by Ava May
Too bad he was such a dick. Now that she had a few minutes by herself, and the pain pill had fully kicked in and merged nicely with the alcohol she'd consumed, she had time to reflect on her ER visit. As she'd noticed in the hospital, Ben really was cute, in a rumpled kind of way. He didn't look like all the other doctors, so stiff and polished. His scrubs had been slightly wrinkled, and his name badge covered with something sticky. Chocolate, maybe.
Of course, he could have looked disheveled because he'd just moved to Maplewood and into the guesthouse at his father's home. She'd learned these facts over dinner, along with other tidbits of information. Ben graduated top of his class, had started a practice in Augusta, and was practically engaged to Marlene, a virtual goddess, the way Robert talked about the woman. A sore subject for Ben, Chris noted, observing how he gripped his knife like a lethal weapon and stabbed at his steak when her name was mentioned.
Chris didn't know any physicians personally, but Ben did not resemble her idea of a doctor. If she hadn't seen him act like an idiot, she might actually believe he was a fun guy. The kind who might enjoy a beer and a game of football.
"Are you winning or losing?"
Chris whirled around. She'd been standing in one spot, staring at the pucks on the other end of the table, lost in a daydream.
Speak of the devil. Ben stood watching her, his hands in his pockets.
"Both. And neither. What are you doing here?"
"Just finished having a cigar with the old man, I mean, my dad. He smokes those obnoxious things now and then, insists I join him. I finally escaped."
"Are the two lovebirds cooing together? Ewww, never mind, forget I asked that."
A slight grin cracked his lips, then disappeared, replaced by the look of unease she'd seen on his face all evening. "Can I buy you a drink?"
"Sure. If you're buying, I'll have a decent bourbon. Maker's Mark, not the house brand. Neat."
He turned and headed to the bar. Another drink wasn't the best idea, especially if this dude wanted to make small talk. Shit. Why did she let him do that? Now she'd have to spend time with him, probably listening to more of his doctor-ly BS.
"Bourbon. Don't see too many woman ordering that." He handed her the glass.
She set it on the table with a thud. "Really? Are you going to start that whole women-don't-do-that thing with me again?"
Ben rubbed his hand across his eyes. "No. Sorry. In fact, that's why I wanted to buy you the drink. To apologize about earlier today in the ER. I was way out of line and had no business talking to you like that. When I get stressed, I say stupid shit sometimes."
"Uh, okay."
Well. Not what she expected to come out of his mouth. "I, um, I guess I was kind of worked-up too. I don't usually fly off the handle like that. I could have been a little less rude."
He raised his glass and she met it with a clink.
"Here's to being offensive, then having the chance to apologize."
They both sipped. "I suppose you were looking forward to this weekend as little as I was. Except, I get to see my stepsister, so it's not a total waste for me."
She shrugged. "My mom is happy. I can do whatever for a couple of days. Do you play shuffleboard?"
Suddenly, Chris was talked out. She didn't want to think about family, about a wedding, about anything. She didn't want this cute guy apologizing, or feeling sorry for her, or feeling anything at all for her.
"I do. I have. It's like riding a horse, I guess. You never forget."
"Dude, I think that's riding a bicycle."
"Whatever. Rack 'em up."
A half hour passed quickly, the best time Chris had spent in weeks. Ben kept the conversation light and fun, and they discovered they had several things in common. Both liked classic rock music, nachos loaded with extra jalapenos and horror movies. By their third game, Chris had relaxed enough to laugh out loud, several times. Even Ben managed a chortle when one of his pucks jumped off the table.
But finally, the sprained ankle reminded her she'd been on her feet too long. She winced with pain when she landed on it wrong and nearly fell. Ben reached out to steady her.
"You okay?"
Damn, he smelled good. Like some kind of aftershave, an expensive kind, cigar smoke, and whiskey. Holding her, one hand on her shoulder and one on her back, she felt his heat, merging with hers, and moisture formed between her legs. They both pulled away at the same time.
