Winning Ben

by JoMarie DeGioia

  Three stories tall, the B and B sat on a rise not far from the main lakeshore. It was designed well, which he could appreciate. And situated in a near-perfect setting. If it had been his project he would have included more period details, though. When you took the sweeping staircase up to the hallway leading to the guest rooms, that was where the illusion dimmed a little bit.

  A huge wraparound porch and wide balconies off of several of the fifteen guest rooms took advantage of the view. He could just see the sun glinting off the ripples in the lake through the open French doors of the dining room. It wasn’t the Pacific Ocean, but the gentle pull of the water spoke to him just the same.

  “More coffee, Mr. Chapman?” the innkeeper asked.

  Ben smiled at the elderly woman. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

  She smiled, folding her hands over her midsection. “Then you must have another cinnamon roll. They don’t sell these at the bakery in the town center, you know.”

  “An exclusive?” he teased. “They’re delicious. That’s quite a coup.”

  “I know!” She beamed at him, patting her graying hair back from her brow. “I can’t touch the drinks from the coffee shop, though.”

  “And they can’t touch the ambiance here at the Cypress Inn.”

  The woman blushed and hurried over to the sideboard to grab him another of their exclusive cinnamon rolls. Ben waved it away with a smile and downed the remains of his cup of coffee.

  He wasn’t expected at Rick and Harmony’s until around one, so he figured he’d head out to the lake and do some thinking. The dining room was getting a little crowded now that it was coming up on ten o’clock. He wasn’t in the mood for more small talk and he needed peace and quiet to figure out just what he was going to tell Mr. Forbes tomorrow morning. At the moment, he had no idea.

  After thanking the innkeeper again, he headed out the French doors to the terrace and took the steps down to the inn’s secluded portion of the lakeshore beach. It was a warm morning and, from the last couple of days spent here, he knew it would get pretty hot later. Harmony had told him that summer wouldn’t begin to release its hold on Central Florida until October. Would he still be here in October? If he took the job Forbes offered, yeah he would.

  He reached the soft, sandy path and stood there for a second. The lakeshore was unlike anything he’d seen in California. Towering oaks and cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss framed the incredible views of the crystal blue lake. He could hear kids’ laughter and the ebb and flow of voices from the more-populated main lakeshore somewhere to his right but here, at the base of the inn, it was pretty quiet. Almost serene.

  A row of lounge chairs stretched out in front of him, all turned to face the lake view. They were all unoccupied too, except for one. As he drew closer he caught a glimpse of long, tanned legs. Intrigued, he continued as the rest of the sunbather came into view. Those shapely legs drew his eyes up and over a flat bare belly to round, full breasts barely contained in a hot pink bikini top. Oversized sunglasses covered half of the woman’s face but he’d know that silky dark hair anywhere. It was Tammy Donato herself.

  He stood in front of her, letting his shadow play over her face. When she let out a breath, he almost felt it brush over his body.

  “Good morning,” he said.

  She started, and then peeked at him over her sunglasses. A slow smile curved her lips as she leaned up on her elbows. “Well, well. If it isn’t the newest Chapman in town.”

  “Yep.” He chuckled and sat down on the lounge beside hers. “I’m staying up at the inn. What’s your excuse?”

  She shrugged, and then slid her sunglasses up on her head. “Mr. Forbes roped me into that picnic Friday, you know. I had to get my beach time in somehow.”

  “Why not head to the main lakeshore?”

  She gave a shudder. “Too many kids, thanks.” She winked at him. “You’re not going to rat me out, are you?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. I’m with you on the peace and quiet thing.” He dragged his eyes from the hot-as-hell picture she made on her lounger and looked toward the lake again. “I have some thinking to do.”

  She sat up and swung her legs to one side of the lounge chair. “About what?” She held up one hand. “I’m not prying, I swear. Despite what Harmony and Claire say, I’m no Lettie.”

  He brought his attention back to her. “Who’s Lettie?”

