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CHAPTER 17

T RINA

I’m not sure I’ve ever had so many sex dreams in one night as I did last night. But after the incident on the countertop—despite the mind-blowing orgasm Ben delivered—I was so horny that I was most definitely not ready for the night to end.

Ben, on the other hand, declined to let us move it up to my bedroom and continue the escapades that started in the kitchen.He touted something about not wanting to rush things and to make sure I was ready for more before we fell into it.

Slight insecurity crept in at the time that maybe he didn’t really want me. But as my body glided down his when he lifted me off the counter, his rock-hard cock rubbing against my belly made it clear that the issue wasn’t a lack of desire.

So, here I lie with my hand over my eyes to block out the early morning sun, trying to convince myself to climb out of bed even though my body is screaming to go back to sleep. At least in my dreams Ben will have sex with me.

As if the gods of early mornings are teaming up against me, my alarm blares annoying cheerful tones throughout my room. I groan and reach over to shut it off, then sit up at the side of the bed. I can’t be late this morning since I’m picking up Rose before I head to Meadow Creek. Once I explained to her what plarning was at Annie and Jack’s wedding shower, she asked to try out my group. Today’s the day.

I begrudgingly get up and walk to my bathroom, brush my teeth, strip down, then take a quick shower—avoiding getting my hair wet.

It’s early June, but it’s already pretty hot, so I settle on a loose fitting navy blue linen shorts romper with a white tank top underneath. It helps to be in clothes you can easily move around in when you’re working with the large sleeping mats we make in our group. I slide some Birkenstock sandals on my feet, run a brush through my hair and put it in a loose braid.

The house is hushed as I quietly make my way downstairs. As I reach the last step, the aroma of rich, earthy coffee fills my nose. I could kiss Ben right now for setting the pot up to brew before he left for the day.

I’ve got thirty minutes before I need to leave, so I pour myself a cup and head out to my back porch. Today I choose to sit on one of the non-rocking chairs, a desire to appreciate the hushed atmosphere and stillness of the early morning.

About five minutes later, the door behind me creaks like it does when it’s opening and then I hear its latch snap shut. I sense Ben standing behind me before he speaks. Actually, I smell him as well. He smells fresh, almost like a grove of evergreen trees mixed with sandalwood.

So, color me shocked when I glance up at him as he comes around with a coffee mug in one hand to sit next to me and I realize he’s just come back from a run. How the man smells so good and looks so damn sexy when it’s clear he’s been sweating is beyond me. But, hey, I’m not complaining.

“Ugh. What kind of monster gets up this early in the morning to go running?” I deadpan.

Ben lifts the left side of his mouth into a cocky smirk. “The kind that needs to keep his pre-dad bod in top form and his stamina up.”

When I turn my head to fully look at him and roll my eyes, he winks.

“Stamina, huh? What for?” I tease.

Ben grins and shrugs, then takes a sip of his coffee before answering me. “You never know when you’ll need to perform .”

Now I can’t help but outright laugh at him. “Anyway… What do you have going on today?”

“Pretty low-key day for me. I’m going fishing over at Fitz’s. After that I’m going to get the catering order placed for Jack’s bachelor party next weekend, maybe go hang with my dad for a bit. Then I’ll be back here for tonight if that’s okay. How about you?”

“First, yes, it’s okay if you want to stay again tonight. But don’t think you have to. In a little while I’m picking up your mom and she’s going plarning with me.”

“What?” Ben's voice is low and almost growly, but not in the good way.

My eyebrows practically fly up to my hairline at his tone. “Excuse me? Are you annoyed I’m hanging out with your mom?”

“No. Of course not. I love that you’re doing something with my mom. I’m annoyed you didn’t tell me you were going to Meadow Creek today. You shouldn’t go.”

Heat rises in my chest. “Well, last I checked, Chief Jameson is my boss, not you. So, I’m going. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“It’s not safe. I’ll cancel fishing and come with you.” He says it as if it’s a done deal, like I have no choice, and my hackles rise.

“No. You’re not coming. That’s not yours to decide. I already have one stalker. I don’t need to add you to the list. It’s perfectly safe. I won’t be alone. And it’s at the library. It’s not like we plarn at some secluded warehouse on a deserted road.”

“God, you’re so frustrating sometimes,” he hisses. He leans his head back and sighs.

“Yeah? Well, you’re ridiculous sometimes, so we’re even,” I retort.

We sit quietly for several minutes, both of us stewing in our irritation with the other.

“What time will you be back at the house today?” Ben asks quietly.

I feel his gaze on me, but I refuse to look at him because I’m peeved.

“Dunno,” I answer dismissively.

Ben reaches across the small table between us and grabs my hand from the armrest. I try to pull it away, but he doesn’t let me.

“Hey, look at me, please.” His words are soft, almost pleading. “I’m not asking to be controlling. I want to make you dinner tonight, if you’ll let me.”

I’m distracted by his thumb caressing lightly over my palm—it feels so nice—that I take a second to process what he said. “You cook? Since when?”

