Page 42 of Ruined Promises

Cal:Oh, WTF?! Brynn just told me what it was. Can’t you guys be in your other chat for this? Seriously? I need new friends.

Hadley:You love us anyway, Murphy!

Cal:*Middle finger emoji*

Brynn:Lex has been awful quiet.

Hadley:Must be giving Ben road head. Girls gotta have breakfast, you know.

Cal:*I quit gif*

I can’t with these people, especially before I am fully caffeinated.

Me:No, I am not giving a blow job. Ben went in to get coffee.

Me:I’ll text you guys with the details later.

Me:And Cal, you could never get rid of us, we know too much. *kisses*

Just as I hit Send, the driver’s-side door opens, and Ben appears with two large coffees. I take the iced coffee from him and take a sip. The sweetness of the caramel is a definite wake-up call, almost more than the caffeine itself.

Ben sets his large cup in the cup holder and starts the car. “Ready to go?”

“Yes!”

Two and a half hours later, Ben is pulling off the highway, and a giant wooden sign with CrossRoads Vineyard with black cursive letters appears.

“Oh my God, it’s gorgeous,” I say as I stare out the window at the acres and acres of green fields. We have been lucky that this winter has been a very mild one, almost as if an extension of autumn.

When I look back at Ben, he has a massive smile on his face that matches mine. He knows he did well.

Ben pulls into a spot in the parking lot and leans over the center console. “Was it a good surprise, baby?”

I close the distance between us and brush my lips against his. He coaxes his tongue between my lips, devouring my mouth. When I thread my fingers in his hair, keeping his mouth sealed to mine, he emits a low groan and pulls back, resting his forehead against mine.

“While I would love nothing more than to keep kissing you, I didn’t drive two and a half hoursjustto do that. Come on.” Ben gets out of the car and comes around my side, helping me out. With his hand still in mine, Ben retrieves the bags from the trunk, his slung over his shoulder and mine wheeled behind us. We take in the beautiful scenes in front of us that look almost out of a painting while we make our way to the hotel on the property. The main building’s architecture resembles that of a castle. Its vaulted ceilings and archways give a regal feel to it.

Once checked in for the night, we are shown to our room. A spacious one-bedroom suite with a bathroom that both mine and Hadley’s could fit in.

The balcony overlooks the vineyard that reaches the far distance—a beautiful escape to the constant busy city life. I am currently perched against the railing, taking in the scenery, when Ben comes up behind me, wrapping me in his arms.

“Did I do good?” he asks, pressing a kiss to my shoulder.

“So good. I never want to leave. I may just have to call my boss and tell him I quit and tell Hadley she’s on her own with the rent.”

His deep laughter vibrates through my body with his closeness. “Hmm, well, I can’t speak for Hadley, but I think your boss has no problem since he would be here with you.” Ben rests his chin on the top of my head. “I was going to take a quick shower, rinse off the drive. Care to join me?”

“Why, Bentley—” I know that he hates his first name, but I think it’s sexy and love the way it sounds. “—I think that’s one of the best ideas you’ve had all day.”

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