The doorbell rang and Ben closed his eyes, counting to ten. He’d been avoiding Felicia like a coward, not wanting to hurt her feelings but not wanting to lead her on either. Her due date had to be coming up soon. A month? Two? Had he been a better man, he’d have the date circled on his calendar.
But Ben wasn’t a good man. He was a jackass for ignoring Felicia, and for leading Alexis on without telling her about the baby.
The loud pounding on the door echoed the pounding in his head and he sighed, turning the knob with reluctance.
“Felicia.” He opened the door wide, welcoming her into his condo with his hand. “You look lovely.”
“Bullshit. I’m freaking Shamu here.” She swooshed in past him, leaving a trail of expensive perfume in her wake. “You’d think places would be more accommodating to pregnant women.” She dropped her giant designer bag on his kitchen countertop and helped herself to the fridge.
Ben stood on the threshold between the kitchen and living room and shoved his hands in his pockets, knowing anything that came out of his mouth right now would be taken the wrong way.
Those sisters of his taught him well.
Finding nothing inside, she closed it and leaned against the counter. “Can you believe I had to park two blocks down from Chanel today? They had five open handicap parking spaces. You’d think they’d let a pregnant woman park there so she didn’t have to schlep across town carrying all this excess baggage.”
He choked back a laugh as he checked out her feet, clad in ridiculously high heels. It was Felicia’s trim figure and long legs that had caught Ben’s attention nearly a year ago. She had stunning eyes, when they weren’t cold and angered. Which was more often than not.
Other than that, she didn’t have much going for her. He’d enjoyed a handful of dates with her. They were compatible in bed, he thought.
Honestly, he couldn’t remember how her skin felt, or the noises she made while underneath him.
Alexis, however, he could still taste. Still smell, even over the thickly perfumed air Felicia brought in with her. His hands itched to touch her skin again. A delicious combination of strong and solid, and soft and feminine.
“Why are you smirking at me? You think me being fat is funny? It’s your fault I’m this way.”
Ben snapped to attention and focused on Felicia. She didn’t look pregnant to him. Nothing like his sister had when she was carrying his niece or nephew. Felicia’s brown skirt barely covered her thighs, her cream colored top fit snug against her breasts and slightly rounded belly. She actually looked…normal.
“You look great, Felicia. Really. Healthy.”
Felicia softened. “You’ve always been a charmer.” She worked her long legs toward him and toyed with the collar around his shirt. “You know what I miss most?” Her fingernails raked over his chest and lowered toward his belt.
He caught her wrist in his hand and brought it back up to his chest. “We’re not going there.”
“Oh, but it would be so much fun.” She leaned her body into his and Ben gently pushed her away. “Come on, Ben. For old time’s sake. Pregnant women have needs, too.”
It wasn’t like he dumped her when he found out she was pregnant. They’d been long over for months when she showed up on his doorstep with a pregnancy stick in hand. At first he didn’t want to believe the baby was his. He thought it was a trap, only he knew Felicia better than that. She was the type of woman who wanted nothing to do with children. He’d had to convince her not to abort the baby.
Which she then took as a sign he wanted her back.
“You and I both know we’re not right for each other. I promised to help out with…the baby.” He choked on the words, still in denial he’d be a dad soon. “My accountant has been paying your medical bills, hasn’t he?”
“Yeah.” Felicia rolled her eyes and backed away. “I’m due in six weeks. What are you going to do then?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…about the baby. Are you going to take care of it?” She dug through her purse and took out a nail file. “I don’t want to be bogged down day after day caring for your baby.” She ran the file across one of her nails and chucked it back in the bag.
“I told you I would do whatever needed to be done for the baby.” Which he should figure out pretty damn soon. He had his mother and sister as resources. Now he just had to let his family know he would be a father soon.
And then what? Felicia didn’t want the baby. She’d made that clear from day one. Maybe he’d look into a reputable adoption agency. There had to be couples looking for a healthy baby to adopt.
Whatever he did, he’d take care of his responsibilities. He just didn’t know what that meant.
“You sure about the sex?”
“Positive.” Why did it take him so long to realize he’d been dating the wrong women? The superficial, bimbo, self-centered women had appealed to him when he had no desire to settle down. To commit.
“Fine. I’m late for my manicure anyway.” She picked up her bag and snuck a kiss on Ben’s cheek before sashaying out the door.
And that was why he hadn’t mentioned anything to Alexis. There was absolutely nothing going on between him and Felicia.
Except a baby.
