Page 20 of Resisting Fate
Her lips parted on a soft exhale. He smiled but made no move to kiss her. Instead, he dropped his hand, his gaze moving from her lips to her hair. “Do you still see your Vegas mom?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then why does she get to decide how you wear your hair?”
“Why do you get to decide?” she returned.
His eyes danced with amusement. “You’re a prickly one.” He went to the closet and pulled out his black leather jacket, pulling it on. “I’ll call you cactus from here on out.”
She found her black wool coat and shoved her hands in the sleeves, irritated by the nickname, probably because it hit a little close to home. Her defenses sprang right up when someone pushed her. “Let me guess, you normally call your women sweetie or honey bunny.”
He laughed out loud. “Honey bunny, that’s a good one. No, I call them by their name. Maybe throw in a—” he dropped his voice, low and husky “—sexy thing if it’s warranted.”
Her cheeks heated, her neck too, and so many more southerly parts. “We should say goodbye to Leah.”
“Sure, she’s an honorary aunt. She was close with my mom.”
She swallowed hard, his openness about his loss bringing a visceral deep empathy. She bumped his shoulder in a small gesture of affection, drawing a smile from him that reached his eyes, warm and tender. She wobbled for a moment, not used to warm and tender, before she walked over to where Leah was busy wiping down the counter. Ben followed close behind.
“We’re heading out,” Missy said. “Have a happy Thanksgiving.”
Leah put the sponge down and gave Missy a warm smile. “You too, sweetheart. Thanks so much for your help.” She turned to Ben. “There’s my Super Ben. Your mom was looking down on you from heaven today.”
“Super Ben to the rescue,” he murmured. “I felt her.”
Leah nodded, her eyes shiny, before giving him a hug. She pulled away and said to Missy, “This guy is a keeper. Good people.”
“Aww, thanks,” Ben said. “High praise from my aunt always gives me a boost with the ladies.”
“Oh, you!” Leah said, cackling and shaking her head.
“Bye,” Ben said, kissing Leah on the cheek. He took Missy’s hand, surprising her, his larger hand enveloping hers in a firm clasp as he guided her through the kitchen and out to the dining room. She wasn’t much of a hand holder, wasn’t used to affectionate gestures at all, really. A hug here and there. Sex, yes. Hand holding, no. Before she could decide how she felt about it, they were on the front sidewalk and he let go.
“Welp…” She rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet, not sure how to finish that sentence. Goodbye? Come over? It’s been real?
Ben closed the distance between them, instantly spiking her temperature despite the chilly November night. He pushed her hair back over her ear before gazing directly into her eyes, his voice gentle. “Tell me what you want.”
“Nothing,” she whispered. She never dared want anything. She got what she needed and that was enough.
His big hand cradled her jaw, tipping her face up to his. “What can I offer you is a better question.”
That was a better question. Something she could handle. She licked her lips and he watched the movement. “If you’re offering what I think you’re offering…”
His thumb stroked her cheek. “I am.”
She swallowed, her stomach fluttering, on that high wire again, terrified of falling. “One night.”
“One night,” he agreed. “And no spending the night.”
It was everything she’d hoped for—clear-cut boundaries, passion with no hard feelings after. A little voice in her head warned it couldn’t possibly be that easy, but she was done denying herself. “Deal.”
He dipped his head, brushing his lips against hers. “How about we start tonight?” He kissed her for real then, his mouth hungry and hot, his arms wrapping around her, pulling her against his hard body and intoxicating heat. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, pressing closer, needing more of him, not caring about anything but the raw animal instinct that drove her. Sex, that was all it was. Yes, yes, yes.
He pulled away so suddenly she lost her balance. He steadied her, then took her hand in his, this time entwining his fingers with hers as they walked to the parking lot. She decided she liked holding hands with Ben. She liked it a lot.
She couldn’t wait to find out what else she liked with him.