  Tammy slanted him a look. “You haven’t met Lettie yet? Oh, just wait.” Her eyes ran over him. “She’s going to just love you.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t worry. She’s harmless. She’s ‘a woman of a certain age’ but there’s still fire in her furnace. Or something like that. She’s just full of those Southern sayings. Talking with her is like watching Steel Magnolias.”

  He dipped his head. “I look forward to making her acquaintance, then,” he drawled.

  She laughed. “Yep. That accent was awful but she’s going to eat you up with a spoon anyway.”

  The words were innocent but with her wearing next to nothing his mind went straight to where it shouldn’t. Shifting on the lounger, he rested his arms on his knees and clasped his hands. She leaned on one elbow now, her hair sliding over her shoulder to graze her incredible body.

  “So what’s got you doing the deep thinking this morning, Ben?”

  “Mr. Forbes wants me to meet with him tomorrow.”

  “And to take a tour with me afterwards.”

  “Yeah.” He blew out a breath. “I think he wants to offer me a job.”

  She blinked at him. “What kind of job? In sales?”

  “No.” He grinned at her. “What, are you worried I’ll take your place as the best salesperson at Cypress?”

  She snorted. “Not likely.”

  He laughed a little. “He wants me to do some design work.”

  “You’re a designer?”

  He swallowed, his eyes going to the lake view again. “An architect, actually.”

  “Hmm.”

  He looked at her again. “What?”

  “You know we have a new village going in. With homes so green you can almost eat the walls.”

  “And?”

  “Forbes must want a fresh eye, so to speak.”

  His stomach churned. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  ***

  Tammy straightened as she read the bemusement on Ben’s face. Something was up with this guy. That was for sure.

  “What’s the problem?” she asked.

  He flashed her a smile again, that dimple playing hide and seek. He looked good. He was dressed more casually today, with a weathered blue t-shirt, tan cargo shorts and sneakers. His long legs were braced apart and his strong-looking hands were still clasped.

  “Problem?” He ran a hand through those dark tousled waves of his. “No problem, really. I just…” He shook his head and fixed his eyes on her. “It’s a beautiful Sunday morning, Tammy. I’m sitting here on a serene beach with a gorgeous girl. Nope. No problem at all.”

  She felt that heat from him, like she had yesterday. He wasn’t exactly flirting but the impact was the same. This guy was dangerous. He had sex appeal in every inch of his fit body and she could hardly catch her breath.

  “No problem at all?” She shrugged. “Must be nice.”

  He laughed, low and soft. “Very nice.”

  Oh! She had to put some space between them before she jumped him right here in full view of the inn’s guests and the families playing just down the other end of the beach.

  Forcing herself to look cool and calm even as her heart was hammering in her chest, she lowered herself back down on the lounger. Sunglasses in place and hiding her from him once more, she could breathe a little easier.

  “You’re welcome to stretch out and do your thinking right here,” she said. “Problem or no problem.”

  He was quiet, so she peeked over at him. He was studying his hands, running them over his thighs. His brow was knit and his lips pressed together. He
had a problem. No matter what he might say otherwise.

  “No, I think I’ll leave you to your beach,” he finally said.

  “It’s not my beach. I’m an intruder.”

  “I’ll just tell the innkeeper that you’re my guest.”

  She propped herself up on her elbows again. “Your guest?”

  He dipped his head but she caught his smile. “Maybe you can drop by sometime.”

  She sat up. “What are you asking me, Ben?”

  He splayed a hand over his chest. “Hey, I just thought you might want to join me for breakfast one morning.”

  “Breakfast, huh?”

  “My mother raised me to be a gentleman, Tamara. I’d never send a girl home hungry.”

  Her mouth dropped open. Was he seriously propositioning her? In an instant, the impression of rolling around with Ben on a big bed in one of the inn’s guest rooms made her pulse race.

  She managed an easy smile even as she flushed hotter than the sun in the cloudless sky. “I think you’ve got your signals crossed, pal.”

  “If you say so.” He chuckled, the sound sliding over her just right. “So will I see you at Rick and Harmony’s?”

  “All that family stuff? Um, I don’t think so.”

