Beginnings

by Bernadette Marie

  She'd been so focused on them that she hadn't noticed Ben walk up behind her until she felt his arms come around her.

  She jumped, nearly elbowing him in the side. "Christ, Ben, you scared me to death."

  "Not my intent," he said softly as he pressed a quick kiss to her lips, and she knew he'd made sure all heads were turned away. "She couldn't wait to see the kids," he said looking out over the yard to where his mother knelt down next to Laura and pointed to the chickens that had come to the fence to greet them.

  "Really? She wanted to see them?"

  He nodded. "She loves kids. She and Russell's step-son Lucas are tight." He smiled. "I credit her for making Eric the fine man he is today, too. Though Susan had a lot to do with that as well. Marriage has taken the cranky old man out of him."

  "Eric isn't that old."

  "No, but he was cranky," he humored. "Give it some thought. My mom would like them to stay here while you and I go out to my place and have dinner. It's her thought, not mine, and it's up to you."

  Panic lurched inside of her. "Oh, I don't know…"

  "It's okay to tell her no. I'll just let her know they're going with us. I'd originally planned for them when…"

  "I think it's a wonderful gesture. It'll be fine," she concluded, telling herself as much as she was telling him.

  Wyatt came running toward them. "Mom, Mrs. Walker says we can stay and have pigs in blankets. She's going to make them and says we can help. Can we?"

  A smile instantly formed on her mouth. "All of you would like that?"

  He nodded. "Yeah. Zane asked if he could double wrap his pig and she said yes," he said with great enthusiasm.

  Nichole exchanged glances with Ben, who gave her a nod.

  "Okay. You can stay, but I'll be back in a little bit."

  Glenda carried Laura on her hip and Zane followed. "You take your time. We'll be okay. I think Lucas is going to join us too. We will have a wonderful time. I think Lucas' granddaddy said something about a ride in the wagon with the tractor too."

  Nichole watched as eyes lit up with anticipation. His family was sure accommodating when it came to easing her into a relationship with their son.

  Considering the bitch she'd had for a mother-in-law before, watching Glenda Walker coo over her children was welcomed.

  "The boys know my phone number," she told Glenda. "If you need anything, or they need anything…"

  "You're not too far away. We're going to feed the chickens now, and then maybe plant those flowers before Lucas gets here and we make those pigs," she offered, and the boys laughed. "You two enjoy your dinner."

  And with that, she carried Laura off and the boys followed, both chattering at the same time.

  Nichole turned to Ben. "You're sure?"

  "She's sure. This was her idea. They'll all be okay, but like I said, we can…"

  "They'll be okay," she said with a wink and leaned in to kiss him.

  20

  At her suggestion, Nichole rode out to Ben's house in his truck. A bench seat in a pickup truck seemed romantic.

  She'd slid over next to him, his arm draped around her, as they bounced along the dirt road to his home.

  "There she is," he said as it came into view. "Tiny."

  "It's quaint."

  "It's a box with windows," he said as he pulled up in front of it and she noted he didn't even have a designated driveway. "It has potential, but I haven't taken too much time with it."

  "Prefabricated?"

  "Totally. Had it dropped here at the end of last summer. Seemed like the easiest way to get my house built," he mused. "And for the most part, it's been perfect."

  "What's not perfect about it?"

  He shrugged. "I'll let you make up your own mind."

  Opening the door, Ben slid out of the truck and then reached for her hand. Nichole slid out behind the steering wheel too and into his waiting hands.

  A moment later he had her pressed up against the truck, and his mouth was hot and fluid on hers.

  God, she'd been longing for this since they'd been on her couch. She hadn't expected to have a moment to enjoy it, with the kids around. She owed Glenda a big thanks, and to think, she'd been hesitant to let her kids stay at the main house.

  Ben's mouth moved from hers and trailed down her neck until he reached her collarbone. The intimacy of it nearly made her knees buckle beneath her. Oh, she'd missed the joy of this—the sensation that it sent through her.