A baby neither one of them wanted to accept would be here in less than two months.
If Alexis been the huggy type she would have wrapped her arms around the FEDEX man, maybe even kissed his cheek, when he’d delivered the bottles a few weeks ago. It had taken a great amount of self-control not to tear open the boxes and fill them immediately. The bottles were even more gorgeous than the website portrayed.
Ben had surprised her by emailing a stunning label design idea the night he left Maine. The crystal blue glass and long necks would look gorgeous behind the silver label she had printed. Once the bottling was complete, she’d send him one as a thank you.
Earlier in the week, she’d sent him a professional courtesy email noting the parts of his plan she’d agreed to move forward with. It was short and to the point, nothing personal mentioned. Alexis did all she could to keep personal thoughts far, far away from Ben. It was an impossible relationship from the beginning that had no right to go anywhere other than professional.
Gathering the sanitizing equipment, Alexis went through the process making sure the bottles were clean and ready to be filled.
“Ready to go, kiddo?” Her father peered over her shoulder, inspecting the bottles and then ran his hand down the stainless steel vat. “You did good. The sample you shared this morning was more exquisite than I could have imagined. You’re a fine winemaker, Alexis.”
“Grumpy was the best teacher. And so were you.” They worked in tandem for hours, anticipating the other’s moves, until nearly all the bottles were filled.
“Looks like I’m late to the party.”
The deep, gravelly voice startled Alexis, causing her heart to skip a beat or two. She waited until the bottle she held was full, and then pulled down the lever to press the cork. Once it was in place she looked up to the doorway. A heavy, wet snow covered Ben’s shoulders and turned his hair into a salt and pepper mop. He’d never looked more adorable.
Hemsworth was on his feet nudging his face into Ben’s hands for a rub down before she or her father said a word.
“This is a surprise. What brings you out our way? Especially in the middle of a nor’easter.” Her father placed the bottle in the shipping box and practically ran over to Ben, slapping him on the shoulder and shaking his hand. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Had I known I would receive such a welcome I wouldn’t have waited a month to return.” Ben crouched down and scratched Hemmy’s belly for a minute before standing and brushing off the snow. “Sorry about the mess. I guess I should have shaken off outside.”
“It’s Maine. We’re used to it. Come on in out of the cold.”
He stood, making eye contact with Alexis for the first time. Those stunning eyes, such a sharp contrast to his dark hair, twinkled in the dim lighting. “Alexis. Lovely to see you, as always.”
Her father’s cell phone chimed and he pulled it out of his pocket, reading the screen with a frown. “Claudia’s in the house and wants to know whose vehicle is parked outside Alexis’s door.”
Even at twenty-nine she still had no privacy. Maybe it was time to find her own place. Her father texted back and stared at the screen waiting for a reply.
Ben smirked and winked at Alexis.
She shook her head in amusement. “He thinks if he looks at his phone the texts will come faster.”
“Like a watched pot waiting to boil?”
“Exactly.”
Ding.
“See. It works.” Her father scrolled through the apparently long message. “She wants to know if you’ll stay for dinner.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I already have plans tonight.” Hemsworth nudged his hand again and Ben obligingly scratched behind his ears.
“Boss says I need to go in and get cleaned up. You drive safely. You’re not used to these kinds of conditions. If you change your mind, we have two spare bedrooms at the house. You’re more than welcome to stay the night.”
“I appreciate that, Shane,” Ben said, shaking his hand.
Ben and Alexis watched her father put on his coat, gloves, and hat and waved when he left, a cold burst of air and a flurry of snow sweeping in behind him.
“How are you, Alexis?” Her name rolled off his tongue nice and slow, causing her knees to nearly buckle.
“You came back,” she whispered, still in disbelief.
“Of course I did.”
“I thought…I didn’t think…” Her mind raced at all the possibilities for his return. Unfinished business in town. To see the progress of Crystal Ice and the function hall.
To see her.
Ben stepped closer, the snow melting in his hair, dripping down the side of his face. She wanted to follow the path of water with her mouth as it dipped near the corner of his eye, and down the hollow of his cheek, trapped in the depths of his five o’clock shadow.
He reached out and touched her eyebrow with the tip of his finger, tracing her hairline until his hand rested around her neck.
“You didn’t think…” he whispered, stepping closer, the drips of melted snow splashing on her boots, the water on the cuffs of his coat saturating her shoulder.
“You came back,” she said again, nearly breathless with shock.
