Page 79 of Resisting Fate
“See?” Ben said to Missy. “Fate is real.” He gestured to his grandmother.
“I’m fate,” Mrs. Walsh said with a cackle. “Admit it, Ben, isn’t the gift of Missy better than that itchy sweater? I told you to get your gift before someone else snatched her up. She’s quite a catch.”
Missy’s cheeks flushed, not used to compliments.
“Yes, she is,” Ben said with a smile. He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “Looks like you passed the grandmom test long ago.”
“What’re you whispering over there?” Mrs. Walsh demanded. “I can’t hear you.”
Missy smiled. “He says I passed the grandmom test.”
“You did! I picked you!” Mrs. Walsh rubbed her hands together. “So when’s the wedding? I’m not getting any younger, you know.”
Missy choked on a laugh.
“We’re going to shack up first,” Ben said matter-of-factly.
Shack up?Missy turned to Ben, shaking her head that he’d talk to his grandmother like that. He gave her a wide-eyed look likewhat?
“Living in sin!” Mrs. Walsh declared with a scowl. Then Ben made it worse.
“Missy is the worst kind of sinner.”
“Ben!” Missy exclaimed.
He nudged Missy’s arm, looking at his grandmother. “She looks so angelic, but you should see her—ow!” Missy had elbowed him in the ribs.
Missy smiled sweetly at him. He gave her a kiss and nipped her lower lip in retaliation. A jolt of desire shot through her and she had to fight the urge for more.
“Who wants wine?” Mrs. Walsh asked. “I think we should toast to Ben finally settling down.” She stood, muttering under her breath, “Even if it is living in sin.” She headed into the kitchen.
Ben took Missy’s hand, his voice low and husky. “I’d marry you in a heartbeat.”
Missy sucked in air. “What’re you saying?”
He lifted her hand, brushing his lips across her knuckles, raising tingling goose bumps up her arm. “If you were open to getting married again, I would love to marry you. You’re my first love.” He paused, gazing deep into her eyes. Heart thundering, she held his gaze. “My last love. I want to spend my life with you.”
She burst into tears, overwhelmed with everything she felt for him, overwhelmed by his tender words.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close. “Too soon,” he murmured. “We’ll talk later.”
Mrs. Walsh walked in a few moments later with the wine tucked under one arm, holding a corkscrew, three wineglasses clutched by the stems in her other hand. Missy quickly wiped away her tears, but his grandmother caught the movement.
“Benjamin Oliver Wright!” Mrs. Walsh bellowed. “What did you do?”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he muttered.
Missy straightened in her seat. “He just said the sweetest thing, and it made me cry because I’m not used to sweetness.”
“Oh.” Mrs. Walsh handed Ben the bottle of cabernet and the corkscrew. “Well, that’s okay then. Ben can be sweet sometimes, though usually just with family. You’re the first woman he’s brought home.”
Ben opened the wine and poured, not seeming the least embarrassed to have his grandmother sharing so openly about him. He handed Missy a glass of wine, and she gazed at him in wonder. She had no idea this was such a special occasion. She’d assumed he’d brought home many girlfriends over the years.
“Is that true?” Missy asked him. “I’m the first woman you’ve brought home?”
“Yup.”
Her chin quivered, her eyes welling up because he was so special to her too. The only man that both excited her and made her feel safe.