  "How pressed for time are we?" she asked as he feasted on her throat and she held herself up only by clinging to him.

  "Don't know that we are," he mumbled against her skin as he worked his mouth back up to hers, skimming his tongue across her lips.

  Her breath was labored and her heart hammered in her chest. As she lifted her arms around Ben's neck, the sides of her shirt rose, exposing her bare skin. Ben's hands found that tender, sensitive skin and touched her. Sizzling energy buzzed over her and through her. The need deepened until she thought it might steal her breath from her.

  "Take me inside, Ben," she whispered against his throat as he explored her skin. "I need you."

  He pulled back to look at her. Heat clouded his eyes, but she knew he was fully capable of understanding her need.

  "Are you sure. I hadn't planned to…"

  "I'm not some debutante you have to swoon, Ben."

  The corner of his mouth curled into a sexy, devilish smile. He hoisted her up, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist, and he carried her into his house.

  She would be the first woman he took into his bedroom in this little house on his family's land. His home. His bed. That had to say something—something special.

  Of course, he debated with himself. Should he set her back on her feet and give her a minute to reconsider what she was about to do? His moment of hesitation must have spoken louder than the words he was muttering in his own head.

  Nichole eased her head back and looked at him. "Take me to your bed."

  He studied her eyes for another moment. Heat and passion resonated from her. Pressing his lips to her throat, she threw back her head as he continued to walk towards his bedroom.

  The glory of the little house, which sat out in the middle of acreage and with no one around, was that he didn't have to kick the door shut. He didn't have to lock it or draw the blinds. He could take this beautiful woman, basking in the glow of a gorgeous sunset.

  With all intent to ease her down onto the bed, he hit his leg on the edge of the bed and flung them both to the mattress. Landing atop of her, he quickly moved to make sure she was okay. Laughter rolled from her, her chest heaving beneath him as she caught her breath.

  "I have a feeling you'll only surprise me," she said in a laugh.

  "I'd like to say I'm a little more stealth than this. Perhaps you just took me off guard."

  The humor died in her eyes and they went dark with something else. When she licked her lips and her cheeks filled with color, he knew it was passion that flooded through her. "How about we take off that shirt instead," she offered as she began to tug the T-shirt up and over his head.

  When his skin was bare, he found he was the one being surprised when she rolled him over and straddled him. "I feel as though I need to warn you, before you take off this dress, and before you see what's beneath it, it's not all glamorous."

  Ben bit down on his bottom lip and considered his next words carefully. "I could sincerely be offended by that. This part of our relationship has nothing to do with how I feel about you. Nothing under that dress could surprise me, or deter me. Your body has done miraculous things, Nichole. Those three bright and shining lights that are your children, they came from his body. Don't be ashamed of that."

  She studied him for another breath, and then lifted the dress from her body. Her eyes locked with his, and he left them there. He wasn't just making up words, not to just appease her. He wanted her. He wanted her body. He wanted her heart. He wanted everything she had to offer. In that very mome
nt, he knew that was what he'd been feeling.

  Nichole sat there as if she waited for him to scan his eyes over her and judge, even though he had said he wouldn't. Instead, he pulled her down on top of him, taking her mouth with his and he made love to her.

  Breathless, she lay beneath him. His breath labored. His damp skin pressed against her damp skin.

  Ben was going to buy his mother something very nice for giving him this opportunity. It hadn't been in his plans. In fact, he figured if they ever did get to have sex, it would be months and months from now.

  Rolling off of her, he took her hand and gave it a squeeze. He was afraid to talk. What would he say? Thanks for being the one to cave?

  "Oh, I needed that," Nichole sighed as she lay there naked on his bed without remorse or need to cover. "Thank you."

  The chuckle escaped him before he knew it. "You're thanking me? I've never had someone do that before."

  Now she laughed as she rolled to her side and propped herself up on her elbow. "I'm no prude. Does that bother you?"

