by Lori Ryan
Ben pushed up on his arms, staring down at Maggie. Of all the times he’d fantasized about her being underneath him like this, he’d never imagined her face would be so full of wanton need. Her eyes were glazed with lust, cheeks flushed and lips swollen from their kisses.
Ben pushed at the waistband of his underwear, kicking them completely off. He glanced at Maggie, surprised to see her eyes wide.
They rolled up to meet his, her lips curved in amusement. “Maybe we should start stocking magnum size.”
A bark of laughter escaped as he shook his head. “These will do.” He held out one packet. “Put it on.”
Her touch just about did him in.
“Sorry,” she said.
He bit his cheek to keep from coming. “It’s okay,” he said through gritted teeth. How the fuck was he going to last?
“It’s on.” She smiled.
Ben stared between them, noting how precariously close he already was to her entrance. His eyes rolled up to meet hers, asking for silent permission.
She slid her arms around his neck and brought his face toward hers. “Please, Ben,” she moaned.
She didn’t have to beg.
He lowered his lips onto hers as he slid between her legs, her heat enveloping him. He swallowed her gasp as he pushed in further. God, she felt like heaven.
Ben held still. Breaking their kiss, he stared down at the woman who’d starred in all his teenage fantasies. Being buried deep inside her was—it was everything.
Her chest heaved with desire, beads of sweat breaking across her heated flesh.
“More, Ben.” She wrapped her legs around his waist, digging her heels into his ass and pressing into him. “Please.”
He slowly pulled out.
Maggie sighed and glanced between their bodies.
Ben followed her gaze. His dick jumped at the sight of them joined together.
Maggie gasped. Her internal walls contracted.
Fuck.
Without thinking, Ben slammed back in to Maggie.
“Yes,” she moaned.
He moved, slow at first, his hips pinioned with hers, but her low mewls of desire and need soon had him pumping faster.
Maggie’s fingers dug into his hair and dragged his face toward hers, her lips crushing against his.
Ben’s hips gained a life of their own, his arm snaking under Maggie’s hips to tilt her for a deeper angle.
She screamed into his mouth as her body tightened around him. She was close. Thank fuck.
Ben broke their kiss. “I’m so close, Maggie. You’re making me crazy.”
“M-, me, too,” she stuttered.
Ben slipped a hand between them, rubbing along the spot that quickly sent Maggie over the edge. Her cries echoed in his ears just as his body gave way to the tumultuous waves of pleasure.
His orgasm shot through him like a lightning strike, searing every nerve ending as he rocked against her. He pumped into her several more times, gripping her hip tight as he stilled and convulsed inside her.
Finally, he collapsed on top of her, his breathing ragged as he pressed his forehead against hers.
“Shit,” Ben said.
“That was…” Maggie heaved a breath.
Ben waited for her answer.
“Amazing,” she finally answered with a smile.
He nodded, agreeing with her in the only way he could. His orgasm had robbed him of speech. And something else, something he wouldn’t let himself acknowledge.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Maggie glanced at the passenger seat. “Thanks for coming with me.”
Valerie turned and offered a loving smile. “Of course, sweetheart.” She patted Maggie’s leg. “I’m just so glad you asked for my help.”
Maggie had moved her father to a skilled nursing facility not far from his sober living house when he’d been released from the hospital two weeks ago. She tried to see him a few times during the week despite her hectic schedule at the lodge. The drive was getting harder every visit though.
For some insane reason, Maggie had broken down in front of Valerie earlier that morning when she’d received the call from the facility saying her father had had a difficult night. She’d been embarrassed and ashamed, so broken that she told Valerie everything. There hadn’t been any question that Valerie would accompany her today. At least, not from Valerie’s point of view. Maggie was so worn out, she didn’t have the energy to argue.
“You should have let me drive though,” Valerie said.
Maggie glanced at her friend.
Valerie held a steaming thermos of coffee to her lips.
“Why?” Maggie asked.
“John never let me drive.” She cocked her head as if in thought. “I always kind of resented that, you know?”
Maggie knew Valerie needed no answer. “Next time.” She smiled, sensing Valerie’s gaze.
“Next time.” Valerie repeated with a nod.
Maggie heard the smile in her voice and it pleased her to know she’d gifted her friend with a small piece of happiness.
“Sooo,” Valerie drew out the word, “are you going to tell me what’s going on between you and my eldest?”
Maggie swallowed a groan. As much as she didn’t want to talk about her father, she didn’t want to talk about Ben either. Especially with his mother.
“We told you already. It was pouring rain that night and we couldn’t make it back to the lodge so we stopped at the cabin and stayed until the rain let up.”
“Mmm hmmm,” Valerie hummed, a brow cocked in suspicion. “Why did you return with just a blanket around your shoulders?”
Crap! She thought they’d made a clean get away, sneaking into the back door of the lodge’s maintenance area. They’d tossed their clothes in the industrial sized dryers and had a serious make-out session while waiting for their clothes to dry.
“Our clothes were still soaked.” That wasn’t a lie.
“So, you took your clothes off. Together?”
