Although right now, it was her body that was most excited at that prospect. She shifted in her seat, the thought of his strong yet gentle, very capable hands on her body making her squirm with a need she had never felt before. Not even with Francis. No, the attraction to Ben was different, visceral, as though their bodies were drawn together by some invisible force.
“Anyway, great to meet you, Beth.” Trent was leaving the table, not even having bought the drink he had offered.
Beth found she didn’t really mind; she had no interest in him. Her body yearned for another, although her brain was fighting for control. So she simply said, “Bye, Trent. Good to meet you too. Thanks for the company.”
“Bye, Trent,” Daphne said, watching him go. She had broken off the conversation with her friend, and now she turned and said quietly, “That is one man I would not kick out of bed on a cold winter’s morning. He is hot!”
“He is,” Beth had to agree, but he wasn’t the man for her. That man was looking at her again, sipping his beer and trying to concentrate on what Drew was saying. Beth got up, straightened her skirt down over her curvy thighs, and said, “I need the ladies’ room.”
“Oh, do you want me to come with you?” Daphne asked, preparing to get up, although looking disappointed to be leaving the man who she had been having an intimate conversation with, whose name was Lionel.
“No. You stay there. I’ll only be a minute. If you could just point me in the right direction.”
“Over to the right. Through the door and to the end of the corridor. I’ll get some more drinks while you are away.”
“Thanks, Daphne.”
“No problem, honey. It was good to see you chatting with a man. There is hope for you yet.”
“Still not interested,” Beth answered. Liar, said the voice in her head. There was one man she was most definitely interested in, but she couldn’t ever let herself admit it to him. She was warming to Bear Bluff with every hour that passed. The people here were friendly and welcoming, and she didn’t want to mess it up and have to move on. Not even for Dr. Ben.
Feeling a little self-conscious, she walked across to the door Daphne had indicated. Pushing it open, she found herself in a well-lit corridor with three doors leading off it. One to the Ladies, one to the Gents, and one marked “Staff.” Allowing her eyes to adjust to the harsh lights, and wondering if she looked her usual blotchy self under their unearthly glow, she made her way to the ladies’ room.
Checking her face in the mirror, she acknowledged that yes, she did look blotchy. After washing her hands, she tried to tone down her complexion with powder and reapplied her lipstick. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt the need to look her best when she walked back through the bar. Beth smiled at herself: always the deceiver, of course she knew why it mattered. Ben was out there.
Grinning as she pictured his impossibly handsome face, she pulled open the door and walked straight into the real thing.
“Hi,” he said, a little strained. If she didn’t know better, she would think he was nervous, but how could a man like Ben be nervous? He had the looks, the charm, and, she suspected, the wit to make women fall at his feet.
“Hello,” Beth answered evenly.
“You look happy. Good evening?” The strain in his voice grew.
“Yes,” she answered, confused.
“I just wanted to come and check you were OK.”
“I am. I think I can manage a trip to the ladies’ room on my own.” If it was any other man who had followed her out, she might have felt creeped out, but with Ben, she knew he only had her best interests in mind.
“Right, sorry. It’s just I saw you with Trent.”
He left the sentence hanging, and she studied him closely before replying. If she read him right, he was jealous. “Trent left, I think. I was on my way back to Daphne. She’s just got a round of drinks in.” She watched the relief sweep over his face. “You can join us if you want.” Wow, where did that come from?
He didn’t seem to know either. Ben took a step back as if she had struck him. “I … I’d love to. But I have some more things to go over with Eirik and Drew.”
“Ah. Daphne said you were going to be best man at their wedding.”
“Yes.”
“That’s quite an honour.”
“Yes,” he said again. The great doctor was struck almost dumb.
“Are you nervous?”
“Right now? Yes.”
It was her turn to be taken aback. “I’m not sure what you mean,” she said, her heart thumping loudly in her chest.
“Don’t you, Beth? I know I got off to a bad start with you earlier today, but I hoped I could explain.”
“No, you don’t have to.”
“But I want to, Beth.” He raised his hand as if he was going to take hold of her hand. But then he thought better of it.
“No. What I mean is, I think I misjudged you earlier. I probably owe you an explanation.”
“You don’t have to.”
She smiled; it was her turn to say, “I want to, Ben.”
His face brightened. “I know. Why don’t I escort you home this evening? After I’ve finished with Eirik and Drew, unless you have to go home with Daphne?”
“I’ll check with her.” She looked into his blue eyes, trying to figure him out. Was such a man as this really interested in her? Or was he just being nice to the new girl in town? Either way, she owed him an explanation for how she had treated him. “If it’s OK, I would love for you to escort me home.” She blushed at using the word “love” when talking to him, yet if her rapid heartbeat was anything to go by, she was in love with him. Oh no! Another crush on a doctor. She was doomed.
Chapter Seven – Ben
Ben drifted back to the bar, about eight inches off the ground. Or so it seemed. He had gained himself another chance with his mate. A chance to show her he wasn’t some shallow man after a one-night stand. But if he told her what he really wanted, marriage and kids, as soon as possible, would she run as far and as fast as she could?
“How did it go?” asked Drew, her eyes bright with excitement.
