Winning Ben

by JoMarie DeGioia

  “Men and women stuff. Me? I’m a mess.”

  “Go make your lists, Jessie. Keep yourself busy until the meeting.”

  Jessie nodded again. “Thanks. I’ll see you in there.”

  Tammy waved the girl out of her office and took a long sip of her now-just-right latte. Electricity, huh? Maybe Lettie was right there, but as for the rest of it? No way. She might have called a few matchups at Cypress in her time. But she was way off if she thought anything more than sexual magnetism drew Tammy to Ben.

  As she scrolled through her phone to check her schedule, she pulled up the texts she’d sent Ben Friday night. Oh, she’d been out of her mind to put some of those things in virtual writing. He’d made good on just about everything she’d suggested, though. And then some.

  Her phone dinged as a message arrived just then. She shouldn’t have been surprised to see it was from Ben.

  See you at the meeting. Lunch after?

  Her heart gave a silly little flip at the invitation. This was dangerous. She’d known it going in and she’d gone in anyway. All the way in. And now he wanted to date?

  “Oh, what the heck,” she murmured, texting him back an acceptance.

  Electricity? Oh, yeah. All kinds of electricity. Followed by a lunch date, though?

  She had to be very careful or she’d fall right into the trap she’d been trying to avoid since the second she’d clapped eyes on him.

  Forever.

  Chapter 17

  Ben sat on Tammy’s couch, sticking a fork into the best damn lasagna he’d ever tasted. Tammy sat cross-legged beside him, holding her own plate. She wore his Henley and a pair of panties and nothing else. The shirt was way too big, and gapped nicely in front and draped off of one shoulder. Her hair was loosely braided and she didn’t have any makeup on. She was gorgeous.

  “You made this,” he said again, letting out a groan. “Seriously.”

  She flushed a little, but that might be from the fact that he’d given her too many orgasms to count upstairs in her bed.

  “Yep. With my own sauce, too,” she said with pride in her voice. “You should have tasted it when it was hot.”

  “Maybe.” He eyed her. “But first I wanted to taste something else that was hot.”

  She laughed softly and shook her head at him.

  They’d just spent the last hour doing the hottest things to each other and he was wrung dry. It was a great way to spend a Friday night.

  “You outdid yourself up there, Big Ben.”

  Her voice was husky, probably from all those delicious moans and groans he’d gotten out of her tonight.

  “Tamara, you turned me inside out.”

  She smiled, taking up another bite of lasagna. “You’d think that after two weeks we’d get bored.”

  “I’m an architect, honey. I see all the angles and logistics. Load-bearing possibilities and stress points.”

  “Ooh, I love it when you talk dirty,” she teased.

  He laughed. This was new for him. Hanging around and eating what a woman cooked for him. Laughing and teasing long after they were both satisfied.

  “So, what are you up to this weekend?” he asked.

  She arched one brow, her body going a little rigid. “Why?”

  “Ty and Cassie are having a party tomorrow night. At his place in the village. Something about celebrating the start of their life together.”

  “Didn’t we do that at their wedding?” She shrugged. “Oh, I can’t blame them. But I don’t think I’ll go to the party, thanks.”

  He shifted on the couch to face her. “Why not?”

  “Because going to that party with you would be very date-y, Ben.”

  “We are dating, Tammy.”

  She sat up straighter. “No. We’re not.”

  He set his scraped-clean plate on the coffee table and crossed his arms. “Then what do you call what we’re doing?”

  She shrugged that one bare shoulder. “Having fun?”

  “Is that a question?”

  “Aren’t you having fun?”

  He smiled, slow and easy. “Hell, yeah. But we go out, too. In my book, that’s dating.”

  “Maybe.” Her brows drew together. “I haven’t dated much.”

  “I find that really hard to believe. You’re freaking gorgeous and a fantastic time.”

  That got a smile out of her. “Thanks. Back atcha.” She ran her gaze over him. “Have you dated a lot?”

  “Not a lot, no. I was always more of a one- or two-night kind of guy.”

