“Ah.”
“There are four of them.” She flicked her fingers to indicate the backseat. “It would have been a more comfortable ride if someone had elected to stay home.”
Yeah, as if he was reopening that can of worms. “I maintain my earlier point—if the ride is merely comfortable, you’re doing it wrong.”
“I see what you did there,” she huffed. “Stop making everything a sexual innuendo.”
“No.”
“You’re impossible.” Her lips tightened, but she said nothing more.
He snorted. “Says the woman who likes to be asked before someone rides her ass and who brought up the positions she likes to be in.”
“You know, Karen and Tate tell me you can finesse a client or opposing witness like no other, but you must reserve that subtlety for the courtroom.” Disbelief dripped from her tone. “Because I’ve certainly never seen any evidence of your supposed diplomacy. At all. Ever.”
“I’m not here to be diplomatic.” Well, at least his boner had deflated. That was something. “I’m here to help you get Hazel back safely.”
“I don’t need—”
“Maybe it’s what I needed. Did you ever consider that? No? Didn’t think so. Not that you give two shits what I need, but that’s my problem, not yours. So forgive me if I do what I have to do in order to sleep at night. Which does not include sitting around with my thumb up my ass while you go haring off half-cocked into Mexico. Suck it the fuck up, Kirby.” He shoved a hand through his hair and blew out a lungful of air, getting a grip on his ire. “All right. You should start working your way over into the right lanes. We’ll be exiting soon. Yelp gave some great reviews to a local diner. Let’s eat dinner there.”
The sulfuric glare she gave him could melt steel, so he turned his gaze to his phone to double-check the directions.
Whether she liked it or not, they’d known each other for years, and he cared about what happened to her. He might never say it exactly the way she wanted, but that didn’t change the feelings behind his words. Considering much of his professional life was spent cajoling, pacifying, or verbally manipulating people, he preferred the frank truth in his personal life. That was something Nora had never understood, because she still saw him as a bumbling teen with no filters whose brain wasn’t quite in control of his tongue.
Maybe this trip could show her a little more of the adult Ben, and help her appreciate why he chose not to mince words outside the courtroom. It wasn’t because he didn’t like her; it was because he trusted her not to use the truth against him later for anything more serious than one of their verbal spats. Saying the wrong thing to the wrong person could have far-reaching legal and personal consequences in the courtroom. Nora would never do that, though technically she could probably sue him for blackmail and emotional damages. He could trust that she’d never go there, no matter how mad she was. That was a precious thing for a lawyer.
Chapter Three
It was nearly midnight by the time they arrived in Ensenada. Though it was only supposed to be a nine-hour drive, it took them almost twelve. Ben was more than ready to get off the road for a while. He navigated the darkened streets, following Nora’s directions. It was the first time she’d spoken to him in a while. She’d retreated into her usual silent treatment, but he wasn’t in the mood to goad her out of it. Something had shifted between them today, but he wasn’t sure what that might mean. They still got on each other’s nerves, but the quiet seemed to underscore the sexually charged atmosphere vibrating through the car.
He signaled at a traffic light, turned a corner, and slowed as they reached a building with the right name emblazoned over the door. “Is this the place?”
“Yep.” She leaned forward to get a better look. “Not bad. A real hotel too. You never know what kind of skeevy low-budget youth hostel a college student might stay in.”
“Lack of skeeve-factor is definitely welcome.”
An underground parking garage was attached to the hotel, so he swung into the driveway down and slipped the sedan into one of the last remaining spaces. They gathered their overnight bags, and she took her keys to set her alarm. He sent up a prayer to whatever deity might be listening that the car was there when they came out in the morning.
He kept a sharp eye on their surroundings as they exited the garage and walked the few hundred feet to the lobby. Though the place didn’t look bad, this was hardly a chic tropical resort. The last thing he wanted was to come all this way and get mugged.