His eyes glazed over, his gaze dropping to her mouth. Ben stroked the back of her neck and she couldn’t help but tilt her head to the side, giving him more access. Her heart raced and she feared it would thump out of her chest, bursting, turning her left boob from a B-cup to a healthy Double-D.
“I told you I would.” He leaned closer, his breath, cool as spearmint, permeating her senses.
“For the wine.” Not for her. No one came to see Alexis Le Blanc.
“For you.” Ben’s other hand gripped her waist, drawing her body into his, and he kissed her. He tasted of peppermint and smelled of fresh linen. And his touch, his touch so sweet and gentle as he caressed the sides of her neck.
Content, comfort, relaxation. She wanted to drape her body all over him and let Ben have his way with her. And then there was that damn speed demon heart of hers, pumping blood like a freaking steam engine, clouding her senses from seeing reality.
A burst of energy surged through her body and she wanted to wrap her legs around his solid form, climb all over him, cling to him and see all the places he could bring her with one simple touch.
Ben nibbled on her lips, pulled back, then dove in for more, taking the kiss deep, deeper than before, as they held onto each other for anchorage. His fingers dug into her, promising good things to come if and when they didn’t have the barrier of a winter jacket and so many clothes.
Slowing down the pace, he massaged her sides, moving his hands respectfully toward her back, and then he dipped them under her flannel shirt, only to find another barrier.
“How many layers are you wearing?”
“Four.” She laughed. It wasn’t like they were going to get down and dirty in the bottling area.
Ben slipped his hands from under her shirt, resting them on her hips. “I like kissing you.”
“You’re an okay kisser.” Alexis shrugged in what she hoped to be a nonchalant manner.
“Okay?” he growled, pulling her into him again, moistening her lips with his tongue. This time his hands found all four layers, lifting them and making contact with her skin.
Alexis shivered as he traced the edge of her bra with his fingertips, coming around her sides and stopping underneath her breasts.
“You’re beautiful.”
Now she knew it was the heat of the moment, the testosterone and sexual tension talking.
Alexis snorted and slipped out of his reach. “I don’t need words and lines, Ben. I told you before I’d sleep with you. The chemistry is there. Just let me know if you want to do it.” Again she hoped she sounded casual and he couldn’t detect the nervousness in her throat.
“You’re an anomaly.”
“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
“I would never insult you.” Alexis’s eyebrow lifted in disdain. And he added, “I would never intentionally insult you.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m happy.” She closed up the box she and her father had filled with bottles and stacked it with the rest.
“Crystal Ice is doing well?”
“Dad and I literally corked the last bottle when you walked in. I have a bottle open if you’d like a sample.” She was as eager for him to taste it as he was. His opinion, not that she knew why, mattered to her.
Alexis headed toward the tasting room but Ben reached out, stopping her, wrapping his fingers around her wrist. “Not now. I’ll have some with dessert.”
That’s right. He already had dinner plans. Alexis nodded, hiding her hurt, and took a bottle from the box, holding it out to him. She watched Ben turn the bottle in his hands as he touched the cork and traced the label with his fingertips.
“You used the logo.”
She assumed he sent it to her for that purpose. But what if he wanted a cut? Or to be paid for the design? It was business.
“Yes. How much do I owe you?”
Ben continued to caress the bottle but let his gaze drift up until his eyes were locked on hers. Studying her with intent, the first sign of a grin appeared. “You owe me dinner.”
“Sounds like your dinner calendar is already full.” She tapped him on the chest and swiveled, keeping her back to him as she wiped down the cork machine.
“You’re my dinner plan,” Ben said in her ear, right before he nipped it between his teeth.
“What?” Spinning around, she touched her ear, wet from his mouth, and scowled. “You told my dad—”
“My dinner plans are with you.”
“A bit presumptuous, aren’t you? What if I already have plans to go out?” She wasn’t looking forward to driving in the storm, and hoped The Happy Clam hadn’t closed early.
“The weather isn’t good for going out.”
“Then how are we having dinner?”
“You must have something in your kitchen.”
“Is this a gender stereotype? You remember, I played football in high school.”
“That’s something I’m sure I won’t forget. Come on. Hemsworth looks hungry, too. Where’s your coat?”
At the sound of his name, Hemmy leaped to his feet with the grace of a one year-old cat, and wagged his tail. Ben spotted her coat draped over the counter and held it out for her.
“I don’t have much in my cabinets. I don’t cook a lot.”
“Well, I do. Growing up in an Italian-Irish house, my mother taught all the kids how to make at least seven meals. One for each night of the week.”
