Warrior (First to Fight #1)(33)
“I don’t think that’s going to be possible. Do you?”
I glance over at him. “You’ve managed to do it for the last year and a half. I don’t see why anything has to change now.” The arm of my chair jerks in his direction and I squawk in outrage. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Let me put this into plain words so that there aren’t any further misunderstandings.” He moves closer to me, his lips so close, I ache to feel them on mine, despite how furious he makes me. “I was an * to you that night and I’m sorry. I didn’t buy your dad’s house to piss you off, even though we both know I love it when you get pissed off. I bought it because I know how much it means to you.”
My breath catches in my throat. “You did what?” My purse starts buzzing and I drag my gaze away from his to dive in it for my phone, noting Melissa’s name across the screen. “I-I appreciate the apology. Don’t take this the wrong way, but Melissa—she was Dad’s girlfriend—is watching Cole and she just sent me an SOS. We do actually need to talk. Soon. But, right now I have to go.”
I can feel his gaze on me as I pack up my bag and shoot off a text to Chad letting him know where I’m going to be.
“Tomorrow,” he says.
I blink up at him as we both stand. “Tomorrow?”
“Come to dinner with me.”
“I don’t know. I have a doctor’s appointment with Cole tomorrow. He’s usually cranky for a while afterwards. How about the day after?”
Before he can reply, my phone buzzes again. “Yes—yes okay. Um, I have to go.” In my haste, I throw my things into my purse and head across the double driveways to Melissa’s. I can feel Ben’s intense stare following me the entire way.
Melissa’s house, more a two-story cabin, is blessedly quiet save for Cole, who is squalling more insistently now. I hurry through the bare kitchen and living room to the stairs, waving at a beleaguered Melissa in her robe and slippers. She’s been a godsend in the past few months. If it weren’t for her, I would have never been able to handle all of the doctor’s appointments and office visits for Cole.
Cole is wiggling in his little bodysuit, not quite a full tantrum but definitely working up to one. He sniffles and his head lolls as I pick him up from the portable crib I’d brought. I cradle him in my arms and make shushing sounds to soothe him. Cole contents himself in my embrace with a bottle. The process calms me as well, thankfully. I hadn’t expected to see Ben again. Not until I found the right words to say.
“Oh, Cole,” I whisper. “What am I going to do?”
He squints up at me and for a moment, I’m distracted from my troubles. He releases the bottle to smile, all gums, and I melt. I rock him from my perched spot on the bed until he stills again in my arms. I yawn, wondering how drunk Chad is and if I should just leave him here and make it an even earlier night than I had planned. Feeding always makes me sleepy and part of me wants to curl up here, succumb to my exhaustion, and forget the mess I’ve made of my life.
I nearly do just that when a sound coming from the landing of the stairs startles me awake. I glance blearily around and spot Ben leaning against the doorframe.
My belly clenches with nerves. I steel myself. The last thing I need is to feel vulnerable around him. His penetrating stare can read my every thought.
“Melissa let me in. You dropped your phone.”
My cheeks burn in response. I feel trapped. I’ve gotten so used to thinking of Ben in the removed sense that I’m nearly dumbfounded by his sudden presence. “Thanks.”
I settle Cole into his car seat where he snuggles contentedly, never stirring as I buckle him in. I quickly fold up the portable crib and stuff his blankets and diapers back into his diaper bag. My movements are stiff and jerky and my fingers shake when I attempt to do up the zipper to the bag.
I rise to leave, but Ben grabs my hand. The heat from his palm sears a path of recognition straight through me, and my heart thuds expectantly in my chest. I feel exposed by his touch and I move to pull from his hold, but his fingers tighten. I look at him in alarm. He stands and I automatically move back. Somehow, I know that being near him again, even as innocent as this, will be devastating.
Unfortunately, he follows, crowding me against the wall next to the bedroom door. I stare pointedly at the floor, unable to look at him when he’s so close.
I hear the sound of someone stumbling up the stairs and the telltale rustle of Melissa’s robe as she makes her way to the bathroom across the hall. For a moment, I hope she remembers I have Cole in here and thinks to check on me. Anything to break the spell Ben has me under. My voice—and willpower, for that matter—is nowhere to be found.
But she doesn’t. Instead, she uses the bathroom and leaves me at Ben’s mercy.
Being in such close proximity to him dredges up memories I would much rather leave buried. I feel the faintest touch of his lips against my bare shoulder and I tremble. His arms slip around my waist in gradual increments. He buries his face in my throat. Then his hands slide down the sides of my rib cage, slowly mapping the way to my hips. He gathers me in his strong arms and simply holds me there for a moment.
When he pulls back, my body follows his lead. I don’t know who makes the first move, but somehow his lips are on me and his body is pressing mine against the bedroom wall. We kiss like the night we were alone in his truck. No holding back. No real life to intrude. It’s even better than I remember it, and for a moment, I forget about the worrying and the stress. All I can think about is the stroke of his tongue against mine. The way the cage of his arms makes me feel safe and protected.