  "Nope. Should it?"

  She shrugged her shoulder. "Just making sure. I appreciate a good roll in the hay."

  "I haven't gotten you to the hay, yet." That brought a laugh.

  "I look forward to it."

  Ben took her hand and pressed it to his chest. His heart raced beneath her touch. "Let me recover, and I'll start the steaks I bought."

  "I'm ravenous. I'll help," she offered.

  "I feel like you need to know, this wasn't in my plans."

  "Mine either, but I'm glad it worked out." She rolled atop him and took his mouth.

  The taste of her ignited him again, and his hands couldn't help but roam that soft and milky skin. Soon his body, exhausted and spent, was revving to go again.

  * * *

  Ben managed to finally will himself away from Nichole's body long enough to pull on his pants and head to the kitchen. He'd start the grill and cook her the world's greatest steak. He did have some talents.

  She'd gone to freshen up in his bathroom. At least he'd had the foresight to clean it before she'd come over.

  He pulled the steaks he’d been marinating out of the refrigerator. Eyeing the pasta salad he'd made earlier, he thought he'd give it a little toss to make sure it was well coated. When he closed the refrigerator, he caught sight of Nichole leaning up against the doorjamb watching him. He thought she'd been sexy laying naked in his bed, but standing in his kitchen, bare footed, shirt ruffled, and her hair slightly mussed, she was more beautiful than he'd ever imagined.

  The image of her standing there, in his home, stabbed at him. She was exactly the woman he'd always wanted in his home.

  "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Her voice was still sultry and soft.

  "Seriously, I've got this part." He winked at her. "What can I offer you to drink? I have beer, wine, soda."

  "Since I'll be eating before driving back to town, I'll take a glass of wine."

  With a nod, Ben set the steaks on the counter and pulled a wine glass from the cupboard. He uncorked the wine, poured her a glass, and handed it to her. "You're beautiful," he offered as she took the glass.

  "You already got me into bed. You don't have to charm me."

  "All fact."

  She took a sip of wine, her eyes locked on his. "Thank you. I don't know what to think of all of this, Ben Walker. Did your mother know what we were going to do when she took my kids?"

  The very thought terrified him. "I'm going to say no because it creeps me out that she just might have orchestrated the best sex I've ever had."

  "The best?"

  It did sound like a line, but he certainly wouldn't have said it had it not been true. "The best." He moved back to the refrigerator and pulled out a beer.

  He walked toward the back door and opened it. She followed as he moved to the grill, turned on the gas, and ignited it.

  "The view is magnificent out here," she offered as she walked out onto the porch with her wine. "Nothing, as far as you can see."

  "It's a prime spot, I think. Eric and Susan don't live too far, but you can't see the barn or their house from here."

  "Is that why you chose it? It's secluded?"

  Ben shrugged. "It called to me."

  "And what are your plans for the house? I peeked. Your bedroom is the only fully furnished room you have in the whole house. Minus a nice couch and a huge TV."

  "Basics," he teased as he twisted the top from his beer. "Decorating my house hasn't been a big priority. I don't spend a lot of time here."

  "You're not in town causing trouble, so where do you spend that time?"

  He chuckled as he took a long pull from his beer. "I'm in the pastures tending to the cattle. Eric has me teaching riding once in a while when I'm not tending to the horses, too. The work never stops."

  "So it's safe to say you'd be happy to live out here forever."

  "No doubt," he rattled off as he sipped from his bottle again, but he didn't miss the clouding in her eyes. "You? Do you think you could see yourself living out of the city?"

  He watched her carefully construct her answer as she sipped her wine. "I never gave it any thought. I've always lived where there was childcare and my job. Besides, If I had to drive that far to work each day, I can guarantee that I'd be late every day. I can't get out of the house on time on a normal day. Adjusting for travel time, that makes my head hurt thinking about it."

  And just like that, the conversation seemed to stall. No matter how good the sex was or what kind of feelings were starting to form for the woman, he didn't know how they would get over this barrier.