"You should elevate your foot. Put some ice on it."
"I didn't see an ice machine anywhere. I'll grab some from the bar."
Ben took his phone from his pocket. "There are no ice machines here. I'll have a bucket sent up to your room."
Ice machines. What an idiot she was. The warm, relaxed feeling she'd had with Ben instantly vanished.
"Don't bother. I can call them." She turned and walked away.
"What?" Ben caught up to her and grabbed her arm. "What did I do? Why are you pissed?"
"This, this whole thing." She waved her arms around. "It's just insanely too much. What the hell was your dad thinking, dragging us here?"
"My dad? Your mom planned this weekend. Don't blame my family."
"But your dad offered to pay for this ridiculous place. He could have suggested something more…normal."
She tugged her arm away and kept walking. Hobbling by now, really. Shit, where were those elevators?
"My dad just wants to make your mom happy. He has the money to indulge her, so he does. What's your big problem with that?"
"My big problem is, money doesn't solve everything. You have it, and you're miserable as hell."
There, finally. Elevators. Chris jabbed the button, desperate to end this conversation. Why in the world had she even started it? Had she started it? Drugs, drink, her mind was a cotton-candy swirled mess.
"Who says I'm miserable?"
Oh no, Ben was still here, getting on the elevator with her, but talking to her from far, far away. Touching her again, his stupid, strong arms around her.
"You smell really good, you know that?"
Then the lights went out.
Chapter 4
Soft, warm, comfortable. Chris sighed and burrowed into wherever she was.
"Hey, you awake?" Someone prodded her shoulder.
"No." She burrowed further. "Go away."
"Come on, open your eyes. Let me see your pupils."
Reluctantly, she did. Ben stared down at her, concern on his face. He sat on the edge of what she guessed was her bed in her suite. She allowed him to pull her eyelids up and obediently moved her eyeball around per his request.
"How do you feel?"
She pushed herself up. Still fully dressed. Good. Mouth didn't taste like vomit. Better.
"I'm okay. Had a bad reaction to the pain pill, I guess."
He frowned. "You shouldn't drink alcohol when you take pain pills. Didn't you read the label?"
"Okay, you can leave now."
"This is my room."
"Then I'll leave." She sat up fully and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The room spun. "Oh crap, guess, I won't just yet. How did I get here, anyway?"
"You kind of walked, I kind of carried you."
Stronger than he looked. Chris lay back onto the bed. "I think I got sort of mouthy with you again. Sorry."
Ben shrugged, but even in the low light she saw a glimmer of hurt in his eyes.
"We're both pretty wound up. Maybe we should avoid each other the rest of the weekend."
"Yeah, that might be best."
But he hadn't moved from where he sat. Instead, he reached over and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Why did you say I'm miserable?"
Her turn to shrug. "I don't know. Delirious, I guess."
"No, I think you had a reason. Spill it."
Of course a doctor would be the type of guy to pay attention to details. "I just, I see in your eyes, you're not really happy. It's like, like something bad happened to you, or you feel guilty about something."
Those sad eyes flashed momentarily, then closed off. "You're wrong. I'm perfectly happy."
"No you're not. Right now, you look next to dead. You keep this blank expression in place, except for a few minutes, when you goofed around with Lila, or when you won a game of shuffleboard. But all through dinner, and even in the ER, you had this vacant look. Like you're hiding something, trying to make yourself dead inside, not feel anything."
Instead of reprimanding her or stomping off in a huff, Ben leaned over, closer to her, eyes searching.
"How do you know this? We've only met and you haven't talked to me that much."
"It's a thing I do. A gift. I don't know, I can look at someone, tell what they're feeling, even when they try to hide it."
Except Jason. He'd hid a lot. Or maybe she didn't want to see. Thoughts of her ex spurred her to attempt to sit up again, but Ben pushed her back
"You need to drink some water. Then I'll see if you can walk all right by yourself."