  Her gaze slid away. “I don’t believe that.”

  “Believe it or not, it’s true. Before you, anyway.”

  Her head shot up, her eyes round. “Don’t do that. Don’t say anything you don’t mean.”

  He held up his hands. “I only meant that you’re the first woman I’ve spent more than a couple of nights with.”

  She slanted him a look, a smile just curving one corner of her mouth. “I am pretty amazing.”

  He laughed, feeling on more solid ground. He’d come pretty close to saying words he’d never said before. Hell, he wasn’t even sure he knew what love was. He was in no position to push any feelings on a girl even more relationship-leery than he was.

  “So, will you come to the party with me?”

  She appeared to think for a second, and then shook her head. “No. I don’t want to give your family, and by family, I mean Claire, any ideas about a future between you and me.”

  He gave her a nod. “Okay. The offer stands, though. No strings.”

  She smiled, and for a split second he wished he could offer her more than what they had right now. That he could be a different guy than the one he’d always been.

  Then she put her plate next to his and leaned into him and he let himself forget anything but the feel of her beneath his hands and the bliss of her mouth against his lips.

  This was what they had. This was what he wanted. What they both wanted. Everything else was for everyone else.

  When he got to Ty and Cassie’s house on Saturday night, he was sure he’d made the right decision not to push Tammy for more. Who was he kidding? He wasn’t a forever kind of guy, no matter what she might think. And what they had was fan-freaking-tastic. He could admit to himself that he missed having her here with him tonight, though.

  “Hey, bro.” Jake strolled up to him and handed him an opened bottle of beer. “You look like you could use a cold one.”

  “Thanks.” Ben took a drink and lifted his chin toward his little sister. “Cassie looks pretty happy.”

  Jake grinned. “She does. Hurricane Bill blew back up to Boston right after the wedding, so I’m pretty happy, too.”

  “He didn’t hang around. That’s for sure.”

  “I didn’t expect him to.” Jake took a drink. “He never does.”

  “He never came out to California much,” Ben said.

  Jake looked at him in surprise. “Not even to disapprove of something? Hmm. Must have been nice.”

  “Nope. He came out for my high school graduation. I think that’s the only time we saw him.”

  “Tell me your poor mother didn’t carry a torch for that son-of-a-bitch.”

  Ben shook his head. “She didn’t. I don’t know how she ever got tangled up with him in the first place. She was so different.”

  “From him?”

  “From a lot of people, actually. She was a free spirit. Kind of a hippy.” Warmth warred with the hollow feeling he always got when he thought about his mother. He missed her, but he could remember her alive more now than he’d been able to before. “You know, the way Harmony describes her parents? That was my mom.”

  “I’m sorry you lost her.” Jake’s expression fell a little. “We lost our mom a long time ago but I still feel it.”

  “And we’re left with Bill.”

  Jake shrugged. “Such is life. That’s why I’m glad we’re making our own lives separate from him.”

  “You are.”

  “An
d you’re not?”

  Ben scoffed. “Bill set this up, Jake. The whole thing.”

  “Maybe he got Forbes leaning in your direction, but that guy would never dance to Bill’s tune.”

  Ben reasoned Mr. Forbes was truly excited about his contribution to the latest development. Last week, when he’d seen the Craftsman bungalow design Ben created, he’d been visibly pleased. It was pretty tough to fake that kind of enthusiasm, especially coming from a no-nonsense guy like Forbes.

  “I guess that’s true,” Ben said.

  Jake nodded and turned to the gathering, and Ben did likewise. “So why are you on your own tonight?”

  “Why shouldn’t I be?”

  “Seems to me Tammy should be here with you.”

  Ben bristled a little. “We’re not connected at the hip.”

  Jake chuckled. “That’s not what I heard.”

  “Nice,” Ben said with a small smile. “I meant that we’re just taking it easy.”

  “So…no date on Saturday night?”

  Ben didn’t answer, but just drank more of his beer. Claire came up and hugged Jake’s waist as her husband draped an arm over her shoulders.