Oh, no. Why had she said that?
“I had a blanket,” Maggie explained.
Valerie laughed, patting Maggie’s leg. “I’m just teasing you, sweetie. I actually think it’s good that my Ben is getting some action.”
“What?” Maggie shrieked, jerking the wheel.
“Easy,” Valerie said, bracing herself on the door.
Maggie gulped. This was going from bad to worse. This conversation could not happen. Could. Not. Happen.
“I’m sorry,” Valerie said, “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I know Ben has always had a small crush on you so I’m not surprised.”
Maggie remained silent. Ben had told her about his crush, but it still shocked her to think someone as smart and well-respected as Ben had ever liked her. She’d never in a million years guess he thought that way of her in high school. He always seemed to be ignoring her.
“So, what did the doctor say about your father?” Valerie asked, changing the subject.
Maggie blew out a breath in relief. This, she could talk about. Maybe.
“His heartbeat is irregular and erratic. They’re giving him meds to combat both but they’ll need a few days to assess the effectiveness. They’re also concerned about some swelling in his feet.”
“I’m so sorry.” Valerie squeezed her shoulder. The comforting touch meant more to Maggie than Valerie would ever know. “I wish you would have told me sooner that all this was going on.”
Maggie shrugged. She was used to taking care of her father on her own.
“I was really hoping he could return to the sober living facility,” Maggie said, “but I don’t think that will be an option.”
“Where will he go, after they stabilize his condition?”
“I’ve talked to a social worker about moving him to an assisted living facility.”
“There’s a wonderful one on the other side of the mountain,” Valerie said, hopefulness in her voice.
Maggie had never wanted her father close to the new life she
’d created for herself when Valerie and John hired her five years ago. That’s why she’d found a drug and alcohol facility two towns away when he’d finally decided to quit drinking.
“It would save you on the drive,” Valerie continued.
Maggie didn’t have the heart to tell Valerie she’d already checked out the assisted living facility and determined it was out of her budget. Even taking into account her father’s disability and the extra money Maggie provided for his care, her father’s budget for housing was maxed.
“Well,” Valerie sagged back in the seat, “we’ll figure it all out soon enough.”
We’ll?
Maggie stole a glance at her friend. “Valerie, I don’t want to involve you in this mess.”
“Involve me.” Valerie laughed. “Maggie, you’re family to me. My involvement in your life isn’t an option.”
Maggie stared ahead at the road, letting the idea warm her from the inside.
“Maggie, let me help you.”
More silence. Maggie wanted to speak, but there were no words that wouldn’t bring tears with them.
“It’s good for me to think of something else besides my own grief,” Valerie said quietly.
She turned to stare at her friend. “Okay,” she said.
Valerie smiled and nodded. “Okay.” She sank back in her seat. “Now, about my son.” Her lips curled in an all too familiar smirk.
Heaven help her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Hey Maggie,” one of the nurses called as she rounded the counter.
“Hey, Clare,” Maggie answered. “Is my dad in his room?”
“No, I think he’s in the dining room.”
Maggie glanced at her watch. It was just before eleven. “Okay, thanks.”
“He’s a hoot,” Clare called after her.
Maggie glanced over her shoulder. “Who?”
“Your father.” She smiled wide. “He tells the funniest jokes, I swear. He has us all cracking up.”
Maggie shook her head. When had her father ever been funny? Shaking off the comment, and feelings of jealousy that she’d had to live her whole life with an entirely different man than Clare knew, they made their way to the dining room.
“There he is,” Maggie said to Valerie. She’d told her friend she could stay in the car, but Valerie had insisted. Maggie made her way through the maze of tables and stopped just behind her father, listening to him speak to his tablemate.
“What did the duck say when he bought lipstick?” Her father asked.
“I don’t know,” the older man answered.
“Put it on my bill.” Her father bellowed with laughter, along with the other gentleman.
Maggie found herself laughing quietly. “Hey Dad.”
Her father glanced up. “Hey, Mag Pie.” His face split with a wide grin.
Even after a year of his sobriety, Maggie couldn’t get used to what a different man he was. When she’d been young, he’d never smiled at her like this. And her childhood nickname had been forgotten years ago, traded in for sneers and tongue-lashings more vicious than any whip.
She’d vowed to never let herself get used to the man who sat in front of her now. She knew all too well how painful it was when he failed, when he let her down. When it came to Bill Lawrence, Maggie wondered if she would always assume the worst.
“I didn’t hear you walk in,” he said.
Valerie stepped around Maggie. “Hello, Bill.” She held out her hand. “We haven’t ever officially met. I’m Valerie Sumner.”
Her father surveyed Valerie from head to toe.
Shit, why hadn’t she anticipated this? Her father hated the Sumners. Why had she let Valerie talk her into coming?
Her father stood, his face grave.
Maggie drew in a deep breath. There was no way in hell she’d stand by and let her dad turn his cruelty on Valerie.
“Hello, Mrs. Sumner.” Her father took Valerie’s small hand in his. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Maggie’s eyes widened and she had to struggle to swallow back the torrent of anger she’d been about to spew.