Oh, he would, would he? As soon as he turned his back she tried to escape again, but she fell back as the room continued to turn. Tired as she was of Ben's bossy attitude, Chris knew she didn't have a choice but to stay put.
"Here." He shoved a glass of water at her.
She drank, watching him as he prowled around the room, opening the drapes and looking out the window.
"How's the view?"
"Lovely."
Okay, he didn't want to talk to her anymore. She could see that. "Hey, listen, I'm not trying to pick on you. I didn't mean to say that, about you being miserable. It's none of my business."
"Is it that obvious?" He turned to look at her.
Chris caught her breath. The light from the full moon shown into the room, outlining Luke. He'd changed from his dress slacks and shirt he'd worn at dinner, and now had on a pair of tight jeans and t-shirt. She'd watched him, while they played shuffleboard, and had deliberately blocked out any lustful thoughts.
But now, in his room, his scent reached her nostrils and did funny things to her lady parts. Her nipples hardened and a burst of wet drenched her thighs. She had to get out of here.
"It's not, to most everyone else. I told you, I have this kind of freaky thing, that I can read people."
He strode across the room to the bed. "Can you tell what I'm thinking now?"
Oh boy. His eyes had gone dark, with a look she hadn't seen directed at her for a long time. Hot, hard, desire.
"I should leave."
"Not yet." He sat on the bed and once again, reached a hand to smooth her hair. "You look a lot like your mom."
"Thanks. I guess."
A quick smile. "That was a compliment. She's a beautiful woman." His hand moved from her hair, down her face, and caressed her neck. "Such soft skin."
Heart pounding, Chris didn't move. His touch set off sparks of pleasure, firing through her body. "I use a good moisturizer."
That smile again, now infused with heat. "You're pretty, funny and smart. Why no boyfriend?"
"Who says I don't have a boyfriend?"
"If you did, I know Amanda would have insisted he come along on this get-together."
"Okay, I don't have a boyfriend. Men suck, that's why."
Oh no, she did not just say that. Like a teenage girl, crying over her first break-up.
But Ben just smiled broader. "Some of us do. I'd like to think I don't. I'd also like to think I'm not totally dead inside. You've stirred a spark in me, Christina."
"Don't call me that."
But then she stopped talking because his lips were on hers. Tentative, at first, like he suspected she would stop him. She didn't. She returned the kiss, hungrily, her arms unthinkingly coming up to wrap around his neck, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Shocked at her own response, she nearly pushed him away after a moment, but he'd wrapped her into his arms and pulled her close.
His hard chest felt good pressed against hers. Strong, firm. A good place to rest her head while sleeping. What would it look like naked? She took one hand from around his neck and slid it between their bodies, then laid it on his pec. In turn, he moved one of his hands to rest on her breast. Gently he squeezed, his thumb grazing her tightened nipple, forcing an involuntary moan from her.
Pinching her nipple between his thumb and forefinger brought another moan, and he continued to fondle her, while deepening the kiss. His tongue explored her mouth and she met his hunger, even as a voice in the back of her head screamed at her to stop. When he finally pulled away, panting, the voice had reached a crescendo.
"Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"
A knocking on the door interrupted his sentence.
She looked into his eyes, now full of life and heat, but still with a trace of sadness.
"Hello!" The knock sounded again. "Ben? Are you in there?" Robert's voice.
He disentangled his arms from around her and slid off the bed. "Can you get up now?"
"I think so. Lord, I hope so."
Chris eased herself off the pillows, heart pounding. Maybe this blood rushing through her veins would give her the strength to stand. Yep. Feet on the floor, head only slightly woozy, she tugged at her shirt to straighten it, then retrieved her shoes from where they were placed neatly by the bed.
"There, just sit there until you feel all the way better." Ben pointed to a chair.
"I'm fine." She remained standing, listing slightly from side to side. No way did she want to sit back down. She had to get out of here.
He wanted to demand that she stay put, she knew, but she wouldn't. She walked with him to the door and stood back a pace as he opened it. Robert stood outside, with Lila prancing around his legs.
