“Thanks.” She set warm saltines and soft butter on the table. “Need another beer?”
“Water please, but I can get it.”
She waved him down. “I’ve got it.”
He held her chair as she sat.
“So, where was I?” she asked after they’d both taken bites of their food.
“Married to a cop with a baby.”
“Right.” She exhaled a loud sigh. “Steve was a San Diego patrol officer. He was called to a robbery in progress and was the first officer on the scene.”
She paused. The artery in her neck pulsed as she stared at her plate. Again, he waited for her to find her footing to continue.
“Long story short, because it doesn’t matter how it happened, Steve was shot and died at the scene.”
“I’m sorry. That must have been a difficult time for you.”
“Yeah, it was. Katie doesn’t remember him, although I do have pictures of him in her room. I think that’s one of the hardest parts for me. He never got to know what an incredible child he had.”
“I admit, I didn’t hear most of your conversation at breakfast, but how did the boy-girl movie turn out? Or did you decide twelve wasn’t the perfect age to start dating?”
Holly laughed. “Heard that part huh?”
“Some of it.”
She shook her head. “I swear, I understand why women with children dye their hair. Mine is either going to go gray from worry, or I’m going to pull it all out in frustration.”
“Ah, the teenage years. Hormones run amok. I wouldn’t go back if you offered me a million dollars.”
“Me, neither.”
There was a pause in the conversation before she set her fork on the edge of her plate and looked at him.
“Earlier, you said I wasn’t looking for a husband. What makes you think that?”
“You need a beard as much as I do,” he said, and paused to take a long sip of water. “Your brothers keep trying to fix you up with guys. As a guy, I can promise that they’ve done their homework on these potential dates. They would only be trying to get you on dates with men they’ve determined are good husband material. They want you married, or at least settled, so you’re off their to-do list, as you say. Until you have a man who appears to be long-term, or a husband, these fix-up dates will continue. See what I mean?”
She nodded. “I do, darn it, and you’re right. I hate they’ve painted me into corner. I have to do something, don’t I?”
“Only if you want the prescreened, brother-approved blind dates to stop.”
“Hmm.”
As dinner progressed, they talked about their lives and careers. Benjamin deflected any and all questions about his youth, instead refocusing the discussion to be about her brothers and the hijinks that took place growing up as the only girl with three brothers.
He shared what he could about his job and what his normal day was like, the constant PT, target practice, water exercises, but omitted anything that dealt with actual missions.
When he paused, she blew out a long breath. “Whew. I’m tired just thinking about your life.”
“It’s muscle memory training really. When we’re on mission, the team has to act, not think about how to act.”
She wrinkled her nose. “The good thing about your life is you can eat all the carbs you want, knowing you’re going to work them off.”
He laughed. “Yeah. That’s why I became a SEAL…to eat whatever I want.”
After laughing with him, she tilted her head toward the refrigerator. “Since we’re talking about carbs, what would you say to a couple of ice cream sundaes for dessert.”
“I’d say, please and thank you.”
He stood when she did.
“No, I’ve got this,” she said as she began to gather the dirty dishes.
“Absolutely not. You cooked. The least I can do is clean up.”
Together, they cleared the table. He loaded her dishwasher while she put away the leftover food and got out all the makings for sundaes. After ice cream with hot fudge and nuts was heaped into bowls, they retook their seats and dug in.
“What a perfect finish to dinner,” he said. “I really appreciate it.”
She smiled and opened her mouth to reply, but from the living room came a loud cry.
“Mom! I’m home. Wait until I—”
Holly stood, and he followed her to his feet.
“Well, hello,” an attractive older woman said as she followed the pre-teen girl into the dining area. “I’m Holly’s mother, Patricia.” She extended her hand.
“Benjamin Blackwell,” he said, taking her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Patricia said, with an eyebrow lift aimed at her daughter.
“Who is he?” Holly’s daughter gave him the side-eye. Her lips were taut across her teeth.
