The gentle knock on my front door causes me to grab a sweater from the living room chair and throw it on. I’m not expecting anyone, and I feel a little low on coverage in a tank top and shorts. I have an inkling who is waiting on the other side, and when I go to my phone on its charger and see a missed call from Bennett, then I have my answer.
Heading to the door, I open it and attempt a faint smile to greet him. He doesn’t look like a man who just climbed a flight of stairs; instead, he is calm and grins at me.
“Hey, I thought maybe we could go for a walk or grab a coffee?”
I step aside and let him pass to come into my place. I was feeling groggy but now I’m unsure why I feel a burst of energy.
“Maybe later. What brings you by?” I ask as I head to the kitchen to put a pot of tea on. I do my best not to look at him because his eyes locked with my own will cause my body to react and my mind to go muddled.
He reaches around me, which causes a shiver to run along my spine, as he grabs the pot. He doesn’t seem to want me to lift a finger to do anything. “It’s been a week since the lunch, and I wanted to check on you. I know we’ve been texting, but it feels like ages since we went to Bear Brew.”
Stepping away from him, I snicker. “A lot has changed, and I’m not avoiding you or upset or anything. The lunch is what it is, and I’ve literally been busy with work.”
Bennett touches my arm. “Are you sure it’s okay to be standing around and inhaling all of those chemicals?”
Looking at him slightly annoyed, I try to figure out his angle. “It’s fine. I’m used to hair dye and shampoo, and the doctor even said it’s safe. Relax.”
After we get two mugs of tea, we move to my sofa and get settled. The warm ginger tea feels good when it hits my throat.
I sigh. “If you’re here to talk about any logistical things like insurance, or living arrangements, or car seats, then you may be barking up the wrong tree today,” I say honestly, as I don’t have the brain capacity, but I don’t think I want him to leave either.
The corner of his mouth hitches up at my comment. “No, like I said, just thought we could get back into our usual routine, but if you have morning sickness or something then I get it.”
“Actually, I’m lucky and only tired. Every week that goes by lessens my chances of morning sickness, they say. We’ll see. Anyway, our usual routine of coffee and sex kind of took a plot twist, I’m surprised you didn’t get the memo.” I smirk as I drink another sip.
He finds my comment amusing, as I notice his tongue run along his inner cheek as if he’s holding back a retort. “We were friends before we decided to sleep together.”
“Somewhat.” I tip my head to the side.
Bennett slides closer to me on the couch, and I hate how his eyes lure me in, as if he knows he has this superpower to affect me right now. “Come on, Kels, don’t be stubborn. We can be honest with each other, and we know one another well enough that we can’t hide behind anything. We’re the perfect match, really.” His fingers crawl up the back of my hand and lower arm, sending vibrations straight to my nipples.
“Did you come over here to play?” I study his motives, but I don’t see anything wicked possessing his look.
His charming grin comes out. “No, I didn’t, but if that will help you relax then let’s go.”
“Bennett,” I sneer a warning.
He sits back to give us a little space, and admittedly, I don’t like the loss of his touch.
“Okay, seriously, I came over to double-check that you and I are good. We’re entering this whole new world as parents-to-be, and I’m open to possibilities.” He watches my reaction, but I’m not sure if my neutral face is giving away any of my thoughts.
Because I do like the sound of possibilities, but it scares me.
Bennett Blisswood—although a little too cocky—is a man with a heart of gold. He deserves an epic love or someone who grabs his heart from a mere glance who will then dote on him for life with an apron and home-cooked meals. Not me. Not the hookup who accidentally got pregnant.
“What’s going on in your head, pretty lady?” He reaches out and tucks the ends of my hair behind my shoulders.
“Nothing,” I lie. “I’m sure you are slightly overwhelmed with all these changes.”
“Positive that I’m not.” His tone is firm and confident, yet feathery soft, almost like a gooey brownie that I want to sink my teeth into. It’s very annoying in this moment.
“Can we please change the topic?” I plead as I put my mug on the side table.
“Nope. Your avoidance may be a turn-on.” He casually drinks from his mug.
Disgruntled, I stand up from the sofa and walk to the big window looking over Main Street. It’s a beautiful sunny day with crunchy fall leaves on the ground. “I’m not sure I’m what you need.” I barely say it and I’m not even sure he hears me. It was more a thought for myself.
But I feel Bennett arrive next to me and his hand coaxes my shoulder to turn my body into his direction. “Haven’t you ever let someone take care of you?”
I look away because it is a plain and simple answer. Brooke, yes, men, no. I’ve always picked the wrong men, and I’ve always felt like I’m too independent to need someone. But now it isn’t just me… I have a little minion inside of me, and he or she needs both of us. It’s maybe a bonus if they can get more than my independence but two people who will give them everything we possibly can. For that to work, I need to let Bennett into my own life.
Nor am I complaining of that fact. It’s just not easy to take a leap. The last thing I want is to be with someone because they feel tied down.
My eyes follow the line of his hand on my body, up his firm, thick arm to his neck, and then landing on his soft lips. Today he has the length of stubble that I like on him, it tickles just right. “I’m not good at this,” I manage to admit.
“And I don’t care.” Bennett inches closer, and my whole body feels anticipation and an overbearing warmth. “How about we try something else?”
“A cold shower,” I quip and realize I said that out loud.
It only encourages him to slide his hands along the length of my neck, finding home behind my head and his fingers entangle in my hair.
“Let’s just see where things go, be open to it.”
I swallow, as that is a fair request. “I guess I could give it a try.”
“Good start. How about we talk about something simple,” Bennett suggests but doesn’t stop touching me, and admittedly, I wish his hands would roam all over me.
“Okay, like what?”
“Will you cut my hair tomorrow? It could use a trim.”
“I mean, I guess I could. You’ve never asked. But your length is kind of perfect, and with the wave now, just a shade past short. Plus, I don’t know how you have these natural blond highlights in your brown hair, but I’m really hoping that’s a trait the baby gets. Actually, your hair shouldn’t be touched, give it another week,” I ramble, to which he responds with a cocked eyebrow,
“Basically, I’m model material.” Here we go with cocky Bennett.
“Sure, if that’s what you would like to think. Any other topics we can discuss before I kick you out?”
He laughs as he steps forward, causing the back of my knees to hit the windowsill ledge, and I lean against the window. “Uh-oh. Kelsey is getting hot and bothered, she’s threatening me,” he taunts me.
“I forget how insatiable you are.” I can’t help but grin now.
“Listen.” Bennett guides my arms to hook around his neck. “I just need you to relax around me, because I promise we are in this together for life, and no matter what, coffee bean is number one.”
“Agreed.”
“And I said I wouldn’t let us fuck up. You and me. Trust me on this.” Our eyes remain fixed, and I contemplate his words.
“One day at a time, Bennett, but I maybe will be more open-minded.”
He chuckles lowly, and the sound wraps around me like velvet. Leaning down, his mouth draws a line along my jaw, but barely touching my skin. He is teasing me. Reaching my lips, he dances with me, and even though my own mouth attempts to join in the taunt, every time I reach for his lips, he pulls back.
It’s a painfully effective game.
Ever so slowly, he retreats with a satisfied look.
“To be continued,” he promises and steps back. My jaw drops open, as I am taken aback by his move. I watch him walk backward in the direction of the door. “See you around.”
He’s watching me, either because I’m standing here in amazement that he’s leaving or the fact that I have a natural smile of elation on my face.
If I let him in, I may just get something more than I bargained for.