“I’m going to walk her home.”
“Great,” Drew said, grinning even wider. “Wow, I never thought it would happen. How many hearts are going to be broken when the ladies of Bear Bluff realise their number-one fantasy bachelor is spoken for?”
Eirik laughed. “I bet she’ll get hate mail.”
“That is not even funny,” said Ben, becoming concerned. “I have never led any of them on. Never dated any of them for years. I thought I had done everything possible to keep my reputation impeccable.”
“Relax, Ben. You have been the epitome of good manners. So, no, I don’t think there will be any trouble.”
Yet Eirik was wrong. Trouble had just walked into the bar in the form of Greta. She was dressed to kill, and as the door swung to behind her, she stood and scanned the bar. Once her eyes settled on Ben, she made her way straight over.
“Hello, Ben. Nice to see you off duty.” She slid close to Ben, sitting on the bar stool next to his. “You don’t mind, do you?”
Normally Ben would have said no, he didn’t mind. But not tonight. “I’m sorry, Greta, I’m trying to help Eirik and Drew with their wedding plans.”
“Oh, really. I love weddings!” She pressed her body against Ben’s, her breast rubbing his arm. Ben jumped as if she had shocked him with a heart defibrillator.
“Greta. I appreciate your meaning well, but we really have a lot to get through.”
“I helped organise my sister’s wedding only last month. So I’m a pro.” She slid right over so that she was hanging off her bar stool, almost drooling over the doctor. “It made me so jealous, so I’ve decided it is my number one priority to find a man and walk down the aisle with him. I think we all get to a time in our lives when we want to settle down into marital bliss. Don’t you agree, Ben?”
All this time, Drew and Eirik had watched the train wreck in front o
f them hurtling towards its doom. The final straw came when Greta placed her hand on Ben’s thigh and slid it ever higher. He spilt his drink all over her. Not intentionally, but it had the desired effect of dampening her ardour.
Gasping, she pulled her skimpy top away from her breasts, cursing loudly.
“I am so terribly sorry,” Ben said. “Here, let me help.”
Greta, slightly mollified at the thought of the good doctor’s hands helping her to dry her ample breasts, got up and followed him. Only he led her outside and helped her into a waiting taxi, which he paid for, including a big tip. Before she knew what was happening, Greta was speeding her way home with a wet shirt, but it had not dampened her need to make the doctor accept the inevitable. He was the man she had chosen to marry. She just had to get him to realise it.
Chapter Eight – Beth
“Nicely done, Dr. Ben.
“I thought so, Nurse Beth.” He grinned at her. “Did you think I was going to stand you up?”
“No,” she lied. “I only came to offer my assistance.”
“To whom?”
Beth smiled knowingly. “She has the hots for you.”
“The hots. Yes, I think I would agree. This morning she had me look at her knee because it hurt. There was nothing there.” He frowned. “Usually they give up trying, but Greta is very persistent.”
“Is that what will happen to me? I’ll give up trying?” She clamped her mouth shut, not sure where that had come from.
“I hope not, Beth. I truly hope not. I want us to be more than friends. But I think I am jumping the gun.”
“Shall we go back inside? I need to get my purse, but I’m ready to leave when you are. Daphne is going home with a friend.”
“Is she? She’s a lovely lady. I hope it’s someone respectable.”
“You sound like her father.”
He laughed. “She’s a good friend of mine. One of only a handful of single ladies who haven’t tried to get me into their bed at one time or another.”
“I’m on that list, you know. I am not allowing you to walk me home so I can drag you into bed.” Although the thought made her body ignite the familiar flames of desire that seemed to burn for Ben.
“And you should know I am not offering to walk you home in the expectation of you trying to drag me into bed.” He raised his eyebrow, his blue eyes bright and true.
“I’m glad we have that straightened out.” Beth relaxed. What could have been an awkward conversation was easy. He made everything easy. She could see how so many women fell for his charm. The question that burned in her head the fiercest right now was why he would be interested in her, when he could have his pick of women.
It wasn’t just Greta; all evening she had watched women stare at him, sidle up to the bar and brush past him, and make comments whilst flirting outrageously. All while he was trying to have a conversation with his friends. In some ways, she began to feel sorry for him. It must be tough being so attractive to women, if you weren’t actually interested in what they had to offer.
Beth pulled up short. That thought was reverberating around her head. Potentially she was about to make a fool of herself. Explaining why she wasn’t interested in a relationship with him, when he certainly wasn’t interested in one with her, because he was gay!
Of course. That explained everything. No wonder he brushed all these women off and ignored their advances—it was because he had no interest in what they had to offer. Her sympathy doubled. At least now she had realised his predicament, it made life easier. He really must have been asking her to dinner this evening to get to know her, rather than for any romantic reason. Her fling with Francis had made her too suspicious.
She would need to apologise before he left tonight. First, they had to go back into the bar and say their goodbyes. “I’ll be five minutes; I need to get my purse and double-check Daphne is alright on her own.”
“OK. Come over to the bar when you’ve finished. I’d like to introduce you to Eirik and Drew.”
“Sure. That will be great. Daphne said this was a great place to meet new people.”
