Sin's Haven

by Carlene Love Flores

  ****

  Raindrops began their assault on Ben’s windshield. He pounded his flat palms up against the steering wheel as he sat in his Mini Cooper outside the studio.

  He should have stayed with her. Told Jaxon no.

  Ben’s arms got all wet when he stiffly climbed out of his car and slammed the door shut. He pulled his hat out of his back pocket and slid it on, not so much to keep his hair dry but because he was pissed which probably wouldn’t go over well with Vance and the cover artist. He should do what he could to shield them.

  “Dammit,” he said on his way to the door. She could have stayed. She could have come with him. She hadn’t. “Story of my freaking life.”

  Inside, Ben went to his desk and checked the guest log. Vance had signed in ten minutes prior with the designer. Time to put on his Benny face and get to the meeting. At least Ben would impress someone today. He sniffed in hard as he walked down the hallway, doing his best to rock his striped vest.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Fuck if he hadn’t quite gotten used to these ungodly morning hours. But waking up at the crack of dawn to Lily’s loving arms and legs, not to mention her coffee and French toast, his baby girl Maryellie’s smiling face…those girls made it worth it. And if anyone on the face of this planet deserved a shot at that, it was Benny.

  Jaxon pulled in to the club’s parking lot, scaring off a few Tennessee black birds enjoying a chunk of bagel, hoping Benny’s mystery woman was here. There was no doubt in his mind that the charming red headed singing hostess from Benny’s birthday night was the friend needing his mate’s attention this morning. And he’d bet his ass she was also the reason for Benny’s sudden split after dinner last night.

  If Lily and Maryellie hadn’t woken up with fevers, he’d have filled in for his best friend.

  No matter what anyone thought, Jaxon loved the shit out of Benny.

  Jaxon cursed Erby Wells as he locked his Land Rover and made his way to the club. On second thought, that shit she’d pulled Saturday night might have led his boy to someone special. Guess he was about to find out.

  A guy whose nametag was still a sticker and not a permanent etching greeted him.

  “Morning, what can I get you?” the guy asked.

  Feeling froggy at this hour, Jaxon refrained from quoting Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” Saying he wanted a shot of the red head yonder probably wouldn’t go over too well with the latte crowd. Especially since he couldn’t really characterize that glare as looking.

  “Yeah mate, just a coffee.” The guy punched something in on the register when the young woman with curly, light red hair that fell nearly to her waist arrived carrying a tray of fresh pastries. “And one of those.” The red head eyeballed him. “Please,” he made sure to add.

  She scowled. But even if she’d smiled, it wouldn’t have hidden the rough night she’d obviously had. He knew all about those. Her eyes probably stung.

  “Can we talk?” he asked her, aware he wasn’t helping her crusty mood.

  Clearly he should have figured something out so that Benny could have stayed.

  The woman stood there looking like her back hurt and finally said, “About what?”

  Jaxon cleared his throat, afraid to turn on the charm and get bitchslapped for his efforts with this one. Good on her, he thought as he figured what to say.

  “There’s something you don’t know about Benny but if you can give me a few minnies, I think what I have to say might be worth you’re having to speak with me.”

  That’d either piss her off or work.

  It worked.

  “Is he okay?” she asked right off the bat once they sat down at a corner table. “Have you seen him this morning?”

  She was a goody. Benny had indeed been lucky to have been dumped by Erby that night.

  “I remember you from Saturday night. You have a nice voice.”

  “What does that have to do with Ben?”

  “Yeah um, so he obviously thought the same or else he wouldn’t have asked to miss work this morning. You should know he hasn’t called in sick or come in late in ten years.”

  Her scattered eyebrows raised like she was impressed. She should be. He went on.

  “Benny isn’t the first person I’ve hurt, having him at my beck and call. But I’m trying to right that.” He watched her face and hands, the most tell-tale parts on a woman, to see if she could care less or was willing to give him another minute. Her scowl was gone and her fingers were curled under the palms of her hands, but not in fists. “There’s this camping trip coming up.”