  “All that family is right. You said you have tons of brothers and sisters. Maybe you can help me figure out how to act around so many family members.”

  “Nuh-uh. My family’s up north, remember?”

  “It would be nice to have a friend there,” he said.

  Now she rose a little more to sit cross-legged. The sunglasses slid up on top of her head again so she could face him fully. “So, we’re friends now?”

  One brow arched. “Aren’t we?”

  “You’ve known me all of thirty-six hours, Ben. And since we spoke a total of fifteen minutes on Friday, I’d say we’re not exactly at the ‘hey, I got your back’ or ‘bro, do me a solid’ point in our relationship.”

  “Maybe not.” His eyes dipped down to her chest and back to her eyes. “Would it help if I told you I thought about you last night? In the shower?”

  “Ben!” She saw the sparkle in his eyes then and shook her head. “You’re a little naughty, you know that?”

  “So you’ll come today?”

  She picked up her towel off the back of the lounger and dabbed her face. He could really make her sweat.

  Lowering the towel, she faced him again. “Oh, okay.”

  The smile that spread across his face took her breath.

  “Great,” he said. “It’s at one.”

  She waved a hand. “I know what time it is, believe me. I’ve been dodging these things for years now.”

  He stood, looking very tall standing there so close to her. “Good. I’ll leave you to a little bit of peace then. I’ll see you at…my brother’s.”

  With that, he left her and she gave up on any uncluttered musings for the rest of the morning. She was going to Rick and Harmony’s this afternoon, as amazing as that should be. And she was going as Ben’s friend. Jeez.

  At one fifteen she stood on the porch of Rick and Harmony’s house with one arm wrapped around a potted bromeliad plant. It was pretty but what Tammy knew about plants would just about fit in the glossy blue pot that held this one. Thank God she’d been able to find Lettie at home today. After despairing of ever getting back to her contemplative state she’d achieved before handsome Ben Chapman had intruded on her stolen solitude, that was. Lettie, the sweet and outrageous fixture of Cypress Corners with a greener thumb than even Harmony, was only too happy to recommend the perfect houseplant.

  Rick and Harmony’s house was a gorgeous two-story and Tammy knew it inside and out, but not from frequent visits. No. She was well-versed in all of the construction in the different villages and this particular house was situated in one of the more spacious of them. The large lot and all of the high-end fixtures should have made the house look grand and off-putting but this home was very welcoming.

  It claimed a beautiful view of the central lakeshore across the street, and a deep porch stretched across the front. Adirondack chairs and a hanging bench swing beckoned visitors to the porch enclosed by columns and a railing. The house was painted a dove gray and the roof was peaked slate.

  Rick had chosen well when he picked this property. And when he’d chosen his wife. She knew it was Harmony’s touch that made this home so…homey. If Tammy had been taxed with that duty, there was no telling what the place would look and feel like.

  Taking a breath, she rapped on the wooden screen door. The front door opened with a whoosh and she looked down to see Nick Chapman blinking up at her.

  “Tammy!”

  The kid’s enthusiasm took her by surprise. She’d known the boy since he was a bump on Harmony’s trim body but she didn’t think he really paid her much attention. Huh. Who knew?

  “Hey there, Nick.”

  He grinned now. “Mommy was sure you were coming but Daddy said no way.”

  She laughed. “Hmm. Do you want to be the one to give them the news?”

  Nick bobbed his head and turned away from the door. “Mommy, you were right!”

  His voice trailed behind him as he ran toward the back of the house. Tammy shifted from foot to foot, and then reached for the door handle.

  “Let me get that.”

  She stiffened as Ben’s voice reached her. He seemed to materialize out of the shadows through the screening and then he was there, pushing the door open and beckoning her inside. He wore sneakers and cargo shorts again, now paired with a light blue polo. He looked really good and she stopped herself from drooling.

  “Thanks,” she managed to say.

  “Thanks for coming.” His gaze ran over her, from her strappy wedges up over her bare legs to her khaki shorts. Her body tingled as he eyed her soft Henley t-shirt before settling on her face again. “You look good.”

