Don’t Put It In Your Mouth

 

She was freaking out. Internally. Under the radar. Completely oblivious to the human eye. Kelly couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t figure out how to calm the racing of her heart and the buzzing in her core.

Heat seared her hand, but she was so caught up in the silent meltdown that it took her a moment to register where the pain was coming from. At last, the heat demanded her attention and she jerked her hand back—the hot pan she was clutching cluttered to the floor.

“Kelly, are you okay?” Benjamin bounded over and grabbed her hand, hissing at the redness of her fingertips. “Were you touching that while it heated?” He pointed to the pan.

“It’s okay.” She shook her head. “I’m okay.”

Benjamin brought her arm up and blew on her fingers as he dragged her to the sink. The sight of his puckered lips made it harder to think rationally. She tried to tug her arm away before she did something stupid, but Benjamin refused to let her go.

“The best thing to do when you get a burn is to keep the injured area under cold water.” He held her hand under the faucet as the water poured.

“It barely hurts,” Kelly said, her eyes filling with tears. She was gripping the very last drop of her self-control. Who knew restraint required such herculean strength?

Footsteps clattered through the house and soon Bianca, Jenna and Courtney skidded into the kitchen. Their eyes quickly skimmed the scene—bouncing from the pan sizzling on the floor to Benjamin holding Kelly’s hand under the faucet.

“Are you hurt, Kel?” Bianca cried, flying to peer over her brother’s shoulder.

“Let me get some gauze,” Jenna said.

“I’ll try to find burn ointment. I’m sure they have a first aid kit somewhere in the bathroom,” Courtney added.

As the pair disappeared, Kelly squirmed. Their attention was touching, but she wasn’t all that hurt. If anything, her attraction to Benjamin was killing her more than the burn.

“You poor thing.” Bianca slapped her brother’s back. “Benji, how could you let her hurt herself?”

“It wasn’t his fault.” Kelly rushed to defend him. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“We should have ordered out.” Benjamin frowned. “I apologize, Kelly.”

“Don’t say that.” She chuckled nervously. “You’re making me feel bad.”

Jenna and Courtney returned with the first aid kid and Benjamin accepted the case from them. He turned off the water and brought her to the table where he carefully applied the cream and wrapped up her fingers.

“There,” he said. “Good as new.”

“Thank you.” Kelly shyly closed her injured hand into a fist.

“If you don’t mind showing a bunch of newbs what to do, maybe Jen, Courtney and I can cook dinner,” Bianca suggested.

Benjamin winced. “I’d rather not spend the rest of our trip in the bathroom.”

Bianca sneered at her brother and threw an onion at his head. He caught it cleanly out of the air and grinned.

“I resent your tone, mister,” Bianca said, tossing her head. “In any case, I think it will be fun. I haven’t cooked in a while. What were you making, Kel? Is that steak defrosting on the counter? That’s easy enough.”

“I’m pretty good at tasting things,” Jenna offered. “I could probably make the sauce.”

“I can steam the vegetables.” Courtney raised her hand in the air. “Don’t worry, Kel. I can cook, so I’ll make sure these whackos aren’t messing things up too badly.”

“I’m excited to see what you’ll do.”

“I’m not,” Benjamin said and leaned toward her. “Bianca burns water.”

“Lies!” His little sister thrust her finger in the air. “Don’t listen to him, Kel.”

Kelly grinned, charmed by the way Benjamin teased Bianca. Their interactions were so genuinely affectionate that it nearly made her emotional. Or perhaps it was the burn on her hand that brought tears to her eyes.

“Let’s get to work and earn our keep, ladies!” Courtney clapped her hands and pointed to the cutting board. “That includes you too, Benji. Get back to chopping.”

With the girls in the kitchen, the atmosphere changed completely. Kelly’s mood flipped from ‘thirsty’ to ‘tickled’. She enjoyed listening to their conversation, and they in turn seemed to enjoy whenever a funny comment burst from her lips.

The group’s dynamic was one that thrived in playful banter, and Bianca wasn’t afraid to throw shade at Kelly when she felt like it. She in turn gave it right back.

