by Leanne Banks
He glanced at the dance floor. “It’s a sight to see. I’ve been to a few charity events in Dallas where everyone was dressed in designer clothing and the rooms were decorated. Gotta say, though, I like the view from my backdoor on a spring morning better than this.”
His comment took her by surprise, yet resonated inside her. For all the glamour and sophistication of her half siblings’ lives, Coco felt so much more at ease back at the ranch. “You could be right,” she said. “The flowers on the tables are beautiful, but nothing beats bluebells.”
“Tough, but beautiful,” Benjamin said. “Just like a Texan woman. C’mon and dance,” he said, slipping his hand to her waist. “I’ll never forgive myself if you didn’t take your chance to dance at the palace.”
She thought about refusing. Being close to Benjamin was hard on her. But how could she turn down the chance for this kind of memory? When would she ever get this opportunity again?
“Okay,” she said and to her surprise, the band slid into a song just right for a Texas two-step. “A two-step,” she said, stepping into Benjamin’s arms and matching his rhythm. “How did that happen?”
“The international prompt,” he said with a sly grin. “A tip to the right guy.”
She couldn’t help laughing at his confidence. Her heart shouldn’t feel as if it was flying above her. She shouldn’t feel as if she were ten feet off the ground. Shouldn’t, shouldn’t, shouldn’t.
Just this once, Coco told her brain to stop and focused on the moment. Everyone and everything in the room was a blur to her except for Benjamin’s deep gaze and his strong arms. She wondered if she would ever feel like this again.
After they danced, she indulged in a second glass of champagne. She allowed Benjamin to talk her into another head-spinning, heart-turning dance. Being held by him was addictive. She loved the scent of his soap and the sensation of his muscles beneath his jacket. His broad shoulders and slightly calloused hands provided a constant reminder that he was all male. And she was all female. His gaze was focused totally on her, and he drew her closer than was necessary.
Fighting giddiness, she excused herself to the powder room and washed her hands with cool water. She needed to dial down her reaction to him. He was just pretending, she reminded herself. Though true, the thought depressed her and she struggled with opposing feelings. Could he look at her that way, as if she were the most beautiful woman in the room, and truly feel nothing?
“Have you heard there’s an illegitimate Devereaux here tonight?” one woman said to the other as they checked their makeup in the mirror.
Coco stopped cold and tried not to look in the women’s direction.
“I’m surprised they’re even recognizing her,” the other woman said.
“She probably wants a handout. I heard it from a friend of Stefan’s assistant that they’re just being nice to her so she won’t talk bad about them to the press. Any inheritance she receives will be a pittance.”
“She’s American, isn’t she? I’ll bet she’ll try to get a reality show out of it. Low-class shows.”
She looked in the mirror at herself and saw a woman with flushed cheeks and slightly tousled hair. A woman full of wishes and dreams she’d tried to deny. She’d been able to dismiss what was said by her distant cousin, Rodney. He’d seemed liked he delighted in scandalous news about the Devereaux. She supposed most people did, including the two women who’d just been talking about rumors. When more than one person was repeating the same rumor, though, maybe it wasn’t a rumor. Maybe it was the truth. And maybe she was being a total fool to think that the Devereaux cared about her one little bit.
Suddenly, she couldn’t bear to stay in the palace one more minute. It felt false and she felt silly. She had to get away. Leaving the powder room, she immediately caught sight of Benjamin and walked toward him.
“I’m ready to go, please,” she said.
He studied her for a moment. “You’re upset. What happened?”
“I just realized I don’t belong here. The Devereaux aren’t really my family, and they never will be.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Very sure,” she said and pushed back the urge to cry. Her magical night at the palace was fake in every way. Since the Devereaux were all busy with guests, Coco thanked the official palace rep at the door. A car quickly arrived to take her and Benjamin back to the villa.
They arrived in no time and the nanny reported that Emma had easily fallen asleep. Coco felt like crap. All she wanted to do was ditch her dress and go to sleep. Maybe she could resell the dress on eBay. She felt weak and weepy and hated herself for it.
“I guess we should go to bed,” she said and turned toward the hallway.
Benjamin caught her hand. “Come back.”
“Not a good idea,” she said in a voice that sounded husky to her own ears.
“You can trust me,” he said and pulled her around to face him. “What’s going on?”
She bit her lip, her stomach knotting. “It’s all so fake. They don’t want me here. You’re not really my fiancé. It’s too much.”
He nodded and pulled her against him. “You’ve had a crazy time.”
She buried her head in his chest and inhaled his wonderful scent that made her dizzy.
She forced herself to pull back. “I hate that it’s all fake. The Devereaux want me to disappear. You don’t really want me. I just want something real right now.”
He paused a long moment, but kept her in his arms. “I want you,” he confessed. “I just know I shouldn’t.”
“But you turn it off so easily,” she said.
He lifted his forefinger to her lips. “Not really.”
Her heart fluttered. “You could have fooled me.”
His expression softened. “Sweetheart, you’re easy to fool.”