Holly put her arm around her daughter. “Katie. This is my, um, friend, Benjamin. Ben, this is my daughter, Katherine Elizabeth.”
“Nice to meet you,” Benjamin said. “What a beautiful name.”
He’d gotten a glance at Katie when he’d seen Holly and her at breakfast. However, he’d been too fascinated by the mother to pay the daughter much mind. Now he could see that Katie—or was it K.E.?—was a stunningly beautiful child. He could see some of Holly’s facial features on her daughter’s face, but there were other aspects, such as the face’s shape, that did not come from Holly, or, now that he’d met Holly’s mother, from that side of the family. He suspected the daughter looked a lot like Holly’s late husband.
“I’m surprised to see you. I wasn’t expecting you to be home so early.” Holly directed the comment to her mother.
“Yeah, sorry. We got done with the movie, and Hillary wasn’t feeling good and wanted to go home. Instead of taking Katie home with me, and then bringing her home later, we thought we’d stop in and see how you were feeling.” Her mother smiled. “Better, I see.”
“I have some leftover spaghetti if you’re hungry,” Holly said.
“I’m starved,” Katie announced.
“How can that be?” Patricia asked. “You ate an entire big popcorn at the movies.”
Katie shrugged. “Just am.” After glancing at the table, she added, “But I can start with a sundae.”
Holly rolled her eyes and Benjamin chuckled.
“I need to get going,” he said. “Thanks for dinner.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Holly said. “Mom, would you heat up spaghetti for Katie?”
Benjamin rested his hand in the small of Holly’s back as they walked out the front door.
Once outside, he grinned. “Well, I didn’t see that coming.”
“Me, neither. Sorry.”
“No reason to apologize, but your daughter did seem a little surprised. Haven’t you introduced your dates before?”
“Ben, I haven’t had a date in almost four years, so no, she’s never seen a man at our house.”
“Four years?” Benjamin was astounded. Were all the men in Coronado and San Diego blind or just stupid? “Why? You’re gorgeous. Hot. Sexy. I understand not wanting to go out with guys your brothers think are ideal, but don’t tell me no one else has asked you out.”
Her cheeks flushed and she bumped him with her hip.
“First, we’re being watched. I know there’s at least a pair of eyes trained on us, but I suspect two pairs. And to the second point, I’ve been asked. I just didn’t go.”
“I know about the prying eyes. I felt them on me. Now that we know we have an audience, here’s your chance.”
He leaned his back on his truck door and rested the palms of his hands at her waist.
Holly stepped between his spread legs and tilted her head. “My chance?”
“If you’ve decided against this probably insane idea of fake-dating over the summer, all you have to do is act like we’re having harsh words. You’ve proven I exist. Your mom can verify your story that we were on a date tonight. Now, you can break up with me.” As
he spoke, he tucked a few stands of her hair behind her ear before setting his index finger on her lips. “Or, you don’t, and we have a little fun this summer. No stress. No life time commitment. No expectations. A few dinners here and there. A team party once or twice. Maybe a movie or two, but nothing else required. So, is this a go? Yes or no?”
He’d been serious about how hot Holly was and gorgeous. Taking her on a dinner date now and then wouldn’t be a burden in the least. It’d keep the frog hogs away and his friends’ girlfriends from trying to set him up with their cousin /college friend who was in town to visit. Mentally, he crossed his fingers.
Her lips moved under his fingers as her mouth turned up in a smile. He lifted his finger and arched an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
The relief he felt came as a surprise, but it was definitely relief.
He snaked his hand behind her neck and pulled her down for their second kiss. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she leaned into him. Their lips met in a soft embrace before he reangled his head to kiss her harder and longer. She tasted like chocolate, and he ached to thrust his tongue in her mouth for a deeper taste. Wanted to let his driving emotions take over. However, as hard as it was, he kept the kiss PG for the young audience he feared was watching their scene play out.
When he pulled back, Holly ducked her head. “Well, that’ll give the neighbors something to talk about.”
