by M. Malone
And he wanted Katie. Every sweet, no-nonsense, bubbly bit of her. From the moment she’d entered his life, he’d experienced what it was like to feel not only accepted but appreciated. She made him feel that all of the odd things about him were fascinating and special. Being around her made him stand just a little bit taller and it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Bennett suspected he was getting addicted to the way she made him feel.
He’d drink her up like champagne if she let him.
“The things you say sometimes. You’re so unbelievably sweet, Bennett.”
Although it was a compliment, Bennett found that he didn’t want them from Katie. Those were the kinds of words you said to someone when you didn’t feel the same way but didn’t want to hurt their feelings. He didn’t want platitudes. Hell, he’d rather her hate him than to think of him as just a sweet guy. At least hatred was a strong emotion. He wanted to invoke that kind of emotion in her. He wanted to affect her in the same way that she affected him. Overwhelmingly.
“I’m not sweet,” he grumbled.
Katie’s laughter soothed some of his wounded pride. She was happy and that was really all that mattered. Even if the time they’d spent together didn’t mean as much to her as it had to him, as long as he could see a smile on her face, Bennett would count it as a success.
“Yes, you are. You’re such a contradiction. Brilliant but unsure. Serious but funny. Composed but so … lovable.”
When her words registered, Bennett peeked up at her. “Lovable?”
“Very lovable,” she whispered. “Just today, I was worried that I was getting too attached to you because it seemed so foolish to fall for someone else after being hurt so badly.”
Bennett held her eyes as he spoke. “Katie? Do me a favor.”
“What’s that?”
With his good arm, he curled his hand around her neck, bringing her mouth closer. His lips brushed against hers when he spoke.
“Be a little foolish tonight.”
♥
Katie stilled, her lips pressed to Bennett’s. Was he ... trying to start something?
“I’m not sure about this. Aren’t you hurting?”
He smiled, his lips moving against hers. “I already feel better.”
She laughed at his blatant lie. “I think you might be a little high on those pain pills.”
He buried his face in the crook of her neck. The tender gesture made her smile. He was so sweet sometimes and it was a thrill to discover all the hidden facets of his personality. He even had a tattoo on his lower back, something she’d only noticed because they’d showered together the other day. When she’d asked about it, he’d just shrugged and said he’d gotten it in college. But he’d looked so smug that she knew there was more to the story.
She leaned back. “So, if you’re a little drugged up, now will you tell me about your tattoo?”
“It’s the chemical formula for my first soil additive.” There was an element of pride in his voice.
All at once Katie understood. “You love it because you managed to get the formula right even while you were three sheets to the wind, huh?”
“Yeah.” His deep chuckle vibrated against her skin.
“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?”
Bennett leaned back slightly. “My parents still don’t know I have a tattoo, if you can believe it. Although considering how many Jackson has, I doubt they’d even care at this point.”
She kissed his forehead gently. “No matter how old we get, we still want our parents’ approval. My mom is still disappointed that I’m divorced.”
His eyes stayed on hers. “She should be proud that she raised such an amazing daughter. The time I’ve spent with you…you’ve made me so happy.”
Katie was stunned at the heartfelt words. He’d told her how much he appreciated her help around the lab before. He’d even told her that he enjoyed their time together. But there was something about the way he was looking at her right now that made Katie feel cherished.
“You’ve made me really happy, too.”
He pulled her down again but this time there was no smile on his face. His expression was completely serious and when their lips met, desire exploded between them. Careful not to jar his arm, Katie kissed him back, pouring all the love, trust and hope she felt into that one embrace.
He groaned and then shifted slightly. “Sorry, this angle is bad.”
She carefully climbed on top of him avoiding his bandaged arm. Bennett watched her from beneath hooded eyes. The way he looked at her sent a sensual thrill through her blood. He watched her like he could never get enough of her.
“The way you look at me is magic. No one has ever made me feel like this before. Like I’m perfect.”
Bennett squeezed her thigh with his good hand. “That’s because you are. To me, you are nothing short of perfect.”
Emboldened by the words, Katie pulled her nightgown over her head and let it drift to the floor beside the bed. It was amazing how much easier it was to take your clothes off when you had a man who looked at you like a goddess.
With a little creative maneuvering, they were able to slide Bennett’s pajama pants off. Luckily they’d already had the birth control conversation and since Katie was on the pill, he wouldn’t have to deal with trying to put on a condom with one hand. Although that would have been an interesting sight, Katie thought.
“I’m still not sure I should be doing this. I feel like I’m taking advantage of you instead of nursing you back to health.”
Bennett’s gaze trailed over her nude body, coming back to rest on her full breasts. “Please take advantage of me.” His words trailed off on a groan when she grasped his hard length firmly.
She raised up so she could take him inside. Bennett groaned long and low as her muscles squeezed and massaged him all the way down.
“That’s the best medicine in the world right there. You were made for me, Katie.”