She took a deep breath. “Well, now, that really makes me feel better.”
He lifted his hands to cradle her head. “Shut up,” he whispered and lowered his head.
His lips landed on hers and she felt her consciousness begin to slide away. “I’m not sure,” she said against his lips.
But he continued to kiss her, his tongue sliding past her lips. Tasting him, she had no inclination to pull away. Coco sank into him.
He slid his hand down her back to push her intimately against him.
“Oh, Benjamin, this is a bad—” She broke off when he rubbed against her. He was hard and wanting. Heat roared through her. Primitive need ricocheted through her bloodstream.
Coco craved more. She wanted all of him.
He squeezed her hips and groaned, undulating against her.
“Benjamin,” she whispered. “Don’t take me halfway this time.”
He stopped and she could almost feel him debating. Seconds later, he gave her a French kiss that took her around the world and ground himself against her intimately. “I want you,” he muttered.
A few breaths later, her dress was discarded on the floor, along with her underwear. She tugged at his bolo and shirt, then his black slacks. Benjamin shoved off his jacket. His skin was hot against hers. She craved his strength. His muscles flexed in an almost involuntary motion.
Coco couldn’t get close enough. He continued to kiss her, pulling her down on the couch. She rubbed her breasts against his chest, drinking in his moan. “You’re so sweet,” he said. “I can’t get enough.”
He flipped her over on the couch and thrust inside her.
Coco gasped at the sensation.
“What?” he asked. “Don’t tell me you’re a virgin.”
“No,” she said. “It’s just been a long time. And you’re...”
“I’m what?” he prodded.
“Nothing,” she managed. “Don’t stop.”
Benjamin couldn’t seem to re
fuse the invitation. He began to pump and she echoed his movements. It was the most primitive, sensual experience she’d ever had. Coco just hoped it was more than physical for him, because it seemed to permeate her entire being. She was in deep trouble if this was just sex for him.
He thrust inside her and she could see his pleasure stamped on his face as he jerked and went over the top. It rocked her into another universe. She didn’t climax, but something inside her would never be the same, and she curled around him and held him as tight as she could.
Chapter Ten
“You didn’t come,” he said, his eyes dark with sex and satisfaction.
“It’s not important,” she said because the experience had been so powerful for her. “Just being with you—”
Benjamin slid his hand between her legs and began to caress her.
“Oh,” Coco said. “That feels—”
He found her sweet spot and she couldn’t speak. It felt so good. She wriggled against his hand.
Moments later, he slid inside her again, hard and ready.
Coco stared at him in surprise. “What?”
“Yeah,” he said and drove inside her.
Her breath caught and she left her inhibitions behind. At this moment, Benjamin was everything. “Give yourself to me,” he whispered. “All of you.”
He continued to stroke her as he thrust inside her. Coco lost all concept of time. She gave herself totally to him.
She felt herself explode in a million sensations. Clinging to him, she pulled him into her.
She heard him swear six ways from Sunday. Finally, he slumped against her, still inside her.
“Lord help us,” he said.
“Yeah,” she whispered in response because she feared she would never get enough of him.
She felt Benjamin’s release. A moment later, he began to stroke her in her most sensitive place. “Oh,” she said. “I’m not sure—”
She broke off when she felt a twist of sensation.
“Give it to me,” he said in a husky voice. “Give me all of you.”
She couldn’t refuse him. Between the way he touched her and the sound of his voice, she was all his. Coco gave herself to him and to the moment and went over the top.
Seconds, breaths later, she clung to him. “You’re the most incredible woman in the world,” he said, one hand cupping her jaw.
“Will you say that tomorrow?” she asked. “Or will you forget?”
His eyes blazed into hers. “I’ll never forget.”
* * *
Hours later, Emma cried out, waking both of them. Benjamin lifted his head. “I’ll get her.”
“No, I’ll get her,” Coco said, shaking her head and trying to clear her bleary vision.
“I can get her,” he said and began to rise, naked from the bed.
“You might want to get a robe or something first,” she managed.
He swore under his breath and groped around the room.
Coco found one of his shirts, and pulled it on. He was so much taller it almost reached to her knees. “Beat ya,” she said and couldn’t swallow a laugh.
She kissed him as Emma’s cries grew louder. “Whatever you do, don’t you dare tell me you regret this,” she said, then rushed to Emma’s room and grabbed a diaper and wipes. She found the baby howling and kicking.
“Well, good morning, sunshine,” she said. “What’s all this fussing for?” she asked as she changed Emma’s diaper. Emma’s cries faded as Coco chatted with her. Carrying the baby to the kitchen, she found Benjamin already warming a bottle. He’d pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt he hadn’t bothered to button. His hair was ruffled and when he looked at her, she wondered how a man holding a baby bottle could look so dangerously sexy.
“You get your shower. I’ll take her,” he said, extending his arms.
“Are you sure? She definitely woke up in a cranky-pants mood.” She glanced at Emma who was studying Benjamin with a solemn gaze.