“Oh yeah?” Alexis zipped her coat and turned off the light switch next to the door. “So you’re making dinner tonight?” Once again her heart swelled. Sexy guy in her kitchen cooking for her? Every woman’s fantasy. All he needed to do was strip off a few layers and…
“You look pretty happy about that.”
“I like to eat.”
“Well then, sweetheart.” Ben held the door open for her and Hemmy, and closed it firmly behind him. “Show me what you’ve got.
Studying data, charts, businesses, crops, and even people is what Ben did best. Studying people wasn’t his forte` but he’d say Alexis was surprised to see him. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, he read the flash of shock, anger, and even a trace of longing. And she wasn’t happy about the longing part.
She wanted to be part of a team, to fit in with the townspeople who seemed to know who she was, but knew so little about her. Only that she was a nice girl who kept to herself. Reluctance was evident in her eyes every time they made headway, and then the brick and mortared wall she continued to build around her heart would block him out.
There was also a sense of pride. He saw it in the way she handled her grapes and the bottles of wine. The way she wiped down the surface of the machine. The way she talked to her dog.
In everything she did, Alexis exhibited pride.
Caving to Ben’s kisses was her area of weakness and she didn’t seem too happy about it. Alexis was a strong woman who liked to be in control. He’d have to tread lightly with her, even though he wanted to rid her of her clothes and pin her to the wall, exploring her body with his hands and mouth.
“I warn you. There’s not much to work with.” Alexis took both their coats and hung them on the pegs by the door and kicked off her boots.
Ben unlaced his boots, taking a lot longer than Alexis. He followed her, his socks sliding easily on the hardwood floor to the kitchen.
“A half box of shells, a can of tuna, some olives.” She opened the fridge. “Milk, eggs and cheese.”
“What kind of cheese?”
“Pizza cheese. The shredded kind.”
“Mozzarella?” Ben loomed over her shoulder and examined the measly contents. “Fresh basil? Tomatoes?”
“I have dried Italian seasoning, and a can of diced tomatoes.”
He reached around her for the milk and cheese, dropping a chaste kiss on her cheek. “I can work with that.” Ben liked the sound of Alexis’s breath catching, knowing he caught her off guard. The ingredients weren’t ideal but tonight wasn’t about the food. It was about the company.
“What do you…uh, want me to do?”
“Is it sexist of me to say sit there and look pretty?” He filled a pot with water and set it on the burner.
“I don’t know. But I’m not the kind of girl who can sit here and look pretty.”
Ben turned, eyed her up and down, taking in her navy flannel shirt, jeans, and smiley face socks. She had cute socks on the night they had dinner at the inn as well. Insecure wasn’t a word he’d use to describe Alexis either, but tonight she fit the role.
With the kitchen space being so small, he only had to take one step to stand sock-clad-toe to sock-clad-toe with her. And in one quick movement he placed his hands on her waist, lifting her to the countertop.
“Oh,” she exclaimed in surprise.
She opened her mouth. To protest? To curse him? To push him away? He didn’t know, but he stopped her with a kiss before she could form any words. He resisted the urge to take the kiss deeper, to the next level that promised naked skin, and drew away.
Stepping back, he let his gaze travel up and down her body again. “You’re right. You can’t sit there and look pretty.”
“Why you—”
Ben shushed her with another kiss. “When you sit here, inches from me, yet so far out of reach, watching me with those sexy as sin eyes, and wet lips that were meant for mine, you look damn hot as hell. I’m going to turn my back on you and keep my hands busy, otherwise we’ll both be naked and hungry.”
Alexis cocked her head to the side and licked her lips. “If we were both naked, I doubt either of us would be thinking of food.”
“Damn, woman.” Ben shut off the burner and slid between Alexis’s thighs. “It’s your call. Dinner or sex?” Hell, he hoped he hadn’t gone too far.
She draped her arms over his shoulders, pulling him close until their torsos met. “Why not both? Dinner can wait.” Alexis clutched at his hair and yanked him into her, pressing her lips firmly against his, and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Ben lifted her off the counter, placing his hands under her butt, and walked them toward her bedroom. He paused before going through the doorway. “You sure?”
She stared deep into his soul and ground her pelvis into him. Ben swore he saw a flash of light behind his eyes.
“Shit.” He made it to the bed in two strides and dropped down on top of Alexis. Her hands busied themselves under his shirt, beating him to the punch. He stopped long enough to help her finish the job, tugging his long-sleeved tee over his head, tossing it somewhere behind him.
