great, honey. I'm glad things went well with Jenna and Dallas. I got the surprise of having to muster about four hundred sheep today. Thank God we have our nannie Hannah to watch Kelly during the day. I have no idea how I could have done that with a two year old. I had to pull Stevie and Xander off of water investigation duty as it was," said Ben.

"Oh! the water! I need to call Tess. Let me do that before I forget." Jaz announced.

Jaz stepped into the other room and dialed Tess's number.

"Hey Tess. How are you?" said Jaz into the phone.

"Hi Jaz. It's actually Claire. Mom's driving right now. We're going to the pub for dinner! What's up?"

"Hi Claire! Lucky me getting to talk to one of my favorite cousins. I was just calling to see if you guys are having crazy water issues at Drovers. Wilgul is close to its breaking point, and it doesn't make any sense. We shouldn't be losing water this quickly," said Jaz.

"Uncle Matt, Aunt Jodi and my Mom had almost the exact same conversation last night, so I'm going to say yes. we're having water issues too. Did you get an Olympic medalist at Wilgul today? Instagram was blowing up about it." asked Claire. "Yeah it was all under #MaloneAtMEETC

"Okay. Well, I'm not happy you share our water issues, but yes, Jenna Malone will be training with me. I'm very excited to work with her!" said Jaz.

"Congratulations Jaz! I'm gonna go now. Love you! I hope to see you soon!" said Claire.

"Bye, Claire. Give your mom a hug for me!"

Jaz hung up the phone and rejoined Ben in the kitchen. He was plating up pasta with red sauce and topping it with grilled chicken. He put a salad bowl on the table while she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured two glasses. She handed Ben one and took a sip from the other.

"I love you Ben. You know that, right?" Jaz asked.

"I love you too, Darling."

"Thank you for cooking dinner and for being great to Kelly and I. We're so lucky to have you in our life." Jaz said

"I like taking care of my family. I'll let you take care of me another night. I'm thinking of a steak dinner and a massage." Ben turned to her and smiled.

Kelly threw a few of her remaining noodles and nailed Jaz in the face with one. Ben smiled and wiped the sauce off her cheek with a napkin. He followed it up with a kiss in the same spot.

"It's not a romantic dinner unless Kelly throws food, I guess," Jaz said with a laugh.

"I think it looked great on you. I might have to ask her to do it again later tonight." Ben winked at Jaz. "Now, let's eat."

She smiled, closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply.

"What are you doing?" Ben asked.

"I'm just trying to take in this moment. Everything is just so great. I never thought I could be this happy. I have you, I have Kelly. I have the world." Jaz said candidly.

"I'm happy too. I'm happy when I'm with you. I don't want to ever not be with you," admitted Ben.

"I don't ever want to not be with you either," said Jaz as she reached across the table and held his hand. She looked into his brown eyes.

Jaz's mind was racing. Should I just say it? "I want to marry you." Would that freak him out? Is it weird for me to propose to him? I think I stuffed up my chances of him ever proposing to me two years ago. Maybe it has to be me to ask. Would he say yes? Would he be hurt if I asked him? He is sort of a traditional guy. No. This isn't the right time, Jaz decided, chickening out.

"Jaz, Will you ..." began Ben.

Ben realized he was about to propose right then and there. At this point, Ben felt he was just overflowing with love and desperately wanted to marry Jaz. Ben got his mind back under control. This isn't the right way, Ben. Jaz deserves a better proposal than spontaneously in the middle of dinner. I don't even have a ring for her. Get yourself together, Ben, he told himself.

"Ben?" Jaz's eyes widened. She wondered if this was going to be a proposal.

"Jaz, will you pass me the salad bowl?" said Ben.

Damn it Ben, grow a pair and go get a ring. Jaz deserves a ring and a proper proposal; one with flowers and fireworks, or rose petals and candles, or something better than salad and grilled chicken, thought Ben to himself.

Gutted, Jaz picked up the salad bowl and handed it across the table to him.

Idiot! Obviously he's not going to propose. You told him you didn't believe in marriage! Jaz silently cursed herself for that mistake over two years ago.

They ate the rest of the meal quietly, both of them beating themselves up in their heads.