"But…I'm not…" she insisted.
"Then you won't mind if I kiss you, will you?" He asked just before his lips feather touched hers. Had he been mean and rough she might have run, but he was gentle and his lips felt hot and enticing. When she didn't object, or pull away, he reached to pull her to him and his lips gently massaged hers. He pulled her back until she was practically lying on top of him. He growled a little in his throat as he smothered her with another kiss.
The kiss seemed to heat up, turning into something much more. Hell, she's responding!
Ben opened his eyes, realizing she had submitted to his all male attack of her senses. Her lips moved voluntarily against his, and he was shocked. She always did the unexpected, his mind wandered.
He came up for air, pushing her up so that she sat on the couch and he stared into the fire when it got deathly quiet. He hadn't expected her to respond at all. He expected her to be indignant. And he hadn't expected to enjoy the kiss either, but he had. So much that he wanted another.
"You want to slap my face?" He asked quietly, not looking directly at her.
"No…" her voice was shaking but soft like a whisper. "I just wanted to thank you…"
"Thank me? For what?" He kept staring at her, wondering why she didn't want to slap his face. He was way out of line.
"For giving me and Jimmy a home…" She cooed softly. "Goodnight…"
And she got up and walked away from him, leaving him staring after her.
She'd been a very active participant in kissing him back. He felt the tingle on his lips. The woman could kiss! In fact, if he didn't know better, she seemed to enjoy it as much as he did.
It left him stunned, but a long time later, as he turned down the lamp he smiled to himself. "Well, I'll be damned!"
Chapter Seven
Gabby stared out the window, watching the people coming inside for the wedding. Her legs began to shake.
"There's so many people out there," She looked at Helena.
"Si, Mr. Wyler wants everyone to know his son is getting married. He's well respected in the community. It is as it should be. He is proud to accept you as his daughter-in-law."
Gabby looked at the dress she was to wear, it was the most beautiful dress she'd ever seen. And Helena had made it for her. It had fit her perfectly. That amazed Gabby. Over the course of just a few days, the two women had become good friends.
"I hope I don't faint…" Gabby tried to chuckle.
Helena reached for her hand. "It will be fine. And I wish you many years of good fortune and love."
"Love?" Gabby repeated. "I don't expect love to enter into it."
"You are attracted to Ben, are you not?" Helena raised an arrogant brow.
"Well….yes…a little." Gabby couldn't get the kiss out of her mind. She'd responded shamelessly, but it wasn't something she could control. Had he been rough and mean, she might have slapped his face, but instead he was gentle. She hadn't expected that. The minute their lips met, she practically melted into his arms. "He's quite handsome."
"True love seldom just happens. True love is something that builds from nothing into something so big, even Texas cannot fit it. It comes from trust, honesty, hard work, and unfettered attraction." Helena smiled.
"Maybe we should take one step at a time; friendship would be good for starters…" Gabby laughed.
"That is a good way to start, yes. But open your heart as well as your mind to this marriage. When one marries, there are no longer two people, but one. I have a feeling deep down about you and Ben. I have had from the first day you walked in here. You'll build a love that no one can destroy or hurt. And you will have many beautiful children. I just know it."
Gabby didn't want to disappoint Helena, so she just smiled.
Jimmy was at the door, staring at them. "Can I go downstairs now, Mama?"
"Yes honey. But don't get lost." Gabby told him.
"I won't I'm going to sprinkle rose petals all along the aisle for you." Jimmy smiled. "Pedro fixed them for me, special."
Gabby smiled and nodded to her son.
"He's very happy. He's taken very quickly to Ben." Helena observed.
"Yes, he has. I don't understand Ben. I mean, when I first came, he wanted no part of marriage or fatherhood, but now…He's been so kind."
"Si. Time will prove what kind of man he really is. I don't think even his father knows just what Ben is made of. I think your life will be filled with ups and downs, but better the ups than the downs." Helena confided softly.
"Tell me I'm doing the right thing?"
Helena took her hands in hers. "You are. Never doubt it. Mark my words. Ben will come to love you more than his own life. You will see."