"Watcha doing?" She dashed into the room. "Hi there, Chrissie. You want to come exploring with me?"
The little girl tugged her hand and Chris looked down, biting back a bout of nausea. "Where are you going to explore?"
"All over the hotel. Daddy wants to walk outside with your mom. For a moonlight stroll. He said I should find one of you to play with. Did you see my room? It's ginormous."
Chris stole at glance at Robert, who was looking at her and Ben with narrowed eyes.
"So is my room. Why don't you show me yours and then we'll go find the swimming pool."
Chris, Lila and Robert stepped into the hallway.
"That's her room, next to mine." Robert pointed. If you could stay with her for a half hour or so, then bring her back, I'd appreciate it. She can be by herself for a while. She's very responsible. Aren't you?" He ruffled her hair.
"Yes I am. I stay by myself all the time. Come on, Chrissie, show me the pool."
"I'll take her." Ben stepped up and took hold of Lila's free hand. "Chris hurt her ankle. She shouldn't be walking on it too much. That's why she was in my room."
"Oh." Lila stuck out her lower lip and Chris had to smile.
"I think your brother is right. I should put my foot up and rest it. We'll explore together tomorrow, okay? We'll have all day."
Lila's face brightened. "Okay. Good night. I hope you feel better."
Sweet kid. Chris watched her and Ben walk away.
Uh-oh. Alone with Robert. Time to end the most awkward day ever.
"You and Amanda have a nice walk. I'll see you tomorrow."
Robert looked down at her chest. "You missed a button on your shirt." He wheeled around and strode away.
And that was the final topping on this day from hell.
Chapter 5
Shit. What had she done, making out with her…gaaaa! Her stepbrother. Sure, he was super cute and pretty much fun once he relaxed, but he had some dark, secret weirdness going on and she didn't want to get sucked in. Didn't want to get involved with him anyway. With anyone. She wasn't ready.
But remembering the feeling of his lips on hers, his hand on her skin, her breast…a shudder ran along her spine. Her body had certainly been ready. She'd drenched her panties, she noticed, as she undressed for bed.
Well,
no big deal. They would see each other on holidays, maybe birthdays, if Amanda insisted. Chris planned to stay in Maplewood and Robert's house was an hour away. Not really that far, but far enough she could make excuses not to visit on a regular basis. She'd join a softball team, or a bowling league, something to keep her busy and keep her mom off her back. Give her a ready-made excuse not to come over.
Damn him! All those feelings she'd been pushing down, all that sensual longing, the memory of how good it felt to connect with another human being both physically and emotionally…
Hobbling to the bathroom, she dug out the bottle of pain pills. The other half should be enough to knock her into la-la land, and make her forget those few moments of bliss.
****
"Order whatever you'd like, dear," Amanda said, lifting her china coffee cup and sipping gracefully.
"I plan on it," Chris shot back, rattling the parchment paper breakfast menu. She hated that tone her mother got when she said those words. The message was clearly, "Don't you think you should get the low-calorie selection?"
They sat in the Lilac room again. Just the two of them. Robert must really have a butt-load of money to buy these amenities. A note on Regency letterhead, slipped under her door, informed her they would be dining at eight o'clock sharp. La-dee-da. Sorely tempted to skip the meal, her growling stomach suggested otherwise and Chris dressed, combed her hair, and showed up on time. Which Robert and his clan couldn't seem to do.
"Where are the others?"
"They're eating elsewhere. I thought it would be nice if we had a chat, just you and me."
"Mom, I see you every day. We've been chatting for what, a year since I moved in with you?"
"Two years. You've been living with me for two years and three months."
That long?
"Which is what I want to discuss. You know I'm selling the house and you said you don't want to come live with me at Robert's place."
"That is correct." Chris poured herself a cup of coffee from the carafe on the table.
"And where do you plan to live?"
"With some friends. An apartment. I don't know. I've got a few ideas."