  “Hey, Ben.” Claire tilted her head to the side. “Sorry Tammy couldn’t make it tonight.”

  “Yeah. How do you know that, exactly?”

  Claire blinked at him. “Because I called her this afternoon and she said she had plans.”

  “Did she?” This was news to him. “Huh.”

  Jake and Claire exchanged a look, and then Claire’s cheeks turned pink. “She was going out, I think.”

  “Going out.” Ben drank more of his beer. “Huh.”

  Jake and Claire didn’t say more about Tammy and her busy night. Going out, or whatever. Claire gave her husband a kiss and went off to where Cassie and Harmony were gathered in the kitchen with Ty’s mother. She lived in Ty’s house, which was why the newlyweds planned to continue the habit of staying out at the tent-cabin now and then. Like his sister told him, they needed their privacy and Ty’s mother needed her independence.

  “On your own tonight?” Rick asked him.

  Ben huffed out a breath. “Yes. I’m on my own.”

  Rick pulled back. “Just making conversation, Ben.”

  Ben rubbed a hand over his face. “I know. Sorry.”

  “What’s up with you?”

  “Nothing.” He drained his beer. “Nothing’s up.”

  Rick nodded, and when Ben didn’t add anything else to the conversation he made his way back to the couch where Jake and Ty were seated. Ben stood there, looking into his empty bottle. Tammy was busy. Tammy was going out.

  He fished his phone out of his pocket and saw there weren’t any cute or sexy texts from her, either.

  “Where the hell is she?” he muttered.

  ***

  Tammy finished painting polish on her pinkie toe just as a ringtone sounded from her cell beside her on the couch. It was a tinny rendition of Dean Martin’s Volare, and signaled a call from Rosa Donato. The queen of the Shore. The Boss. In other words, her mother.

  Taking a breath, Tammy picked up her phone and swiped to answer. “Hey, Mom.”

  “Tamara, why are you home?”

  She took a breath, gathering the relaxation she’d only just been relishing. She wore her favorite well-worn long-sleeve T with her fuzzy pink pajama pants and her face was scrubbed clean of makeup. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail and she was focused on chilling. At least she was, until her mother called.

  “You called my cell,” she finally said. “My mobile phone. How do you know I’m home?”

  Her mother made her trademark snort/scoff. “A mother knows.” Another trademark. “Why aren’t you out with a man tonight?”

  “Because I had plans.” She winced, knowing her mother would see right through the excuse.

  “Ha! You said you had plans but yet you’re home painting your nails.”

  Tammy held the phone away from her ear for second to eye the screen, and then brought it back. “How do you know these things? Never mind. A mother knows.”

  Her mother huffed. “I’m coming down there.”

  “What? Why?” Tammy sat up, holding the phone tighter to her ear. “Why are you coming down here? I thought Teresa was close to her time?”

  “Your sister has four weeks to go before the baby will be born.”

  “Yeah, but she needs you there. A mother’s care to help through this difficult time.”

  “Difficult time? Tell me, what does my independent, unattached daughter know about it?”

  “Nothing.” Thank God. “So Teresa is doing okay?”

  “Yes, yes. It’s the most natural thing in the world, having babies. Which you would know, if you ever found yourself a man.”

  “I’ve found plenty of men, Mom.”

  “I mean, the right man.”

  Ben popped into her head in that instant, scaring the crap out of her. “Okay.” She dragged out the word. “Why are you coming down here again?”

  “To check on you, Tamara.”

  “Come on, Mom. I don’t need you checking up on me.”

  “Forgive me for caring about my daughter.” Her tone was put-upon and classic Rosa Donato. “I just want to make sure you’re doing all right.”

  “I’m fine. Believe me. Work is going great, and—”

  “Pff, work. Yes, work. So I’ll come down and you can show me around your Cypress Corners again. I’m sure it’s change since I’ve been down there.”

  “It has. But what about Dad?”

  “What about him? Your father is fine. He and your brother Gino and going to keep an eye on things while I’m gone. I’ll only be there for three days.”