With a smile, he said, “Should I toss you to the grass and really feed the gossips?”
She laughed. “Thanks, but no thanks. That’s the most action this yard has seen in years. It’ll keep the gossip grapevine going for a couple of days anyway.”
After another quick kiss, he released her and opened his driver’s door. “Thanks for an interesting evening. Talk to you soon.”
Chapter Four
Holly placed her fingers over her tingling lips as she watched Ben’s taillights until he turned the corner. If that was a PG kiss, then she was a thirty-two-year-old virgin. Whew. Her heart was only beginning to slow as she reentered her house ready to face her mother and daughter.
She found them sitting at the dining room table, both of their faces wearing guilty expressions.
“You two weren’t spying on me, were you?”
Her mother feigned innocence. “I would never.”
“Yeah, me neither,” Katie said, her gaze firmly on her plate.
Holly chuckled and sat. “Here’s the thing, Katie. My mom is a terrible liar. It’s written all over her face. Following her lead on this probably isn’t your smartest plan.”
Katie looked at her grandmother and back to Holly. She winced slightly. “I might have looked out the front window once, but Grams looked the whole time.”
Pulling a serious face, Holly looked at her mother with raised eyebrows. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
Her mother checked the time on her phone. “I say I’d better get home. You father will be worried.”
“But you called him when we got here,” Katie said.
Holly snickered while her mother groaned. “Sometimes, Holly, you are too good of a role model,” her mother said. “But I really do need to go.” Patricia stood. “I’m not sorry to have come by unexpectedly. I got to meet Benjamin and he is quite the looker, don’t you think, Katie?”
Katie frowned. “He’s okay, I guess, for an old guy.”
Holly rolled her lips between her teeth to keep from laughing. If Ben thought she was hard on his ego, being called an old guy by her daughter would be a dagger to his heart.
Patricia chuckled. “Perspective, I guess.” She held out her arms. “Come give Grams a hug,” she said to her Katie.
Katie hugged her. “Thanks, Grams. Last night and today were fun.”
“They sure were,” Patricia agreed. “I think we’ll be doing more weekends in the future, right, Holly?”
Holly shook her head. “We’ll see, Mom. Thanks for everything.”
Patricia bussed Holly cheek. “I think he’s handsome, even if he’s old.”
After Patricia left, Holly made Katie eat some dinner before diving into ice cream. Her daughter chattered nonstop about…Well, Holly wasn’t sure exactly what Katie was running on about. Hillary’s new friend, who’d gotten in trouble at school, and the story went on and on. Holly smiled and nodded in what she hoped were all the right places. Frankly, it’d been a long time since she’d been out with girls like last night, and maybe even longer since she’d had dinner with a man. She was a little distracted.
Katie had come home with a new book—which was typical for her—and headed to her bedroom to read. Holly showered and slipped between her sheets with a long sigh. As she reached for her phone to read the latest contemporary romance, it vibrated. Ben was sending her a text. Interesting.
Any issues after I left? I didn’t traumatize your daughter too badly, did I?
She said you were cute.
Aww.
For an old guy. [Laughing emoji]
[Stabbing emoji] Damn. You Maxwell women are deadly to a man’s ego.
I’m still pretty pissed at my brother. Let me pay for your taillight, okay?
Absolutely not. Don’t worry about it. I can change out the cover. You working tomorrow?
I am. Not sure where I’m assigned yet. You?
I wish. I have grocery shopping and laundry duty.
Holly chuckled. You’d rather be shot at than do laundry?
You haven’t seen the pile of laundry.
[Laughing emoji] I don’t mind the washing or transferring it to the dryer. It’s the folding, hanging, and putting away that I don’t like.
Agreed. I know it’s late, but I wanted to tell you thank you again for dinner.
You’re welcome.
Talk later this week?
