by Lee Rose
Ben sighed in relief. “One more dance with my sexy blonde angel then we have some private dancing to do at home.”
Hannah nodded and smiled when she heard the music playing to “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” her favorite line dance. She pulled Ben by the hand and led him to the dance floor where people were already lining up.
Ben loved to see the happiness on Hannah’s face and joined in the steps to the song. Hannah was so into the song she didn’t see Dorothy dancing next to her until she felt someone kick her and trip her. Hannah fell and landed on her butt while the other dancers kept going.
“Oops. I guess I’m not as good at these steps as I thought.” Dorothy gave Ben an innocent smile as he hurriedly helped Hannah off the floor before she got trampled. “Sorry, Hannah.”
Hannah straightened her blouse and looked at Dorothy’s face. She knew Dorothy did it on purpose but she just smiled at her, refusing to give her the satisfaction of knowing it pissed her off. “No problem. I think I am done dancing, Ben.”
Ben led her to the table and looked her over with concern. “You okay?”
Hannah nodded and worried about the baby for a minute but hoped the fall didn’t affect the baby. “I’m ready to go home now.”
Ben drove her to his house in silence and Hannah was lost in her own thoughts. Dorothy was a first-class bitch but Ben would defend her if she told him she thought Dorothy did it on purpose. Hannah took a deep breath. She would not let that woman ruin her night with Ben.
Once they were in the living room Ben turned the radio on to his favorite country station. He started removing Hannah’s clothes while she stood there with an amused smile on her face and stayed quiet. He felt bad that her night had been ruined by Dorothy’s clumsiness. He removed all his clothes, too. Once they were both naked he pulled her into his arms and started dancing slowly with her, just swaying to the soft melody that was playing. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed with contentment. That little breath of happiness went straight to his heart and groin. He caressed her back up and down softly and couldn’t resist squeezing her plump ass and pulling her into his hard erection.
Tracy Lawrence’s “My Little Texas Tornado” came on and Ben grinned, humming along with the song. “I can’t hear this song without thinking of you. I have my own tornado in my arms.”
Hannah laughed in his arms and pretended to be offended. “Are you saying I destroy things like a tornado?”
Ben hugged her and chuckled softly. “No baby, I’m just saying you make me feel so crazy and wild inside. I know no one else will ever make me feel this way.”
Hannah felt the tears slipping from her eyes and couldn’t stop them from dripping down her cheeks. Ben was so sweet and romantic. “There will never be anyone else for me, Ben. You’ve been in my heart and in my dreams since I was a young girl. Since before I knew what love was, my heart already knew what it wanted. Why do you think I got so mad when other women flocked around you? I wanted to scratch all their eyes out and yell that you belonged to me. But at the same time I was too scared to let you know how I felt. I know I always act like nothing bothers me but inside I have so many fears.”
“I do belong to you and only you, Hannah. You don’t have to worry about that,” Ben assured her, kissing her ear and moving down to her collarbone, placing soft kisses all over shoulder. “If I had my way you’d never wear clothes while we were home. I love your body and can never get tired of seeing it.”
“What if I get cold?” she asked, playing into his fantasy.
“I’ll do this.” He lifted her up until she wrapped her legs around his waist. He kissed her with such hunger and desire that she melted and almost let her legs drop from his waist. He put his hands on her ass, holding her up and looked in her eyes. “Getting warm yet?”
She shrugged playfully, deciding to tease him. “Maybe I need more than a little kiss.”
Ben chuckled at her teasing remark. Hannah loved riling him up. “Just remember you asked for this.” He lifted her higher until her nipple was in his mouth and he bit the tip gently, then sucked on it hard, sending bolts of pleasure running through her body. She whimpered, a sound full of need and anticipation. Hannah grabbed his hair and let her head fall back. “Oh, God, Ben, I am definitely feeling hot now.”
“Me, too, honey.” He walked over laid her on the couch and lifted one leg to the edge of the couch so she was wide open for his viewing. Her blond curls were wet and glistening brightly. He leaned down and licked her pussy. Her skin was soft and tinted a pretty pink color. “Delicious.”