  She piped in with a short reply. “Ben mentioned that.”

  “Yeah, well it’s something we do every year, or at least try to. The thing is, Benny’s always gone alone.”

  Jaxon saw her react to that by dipping her chin and laying the backs of her knuckles across her lips.

  “When you say we?” she asked without looking him in the eye.

  “I mean the band, the guys and our girls. Wives, girlfriends, significant others.”

  “Look, this is between me and you. Got it?”

  She nodded.

  “It’s been six years for Benny, if you know what I mean.” He raised his eyebrows for emphasis. “And I’m not just talking about, um, intimacy. I mean, the big guy hasn’t so much as taken a girl for coffee.”

  Her frown was back but if he had to guess, he’d say it was less about her hating him and more about care for Benny.

  “Look, I’m just not comfortable talking about him with you. It seems like this is Ben’s private business and he wouldn’t appreciate the fact you’re telling me. You don’t even know my name or else you would have used it by now. I’m neither surprised, nor do I care. I have to get back to work.”

  Well at least Benny’s girl was being honest. She stood up from the table a little too quickly. He heard a sniffle coming from her and knew what a woman’s shoulders looked like when they shook to hold in tears.

  “Hazel,” he said so she’d know he wasn’t a total ass, “I’m sorry for whatever I did to get this reaction from you, but I’ll make this quick. Be a good friend to Benny. You said he mentioned this camping trip. I’m betting he invited you to be his date. Would it kill you to go with him?” he said to her back. “Please.”

  He watched her fingers extend to their full length before curling back up, this time into tight fists. Shit, what had he done to this poor woman? Or what had been done to her? Whatever had begun between Benny and Hazel this week had to have been something pretty fierce. Women didn’t hold in their tears for men they could give a shit about. At any rate, she walked away and disappeared through the heavy curtains keeping the café and club separate.

  Outside, Jaxon landed heavily in his seat and navigated his way to Berry Hill to relieve his friend. Five miles down the road, he saw Benny’s red, black and white Mini-Cooper passing him in the opposite direction. Jaxon would bet he was on his way to the club. “Go get her, mate.”

  When he got to the studio, he shot Benny a text.

  “Camping in two days. You’re off until then. Good luck.”

  ****

  The nerve, she thought. And big deal, so he’d read her nametag. Was she supposed to feel special at that?

  He had no idea what would kill her.

  Just like she’d had no idea what would kill Jay.

  Sitting on the floor, Hazel shook her head.

  No, that was the grief talking. She couldn’t keep letting it rule her life whenever someone tried to get close. Hazel stood up and went to the back of the club and opened the rear door. It was cool and rainy, making the lot slick.

  She let the door close behind her and leaned against the outside wall. She blew out, letting her chin fall to her chest. Her hair needed to be washed.

  “I need to get back to myself. I feel so lost. Jay, sweet brave man, I need to know that you’re okay. I need help. I have a decision to make and I don’t know what to do. He reminds me of you …” she traile
d off speaking to herself.

  “I wish I could tell you he’s okay.”

  Her head snapped up as soon as she heard his voice.

  “I can’t,” he said. “But I’d like to talk about him, if you’d be okay with that. He sounds like a really great guy who cared about you.”

  Ben stood before her kind of like that first night. He was completely mismatched in his striped jacket and Scorpio t-shirt, but somehow pulled together as well. She realized as his big green eyes searched hers, that yeah, he’d had a pretty crappy birthday night, but he’d bounced back.

  The question was, did she send him on his way? Ben could go back to Jaxon, who she could admit might not be as big an insensitive selfish jerk like she’d thought, and steer clear of her twisted path. Or did she take him up on his offer? And talk.

