He ducked behind the customer service counter. Thank fuck Jaime was too busy with the madness that was Mr. and Mrs. Blackstone’s visit to notice him. She was far too observant for her own good and he just didn’t have it in him to make excuses right now.
He opened up his laptop and double-checked the code he’d hardwired into the music loop they ran every three hours. He ticked off a few extra songs to make sure they tripped the system while the owners were there.
O Holy Night came on and he rubbed his neck. The wonder and complete happiness in her eyes last night had been worth all the work. Knowing that his idea had worked so well was simply a bonus.
Darcy and her boss walked into the jewelry department. They were in deep conversation. Darcy was at her buttoned-up best. Her hair was trapped in a braid that didn’t let a single strand loose around her face. She looked icy cool in her pearl-colored jacket and black pants. Her baby-blue blouse did nothing to dispel the untouchable aura around her.
He was fairly certain that no one in the store knew what burned under all that unflappable efficiency. She didn’t look up at him once. All of her focus was on Miriam and whatever they were talking about.
“Stop snacking on her with your eyes, Benjamin.”
His fingers flew over the keys. “Give me a break, Jaime.”
“Yesterday I wasn’t sure if you were good for her. Now I’m worried the reverse might be true.”
His gaze shot to hers. “Why?”
“Darcy’s got an innate ability to run this store.”
He nodded. After just one day with her, he could agree with that statement. Multitasking and planning were second nature to her. “What does that have to do with me?”
“This store is her life. The only way she’d be more obsessed with it is if she actually owned it.”
“I’m not a dumbshit Neanderthal that needs his woman’s total focus, Jaime.”
“Ah, but you’re already thinking of her in terms of your woman. Darcy’s not single because she’s pining for the perfect man, she’s single because this store is her man.”
“A store isn’t going to keep her warm at night.”
“Maybe, but she keeps herself so busy she doesn’t look at it that way.”
Ben crossed his arms and leaned back on the counter. “Aren’t you supposed to be the supportive best friend that gives me tips?”
She reached up and patted his cheek. “I am giving you a tip. You’re a clever guy.”
He frowned but didn’t have more time to ask questions. Darcy waved to him. With a flick of two keys, he turned on the program. The lights hummed, brightened once and the trailing ants feature he’d added started at the registers and flowed to the podium, then spiraled its way up the tree in an explosion of twinkling lights.
Darcy’s attention finally averted to his display. The quick and bright smile followed by more arm waving at him got him moving. The joy dimmed on her face as professionalism slammed down like a shield.
An older couple intercepted Darcy and Miriam. They were well into their sixties, with the stately demeanor of old money. Definitely the Blackstones. If the body language on the tall, white-haired gentleman and perfectly coiffed brunette didn’t give it away, Darcy’s sure did.
He slowed his pace, dipping his hands in his pockets. He was proud of his work, but he certainly wasn’t going to come to heel for a bunch of blue bloods.
Miriam smiled. “Ah, there’s our designer now. I was just telling my parents about your stunning lighting display.”
Ben nodded and held out his hand to Mr. Blackstone. He was tall, but still a few inches shorter than himself. “Ben Hartley. I’m glad I could step in and help out.”
He grasped Ben’s hand in a firm shake. “From what Miriam tells me this was a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Ben smiled. The old man didn’t like to be beholden any more than he did. “You were certainly the right test market for it, Mr. Blackstone. The original design was for household use, but I’m definitely open to modifying it for more commercial ideas now.”
One fine white eyebrow rose. “Call me Max.” He patted Ben’s arm. “I’d like to hear more. The front of my store has never been more impressive. And that was even before the lightshow you’ve got here.”
“Thanks, Max. I love Christmas. Working hard is worth the end product, especially when the kids come in to sit with Santa.” He nodded to a little boy who had dragged his mother to the tree, already anxious to get into the huge chair.
“I agree. My Mary thinks I’m insane to bring in a Santa Claus so early, but I think it will be a welcome break for the mothers to stop in after they’ve done their shopping. And I’ve hired him on for every weekend until Christmas.”
Darcy stiffened beside him and he had to force himself not to drag a smoothing hand down her back. The instinct was far harder to fight than it should have been. It would add another layer of chaos to her stressful schedule, but she’d cope. He’d only seen her in action for a couple of days and he was completely sure she’d figure it out.
“We’d like to discuss hiring you on for our new store in Boston next season, and of course having you come back next year. Perhaps with an even bigger display.”
Ben tried to school his features but he couldn’t quite cover the shock. Another store? “Yes, I’d be willing to discuss that. Of course it would be a paid job.”
Max laughed and slapped his arm. “Yes, you more than deserve payment. In fact, we’ve discussed a bonus for the above and beyond job you’ve done.”
“No. I appreciate it, but this was a favor for a friend.” He looked down at Darcy.
Darcy looked away briefly then bent her lips into a polite smile. But none of the sparkle was in her deep green eyes. “Ben is very generous. I’m just so glad that he could help out last minute.”
“It really is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Mary Blackstone said quietly. “You’ll be giving the Christmas windows in the city a run for their money, Ben.”