He opened her folds with his fingers and licked her sweet cream while her body writhed uncontrollably back and forth. He continued to torture her with his tongue and his fingers until she screamed and came hard.
He grinned wickedly. “That was hot as hell, honey. I bet you’re not cold now?”
Ben picked her up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed and looked down at her satisfied smile and rosy cheeks that were tinted a pretty pink. “I’d love to see that look on your face every day for the rest of my life.”
Hannah reached for him with her arms and pulled him down for a deep kiss. She felt him nudge her thighs open with his knee and enter her in one long swoop. Her vaginal muscles clamped down tightly on him and he could feel himself starting to lose control. He started pumping into her fast and hard, wild and merciless. He held on to her tightly so she was pulled close to his body.
Ben was so turned on he wasn’t sure how long he could last as he went in deeper inside her. Maybe in twenty years or so they could finally do slow and gentle, he thought, but right now he was wild for his woman. He looked into her beautiful blue eyes that were watery and glittering with emotion and his heart felt like it wanted to explode out of his chest.
Hannah wrapped her legs around his waist. “Oh yes, harder, Ben. I really need you tonight.”
Ben groaned with excitement and picked up speed. He could tell when he found her sweet spot because he could feel her body trembling with need and desire. She moaned loudly, whispering, “Oh, yes.” Over and over. Her nails dug into his back as he entered her pussy over and over and his body tightened then exploded as he spilled his seed inside of her. He let out a yell of joy at the feeling. Never had anything felt as amazing as this woman in his arms. He felt her body go limp beneath his but he held on to her, feeling completely sated and happy.
“Damn, Hannah, every time I think it can’t get any better then you blow me away again.”
“Is that a complaint?” She laughed, feeling tired, placing soft kisses on his muscular chest.
“Hell no,” he answered with a chuckle. “Just an observation.”
Hannah leaned her head on Ben’s chest, listening to his heartbeat as it slowed down to normal. It had such a calming effect and her eyes were starting to feel heavy but she needed to tell Ben her news before she fell asleep on him. She took a deep breath. “Ben, can we talk about something serious?”
“Sure, honey. Is something wrong?” He looked at her and sat up, leaning against the headboard, pulling her up next to him.
“It depends on how you look at it. I told you I was on the pill and that was true. After that night when James kidnapped Grace, I knew me and you were done dancing around each other so I went to a clinic in Austin and got on the pill. I didn’t read all the directions and well—I am pregnant,” she blurted out nervously and held her breath, waiting for his reaction.
Ben sat in shock and for once in his life he was speechless, saying nothing at all.
“I didn’t do it on purpose, but I can take care of the baby by myself if you don’t want the responsibility. The fault was mine entirely and I am not expecting anything,” she said in a nervous ramble when he stayed quiet. She could feel tears coming to her eyes. She hated to cry and being pregnant was turning her into a big crybaby.
Ben hugged her and kissed her head. “I am shocked but not mad, honey. You caught me by complete surprise, that’s
all. This is our baby, how can I not want the responsibility?”
Hannah relaxed against him, releasing her breath. “I was shocked, too, but even though it happened so fast I’m not upset. I have always wanted to be a mom.”
Ben pulled her back down to lay on the bed and leaned over her with a happy smile, kissing her lips with affection. “I’m happy, too, Hannah. I have been telling you all along that what I feel for you is real. I’ve watched over you for years waiting for you to grow up. I have loved you forever and I was just waiting for you to catch up with me. So what if it happened sooner than we planned? That doesn’t mean I won’t love this baby just as much as I love his mama.”
“Really?” She sniffed tearfully then burst into tears, hiding her face in her hands. She had been so scared Ben would be mad at her. “That is so sweet. I was so afraid to tell you and I wanted us to be okay before I brought it up. I love you too, Ben. I have always known in my heart you were the one for me. I just let my fears rule.”
Ben held her while she cried and rocked her in his arms until her tears subsided. “Hannah, will you marry me?”