  It wasn't worth exploring right now anyway. He figured she'd be willing to give him maybe another hour before wanting to gather her little family and head back into town.

  Ben walked over to Nichole and cupped her cheek in his hand. "I'm so glad you came out here," he said.

  "So am I."

  He pressed a soft kiss to her lips and lingered there. In every relationship he'd ever been in, there had been a point of disagreement. And though this particular one wasn't one they were even exploring yet, nor had it caused a rift between them, he'd never felt so compelled to keep a harmony between him and the other party. But this seemed urgent and important. This journey was just beginning, and everyone was right, she had a lot of baggage. But he was finding he was as enthralled with her "baggage" as he was with her.

  He wasn't going to bow out of this. He wanted to feel it out, see what happened. The fallback was, if it didn't work out, he could hide in his little, undecorated house in the country. The hitch was if it did work out. Could he be man enough to understand that her needs, because of the kids, would have to come first?

  21

  The entire ride home was filled with non-stop conversation about Mr. and Mrs. Walker. Lucas had been dropped off, with his sister, and his parents had a date night, too.

  They had fed the chickens, made their pigs in a blanket, rode in the wagon behind the tractor, and when Nichole had picked them up, they were having s'mores on the patio in the fire pit.

  The smile on her face was permanent, she decided, as the words, "Oh, oh, and we…" kept being repeated.

  Monday morning the Walkers were getting flowers delivered, or something sent to them since they did live so far away. They had gone above and beyond to make her night with their son wonderful, and luckily, they hadn't asked any questions.

  When they returned home, Nichole unloaded a sleeping Laura and quieted the boys telling them to get ready for a bath. Once Laura was settled in bed, she got the bath ready for the two naked boys who were fighting with light-sabers in the hallway.

  "Okay, you two. Get in here," she commanded as she turned off the water and arranged the mat on the floor.

  She heard the distinct noise of the toys being dropped where they had stood.

  Wyatt leaped right into the tub, water splashing all over her. "Hey, take it easy."

  Zane followed his brother into
the tub. "Get to washing. It's late, and you need to get to bed."

  "Why?" Zane protested. "We don't have school tomorrow."

  "No, but we need to go to bed. I'm tired."

  She stood, and walked to the counter to begin taking off her makeup.

  "Mom," Wyatt called to her.

  "Hmmm?"

  "What did you do when we were with Lucas' grandma and grandpa?"

  She felt the flush move over her skin and prove itself in the mirror when she looked at herself. "He cooked me dinner."

  "That's all?" Zane challenged. "We ate dinner and did all that fun stuff. What else did you do?"

  Hiding her face with the washcloth, she scrubbed away her makeup. "We had a drink and sat on his porch. He showed me around the land."

  "Boring," Wyatt groaned as he piled bubbles on top of his head. "We had more fun."

  That seemed to conclude the question and answer phase of their evening, and she couldn't have been happier to see that come to an end.

  When the boys were in bed, their eyes heavy despite protest, she went to her room and shut the door. She needed a shower, especially after the afternoon she'd had, but as she lifted her shirt over her head, she could still smell Ben. As she breathed in the scent, she thought about their afternoon, and her skin warmed just thinking about his touch. It would be hard to wait until they could do that again. Torture, she considered. It was going to be absolute torture.

  Walking into the small bathroom off of her bedroom, she turned on the water to her shower, just as her cell phone rang on her dresser.

  Hurrying back out to her room, she scooped up the phone, and her heart rate kicked up its pace when she saw Ben's name on the screen.

  "Hey," she said, as she answered the call.

  "Hey," his reply in return sent chills over her skin. "How did the kids enjoy their day?"

  She moved to her bed to sit on the edge of it, naked and on the phone while her shower ran without her. "They couldn't stop talking about it. They had a delightful afternoon. I don't think I can thank your parents enough. And to think they did all of that with five kids of all ages. They are saints."