Page 25 of Hot n Bothered

T he sun was setting when Isobelle’s family finally returned.

They had already showered and dressed after messing about in the pool all afternoon.

Ben understood that she just needed silliness and laughter, so had started chasing her and pulling her under.

Which had started an all out war that had ended up with buckets of water being thrown.

All her previous low feelings completely banished by all the laughter between them both.

He had just finished mopping the floor after they had drenched it, when they came in. The twins had smirks on their faces, which gave the impression something was going to happen.

“Oh good timing.” Isobelle said brightly. “Ben was about to make some fresh fruit cocktails. Would you like one? Have you eaten?”

Was it her imagination or did they look peeved she was looking so happy?

“I was about to ask you the same thing.” Her father said sternly.

She was expecting that, as she said earlier to Ben. It was a question where whatever she said was wrong. If she answered with a single word that was.

If she said yes then she’d be rude because she wasn’t thinking that they would want to eat with her.

If she said no then she’d also be in the wrong for making an issue over not eating when they had.

Going from what Ben had explained to her, she now realised that stern tone was probably used to get her even more stressed and flustered.

“Oh, we waited to see what you were doing first. If you haven't already eaten, don’t worry there’s a nice-looking place about ten minutes away we can go to.

” She smiled widely. “I think you’ll like it mum.

We walked past it earlier when we went shopping and the salads looked gorgeous.

If you have, then we'll go ourselves, no problem.”

Ben walked up to her and pressed a kiss to her cheek, arm around her back. “Did you find out who wanted cocktails?” He asked.

“Not yet.” She looked expectantly at her father.

“Maybe after we have eaten.” He said. “Nice to see you thinking about others for once. I guess you've finally decided to listen to what we tell you.”

Her mother looked her up and down in the horribly critical way she did. “Are you planning on wearing that to eat out?”

Maybe it was what Ben had said to her, or the fact his hand was on her waist squeezing gently, but it was like she suddenly recognised that both of them were saying things that would normally have her anxiety spiking.

This time she wasn’t that bothered, she leaned against Ben remembering his smile when she’d walked out of the bedroom wearing the sundress she had forgotten she had.

“You don’t like it?” She asked. “Ben was the one who suggested I pack this.”

“Well, you do look gorgeous in it.” He said with a smile.

“Oh well, it’s not that I don’t like it. It’s just not something I’d pick for you. But if you’re happy with it then I guess that’s fine my darling.”

“Do you guys want to wash up before we go to eat?” Isobelle asked. “We don’t mind waiting do we?” She glanced up at Ben.

“Not at all. We ate lunch late anyway. Just shout when you’re ready.” Ben pulled her out to the pool area.

All the soft solar lights were now lit, giving the area a romantic feel to it.

“It’s beautiful out here.” She sighed looking up at the night sky.

The moon was so big and bright, a few stars could be seen determined to shine through the lights from the city. It was almost perfect, so long as you ignored all the sounds from the surrounding city. Ben slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him.

“Not as beautiful as you.” He whispered in her ear.

“So corny.” She chuckled. “I don’t need that. I’m good.”

He sighed heavily, dropping his forehead onto her shoulder. “It’s not corny if it’s true and it is.” He said. “Don’t argue with your boyfriend. I wish they had eaten.” He muttered. “Then I could have you all to myself. Now I have to share you with them and bite my tongue.”

“You’ve had me to yourself most of the day, aren’t you bored of me yet?”

“I doubt I’d ever be bored of you Belle.” He whispered in her ear, his lips brushed against it and she couldn’t stop the shiver that ran through her. “Hmm, I have a problem. I need your skill with words to help me out.” He moved in front of her, still completely oblivious of how he affected her.

“Oh, it’s fuck and off you need to say if the twins ask if you want a sandwich.”

He snorted a laugh. “That goes without saying. No it’s not that. How do I say I am proud of how you handled your parents back there, without coming across as being a condescending arsehole?”