He lifted his hips and she cried out. His eyes glittered with triumph before he did it again. She caught his rhythm and soon, they were rocking against each other in rolling waves of pleasure and Katie thought she’d die from it.
His hand clenched on her hip. “I love you, Katie. I know you think it’s too soon but I need you to know how I feel.”
His eyes searched hers and Katie couldn’t deny him. Despite knowing that it was too soon and that this whole thing was probably crazy, she could never deny him anything. So she gave him the words.
“I love you, too.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
♥
Late Monday afternoon, Katie went about her work watering the soil samples all while trying to keep the huge, cheesy grin off her face. She glanced over her shoulder at Bennett, who was nose deep in his tablet. When he looked up and caught her eyes, he smiled. A private, intimate smile that made her blush from her head to her toes.
Oh, the things that man could make her feel.
This weekend had been perfect. After making love Friday night, they'd fallen into an exhausted sleep. She'd fussed over him the next morning, making breakfast they could share in bed. Then they'd wasted the day away watching Netflix and cuddling. Bennett was a fan of British comedies and Katie loved murder mysteries so they'd alternated shows. It had been fun to see what kind of television he enjoyed. That night, Katie read to him until he fell asleep with his head pillowed in her lap.
Katie sighed. She’d looked down at him in that moment and wished that could be her real life. Going to sleep with him each night, sharing their stories about what happened when they weren’t together, venting when they had a bad day. It had been hard to go home on Sunday, even though she’d missed her boys. He said he loved her and she believed he meant it. But Bennett didn’t have a lot of experience with how fickle and strange love could be. It burned so bright in the beginning and if you’d never been that close to the flame before, you couldn’t imagine that it would ever go out. But Katie knew from experience that no flame could
burn forever.
Eventually, their intense passion would cool and all the things he found cute about her now would become annoyances. He didn’t mind the differences in their education when things were shiny and new but what would happen a year from now? Would he get frustrated if she couldn’t understand his new research or if he couldn’t get her input on some scientific breakthrough? There was no way to know for sure but Bennett seemed determined that it wouldn’t matter.
She was surely going to get her heart broken but she couldn’t help loving him back.
The rest of the day sped by until it was time for her to go pick up the kids. The butterflies she’d been ignoring all afternoon flared brightly. They’d decided that it was time for Bennett to spend a little time with them so she was going to pick them up and bring them back here for the rest of the afternoon. Katie was unreasonably nervous about it.
“So you’re going to go get them and then come right back?” Bennett looked just as nervous as she felt.
“Yes. Grady mentioned that one of the barn cats had kittens so I figured we could show them.”
Bennett nodded. “Also when my mother heard the kids were coming over, she said she would bring us dinner.” He smiled sheepishly. “I think she’s afraid that I was going to attempt to cook for you.”
Katie tried to suppress a smile. As talented as Bennett was at keeping chemical formulations in his mind, he couldn’t seem to focus on a recipe long enough not to burn everything he tried to make. She’d seen that for herself this weekend when he tried to “help” her make breakfast. It was actually kind of reassuring to see that he wasn’t great at everything he attempted.
“That was really nice of her. She’s always been so sweet to us.”
“You know my mother is going to start dropping the marriage hints pretty heavily now that she knows we’re seeing each other. You should prepare yourself.”
Bennett turned back to his work as if he hadn’t just dropped a huge conversational bomb on her. Marriage talk? What?
Katie put a hand to her throat. She seriously doubted if Julia was enthused that Bennett was dating a divorcée who already had two kids, let alone with the idea of marriage.
“I doubt we need to worry about that,” she muttered. “I didn’t even know you told her that we were dating. I figured she was just being nice since I’m an employee.”
Bennett looked up from his work. “Are you kidding? This is the happiest my mom has been with me in ages. She’s practically salivating at the idea of gaining two new grandkids at once.”
Longing rose up in Katie so swiftly she almost choked on it. What was it like to be a part of a family that accepted you so completely that they’d welcome two new step-grandkids with the same excitement as their own flesh and blood?
Don’s parents were nice enough but distant. It was something that Don had complained about when they were first married. His father was a surgeon also and he’d always said he wanted to be a more present father than his own had been. She’d truly thought he would be but after the divorce, the time between his calls and visits to the kids got longer and longer. She hated having to see their disappointment every time he didn’t show up for something at school or forgot to visit.
Not that she would tell Bennett any of that. If their relationship was going to have a chance, his interest in the kids would have to develop naturally. She didn’t want him to feel obligated to spend time with them before he was ready just because they were so hungry for a male role model.
“Your family is the best,” she said finally. “Well, I’ll be back.”
Katie didn’t look at him again as she grabbed her purse and jacket and left. The whole way home she thought about what he’d said. He hadn’t seemed at all alarmed at the idea of Julia’s marriage agenda. She smiled softly.
No, you aren’t going there!