“Wow.” She paused, her gaze following the movement of her hands across his chest and stomach. “This is nice.”
The compliment threw him off. He didn’t know if he should thank her or continue with his journey.
Alexis sighed and he had his answer. Lowering his head to her waist, he took the hem of her shirt between his teeth and slid it slowly up her chest, rubbing his whiskered chin against her soft belly until he reached her bra.
It wasn’t a fancy silky lace thing like he was used to on a woman. Ever since he’d stepped into her apartment during his first meeting with the Le Blancs, he’d been picturing her as a secret satin lingerie wearer. Good thing he never placed a bet on that.
She wore a plain, black sports bra, and not the stylish ones that women would work out in. He wanted it off her. Now. Unfortunately, a quick snap of his fingers wouldn’t unhook it. Contemplating his next move, he crouched back on his heels, straddling her body, and pulled her to a sitting position.
“You’re way overdressed for this party. The clothes. They have to go,” he growled, slipping the elastic from her hair as cascades of auburn curls caressed her body.
He watched as Alexis unbuttoned the shapeless flannel that he knew hid sex and sin. When she slipped her arms through the sleeves and dropped it on the floor, Ben lifted her thermal shirt, tugging it over her head.
Suddenly self-conscious, Alexis crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t do the uncomfortable underwire bra thing.”
Their naked torsos, already glistening with sweat and anticipation, touched, her sports bra the only barrier.
Ben unfolded her arms, trailing kisses down them until he reached her fingertips. “What’s sexy is what’s underneath.” He slipped his fingers under the tight elastic and followed it around her back. It wasn’t a move he had down, stripping a woman of a sports bra, but he picked up on the task quickly.
He tugged, she wiggled. He gripped the tight elastic between his fingers and wrenched it over her head, her ear getting caught in the process.
“Ouch.” Alexis tilted her head away and rubbed her ear, laughing at the same time.
“Sorry. Let me kiss it and make it better.” Ben tossed the sports bra over his shoulder and placed a trail of kisses where her bra had been. It may not have been the sexiest bra removal he’d ever done, but the end result was the same.
No, not the same.
Naked from the waist up, Alexis reminded him of one of the statues at the Martelli vineyards in Italy. The perfect balance of strength and beauty, confidence and vulnerability. All smooth, white, flawless skin, and delicate curves.
“You’re stunning.”
“You’re horny.”
“Damn straight I am. Look at you.”
Alexis waved off his compliment, attempting to hide her eyes behind her hair. Ben pushed the auburn waves behind her shoulders and kissed her slowly. When she leaned in, trying to take the kiss deeper, he retreated, not allowing her to take control.
“I believe you were complaining about the amount of clothes being worn to this party,” Alexis purred, trailing her fingers across his abs.
“I can remedy that.” In one swift move, Ben had Alexis on her back again, her legs still pinned under his thighs.
He swatted her hands when she reached for the button on his jeans, and took them both in one of his, holding them above her head.
“Keep these here,” he whispered in her mouth, outlining her lips with his tongue. When he was sure she’d comply, he inched lower down her legs, skimming her torso with his hands. She flinched and squirmed, but kept her hands above her head like he asked.
The button on her worn jeans slipped through the hole easily, the zipper and Alexis’s heavy breathing the only sound in her dark and silent room.
That and his pounding heart.
Making love to a woman was an art Ben felt he excelled in. The choreographed dance between two lovers working toward the same end goal: climax.
Although tonight in Alexis’s bed it wasn’t just the climax that was his end goal. Hell, he didn’t want this to end at all. He wanted the touching, teasing, joking, and banter to continue all night and into tomorrow. And the next day.
And the next.
He didn’t want to rush this. This time it wasn’t about getting his rocks off. It was about loving Alexis.
Woah. He stilled, her jeans halfway down her thighs. Not loving as in loving, he didn’t mean that. Making love. Sex. That was all.
Ben continued tugging her jeans down, revealing muscular quads and calves. Heck, even her feet, once he took off her socks, looked athletic. This woman was meant to workout. And a workout he’d give her.
There was no way he could take this slow. He’d pictured Alexis naked hundreds of times, but none of his fantasies came close to the real thing. He reached for her simple white panties and tossed them to the side with the rest of her clothes.
Digging out his wallet from his back pocket—praying to God he still had a condom in it—Ben found what he needed, held it between his teeth while he quickly rolled off her to shuck his jeans.
“I promise to take it slow next time.”