  Tammy rolled her eyes to the ceiling, and then let out a breath of resignation. “When are you getting here?”

  “I’ll be there Friday afternoon. I’ll send you my itinerary on the email.”

  Tammy almost laughed at her mother’s phrasing, but knew better. Rosa was coming into the techno age slowly but surely.

  “I’ll keep an eye out for it,” Tammy said.

  “You can pick me up?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good!” Tammy could almost see her mother clasping her hands in delight. “Make plans for us on the weekend, Tamara. Maybe we can cook a meal together for your friends.”

  Tammy said nothing to that.

  “I’ll say good night, then,” her mother added.

  “Good night, Mom.”

  Her mother signed off and Tammy set the phone back down on the couch cushion. Running her hands over her thighs, she puzzled over her mother’s upcoming visit. It wasn’t completely out of the blue. Rosa usually made a pilgrimage, as she called it, to see her wayward daughter at least twice a year. She insisted it bridged the time between Tammy’s visits home which, Tammy could admit to herself, were less frequent than even her mother’s visits.

  She had to find a way out of the whole dinner-party thing somehow. Or maybe she could get away with inviting only Jake and Claire. Even if she wanted to include Ben, and he was the person she would want to include, what would her mother think? A gorgeous, single guy as a dinner guest? Jeez, the woman would be hearing wedding bells before her famous tiramisu was served.

  Tammy picked up her phone again, so tempted to text Ben. But no, she’d promised herself that she would put some space between them. She could survive one Saturday night alone. He was with his family and she was on her own. Claire had pressed her, though. So Tammy had caved and told her she had plans. Plans with pajama pants and pink nail polish, but plans nonetheless.

  She clicked the TV on and switched to one of the cooking channels. “If I’m having people over for dinner next Saturday, I better bring my A game or Mom will never let me hear the end of it.”

  Settling back, she studied her pretty pink toenails as the sounds of sizzling and chopping played in the background. Why hadn’t she gone to the beach yesterday? That was her Friday thing. To head out t
o the coast and just chill. Ocean breezes and outdoor dining. No stress and no family. No Cypress either, when she was out there. It struck her then. She hadn’t gone to the beach since Ben arrived in Cypress. What was up with that?

  She knew just what was up with that. She liked spending time with him right here. Either in his room at the inn or at her townhouse. Seeing him at work. Catching lunch with him. Cooking for him, of all things. He made her laugh. He made her do a lot more, too.

  Damn it, they were dating. And yet, she’d urged him to go to his family gathering without her. There was no way she wanted anyone to get the idea that they were a couple. They weren’t, despite what Claire and the rest of the Chapmans might think.

  “Wine,” she decided out loud.

  She got up off the couch and went over to the kitchen to grab a glass and the bottle of pinot chilling in the fridge. As she poured, her doorbell rang. Leaving her glass with a little reluctance, she walked to the front door and peered through the peephole. Her heart began to race.

  It was Ben.

  Chapter 18

  Opening the door, she stared at him. His hair was mussed and his expression set.

  “Ben, what are you doing here?”

  “Where did you go tonight?” he bit out.

  “Huh?”

  “Your plans.” He walked into the living room, running his fingers through his hair which explained its condition. “You told Claire you were going out.”

  She closed the front door and leaned back against it, crossing her arms. “You’re jealous,” she marveled aloud.

  His head jerked as he turned to face her. “What?”

  Warmth spread through her. This was new. For the two of them, yeah. But also just for her.

  “You, Ben Chapman, are jealous.”

  He gaped, and then let his hands fall to his sides. “I was just curious.”

  She snorted. “Okay. Well, I didn’t go anywhere. I just told Claire I was going out to get her off my back.”

  The hopeful expression on his face was adorable and more than a little hot. “Yeah?”

  “Look at me.” She gestured over her outfit. “Do I look like I’m dressed for a night out?”

  His gaze was hot on her and she suddenly remembered she never wore a bra with her favorite long-sleeve shirt.