Hannah looked at his face, his green eyes shined with happiness and sincerity. “Really? You don’t think it’s too soon?”
“No. We have known each other for a long time, maybe not as lovers, but we have the foundation of having been friends for so long. I love you, Hannah, and I went into this relationship intending for it to be permanent. I told you and your brother that my intentions were honorable. Neither one of you believed me, but I meant it.”
Hannah nodded yes, too choked up to speak, and promptly fell asleep on her new fiancé. Ben smiled and held her in his arms and fell asleep, feeling at peace with his life. He dreamt of a little blonde angel with blue eyes.
Chapter Nine
Hannah wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. Despite the air conditioner being on she felt hot and her head was pounding. She was trying to give five wiggling puppies their vaccination shots but they refused to cooperate and stay still for her.
“This is for your own good, so you all won’t get sick,” she told them, but they didn’t look interested in that theory. She heard the bell ring on the front desk. Richard was at lunch and Amy was at school today so she was all alone.
“I’ll be right there!” she yelled, putting the shot down, and looked at the puppies. “You just got a break.”
She walked out to the front waiting room to see Dorothy standing there impatiently. Despite the hot and humid day, Dorothy managed to look cool in a slim-fitting white dress with her black hair styled perfectly. Hannah groaned inwardly, knowing her hair that started off in a ponytail was probably all messy now after struggling with the puppies and her lab coat was probably not as clean as it was this morning.
“What can I do for you, Dorothy?” she asked politely, stopping her hands from trying to fix her hair. “Here to adopt an animal?”
Dorothy frowned at Hannah as if she had lost her mind and looked around the room. “Animals smell and are messy. I am here to give you fair warning. Ben is mine. I have worked all year to get him and I had him where I wanted him until you came along and ruined it.”
Hannah sighed. Dealing with this woman was not something she wanted to do. “Listen, Dorothy. Ben is an adult capable of making his own decisions. If he wanted you then he wouldn’t be engaged to me.”
Dorothy gasped and her eyes narrowed in anger. She looked down at Hannah’s ringless finger. “He wouldn’t marry you unless…” she looked down at Hannah’s flat stomach and smirked. “God, that is the oldest trick in the book. Poor Ben, he must be feeling so trapped. I should go and comfort him. He must be feeling miserable.”
Hannah self-consciously closed her lab coat around her. She was trying hard to be polite but Dorothy was making it hard. “It’s none of your business, Dorothy, but Ben loves me, so why don’t you just move on with your life? Quit being so desperate.”
Dorothy leaned toward Hannah over the counter and glared at her angrily with eyes full of hatred. “Ben is mine! If you’re smart, you’ll stay out of my way. I don’t make a good enemy, so you need to remember that,” she yelled then stomped off, bumping into Richard on the way out the door without apologizing.
Richard looked at Dorothy and muttered, “How rude.”
He walked up to Hannah and saw her paleness and the way she just stood there in shock. “Everything okay, Hannah? You look pale. I heard the last part and that sounded like a threat to me.”
Hannah frowned. Ben would never see Dorothy as a threat or problem but Hannah knew Dorothy was the one who had her tires slashed. “That’s okay, Richard. I don’t think she’ll come back here again. Could you help me with the puppies?”
Richard looked like he wanted to argue but Hannah was the boss. “Sure, Hannah. But don’t trust that woman.”
* * * *
Grace and Hannah laid by the creek, sunbathing. Even though it was September it was still hot enough for them to enjoy a day swimming and sunbathing. It had been a week since Hannah had announced her pregnancy and engagement to her family all at once. Everyone in the family was happy for her and Ben. Ida spent her time trying to get Hannah to eat more, but she still felt so nauseated most of the time and was losing weight.
“Is Ben going with you to your doctor appointment?” Grace asked, laying on a beach towel unselfconsciously in her blue bikini. Before, she would have worn a big T-shirt so no one could see the long scar on her chest that she had received when an ex-boyfriend had stabbed her. But now she no longer paid much attention to the thin white scar. She had come a long way in the last few months thanks to the love of Jackson and their families.