Absolutely. Night
* * *
The next morning, Holly took Katie and a couple of her friends with her to the beach. Even if the girls were turning thirteen during the summer months, Holly still felt that they were too young to go by themselves. Call her a helicopter mom. She didn’t care. Katie’s safety was her number one concern.
Holly made sure she was stationed nearby, even if the girls acted like they had no clue who she was.
Sunday was the kind of day she’d have designed if given the option. Sunny with a breeze, and not one recovery or accident in Holly’s area.
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she kept an eye out for a certain silver-haired SEAL surfer. She’d never tell him she’d seen him and his team running last summer, and maybe the summer before that. It’d been impossible to miss his silvery hair sparkling under the California sun, not to mention his firm legs and ass.
Much to her disappointment, apparently Ben did have to do laundry or at least he wasn’t on the beach that day. When she didn’t hear from him that night, she shrugged it off. This was a fake deal anyway. Anything that would keep her brothers—and the rest of her family—off her about dating was welcomed, even made-up, fake dating.
Monday began the last week of school for her second graders. With summer vacation—i.e., freedom—staring them, and her, in the face, keeping her students in their seats was akin to putting lotion back into a bottle…Doable but difficult. She didn’t blame them. Her vision focused on Friday also.
But she’d been a teacher long enough to have enough activities planned to keep the students having fun while still learning. She only wished she had some activities planned that could keep her from wiggling in her seat in anticipation.
Tuesday evening, she and Katie were finishing up dinner when Holly’s phone rang with an unfamiliar number. Local area code.
Katie’s fork froze on the way to her mouth.
“Probably a sales call,” Holly said, pushing the phone off to the side.
“Answer it, Mom,” Katie said. “I think it might be Craig Butler’s mom.”
Holly gave her daughter a querying look but answered. “Hello?”
“Holly? Leslie Butler.�
�
Leslie taught fifth grade at the same elementary school where Holly taught.
“Hey, Leslie. How’s it going?” She glanced at her daughter who was staring at her with wide eyes.
“Trying to get through until Friday.”
Holly laughed. “You and me both. My kids wiggle nonstop all day.”
“So do I,” she replied with a chuckle. “Not sure who’s worse, me or them.”
“Ditto. So, what’s up? My daughter is staring at me like I have three eyes.”
Leslie chuckled. “Tom and I have agreed to let Craig have a cookout and movie party at our house on Friday to celebrate the end of sixth grade. Five boys and five girls.”
“Ohh,” Holly said, now understanding her daughter’s pleading face and crossed fingers.
“I know. First boy-girl party. Scary, huh?”
“Absolutely.”
“Well, Craig wanted me to call you and the other parents. He’s invited Katie and four other girls. Tom and I will be there, as will the parents of a couple of the boys. The boys are staying overnight, but we told Craig the girls could come at about six-thirty and their parents could pick them up at eleven. Now, they will be chaperoned the entire time. I wanted you to know that.”
Holly glanced at her daughter who now had her hands pressed together in a praying pose. She stifled her smile. Man, her baby was growing up too fast.
“As long as you and Tom will be there, I think it would be fine.”
Katie screamed and yelled from the table. “I have to go call Hillary.” She ran from the room, then ran back to hug Holly, before racing away again.
“That scream was Katie, I gather?” Leslie said, her tone dry.
“She’s a little excited. Thanks for the personal call. I’ll talk to you tomorrow and get your address and everything.”
“I get to make four more of these calls.”
“Expecting the same degree of screaming?”
“Oh, yeah. I had all these girls in class. Your sister-in-law is up next.”
“Tell her I said the sleepover is at her house for those girls.”
Leslie laughed. “Will do. See you tomorrow.”
Holly cleared the table, a small smile on her lips. She remembered her first boy-girl party. Sixth grade. Mike Verb’s house. It was her and her best friend Sandy Dillard, along with three boys. They’d played Spin-the-Bottle and kissed on the cheek. She’d have to call Sandy tomorrow and tell her about the big party on Friday.
Hot SEAL, Confirmed Bachelor Page 6