  Ben took two large steps toward her, keeping his eyes trained on hers the whole time. When there was maybe an inch left between them, he gently put a hand on each of her shoulders and pushed until she felt her back butt up against the wall. Her cheek warmed the instant he bent down and laid the side of his face to hers. She’d been expecting a kiss, but when his lips tickled her ear, she realized he was talking. “I need some time with you. Please say you’ll come camping with me. I think it could do us both some good.”

  How did she tell him that she needed to think about it? If she was taking this chance to start over seriously, she didn’t want to jump into anything until her head was on straight and her heart reconnected to it. It was the only fair thing to Ben.

  “Can I let you know? I promise, by Friday night.”

  “That’s not a no.” He smiled softly and kissed her ear where he whispered.

  “It’s not a no,” Hazel said and then went to the tips of her toes so she could take his beautiful face in her hands. “Thank you for being so patient. One of these days, I hope I get to explain all this to you.”

  And then she kissed his lips before ducking back down and going inside.

  She had a decision to make, on her own.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “She’ll be here, mate.”

  Ben just shrugged and looked out past Jaxon at the five tents staked to the ground. They had a sweet looking village going on laid out in a tree-heavy, secluded space. Rain that had been hanging around the last couple days meant they had the woods to themselves. Ben had his tent to himself. Unfortunately, she hadn’t shown yet.

  “Yeah man, it’s all good,” he said, saving a bit of face and pretending like he wasn’t all ate up over it.

  He should be going over a million other things like securing a connection to Skype Stefan in for Marion’s traditional fireside talk, but all Ben could think about right now was holding Hazel in his arms, feeling her hips sliding down his body until they found the perfect fit and making love to her under the stars all night long. Last night had sucked because that’s all he’d had on his mind. Sex. Did he regret their relationship because it had started out on that premise? No. Sometimes people just clicked.

  Lucky and Trista.

  Lily and Jaxon.

  Will and Honey which was such a sad situation he didn’t even want to think about it.

  “Ben?”

  His pulse boomed when she said his name.

  He turned and there she was.

  Holy shit, there she was, all sexified. Not only had she shown up but Hazel looked so fricking hot he didn’t want anyone at this campsite to lay eyes on her. Ben jumped up, snatched her by the arm and led her to his tent before anyone got back to camp.

  ****

  Guess letting Julie help Hazel get ready all day hadn’t been a waste. Ben had nearly torn her arm off and then stuffed her into his tent.

  “Sorry, I just, you look so good. Um, I’m glad you came. Thank you for coming, I mean.”

  His eyes danced around from her head to toes and everything in between. When she’d decided to trust her instincts and go for it, it became clear what Hazel wanted. It was time to make up for all the lopsided turn of events that had taken place between her and Ben. Which meant she had come here to catch his eye and leave him breathless. Since it was clear he’d already given her his heart, it was time to claim the rest. She was getting that and more. Ben’s body hadn’t taken more than a few seconds to react to her ensemble.

  Everything she wore was sheer cotton.

  “Are you cold?” he asked, staring at her chest.

  She arched her back from where she sat on a very cushiony sleeping mat, purposefully pushing her breasts out. She knew why he’d asked her that. Hazel wanted Ben’s eyes glued to her body. Her sole mission on this camping trip was to treat him. If they never left this tent, all the better. Speaking of, she noticed his was the smallest out of the smattering of tents she’d seen before he’d hidden her in here.

  “You didn’t think I was going to show up, did you?”

  “I hoped you would.”

  “So you just like things to be snug?” she asked, dipping her shoulder, assuring her curls flirted with her wrists and her neck teased him.

  “Yes. Um, Hazel, are you trying to seduce me? Because it’s working. I mean, I’m completely seduced.”

  She licked her lips and in the next second, he was on his knees.

  “Stop,” he said. “Wait.”

  Her pout was a real one, not the kind she’d have pulled if she were just trying to be sexy. “I don’t want to stop, I want to make it up to you for all the, well, all the shitty stuff that’s happened to you since we met.”