  Not “nice.” “Good.” She liked the way he said that, too. Simple, yet really hot. She couldn’t forget his backhanded proposition of that morning, either. Was he serious? Did she want him to be?

  God, she didn’t know. She sidestepped him and headed for the kitchen. One good thing about never thinking about forever?

  She didn’t have to make her mind up about it right now.

  Chapter 4

  Harmony met her in the kitchen with a big smile. “Tammy, you came.” She winked. “Rick owes me ten bucks.”

  Tammy smiled. “Happy to help.” She held out the plant. “This is for you.”

  Harmony took the plant, her eyes wide. “Oh, what a gorgeous vriesea splendens! That’s a flaming sword.”

  “Okay,” Tammy said with a chuckle.

  “A what?” Ben asked from behind her.

  Tammy managed to keep from jumping. How did such a big guy move so quietly?

  She threw him a glance over her shoulder. “Harmony’s a botany brain, Ben.”

  “Yep.” Harmony placed the plant on the raised granite counter, turning the pot until it faced whatever way she believed it should, and faced Tammy again. “It’s lovely. Thank you.”

  “Thanks for inviting me,” Tammy said. “Again.”

  Harmony flashed her another smile. Rick came up behind Harmony and dropped a kiss on her cheek.

  “That’s pretty,” he said with a nod to the plant. “Ben, come man the grill a minute? I have to grab the cheese and stuff. Harmony says I made the burgers too thick, but you tell me.”

  “Too thick?” Ben shook his head. “That’s not possible.”

  “Right?” Rick patted Tammy on the shoulder. “Nice to see you here, Tammy.”

  “Even if it cost you ten bucks?” Tammy teased.

  Rick shrugged and grabbed a plate stacked with cheese slices out of the wide stainless fridge. “Come on, Ben. If Jake has his way, he’ll take the burgers off while they’re still mooing.”

  Ben followed his big brother thought the French doors onto the patio. She didn’t miss how Ben carried himself, though. He still a
ppeared a little bit uncomfortable around these people.

  “Hmm,” she mused aloud.

  “What’s that?” Harmony asked.

  Tammy started, and then faced Harmony. “What’s what?”

  “You look like you’re thinking about something, and it can’t just be my new brother-in-law’s very fine butt.”

  Tammy gaped at her. “Harmony!” She quickly saw through the French doors that Nick was out on the patio with Claire and Jake, which explained Harmony’s easy comment. “He does have a fine butt, but I was wondering about just how long he’s been in the family. It seems really new.”

  “It is.” Harmony poured them each a glass of lemonade and settled on one of the tall barstools. “Bill broke the news to them last spring. When Cassie first came down here.”

  “What happened when I came down here?” Cassie Chapman breezed into the kitchen from the direction of the front door. “I caused a major disturbance in the force, right Ty?”

  Cassie’s fiancé, Ty Walsh, followed behind. He carried a bottle of wine and a six-pack of beer bottles, which he placed beside Tammy’s plant.

  Tammy smiled at her newest Cypress friend. Cassie was the youngest Chapman. She had the gorgeous looks of her brothers, with long dark hair and big blue eyes. She’d come down here without any direction last spring and now she had a place and a guy who loved her. A pang of want settled in Tammy’s belly. What was wrong with her today? She didn’t lust after Cassie’s guy, and she sure as hell didn’t lust after what Cassie had.

  “Harmony was just telling me about how you found out about Ben,” Tammy said.

  Cassie’s mouth, always ready to smile, thinned to a line. “Our father, that paragon of men, announced it casually over dinner.”

  Ty’s hazel eyes grew clouded as he placed a hand on Cassie’s shoulder. “Easy,” he drawled.

  His touch seemed to soothe her, which wasn’t surprising since he was the wild animal tamer of Cypress. Cassie covered Ty’s hand with hers and leaned back against him, letting out a breath. “Sorry. Talking about Bill always gets me upset.”

  “Have you decided if he’s coming to the wedding?” Harmony asked.