"I don't believe in fairy tales…"
"You don't have to. Just believe in Ben." Helena smiled again. "Let's get your hair done so we can slip into that beautiful dress."
~*~
Ben was dressed in his finest suit; he wore a bolero tie, and a light blue shirt. His hair was combed, his jaw was sprinkled with cologne, and his boots were polished.
He was sitting out on the back porch when his cousin, Ray came up to him.
Ray Grayson was his cousin on his mother's side, but Ben never liked him. The Grayson could be very snobbish at times. However, he and Ray had fought over everything all their lives. The less Ben saw of Ray the better. Ray always wanted to best Ben. It was like some kind of crazy contest between them. Ben never cared about the contest. However, he considered Ray a pest, one he'd like to squash.
"Ben." Ray nodded.
"Ray." Ben had little regard for a cousin he rarely saw, and never agreed with. He thought about it and realized his father must have invited him.
"Didn't realize you'd been seeing someone, Ben."
Ben shrugged. "I don't go around announcing it."
"Heard she's a local, of sorts." Ray hedged around being nosey.
"Harold Thompson's daughter."
Ray turned his head as if in question. "Heard she had a kid too. This will make you an instant father, are you ready for that?" Ray laughed.
Ben found the conversation annoying. Ray knew of Ben's drinking, and he was bound to make trouble for him. "That's right; Jimmy will be my son, very shortly. I'm going to adopt him."
"Giving him your name too, huh?" Ray stared. "You must really love this girl…"
"I'm marrying her, aren't I?" Ben asked, getting up off the porch and moving toward the steps. There was no way he'd go into detail about his marriage to Gabby. "Excuse me; I've got to take my place by the preacher."
"I'll go with you. I'm your best man…" Ray smiled.
"Says who?" Ben snapped.
"Your old man, that's who," Ray laughed.
Ben was determined not to lose his temper today. After all, it was his wedding day, and he didn't plan on having any more of them. This day was special, and his bride had no idea how much he was looking forward to it.
"Then let's go…" Ben motioned.
"Eager, aren't you?" Ray asked in a whisper.
"That's right. I am." Ben nodded.
"She must be some looker." Ray chuckled under his breath.
Ben said nothing. Deep down he was seething, but he refused to allow anything to destroy this day. The preacher talked to him for a few minutes, trying to keep Ray quiet.
The preacher was an old friend, "Your mother and sister would love to have been here, Ben."
Ben smiled at Reverend Hawkins. "I think you are right about that."
"I'm proud of you." The Reverend laid a hand on his shoulder. "And I'm glad to see Gabby home now, where she belongs."
Ben nodded.
The music began, Jimmy walked rather quickly down the aisle, spreading rose petals for his mother.
Ben smiled at him and winked.
Jimmy took a seat by Helena.
The brides maids were local girls, some actually knew Gabby.
Then the wedding march began and Gabby walked slowly down the aisle on Mr. Wyler'
s arm.
Jason shot her a dubious smile. "You are doing the right thing, Gabby, for all your sakes."
"I hope you are right…"
Ben's throat ran dry, as he looked at the beautiful lady coming toward him. Her dress was spectacular and brought out the color of her eyes. The dainty white veil covered her hair. It was done up except for one long blonde curl that fell against her breast. She was breathtaking.
Mr. Wyler let her go, and Ben took her hand in his. She was trembling. He squeezed it gently.
"You're beautiful," he whispered, giving her courage.
She blushed.
The preacher said all the beautiful words over them and Ben slid his mother's ring on her finger. She gasped from the size of it, and the sparkle, but no one knew how much it meant to her. The ring symbolized her promise, and somehow gave her hope for her future.
When the preacher pronounced them man and wife, he started to kiss her, but everyone seemed to rush up to them and he failed to get his kiss.
Ray stood smugly to the side with a snide smile on his face. When it was his turn, he kissed Gabby quite thoroughly and she was almost pushing him away.
Alarmed by his display, Gabby grabbed her chest.