“Like Trent Savage.”
“Yes. He’s a fun guy.” The expression on Ben’s face didn’t seem to agree with her assessment of the hunky, handsome haulage man. Of course, Trent was so good looking, maybe Ben fancied him. Oh wow, now she had made the connection, everything was falling into place. Ben hadn’t been staring at her all evening; he had been watching Trent.
“He’s a heartbreaker,” Ben said, his voice tinged with a warning.
“I’m sorry to hear that. But he seems like a good guy.”
“He is. But I doubt he’ll ever settle down. Unlike most of us, he isn’t looking for his true mate.”
Was that code for a lifelong boyfriend? She’d never heard it described as that before. “When the right mate comes along, I’m sure they will see things differently.” She placed her hand on his arm, and couldn’t deny that even though she was not the right gender for him, he still excited her body in delicious ways.
Ben glanced down at her arm and then looked up into her eyes, searching for something. Her heart fluttered in her chest, and all her brain could say was what a waste. This man, whom so many women fantasised about, would make the perfect husband and father. But there was no way to fight your innermost feelings. And so she sighed and removed her arm, telling herself she hoped he would one day find the right person and settle down.
“I’ll join you in a few minutes,” she said, going back to Daphne, who was still in the booth with her gentleman friend. “I’m leaving, Daphne. Are you sure you’ll be OK?”
“Yes. Lionel has offered to walk me home. He might even come in for coffee.” She winked at Beth, who stifled a giggle. Daphne was old enough to be her mother, and it was good to see her still having a great time. It gave Beth hope, because at the rate she was going, her inability to pick the perfect man would mean she was going to be single for a long time to come.
“Goodnight, thank you for making me come out.”
“Anytime. Have a good time with Ben.”
“He’s only walking me home.”
“Of course he is.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? I thought you told me he wasn’t interested in dating women. And now I’ve got to know him a bit more, I know you are right.”
“Let’s just say I’ve never seen him walk a woman home before. Not unless they were falling down drunk, or lost.”
Beth shook her head. “You are reading too much into it, Daphne. Goodnight. Night Lionel.”
“Goodnight, Beth.”
Beth went over to the bar, feeling a little nervous to be meeting two of Ben’s best friends. She hoped he hadn’t told them how she had behaved earlier. Beth wanted to make a good impression with the townsfolk, and upsetting Ben would not help make that happen.
“Beth. May I introduce Eirik McCormac and his lovely fiancée, Drew?”
“McCormac? Are you related to Freyja?”
“Yes. She’s my cousin.”
Even more reason to make a good impression. “Congratulations on the upcoming wedding.”
“Thanks. Drew is organising everything, really. I’m just there to look good.” He laughed and Drew nudged him in the ribs.
“That’s not fair. You make it sound as if I am bossy.”
“Not at all. Actually, I think it’s my mom who is the bossy one. She had me trying on suits again today, when I swear we had chosen the right one last week.”
“It’s important to her. Men, what do you do with them? Anyway, nice to meet you, Beth. Ben tells us you are new in town.”
“Yes. I moved here for a change of scenery.”
“Any particular reason?”
“No. Not really. I felt stuck in a rut, the job in the Bear Bluff Hospital came up, and when I came for the interview, I found that the mountain air made me feel … I don’t know. Alive. Does that sound strange?” Damn, now they would think she was a raving lunatic.
“No, not at all,” they all chorused.
“In fact I can’t think of a better place to settle down and get married.” Eirik grunted as Drew elbowed him again, only harder this time. “What?”
“It’s time for us to go. Ben wants to get Beth home. And we need to go home and see how our parents are getting on. My dad said they were expecting quite a gathering. We might have to break up the party.”
Beth frowned, confused about Eirik’s and Drew’s parents; it sounded as if they lived together. She decided to ask Ben about it later, if she remembered. Right now, she wanted to leave. She was feeling tired, but she still wanted to explain everything to Ben despite there being no need.
“Shall we go?” he asked.
“Yes. Bye, Drew, bye, Eirik.”
“Bye,” they chorused. Ben kissed Drew on the cheek—this time Beth tried to stop herself being jealous—and then he shook hands with Eirik and patted him on the shoulder.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Eirik. Bye, Drew.”
Then they were out on the street, the cool night air sobering her up incredibly quickly. All her senses seemed to have switched themselves on and tuned into Ben. She could smell his cologne, her eyes couldn’t help glancing at him, her fingers itched to touch him, and if she wasn’t mistaken, her ears could hear the beat of his heart. Or perhaps it was her heart she could hear thumping wildly.
And when he linked his arm through hers, smiling at her with his wonderfully sensuous mouth, she longed to taste his lips.
Chapter Nine – Ben
He tried to keep his body relaxed and not betray how hard it was to stop himself pinning her against the wall and claim her right here, right now. His cock was straining to be released from his pants, his bear straining at the corners of his mind. For a man so good at keeping his emotions under control, this was the hardest thing he had ever done. Each step was torture, because he knew he couldn’t sleep with her tonight; that would betray his earlier words. This meant that when they reached her home, he would have to say good night and leave her alone.
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