Nora poked a few buttons on her phone and pressed it to her ear. “Hey, sweets. We’re here. Great, we’ll see you in maybe thirty seconds. Love you too.”
They pushed through the front door. Thankfully, the place looked clean and tidy, all terra cotta tiles and white stucco walls. Nothing fancy, but he wasn’t concerned about spending the night here. Some of the tension eased from his shoulders. They’d made it and hadn’t killed each other. A group of people sat in the oversized rattan furniture dominating the middle of the lobby, and they stood as soon as Nora and Ben walked in.
Hazel broke away from the group and hurried over to hug her sister. “Hey, Nora. Thank you so much for coming.”
They squeezed each other tight for a few seconds before Nora pulled back. “You’d do the same for me.”
“You know it.” Her sister nodded.
“Hi, Hazel,” he said.
“Ben.” She gave him a quick one-armed hug. “Uh, I’m afraid if I thank you for coming, Nora might punch me. Or, worse, drive off and leave us here.”
He grinned. “I’ll assume you’re glad to see me and say no more to save us from your sister’s wrath.”
Nora shook her head, but changed the subject instead of commenting. She reached into the small front pocket of her duffle and pulled out a tissue-wrapped packet. “I brought you a present from Anne.”
“Yeah? What is it?” Hazel took the bundle and quickly stripped off the paper. “Ooh, a scarf. From Thailand?”
“Yep.” Nora nodded. “She sent one for all of us in different colors.”
The rest of the group gathered around to admire the blue-and-green-and-gold length of fabric while Hazel tried to introduce everyone. She started with the other woman in her coterie. “This is Priya Chakravarthi. She’s from England.”
“By way of India, if you’re wondering why I’m brown.” Priya smiled and shook his hand. “A lot of Americans seem to think all English people look like the horse-faced, pasty royals.”
Okay, then. Someone was touchy. And he was so not engaging with that. He offered his most ingratiating grin. “I wasn’t wondering, for the record. I’ve been to London before—plenty of non-white English folks there.”
“Right.” She shot a glance at the two males in their group. “Plenty.”
One of the guys flushed. “I never said all English look like—”
The college kids groaned, cutting his protest off.
“That’s Jeremy Simpson, and I’m Chuck Goldstein.” The other guy leaned forward to shake hands with Ben and Nora. “He’s clueless, forgive him.”
“Nice to meet you both.” Ben shook hands with Mr. Clueless. “Which of you had the car stolen?”
“Me,” said Jeremy. “It was locked, I swear.”
As if that mattered. Ben shrugged. “If someone wants to steal something bad enough, there’s no lock that’s going to stop them.”
“He has a habit of not remembering to lock things,” Chuck interjected helpfully.
“Ah,” Nora replied.
Folding his skinny arms, Jeremy insisted, “I didn’t forget this time. And you could have double-checked since you know I suck at that.”
The two wandered off, still arguing about who was ultimately responsible for the car being locked or not.
Ben had to bite the inside of his cheek for a moment to keep from laughing. He finally mana
ged a neutral, “Interesting guys.”
A huge sigh escaped Hazel. “You don’t pick your classmates, all right?”
“You also don’t have to go on holiday with them, but we did anyway.” Priya widened her eyes. “They’re good blokes, if a bit…”
“Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber,” Hazel supplied.
Nora smothered a guffaw. “That is…remarkably similar to my thoughts on those two. Jeremy being Tweedle Dumber.”
“Naturally,” Priya concurred. “Luckily, neither of them has ever tried to ask one of us out. That would get awkward really fast.”
“Oh God.” Hazel moaned. “Don’t even put that mental image in my head. I’d take either of them as a lab partner, but there would be no study dates.”
Priya’s expression was pure evil glee. “What, no rumpy-pumpy for them, then?”
“Gah!” Hazel slapped her hands over her ears. “Can’t hear you, can’t hear you.”
Nora’s gaze met Ben’s, and they both lost it, bursting into chortles at the same time. He’d been worried for the grad students’ safety on the drive down, but apparently that was unnecessary.