Ben whirled her onto the dance floor and into his arms. "I'm sorry about Ray. I didn't know he was coming. My father's idea. He's a cousin, a distant cousin."
Trying to recover she murmured breathlessly. "Just keep me busy and away from him."
"I certainly will do my best at that." Ben smiled.
As the dance ended Jimmy came running up to them and jerked on Ben's coat.
"Can I kiss the bride?" Jimmy smiled at his mama.
"I think that would be very appropriate." Ben smiled at him.
Ben lifted him up so he could lean toward Gabby and kiss her on the cheek. "Can we have cake now?"
"When Ben's ready." Gabby looked at him.
"Why not. Come on." He took her arm and pulled her toward the enormous cake that Helena had baked. The people raved about it, as cakes this size were rarely made.
Ben took the knife, then she put her hand over his and they cut the cake. The first piece went to Jimmy and he was all smiles.
"I get cake and a Pa all in one day…" Jimmy smiled at them.
Gabby had to laugh. "Don't get that on your new suit."
"Yes sum." Jimmy nodded and walked off eating.
The crowd laughed.
Gabby met aunts, and uncles, cousins and friends. One girl seemed a bit annoyed, and Gabby didn't quite understand. However, when she overheard a conversation with her and Ray, she began to piece it together.
"Can you imagine Ben marrying someone with a child? I wonder if it was a forced marriage. Ben's been hanging out in town, drinking, how could he have had a girlfriend? And did you see how thin she was…Like she hadn't eaten in weeks."
"Nora, your jealousy is showing."
"I don't care if Ben gets married. He's nothing to me. I have no regrets."
"No, but you care that he beat you in getting married, don't you? He never liked you Nora, you’re his cousin on his mother's side. Ben never had much to do with the Grayson's. And in our family that's practically a declaration of war." Ray defended. "We're Grayson's not Wyler's."
"I don't like him either. He's a drunk." Nora protested. "Maybe his daddy thought she'd straighten him out."
Gabby rounded the corner and smiled at them. "His daddy thought I'd make him happy. And that's exactly what I intend to do." Then she walked off.
Ben had been at the other end of the porch, but he'd heard her and smiled. It would seem his new wife could hold her own.
"Well I never!" Nora hollered.
"Nora…when will you learn to keep your mouth shut?" Ray laughed.
Ray followed Gabby and she quickly went back into the throng of people that were getting their piece of cake.
"So where's the honeymoon going to be?" Ray asked her as he came up to her.
"It's the wrong season for a honeymoon, we'll take it later…"
"Wrong season?" Ray asked.
"Branding season." Gabby informed him.
"Oh, oh yes. Of course." Ray fumbled that one. He might have been a rancher's son, but he had absolutely nothing to do with running his father's huge ranch. He worked for a bank in his hometown, Ben had told Gabby. "But surely you plan to have one."
"One what?" Ben came up beside Gabby and placed a more than generous kiss to the side of her mouth.
"Honeymoon…" she blurted in her embarrassment.
"She's positively blushing." Ray laughed. "If I hadn't seen the kid, I wouldn't have known she had been married before."
Ben frowned, Ray was so obnoxious.
"We'll honeymoon in San Antonio, later in the year." Ben told him. "It's branding season you know."
"Oh yes, that's where your father took your mother, isn't it. How quaint. I thought you might at least take her to London or Paris…"
Gabby saw the small little jabs Ray was making.
Ray was kin to his mother, and like his mother, he had money. He flaunted it. Ben never appreciated that trait.
"I want to go to San Antonio; I've heard it's beautiful. I've never been." Gabby informed him.
"Then you aren't a world traveler?" Ray shot them both a sardonic glance.
"Not by any means…" Gabby informed him.
"Let's go outside honey, and get some fresh air. It's a little stuffy in here." Ben pulled on her arm.
Gabby smiled and followed him.
"Sorry about Ray. He's always annoying." Ben frowned. "But I promised myself nothing would ruin this day. Not even a Grayson."
"Your mother's side of the family?" She asked.