It was all in good fun and even when a plate of scorched steak, runny sauce, and watery vegetables was set before her, Kelly ate it with a smile… that eventually turned into a grimace.

“Phew!” Bianca tossed her fork down. “That’s disgusting!”

“Who’s idea was it for us to cook anyway?” Jenna demanded. “They must be out of their mind.”

“It was Bianca,” Courtney said, wiping her mouth dry with a napkin and subtly spitting a piece of broccoli into the papery depths. “I’m ashamed to be associated with this mess.”

“Shall we go get some real food?” Bianca asked. “I’m starving.”

“Kelly?” Benjamin gazed at her. “Do you feel up to going out or would you prefer we order in?”

“I burned my fingers. It’s not like I’m an invalid. I’m game if you guys are.”

“This is why I love her!” Bianca pointed a finger at Kelly. “The party don’t stop ‘cause of burns from a pot.” Jenna started beat-boxing as Bianca repeated the phrase.

Courtney held her stomach and wiped tears from her eyes. “Leave rapping to the professionals, Bee.”

“What are you talking about? I thought that was fantastic!” Bianca flung her hands over her shoulders as if she was flinging her hair. “Guys, come help me pick a wig. We’ll be right back. Benji, make sure Kel doesn’t lift a finger.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Benjamin saluted. When the girls giggled and trotted back to their room, he sighed. “She’s going to spend half-an-hour figuring out what wig goes with which outfit. Do you want to change too?”

“Do you think I should?” she asked, pulling at the hem of her blouse. The pink material went well with her white shorts and leather sandals. Kelly doubted Benjamin would take his sister to one of the many clubs that littered the shores of San Pedro. This outfit should be appropriate for a restaurant.

“That’s a loaded question.” Benjamin leaned back with his hands in the air. “You look great to me.”

Kelly laughed. “I can take your honesty.”

“I was being honest.”

She eyed him. “If you say so.”

“You won’t accept my compliment?”

“Not if I question its authenticity.”

“You are… a very beautiful woman,” Benjamin said, his eyebrow slightly arched.

She leaned back and folded her arms across her chest. “What about me do you find so attractive?”

Instead of being thrown aback by her question, he answered without hesitation. “I can give you the detailed list or the summary. There’s too much to fit in one conversation.”

She laughed. “Smooth, Mr. Levy.”

“Call me Benjamin.”

“Okay, Benjamin. Thank you for inviting me on this trip. I’m having a great time.” She meant that sincerely. Her desire for her boss was her problem, but the sights and adventures would not have been half as enjoyable without Bianca and her friends.

“Thank you for agreeing. My sister would have been crushed if you’d rejected us.”

“Who’s house is this anyway?” she asked, admiring the walls. “It doesn’t have any family pictures or anything.”

“It’s ours,” he said easily.

She froze and slowly turned back around to look at him. “Excuse me?”

“I told you it was our villa.”

“For the weekend,” Kelly gasped. “I had no idea that it was all for you.”

“It’s for the family. A manager usually stays here to watch over the property. It’s been such a long time since we’ve stopped in that it feels different somehow.” He glanced over the walls. “I’m sure Brandon and our mom would have enjoyed seeing it again.”

She was still reeling from his shocker of a revelation, but curiosity tugged and she had to ask. “Why didn’t your other family members come?”

“Brandon is too busy running the company,” he said. “He’s exactly what a big brother should be—responsible, strong-willed, and a workaholic. I’m just glad he’s taking it on so I don’t have to.”

“Don’t play humble. It’s only been a few days since you started at D&T, but I notice that you leave later than everybody in the office.”

“So you’ve been watching me?”

She stuttered. “Th-that’s not what I meant.”

“I’m only teasing, Kel.” The nickname slipped off his tongue and she found that she enjoyed hearing it. “I wonder when those kids will finish getting ready?” He glanced at his watch. “I don’t want to be out there too late.”

As if summoned by his words, Bianca and her friends sauntered toward them. Benjamin ushered Kelly to her feet and they sailed out the door to enjoy a breezy dinner by the seaside.

It wasn’t until she was getting ready for bed that night did she remember that he had never answered her question about his mother.