“It was my very favorite thing about Christmas, Mrs. Blackstone. My mother and I used to take the train down every year before she died.”
Darcy looked up him, surprise cracking her professional shell.
“Well, your mother would be very proud.”
“I like to think so.”
The soft instrumental song faded into Ring My Bell and the tree lights blinked and fired like fireworks. The bulbs that lined the trunk of the tree winked on and off, their disco-like qualities lending a fun edge to the overall classic design.
Miriam gave a delighted laugh that surprised all of them. She shrugged. “I love this song.”
Darcy fussed with the cuffs of her blouse but her lips twitched. Maybe there was some hope for her yet.
Chapter Seven
Darcy pulled into her driveway. Exhaustion sank so deep into her bones that she contemplated sleeping in her car. Too bad it was so cold. Flurries blustered around her vehicle as the last trace of daytime faded into night.
The visit had gone well. The front end and Ben’s baby certainly put a good spin on the walk-through of the store. She hadn’t been able to catch Ben before he’d left. He’d left a message with Jaime that he had to get back to his shop since Cesar had been alone for most of the day.
Ben had clients and appointments just like anyone else. There was no reason to get upset that he’d had to leave. He owned his own business and the fact that he’d dropped everything to help her was going above and beyond even for his Good Samaritan ways.
She trudged into the house and flicked on the news, curling into the corner of her favorite reading chair. When the weather came on with a report of no more than a dusting of snow, she let herself drift.
She woke to her television blinking, no signal up and down her screen. Her satellite had gone into energy-saving mode. She stretched with a wince. Four hours in her chair—not good. She spun her watch. Actually more like five.
With a yawn, she rose and checked her front window.
Ben was home. She wanted to go talk to him about her day. She wasn’t allowed to tell anyone about her promotion. Miriam wanted to talk to the employees about her leaving and that Darcy would be taking over as store manager. They both agreed that it would be better to wait until after Christmas to divulge that kind of news.
She took the stairs two at a time and took a quick shower, changing into her oldest and softest pair of jeans. Unsure of her steps, she put a cute bra on under a long-sleeved t-shirt. She wasn’t sure if she’d be welcome at Ben’s house, or if he’d even want to talk to her.
He’d been cordial with her, but Ben had a game face too. And she hadn’t been able to read him during their meeting with the Blackstones. She quickly dried her hair and left it to fall down her back in a straight sheet.
One nice thing about Ben was that she felt comfortable around him without all her carefully chosen clothes and hairstyles. He didn’t care about the professional Darcy. In fact, he seemed to take great pleasure in stripping professional Darcy down to her skin.
And she really liked that part.
Before she could lose her nerve, she grabbed a pair of diet sodas from her fridge and slipped outside through the back door. There wasn’t any need to give the neighbors something to gossip about.
His house mirrored hers because of the duplex setup and the light was on in his kitchen. She climbed the three stairs to his back door. He sat at his table. A large sketchpad took up most of the table and a sweating beer sat at his elbow. Colored pencils and drafting markers littered the top of the surface. His long fingers moved quickly over the page before slowing.
She shook her head. Way to be a Peeping Tom. She knocked on the glass. He looked up with a smile. At least that was something. She smiled back and lifted her sodas. He opened the door.
Battered jeans with pen and marker drawings over every inch hugged his incredibly solid frame. He didn’t have on a shirt and the scrolling lettering of the tattoo along his ribs only emphasized his abdominal muscles.
“Hey,” he said quietly.
“Hi.”
“C’mon in, don’t just stand there sawing off that pretty bottom lip.”
Darcy stopped chewing on her lip. “I wasn’t sure if it was okay to come over.”
“Of course it is, why wouldn’t it be?”
She set the bottles on the counter next to the fridge. “I don’t know. The conversation in the hallway wasn’t…”
“I was just hoping to make you smile. I should have thought about how it would look.”
“I was just nervous about the Blackstones.” Darcy crossed her arms, tucking her hands away before she trailed her fingers over his chest and down to the artistic lettering. Faith, hope and love—such a deep part of this man. Not even two full days in his company and she knew they were his trinity.
Everything about Ben was there for the world to see. No excuses.
“I’m sorry I had to leave before I could talk to you.”
She rubbed her upper arms. His living room had been transformed into Christmas central. A huge tree sat beside the fireplace, this one a downplayed version of her store tree. But instead of the typical ball ornaments it was filled with handmade and individual pieces that obviously had been handed down through the years. “It’s okay. You had to work too.”
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I had to rearrange a few clients and Cesar was getting bitchy.”
She frowned, meeting his gaze. “Was he okay with everything? I didn’t really think about how much of an inconvenience it was for you.” Darcy couldn’t stop herself now. She stepped into him and slid her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry.”
He rubbed his rough chin against her hair and leaned down until his nose slid behind the curtain of her hair. “Totally worth his tantrum.”
“I’m glad.” She rubbed her cheek along his until their lips lined up. He sighed into her mouth. The kiss was soft and easy. A hint of hoppy beer transferred to her tongue as they sank into the kiss. Already, he felt familiar and safe. Something she’d never thought to look for.