"Yes, I loved my mother dearly, but her family is obnoxious, flaunting their wealth. Sometimes I wonder how she and my father ever got together. The one thing I can say about my father, money is not something he gloats about, and I dare say he has as much as any Grayson. Although my father can hold his own, he isn't one to flaunt his position."
"Then there must have been a lot of love between your mother and father." Gabby looked him up and down. "It's a beautiful day, Ben. Thanks to you, your father, and Helena."
Ben's head turned and a slow burning smile lit his lips. "You like Helena, don't you?"
"Very much. We've become good friends." Gabby admitted.
"She likes you too. And Helena doesn't like everyone. She's a very honest person."
"She made this dress. I've never had anything so lovely in all my life. She took me into town yesterday to buy Jimmy a new suit. He's never had a suit. He looked so cute."
Ben shook his head and eyed her keenly. "No…you are wrong…"
"What do you mean I'm wrong?" Gabby hesitated.
"You make the dress. You looked lovely coming down that aisle."
"You don't have to flatter me, Ben." She looked down at the lovely beadwork and lace. "She put so much work into it." She mumbled.
"That tells you how much she cares about you." Ben said softly. "And I like flattering you; I like to see you blush."
"You've all been wonderful to Jimmy and me."
They walked around, and stopped under a redbud tree. He looked at her. "What do you want from this marriage Gabby? Tell me. I'd like to know."
Gabby was speechless.
"I don't expect you to change if that's what you mean. I don't expect anything. If there are more good days than bad, I'll consider that a bonus."
"And exactly what would make a good day?" Ben asked, staring at her.
"Well I…." her mouth came open but nothing came out.
"You know," He moved in closer, his lips hovering above hers. "I didn't get a chance to kiss the bride, myself."
"Ben…" she sighed just before he covered her mouth with his own. The kiss was bone melting sweet. Her heartbeat quickened, she lost breath and she gave him leave.
He groaned as he pulled her fully into his arms.
When he finally did pull away, he smiled i
nto her eyes. "You sure know how to kiss, lady."
"Am I too forward?" She barely breathed.
He smiled again…"Not one damned bit…" Then he kissed her again.
Lost in a world of becoming one with this man, Gabby gave herself to the moment, just enjoying the feel of his arms around her, his lips caressing her. She was a lost soul in a sea of small fires that lit her like a torch.
No man had ever awakened such a yearning in her. When he came up for air, she caught a breath, but lost it when his lips touched her ear and he blew softly there.
The sensations he evoked with just a breath sent a shockwave of reactions throughout her body.
He laughed.
"I'm not the kind to swoon, but My God—" she whispered.
He looked into her starry eyes. "You've been married. Hasn't anyone ever kissed you properly?"
"Not like that." She nearly cried. She put her hand over her mouth but saw the twinkle in his eyes and smiled.
"Someday you'll have to explain that to me. For your information, I'm leaving our relationship up to you, Gabby. If you want more than fiery kisses, you'll have to tell me. I don't have affairs Gabby. No matter what anyone tries to suggest, it isn't true. Of course, I've never been married either. If time goes by, and you don't want me, I suppose I'd have to come to you and talk to you about it, before I did anything. Look, I've kissed a lot of women in my time. I'm not a saint or a monk. However, I'm gonna admit one thing to you. I've never kissed a woman that kissed me back the way you do. As though she meant it, felt it, liked it, and wanted more. But I can tell you one thing. I plan on doing that often…if you don't mind." He smiled. "A man could live on your kisses Gabby."
He started to walk away when she went speechless.
He was too far away to hear her reply.
"I don't mind Ben. I don't mind at all…"
Chapter Eight
The cookout was a huge success. People came from miles around and talked for hours with Ben and Mr. Wyler. Ben had Gabby by his side all the time, introducing her to neighbors and friends, and family too. Jimmy had met new friends. However, he and Ford, Cal's son got along great and were inseparable. Ford was a couple of years older but they had the same interests, frogs, turtles, horses and dogs.
Love As Big As Texas Page 7