  “I’m glad all that stuff happened. Call me crazy, but I might just send Erby some flowers. You’re here.”

  “I am. And I want to be very good to you.”

  He sucked in a sharp breath and Hazel was sure he must have tasted the heady scent of what she wanted from him.

  “That sounds very good. But I want to talk.”

  “Unh-unh.” Now she used her sexy pout. “Your hands on me. That’s what we both want.”

  Ben’s head hit the top of his tent, even though he was kneeling.

  She could see the good guy in him warring with the one who wanted to squeeze and nibble her bits and pieces. Sweetheart.

  “Ben, we’ll talk. I promise. But right now, I need you in this other way.”

  No more playing for her. She felt the good natured teasing she’d shown up with making its way out and the unexplainable connection to Ben taking its place.

  “Can I at least feed you dinner first?”

  That simple statement sent her on a wave of giggles which had startled a night bird outside who chortled along with her.

  Maybe Ben wanted to make things up to her too. Maybe she would let him. She had basically shown up and asked for sex, all within five minutes. Proof she was working on nerves, little sleep, and an anxious heart.

  “What do you have?” she asked. “Cheeseburgers?”

  “Better.” He smiled. “I have nachos.”

  Her hands flew up to her cheeks which had warmed. Go figure, it would be chips and spicy cheese that made her blush and not the image of eating them off his long torso and finely sculpted, broad chest.

  Hazel watched Ben scoot toward the back corner of his tent where he had a small crock pot and a bag of chips. Taking a moment to temporarily cool down, she appreciated seeing him working from behind, which wasn’t helping her cool down at all. The man’s silky brown hair poked out from his black wool hat but didn’t hide the side of his thick, smooth neck. She heard herself coo. Bent over his concoction, his wide back spread his raspberry colored Quicksilver, long sleeved t-shirt thin. She was trying so hard to be good and let him feed her.

  When he took off the lid, and pivoted on one knee to give her a glimpse of the melted cheese, her eyes chose to focus on the long, strong thigh trying to become one with his wine-colored Levi’s.

  “I hope you’re hungry. I’ve been heating this cheese all afternoon.” Ben dipped his finger into it and apparently liked what he tasted.

  At this point, she’d eat it
cold and congealed if he let her lick it off his finger. Apparently making up that whole thing about having a one night stand with Ben had set the ball in motion right from the very start. The world, or at least her little part of the universe, wouldn’t be right until she connected to him in that way.

  “It looks delicious,” she said and blew out a nice long breath.

  Ben chuckled.

  Ben grinned then caught her gaze with his. Set on her.

  Ben peeled off his t-shirt and tossed it to the corner then crawled on his knees until he knelt directly in front of her on his mat. He held a small bowl filled with cheese covered chips. “Are you comfy?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Good. Open up, buttercup,” he said, like only her Ben could.

  Before she knew it, he was hand feeding her one chip after another and sneaking every third or fourth for himself. They got a little carried away and some cheese spilled onto her chin. She went to wipe it off but Ben caught her hand and planted it on the mat. “Keep your hands planted, okay?”

  Oh yes, she thought but only managed a nod.

  Hazel regretted having agreed because her fingers were itching to play in Ben’s light dusting of chest hair. But soon she had something much better to revel in. Ben had her face in his hands. And then his tongue slid over her chin. She shivered at the moist touch.

  “Thank you,” she said but he shushed her by sucking her bottom lip into his mouth, still holding her face, still driving her to the edge of jumping him.

  “I never want you to forget this night, Hazel.”

  His tender, serious face had her.

  “You see me and for some crazy reason, you like it.”

  “I do,” she said, reassuring him. “Very much. You’re beautiful, Ben.”

  He shrugged like he didn’t really believe her but appreciated her delusions. A breath so strong she felt and smelled it simultaneously when he blew out was warm and spicy.