“John was a fine man,” her father said. “He’ll be missed by many in Canyon Creek.”
What. The. Hell? Maggie had never heard her father say a kind word about many people, especially the Sumners.
“Thank you, Bill. I appreciate your words. And please, call me Valerie.”
Her father smiled and released her hand. “Valerie, it is.” He motioned toward the table. “Won’t you ladies join us for lunch?”
Maggie glanced around the small room. “We can’t stay long, Dad, I just needed to check in with your medical staff—”
“Nonsense,” Valerie said, pulling out a chair and sliding in. “We have time for lunch.” She glanced up at Maggie. “Don’t we?”
It wasn’t really a question.
“Uh, sure.” Maggie squeezed into the chair next to her father.
Her father pointed to the older man sitting across from him. Oxygen tubing was wrapped around his ears and secured in his nose. “This is Rafael.”
The older gentleman nodded.
Maggie feared the man would nod off at any moment. She hoped he didn’t tip over into his soup when he did.
“Hello,” Valerie extended her hand. The man didn’t move so she quickly pulled back her arm.
“Look, Dad,” Maggie said, “we can’t stay long. Valerie and I have to get back to the lodge—”
“Thank you so much for giving my daughter a chance, Mrs. Sumner.” Her father interrupted her.
Wait, what?
“Oh, trust me, hiring Maggie was the best decision John and I ever made.” Valerie beamed with pride.
“I know I didn’t give her the best start,” her father glanced at Maggie.
She choked back a laugh. That was the understatement of the century.
“But she’s grown into such a beautiful, accomplished woman, in spite of me,” he added. “Can’t take a damned bit of credit for it, but I am proud.”
What the hell were they putting in this soup? Was he serious right now?
Maggie worked hard not to roll her eyes.
“Maggie.” Valerie’s voice was quiet.
“Yes?” Maggie tilted her head.
Valerie nodded toward her father.
Maggie’s temper flared. “What? You expect me to thank him for finally giving me the credit and acknowledgement I deserve.” She glared at her father, carefully dropping her voice. “Why don’t you tell Valerie what you used to call me, Dad.” Maggie snarled.
“Maggie,” her father whispered, slipping his hand toward her on the table.
She skidded her chair back. “No. You don’t get to sit there and make my friend think you’ve changed. You haven’t.”
Her father’s head fell.
Maggie couldn’t help but feel like shit. Why? She also couldn’t stop the anger that still flooded her every time she looked at him.
“Maggie,” Valerie said.
“No, it’s all right, Valerie.” Her father patted Valerie’s arm. “Maggie’s right. I was a horrible father, a horrible person. Maggie is right to be skeptical of my recovery. Some days I am, too.”
Maggie stared at the aging man before her. What could she say? She had so much rage inside from the little girl he’d abused that all she wanted to do was punch him. And yet her heart ached for him at the same time. She ached to let herself love him, believe in him. Trust him.
Fool me once, she thought.
Her father turned toward Maggie, his dark eyes staring straight through her. “I’m sorry, Maggie.” His voice broke. “It’s all I can say. I was a sick man. Still am.” They sat in long silence despite the noise of the dining room around them. “Have you read any of my letters?”
She glared at her father. How dare he bring up the letters?
Maggie stood. “I have to talk to your doctor.”
Her father glanced up. “Okay,” he said softly and let her walk away.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ben studied the screen in front of him. He’d forgotten how much he enjoyed writing software. The project Maggie had given him had been easy to work on once he developed the overall concept. Integrating several systems seemed easy enough, just lots of coding. But he loved it.
Working as the CEO of Sumner Integrated Software Solutions didn’t afford him much time to actually code software anymore. Instead he spent his days in meetings and planning sessions that bored him to tears.
“What the hell are you smiling about over there?”
Ben glanced back at Emmett. He sat at one of the desks in the spacious area his mom called the lodge office. At first, he’d wondered how anyone got work done with the open concept. But he soon learned the area lent itself to a certain camaraderie he didn’t experience in his own company. Maybe he would make changes when he returned to Seattle.
If you return to Seattle.
Where had that come from? Of course, he was returning to Seattle. The sooner, the better, right?
“Earth to Benji.”
Ben felt something hit his head. “What the fuck, Emmett?” He turned and rubbed his skull.
“Man, when you’re writing software, you’re like a million miles away.” Emmett laughed.
“I could say the same for you and writing. Speaking of writing, are you?”
Emmett shrugged and went back to work.
Ben didn’t force the issue. He knew his brother was having a hard time coming up with a new book concept. But he seemed to love the marketing section of the lodge. He’d developed a new website for the lodge and the cabins, and a separate linked one for the wedding barn. Emmet had also created new pamphlets and updated all their social media.
Emmett looked up. “Want to grab a beer later?”
Ben shrugged. “I really want to finish up this program. Does that make me weird?”
Emmett shook his head. “Nah, it just means you love what you do.”
“I do.” Ben turned and faced the computer. “I really do.”
“The fact that you still double-knot your tennis shoes like you’re an eight-year-old makes you weird as shit though.”