“Well, since it’s you saying it, I already know. Now if it was Rich, then yeah it might be in condescending arsehole territory.” She grinned at him, which faltered at the way he was suddenly scowling at the floor.

“Belle? Do… do you like Rich?” He asked tightly, confusing her.

“What? Rich? Where did that come from?”

“It’s not the first time you’ve said you wanted him here.”

“What are you talking about?”

He was still looking at the floor, rubbing the back of his head, as he always did when he was upset.

“I see you’ve not answered me.” He gave an annoyed huff. “Guess that’s my answer.”

He went to turn away but she wouldn’t let him. Gripping his arm she pulled him back to face her.

“No Ben, I haven’t answered you because I’m confused as Hell right now. I've never once said I wanted him here and what exactly do you mean by liking Rich? Do I like him as a friend? Yeah I do, so do you right?”

He lifted his eyes to hers finally. “I mean do you want it to be more than friends with him?”

She gave a burst of laughter. “No. Of course not. Why..?”

Ben stopped what she was about to say by pulling her in tight to him and kissing her. His hands were in her hair and he was kissing her almost desperately, as though he couldn’t get enough of her. She should stop him, she should pull back and demand answers.

She should. But she didn’t. She kissed him back just as desperately because she couldn’t get enough of him. She was too weak around him. She no longer cared if he was kissing her to keep up the act. She couldn’t pretend that it wouldn’t hurt when it all ended anymore.

So why shouldn’t she enjoy herself until then?

Ben pulled back, breathing just as heavily as she was. He rested his forehead against hers, eyes closed.

“Belle… I… um… I…” He started to say.

“Oh isn’t it cute out here at night?”

Damn her mother straight to Hell. Seriously how can someone’s timing be this fucking bad?

Ben had stiffened and stepped back. Isobelle couldn’t stop the giggle at how cute he looked, head bent a slight flush to his cheeks and the shine of her pink lip gloss on his mouth. He frowned at her but it just made her laugh all the more as it was even cuter.

“I don’t think this shade of gloss goes with your outfit.” She laughed, wiping it from his mouth with her thumb.

He chuckled. “Aw, but I wanted to look pretty for you. Guess I’ll need to try again until I find the right one.”

“You could try mine.” A suggested with a smile.

Ben gave her a cursory glance, before taking Isobelle’s hand. “That’s definitely not my shade.” He said. “Are we all ready to go?”

“Just waiting on Anya.” Her father said.

She finally showed up in the shortest skirt Isobelle had ever seen, a bikini top and ridiculous high heels.

For once she actually got the ‘do you really think that’s appropriate’ talk rather than Isobelle.

As they waited for her to change Ben had moved over and was talking quietly with her father.

She watched them frowning, what were they talking about?

“You’re not fooling anyone.” A said to her.

“What do you mean?”

“Him. There’s no way he’d ever be interested in you. Does he even know you’re crazy?”

“Not crazy and yes he knows everything about me.”

“So if I were to mention all the pills you have to take to him, you’d be fine with that?”

Isobelle took a steadying breath, no matter how tempting it was to punch that stupid, smarmy face.

Violence really wasn’t the answer. Neither was screaming at her while snatching the extensions out of her head.

Satisfying, yes. But the best way to shut her up?

No. But there was a way to wipe that smug smile from her face.

“Ben?” She called out. “What medication do I take?”

“45mg of mirtazapine each night, along with a vitamin D tablet since your body doesn’t produce enough. Why?”

She flashed a triumphant smile at her sister before moving over to him. “Just checking.” She took his hand, earning her his gorgeous grin. “What have you two been talking about?”

“Just explaining how I’ll be taking you out for the next few days, just the two of us. Letting your father know he didn’t need to plan anything for us.”

The tight smile her father gave said he didn’t approve, but surprisingly he didn’t say anything. Even more surprisingly she didn’t care if he was annoyed at all.