Straightening, Nora swiped at her eyes. “I’m going to check in for the night.”
“About that…” Hazel trailed off when her sister focused on her.
“Yeah?”
Hazel hesitated. “The hotel only had one room available.”
“One bed or two?” Ben asked. He wasn’t sure which answer he preferred. Or he knew which he preferred, but knew Nora wouldn’t be on the same page. As usual.
“Uh…” Hazel shifted from foot to foot. “Two double beds.”
“We’ll be fine.” Ben waved that away. “We’re adults.”
Turning to her older sibling, Hazel queried, “Nora?”
Nora sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yeah, fine. I just need to sleep.”
Usually, he’d have harassed her about her lack of enthusiasm for being near him, but he refrained. “Let’s check in. You’ll feel better after a shower and some rest. We’ll see you in the morning, Hazel.”
“Okay.” She paused. “If you’re sure. I was thinking you could share my bed and give Ben the room. But I have to warn you, Priya snores.”
“Rather loudly, I’m afraid.” The Englishwoman grinned, abashed.
“Ben doesn’t.” At her sister’s shocked look, Nora lifted her eyes heavenward, as if she prayed for patience. “He fell asleep in the car. Give me a break, Hazel.”
“Right. More peaceful sleep to be had with Ben as a roomie. Got it.” Hazel grabbed Priya’s arm and pulled her toward the stairs. “’Night, you two!”
“Laters!” Priya called.
Ignoring them, he turned to Nora. “You okay?”
“I honestly have no idea.” With that, she walked up to the reception desk.
If he were more of a hero, he’d offer to sleep in the car, but he’d spent enough hours in that vehicle for the day. Tomorrow promised just as many, so he wasn’t making the sacrifice. Chivalry really was dead, apparently. His mother would be appalled, especially since she’d always adored the Kirby girls. And, being his mother, she’d absolutely always known his feelings for Nora were more complicated than they seemed on the surface.
He could only imagine the look on Mom’s face when she read the quick email he’d sent his parents and sister from his phone. Both his mother and sister would explode with curiosity after they found out where he’d gone and with whom. He’d told them that under no circumstances were they allowed to call him before he got back. They’d have to wait until he returned to find out if Nora had tried to kill him yet, or to remind him that he caught more flies with sugar than vinegar.
That might buy him a day before his mother called him anyway, but when it came to a mom-grilling, any reprieve was a win. His sister would probably wait, as asked, but she’d have a whole list of questions for him when he returned.
He followed Nora up to their room, and he couldn’t help that the sweet roundness of her backside was right at his eye level. He had vivid memories of those curves filling his palms. They itched to do it again, so he balled his hands into fists and shoved them into his pockets. The kiss had happened in a moment of passion and insanity. He’d have no such excuse right now. But damn, he wished he did. Or he wished he’d kissed her in a time and place where they hadn’t had to stop. Ever.
Ah, well. Luck had never been on his side when it came to his dealings with Nora. At this point, he could use the shower and sleep he’d suggested to her.
If he were lucky, he wouldn’t have an X-rated dream tonight featuring his roommate.
Yeah, right. Who was he kidding?
She was spending the night with Ben Hudson. If anyone had told her this morning that this would happen today, she’d have laughed in the person’s face. Seriously, how had it come to this?
Oh, right. Because Tweedle Dumber couldn’t remember to lock his doors. And Ben had blackmailed her.
What a mess.
The thing was, there was the Ben she loathed and the Ben who’d dry humped her against the side of the car. She wasn’t sure she wanted to be near either of them, but for entirely different reasons.
As soon as they entered the room, she went straight to the window and peeked between the curtains to look at the city. Lights dotted the skyline and dropped into darkness at the harbor, the Pacific Ocean a huge expanse of inky blackness at this time of night. The sound of mariachi music drifted up faintly from a nearby nightclub, and a horn honked in the distance.