“She’ll get over her reservations with me once I give her the bottle,” he said in a dry tone. “Now go get your shower and get dressed, or I’ll be tempted to take you back to bed.”
Startled, she met his gaze and felt a rush of heat. “Is that a promise?”
He chuckled, taking the baby from her hands. “The first time I saw you, I thought you were the sweet, nurturing type. You looked so young I almost thought you were a teenager.”
“But I’m not that young,” she insisted.
“No. And you’ve got some fire underneath all that sweetness. I’ll see you after you get dressed,” he growled.
Delighted by the fact that he was finally seeing her as a woman, Coco hummed on her way to the shower. Benjamin couldn’t deny that he had feelings for her now. He had shown her in a way no woman could mistake last night. They’d made no promises to each other, though. She needed to remember that. The thought almost made her stop humming, but Coco had never known a man like Benjamin and she suspected that she never would again. She just wouldn’t count on anything between them lasting forever. That was okay, she told herself. No one in her life had been around forever.
* * *
Benjamin patted Emma’s back after her feeding, and she let out a burp that would rival what he would expect from a truck driver. The fact that such a little being could let out such a loud sound never ceased to amaze him. “Bet you feel better, don’t you?” he said, grinning at his daughter.
She giggled in return.
Her smile gave him a crazy little thrill. Thank goodness for Coco. He wondered if Emma would still be terrified of him if not for Coco. And now that he’d had Coco in his bed, things were definitely complicated. He couldn’t deny a ferocious attraction for his daughter’s nanny, but he also knew he wasn’t in love. Even though Coco had insisted that he not voice his regrets, he knew he would have a hard time not thinking about her in a sexual way. And he feared that Coco, with her tender heart, might fall for him.
His phone rang, interrupting his worrisome thoughts. “Benjamin Garner,” he said, propping Emma on his knee.
“This is Ray McAllister. Sorry to bother you, but I have some bad news. Foreman Hal broke his leg and had to have surgery. It will be a while before he’ll be mobile again,” he said. “Plus Jace quit yesterday.”
Benjamin winced. “Damn. When it rains,” he said and didn’t need to finish the statement. “Is Hal okay?”
“More ticked off than anything else,” he said.
“Okay. I’ll make arrangements to get back to the ranch. Can you handle things until I get there?”
“Sure, boss.”
“Okay, well, call if you have any problems. I’ll be in touch,” he said and turned off the phone.
Coco entered the room. “Problem?”
Benjamin nodded. “I have to get back to the ranch as soon as possible. My foreman broke his leg. You can stay here if you want.”
She shook her head. “I think I’ve had enough of the Devereaux circus. I wouldn’t have minded meeting my blood brother, but it looks like he doesn’t care that much about meeting any of us. Maybe that’s for the best. I’ll pack.”
Benjamin arranged for the flight and their palace rep took them to the airport. Coco had put together a carry-on bag to keep Emma fed, amused and happy, but he was hoping the baby would sleep.
He noticed that Coco stared out the window until the island of Chantaine disappeared from sight. “Are you sure you didn’t want to stay?”
She shook her head. “No. My tie to the Devereaux is just an interesting story, and that’s all.”
“You keep saying that,” Benjamin said. “I thought you and the princesses were starting to get along. They were nice to you, weren’t they?”
“Yes, but I have reason to believe that the only reason t
hey were nice is because they were afraid I would say bad things about them to the press.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I overheard some ladies talking while I was in the powder room,” she said. “A man, he said he was a cousin. He pretty much said the same thing,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter why the Devereaux decided to be nice to you. It’s important that they were. You wanted a chance to spend time with them and get to know them a little bit. So you got what you wanted,” he said.
Coco frowned. “I would have preferred that they act more genuine to me.”
“Not me. I wasn’t going to let them be rude to you. You’ve gone through enough because of them. The least they could do is treat you with a little kindness.”
Coco shook her head. “What do you mean you weren’t going to let them be rude to me? You didn’t have anything to do with how they acted toward me.” Realization crossed her face. “Or did you?”
Benjamin shrugged. “It wasn’t a big deal. I just had a little conversation with Stefan—”
Her eyes rounded. “Stefan,” she echoed. “What kind of little conversation?”
“I just told him that you deserved better treatment than what you got at that tea party, and it could turn into a PR disaster if his family didn’t act nicer,” he said.
“So it’s true?” she said. “The only reason they were friendly to me was because you threatened them.”
“I didn’t threaten,” Benjamin said. “I just gave them facts. If they were snooty to you, and reporters asked about your time in Chantaine, you wouldn’t have much good to say about the Devereaux.”
“I can’t believe you did that,” she said in a harsh whisper.
“I can’t believe you’re getting all worked up over it,” he said. “I was not going to allow them to make you feel like you’re their daddy’s dirt, because you’re not. You’re better than that.”
Coco looked out the window. “I just wanted it to be as real as possible.”
“Sweetheart, you’re dealing with royals. They’ve spent most of their lives pretending.”