Hannah had an appointment with an obstetrician in Austin the next day. “Yeah, he traded shifts with Billy so he could take me.” Hannah looked over at Roxy and Molly playing in the creek and barking at each other and smiled, feeling relaxed. “Then we are supposed to stop and buy rings. I can’t believe this is finally happening. I’ve always loved Ben but I never thought we’d get our stuff together. I’m so happy.”
“I am so excited, Hannah, for you and Ben, too. I know he loves you, how can he not? I can’t wait to be an aunt. I’ll get plenty of practice until I have my own someday.” Grace smiled, closing her eyes and relaxing.
Hannah smiled and turned over to lay on her stomach, feeling sleepy. “I’m kind of nervous about being a mom. I don’t know the first thing about babies and I am counting on your help. How are your wedding plans going?”
Grace groaned dramatically. “I should have eloped like Jackson wanted to. My parents sold their house and will be here permanently by next month. My mom and Flo insist on a full wedding with a reception but it’s a lot of work and decisions to make.”
Hannah laughed. “I am eloping for sure. I don’t have the patience to pick wedding colors and cakes and all that stuff. Ida is in heaven right now, so hopefully she won’t be disappointed when I tell her mine won’t be like that. Vegas sounds like fun.”
Grace laughed. “You are smart, but my dad says my mom has been dreaming of this since I was a little girl, so how can I disappoint her and Flo?”
“I guess you can’t. Well, if I am the maid of honor, you better have it quick before I can’t even waddle down the aisle,” Hannah said with a sigh, thinking of how fat she’d look in a few months. It was bad enough she always felt so scruffy around Dorothy, how would she feel when she resembled a whale?
Grace giggled. “I will. Boy, I needed this. Just peace and quiet for a little while and no wedding planning.”
They both fell asleep until the sound of a horse galloping woke them up. Hannah peeked up and saw her brother Jackson getting off his horse, shooing the barking dogs away from him.
“Sorry to interrupt your relaxation, ladies, but Hannah, you’re needed at the shelter,” he said in a concerned tone.
Hannah sat up, immediately concerned, knowing her brother wouldn’t come out here unless it was something serious. She looked at
his face but couldn’t see his expression under his cowboy hat. “What happened?”
“Someone broke the big window at the shelter. When Amy went to open up she found a brick inside and called the station,” he explained. “Ben is waiting for you at the house to take you up there. He didn’t want you driving to town while upset.”
Jackson helped them gather their things as Hannah threw on her shorts and T-shirt over her bikini. “Don’t panic, sis, and go slowly. Billy already called the window company to fix it,” Jackson yelled as Hannah jumped on Goldie.
Hannah rode Goldie slowly back to the house. She couldn’t help but worry. She loved the shelter and wondered who would do such a thing. In all the years they had been open she had never had any problems or complaints. The residents of Bear Creek had always been supportive of the animal shelter.
Ben helped her get off the horse as soon as he saw her and kissed her forehead. “Sorry to mess up your quiet time, honey, but Amy said she needed you there. She was a little scared and unsure of what to do.”
“It’s okay. Any idea what happened?” she said, handing Louis, the ranch foreman, the reins to Goldie, her horse. She was anxious to get to the shelter.
Ben shook his head. “Amy found the window broken this morning when she opened up. Probably kids being bored.”
He drove her to town and she went inside the shelter. Billy was leaning against the counter talking to Amy. Amy cried in relief when she saw Hannah and hugged her. “Oh, Hannah. I am so glad you are here. This is just awful, isn’t it? That window is huge and will eat up a lot of our budget that we can’t afford already.”
Hannah hugged a teary Amy back. “We’ll figure it out, Amy. We always do. Thank God you weren’t here or you could have gotten hurt.”
“Any ideas who it could be?” Billy asked. “Any mad people come in here lately with complaints?”
Richard walked in at that moment and observed the mess all over the floor and shook his head. “Just one person a few days ago. Dorothy from the hair shop. She was yelling at Hannah when I walked in on them.”