She mentally shut down all thoughts of getting married again. Likely Bennett wasn’t worried about his mother’s agenda because he knew it wasn’t going to happen. There was nothing to be gained from allowing her imagination to go wild with thoughts of being Mrs. Alexander. She pulled into her driveway and waited until the school bus pulled up on the corner. Hunter and Matthew were the first ones off the bus. They raced down the sidewalk to her car.
“Mom! Are we going to see the kittens now?” Hunter was almost vibrating with excitement.
Matthew looked back and forth between them in confusion. Katie hadn’t told him about the kittens that morning. If she had, he wouldn’t have paid attention all day in school.
“Yes, we’re going to the Alexanders’ right now. Come on.”
They piled into the car excitedly, Matthew wiggling as she hooked him into his booster seat. When they pulled up in front of Bennett’s barn, Hunter put his face right to the window.
“Why are we back here? Isn’t Ms. Julia waiting for us?”
Katie twisted her hands but kept her voice upbeat as she said, “We’re not here to see Ms. Julia this time. Do you remember my friend, Bennett?”
Hunter nodded slowly. “Yeah. He’s really tall.”
“Well, we’re here to hang out with him today. And he’s going to take us to see the kittens, okay?”
Hunter watched her with strangely knowing eyes before he nodded. Matthew didn’t seem to pick up on any of the strange undercurrents thankfully. They walked up to the barn where Bennett was waiting in the doorway. He must have heard the car pull up.
“Hi guys. Are you ready to have some fun?”
Matthew was so excited he couldn’t hold still and started dancing in place. Bennett laughed and motioned for them to follow him.
“This way. Grady has picked a few of the more social ones for you to play with.”
Hunter trailed behind as they all walked toward the barn directly behind Bennett’s. Katie watched him worriedly. Unlike his brother, Hunter seemed to have picked up on the fact that this visit was more about spending time with Bennett than the kittens.
And he didn’t seem too happy about it.
“Ooh look! They’re so little!” Matthew raced ahead with his arms outstretched.
“Let’s be very gentle, okay?” Bennett scooped up Matthew easily and then placed him right next to the table where Grady was waiting with a basket. Once they were closer, Katie could see three kittens, two tabbies and one black, inside.
Katie’s heart melted a little when she saw how Matthew clung to Bennett. Hunter still hung back, peeking around her to see but not approaching the table directly.
“These little guys are about six weeks old, too young to go to new homes yet. But soon, we’ll find new families for them.”
Matthew stretched out a hand when Bennett placed a kitten right in front of him. Katie moved to the other side of the table, giving Grady a smile. He was slightly less grumpy now that he’d gotten used to seeing her around the farm but he still wasn’t overly warm. But he chuckled at Matthew’s shriek of delight when the kitten licked his fingers.
“This one is going to stay with me,” Grady said gruffly. “Black cats are a little hard to place. And he’s a playful one. He’ll be a good barn cat.”
Hunter finally moved around Katie and approached the table. “How come they’re different colors?”
Bennett picked up one of the tabbies. “Well, their mom has white fur with brown spots and we suspect their father is a black cat from the next farm over. There were two other kittens in this litter that are with the mom right now. Both of those have the same fur as the momma cat.”
Hunter moved closer and closer as Bennett talked, until he was leaning on his arm. “They’re so small. What if you can’t find a home for them?”
Bennett continued petting the kitten in his hand, holding it out so that Hunter could touch it. His voice was soft and soothing as he continued. “Grady is the one who brought us the momma cat when he found her and she’s been a barn cat here ever since. She’s had one litter before and we found them all homes really fast. Don’t worry.”
; Hunter glanced up at Bennett, his eyes sparking with interest. “You have a cat that lives in your barn? Cool.”
Bennett chuckled. “Well, I don’t have one in my barn but Miss Pepper lives in the barn where we store the hay. Grady says she does a great job keeping the rats under control.”
Katie chuckled at Hunter’s startled face. “I think he was on board until the rats part.”
Bennett grinned. “I guess a tour of that barn is not on the agenda then, huh?”
Grady had some soft fuzzy toys that he produced so the boys could watch the kittens play. While they were occupied, Bennett turned to her with a smug expression.
“What?” she finally asked.
“Nothing. Just that things are going well. And you were nervous.”
She laughed. “I was, a little bit. But I shouldn’t have been. You’re great with them, really patient.”
“Having three annoying younger brothers has finally paid off.”
Katie smiled since his statement was obviously teasing. It was obvious to anyone that the Alexander brothers were a tight bunch. He pulled her into his arms and she wrapped her arms around his waist.
When she pulled back she noticed Hunter watching them closely. He hadn’t exactly been bowled over by the idea of her dating, she could tell. Maybe she should say something to him.
But Bennett took the decision out of her hands when he suddenly announced, “Dinnertime. Let’s go eat!”
♥
Watching Katie with her children warmed his heart. The warmth stayed with him even as they herded the boys to his loft to eat the dinner his mom had brought over. The boys scarfed down the fried chicken and mashed potatoes like they’d never had food before.