A chuckle escapes Ben, and he smiles. “My mom taught me. Every Sunday for about three years, I went over and helped her make Sunday family dinner so I could learn how to make all her recipes.” His cheeks turn a light shade of pink and he shrugs. “I find it relaxing. Plus, I enjoy seeing people happy, and eating a good meal makes them happy.”

“You really should have married my sister instead. You two are like personality twins.”

“Ew! Don’t say that,” he yelps.

“Hey, what’s wrong with my sister? She’s amazing. And you’re both such people persons.”

“You’re right. Emily is amazing. But she’s too young for me. Plus, she’s been around so much since she and Shayna became friends she’s like a sister to me.”

“Even so, she’s much more your type.” I don’t say it to be contrary, but it’s true. Ben and Emily are like walking balls of sunshine most of the time and they naturally draw people to them.

“Okay. If you want to go with that logic, you should have married Fitz.”

I rip my hand from his. “Gross! He’s my best friend.”

“Yeah, but you’re both not big people persons . You can both be a bit gr?—”

“Don’t you dare say grumpy,” I warn with a chuckle.

A deep laugh rumbles from Ben’s chest. “I would never. I was going to say great. Yep, that’s what I was going to go with.”

“Liar.” I laugh and reach over to lightly punch him in the arm, but he’s fast and catches me by the wrist, then slides his hand down to mine. I don’t resist when he entwines our fingers together.

“Do you want to know why else it would never work with Emily and me?” Ben’s voice is practically a whisper, his smoky eyes fix on mine, no trace of joking left on his face.

“Why?” I ask in a hushed voice.

“Because there’s only one Flynn sister—one woman period—that I want. And in case it’s not clear who that is, it’s you and only you.”

* * *

Two hours later, I’ve picked up Rose and we’re walking into plarning. It’s my first plarning session since I told Ben about the text messages—which keep coming—and my first time seeing Darren since I told Ben about my few dates with him. I don’t know why, but an unusually awkward nervousness is buzzing through me being here with Darren now.

Ben can’t be right about Darren being a suspect in my case, can he?

Darren is as friendly as always, and he’s super gracious about us going slower than usual while I teach Rose the basics of plarning. In fact, he’s charming as he takes Rose under his wing and introduces her to the rest of the group as they arrive. He even helps her when she gets stuck on a section of the mat we’re working on.

As we near the end of the hour and a half, I tell Rose I want to take her to lunch at the restaurant I go to after each plarning session since they have the best pie I’ve ever tasted. Unfortunately, Darren overhears.

“Oh, Rose, you wouldn’t mind if my grandmother and I join you and Trina, would you? I’ve been promising to take her there.” Darren aims his smile at Rose, but I don’t miss his quick glance over at me as he talks to her.

“Of course not. The more the merrier,” Rose smiles.

I’m suddenly filled with guilt, as if I’m doing something wrong. Which, of course, is ridiculous. It’s not like I planned this. Plus, it’s lunch. Not a date.

An hour and a half later, I’m regretting not speaking up and saying I’d prefer it to only be Rose and me. Darren has shamelessly used the opportunity to have his grandmother try to convince me to go out with him again. Then they both start trying to pull Rose into helping them plead his case—and it clearly is uncomfortable for her. And for me.

I’ve had enough.

“Okay everyone. Let’s remember that I’m a grown woman and I can make my own decisions. I have my reasons for not dating Darren—or anyone else—now. So, if we could please change the subject, I would appreciate it.”

Darren and his grandmother temporarily wear stunned expressions, but Rose is fighting back a grin.

After a few seconds of tension, Darren speaks up, his cheeks a bright red. “I apologize. I guess it’s a little low pulling my grandma in to help me convince you to go out again. You can’t blame a guy for trying, though. You’re a tough woman to get over, Trina.”

“It was three dates. Trust me, you’ll be fine.” Even I hear the aggravation in my tone.

We all go back to picking at our food and, as soon as I can, I signal the server for our check.

When we leave and Rose and I are in the car, I apologize to her.

“I’m really sorry about that situation at lunch. That must have been incredibly painful to sit and watch. You obviously picked up that Darren and I went on a few dates, and I ended things.” I grimace, awaiting her response.

Rose… laughs. “It was odd at first. But it got pretty entertaining once you put them in their places. Besides, it took everything in me not to tell them both that if you should be with anyone, it should clearly be my Ben.”

Thank God we’re at a stoplight because I’m not sure I could keep my head from whipping to the side to look at her if I tried.

“What?” I ask, my eyes feeling like they’re trying to pop out of my head.

Rose grins, and I see Ben gets his smile from her. “Oh, honey. Even though you two kept it under wraps when you were together, Ben told me about it well after things ended. I’ve always thought you’re the one for Ben. I would never try to tell you what is right for you—unlike Darren’s grandmother. In case I wasn’t clear enough at Annie and Jack’s wedding shower, Ben has never gotten over what he felt for you. So, yes, I very much think you’re the right one for Ben and the one he’s always wanted. The question only you can answer to is whether Ben is the one for you.”