“Do you want the first shot at the shower?” he rumbled behind her, and a little shiver went over her skin at the deep sound of his voice. She could listen to him read a phonebook and not get bored, and she stomped on that treacherous thought as quickly as possible.
“You go first.” She didn’t turn around, not sure how she’d react if he looked at her the way he did when he was discussing positions earlier. Sweet Jesus. She wasn’t one to fluster easily—a hazard of the healthcare profession—but it was Ben saying those things in that deep, deep tone. And it had turned her on.
She felt his gaze on her back for a long moment before the bathroom door closed behind him. Wrapping her arms around herself, she blew out a shaky breath. This was the most insane day of her entire life. Considering she’d grown up with a mother who wasn’t the most mentally balanced person alive, that was saying something.
The water sputtered on and she did her very best not to picture the droplets running over his skin. Now that she’d seen him in a sexual light, she couldn’t turn off the filter in her mind. Or lack of filter, actually. She dropped her bag at the foot of the nearest bed, plopped down on it, and groaned. This was going to be an incredibly uncomfortable night, knowing he was so close, and knowing that she should ignore every urge her libido had on doing something to end the dry spell she’d had in her love life recently.
No, bad hormones. Bad!
To distract herself, she rifled through her purse and pulled out her cell and charger. After sending a quick text to Camille to let her know they’d made it safely, she plugged in her phone.
The shower stopped and she heard Ben climb out. A few seconds later, the door flipped open and he stood framed by curls of steam, wearing nothing but a thin towel around his waist.
Oh. My. God.
Her jaw sagged, and she couldn’t stop herself from cataloguing every inch on display. His dark hair was slicked back from his face, somehow highlighting the sharp angles of his countenance, the fullness of his lips, the brilliant green of his eyes. Water clung to the triangle of curls that arrowed down from his chest to disappear under the scrap of terry cloth. He wasn’t heavily muscled, but it was clear he kept fit. His shoulders were broad, his chest and abs well-defined. Her hands tingled with the need to touch, to stroke, to see if he felt as good with his clothes off as he had with
them on.
“Forgot to take my bag in with me.” He stepped out of the bathroom, his body a study in masculine grace. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” she replied faintly. But it really wasn’t because now she was not only staring but starting to drool.
He paused, his gaze zeroing in on her face. “You’ve seen me without a shirt on before.”
“Uh-huh.” Smooth, Nora. Very smooth.
A slow, sinful smile spread over his lips, a deep dimple digging in to one cheek. “See anything you like?”
“Shut up, Ben.” She meant to look away, but she couldn’t. She might never enjoy this visual feast again. She shouldn’t be enjoying it now.
He straightened, sobering abruptly. “If you’re interested, I am too. Just so you know.”
“Oh.” The word came out on a sigh, and nothing more intelligent to say came to mind. Smooth didn’t even begin to describe it.
After a moment of silence, he grabbed his small duffel and vanished into the bathroom.
But leaving her alone after that offer only gave her time to over-think. Was she interested? That was the real question, wasn’t it?
If she were honest with herself, she’d been physically attracted to Ben for years. She was always too aware of his presence. After that kiss, she knew why. There was no denying the truth now, no pushing the feeling away or dismissing it as dislike, annoyance or irritation at having him near. He bothered her, but it wasn’t just because he got on her nerves.
It seemed ludicrous to be considering sleeping with him, but dear God, she’d never had anyone make her body react that way from a single kiss. Hell, that kiss was better than some of the sex she’d had. Sad, but painfully true.
The should-she-shouldn’t-she thoughts chased themselves in circles in her head until he reentered the bedroom. His bag was tucked under one arm; he wore a pair of mesh basketball shorts and a well-worn T-shirt that clung to his muscles.
“Do you have condoms?” The question was out of her mouth before she even knew she was going to ask it.
Ensenada Escapade: Destination: Desire, Book 6 Page 4