She drew her hands up the smooth skin of his back. The fluid bunch of muscles and Ben’s raw energy emptied all the worries that had settled on her shoulders. She wanted to touch and to taste, to explore him like he’d done with her last night.
He drew her t-shirt over her head, dropping it onto the counter as he led her through the kitchen to the living room. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hooked her knees around his waist.
He boosted her up effortlessly. “You like to look down at me.”
She laughed. “Not many people can lift me up like a toddler.”
He squeezed her butt. “You definitely don’t feel like a toddler.”
She hugged her knees into his sides with a grin. “To the couch, muscle man.”
He arched a brow at her. “You wouldn’t be steering me like a horse, would you?”
“I’ve never been on a horse.”
“Could have fooled me,” he said, sitting down in the middle of his leather couch. “I was going to bring you upstairs, but if it’s the couch you want…”
She maneuvered until one knee flanked each side of his thighs. “I want to make out on the couch.”
He nipped her neck until her head tipped back. “Just make out?”
She delighted in the skin on skin, denim on denim tangle they were in. “We can start with making out.”
He slipped his hands down the small gap at the back of her jeans and found the lacy bit of underwear she was wearing. “Man, I can’t wait to get to third base so I can see these.”
“Show me your first-base skills and maybe I’ll let you steal third.”
His long fingers slid into her hair, drawing her face to his. Instead of the hard, hot kiss she was expecting, he slowed everything down. Lips barely brushed hers before they were gone to whisper over her eyes and cheeks.
Her whole body hummed at the gentle coaxing. She’d wanted to do the exploring, but how was she supposed to keep to her own plan when he touched her like this? Gentle Ben was going to be the death of her.
The clasp of her bra loosened. “I think I’m going to steal second base instead,” he said against her throat. She smiled, but instead of a laugh it slid into a low, slow groan. His tongue swirled around her nipple before sucking, only to repeat the steps again and again until every nerve ending throbbed. She held him tight to her as she slowly rocked against him. The overwhelming feelings he stirred in her prickled at the edges of her consciousness.
Ben didn’t know how to do anything in half measures. He cupped her breasts, feasting on one then the other. He looked up at her, the tight tip of her nipple between his teeth. She arched back, unable to look at him. The intensity in his deep brown eyes was too much.
Every single time it felt as though he was staring right into her. As if he could see every darn thing. He was going to be disappointed. He was so open and giving. How could she ever be enough?
She slammed her emotions down.
No. This was just fun. They were new and shiny. All this was just new lust. It wasn’t anything more than that. She rolled her hips until he groaned against her skin. “I’m not going to make it to third base, Ben. I want it all. Now.” She rose onto her knees and struggled with his jeans.
His hips lifted to help her. “Fuck, where’s my wallet?”
She opened her eyes, her chest heaving. He caught her nipple in his mouth again, this time a little of the patient Ben missing. He nipped at her skin and she shuddered over him. She looked around again and spotted the battered billfold on the coffee table behind her.
“Hold me.”
“What?” His head came up and his fingers wrapped around her waist. “Hold? Fuck me, Darcy.”
She arched back and snagged his wallet, then handed it back to him with a smile. “I was really good at gymnastics.”
“I’m going to remember that,” he said, flicking out a condom. He covered her mouth, his tongue slipping out to tease
as he laughed. “Holy shit, am I going to remember that.”
She stood and wiggled out of her jeans. He stopped her, tracing his thumb over the scalloped edges of her cotton candy-pink lace thong. “Women’s undergarments were created to kill men.”
“They sure weren’t created for our comfort.” She laughed. The cute panties landed in the pile of her clothes. She toed off her slip-ons and climbed back onto him. “Now, where were we?”
He cupped his hands around his mouth and made a crowd roaring sound. She giggled and stole the condom. “Home run indeed.” She peeled back his jeans and sighed. He was beautiful. She lightly grazed the underside of his head with her knuckle. He hissed and she gripped him firmly.
He pushed up into her hand, the low growl returning. Everything about him was so muscled and smooth, even this part of him that made her feel so sexy and powerful. She covered him first with latex and then sheathed him with herself.
Slowly, oh so slowly, she took all of him until there was only them meeting in every way. She cupped his face, watching his eyes as she slowly rose and fell over him. His jaw clenched and a muscle flexed in his cheek as she swirled her hips in time with each clasping stroke.
She tried to focus on how he felt instead of the tears that wanted to spiral up and take over each time he touched her. He gripped her hips, guiding her for a deeper thrust. Her head tipped back as pleasure crept in.
Instinct and desire took over as sweat slid down her spine and between them. It only added to the excitement, the scent of them and the way she softened to take him deeper. She shouted out his name, shuddering and shaking around him as he pulled her in. One arm came up her back, anchoring her to him until their mouths slanted against each other.
She wrapped her arms around him. They were a tangle of sweat and arms and her nose was buried in his neck. Somehow she held on to the sobs and simply quaked in his arms.
Always too much.
She didn’t understand why it had to be so overwhelming each time. She couldn’t breathe around the need and the emotions he pulled out of her so effortlessly. She laid her head on his shoulder, willing herself to calm.
Holiday Sparks Page 10
