The Trouble With Love: New York Times Bestselling Author

by Contreras, Claire

  “I’ll miss the wedding. Devon’s counting on me to walk him down the aisle. I’ll look like a deadbeat mother. He’ll never forgive me,” she says quickly.

  “Devon will be happy to hear you acted responsibly and asked for help before doing anything stupid,” I assure her.

  “And you? Where will you be?”

  “I need to go home. I need to get back to work.”

  “You won’t come visit me. You won’t forgive me.” She reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “You’ll never forgive me.”

  “Let’s focus on getting you better, okay?”

  “I want my family back. I want my children back.”

  “We’ll all be in touch,” Dr. Pierce says. “I’ll keep your kids updated as well as Rodney.”

  “What have I done?” Mom yanks her hand away from mine and buries her face in both hands.

  I put my hand on her shoulder. “It’s never too late to get your shit together.”

  She nods but keeps her face buried. Dr. Pierce and I discuss her treatments a little longer. When we finish, we all stand up, and the same nurse comes to escort her away. Mom throws her arms around me and holds me tightly, burying her face in my neck.

  “I don’t want this to be the last time I see you. I’m sorry for what I did. I’m sorry for not knowing the right way to be a mother. I’m sorry for not being there. Please don’t leave me.”

  “I’ll be around.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’ll come back.”

  She pulls away. “You promise?”

  “Sure. You can introduce me to your new boyfriend so I can make sure he’s not Batman.”

  She smiles, laughing a little. “Okay.”

  “Okay.”

  “Thank you for coming for me.”

  “You’re my blood, remember?” I swallow.

  She blinks rapidly and turns to walk away. I wait until she disappears down the hall before walking back to the lobby and out to the parking lot. My heart feels heavier with each step I take. I glance over my shoulder at the building one last time, biting my lip to keep from breaking down, though I’m sure I wouldn’t be the first or last person to do so here. I’m about to cross the street to the parking lot when a black car pulls up and stops beside me. The back door opens and I watch as Bennett gets out with a bag in his hand. I’m so shocked that I have to do a triple take.

  “Bennett?”

  He walks over as the car drives away. “I came as soon as I heard.”

  “How did you even find me?”

  “My dad told me what happened and I remembered the place,” he says. “I came here with Devon once when he had a game out here.”

  “But . . . “ My mouth drops. “Did you call him? Does he know you’re here?”

  “I didn’t call him. Not yet.”

  “I can’t . . . “ I bring my hands up to my face, where I feel tears wetting my cheeks. “I’m sorry, I can’t process this right now.”

  He wraps his arms around me and holds me tightly as I cry onto his chest. I focus on breathing him in, on the fact that he’s actually here, that I’m no longer alone in this, but I can’t seem to stop crying long enough to focus on those things.

  “You shouldn’t have to go through this alone,” he says. “Do you already have a place to stay?”

  “Yes.” I cry harder. “I got a shitty hotel down the street. If I’d known you were coming I would’ve picked something nicer.”

  “I don’t care where we stay.” He chuckles, kissing the top of my head. “As long as I’m with you.”

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  “This is definitely the shittiest hotel I’ve ever stayed in,” Bennett says later.

  We’re lying in the middle of an uncomfortable bed, where I feel every single spring stabbing me every time I move. We haven’t even undressed, haven’t kissed, haven’t done anything beyond hold each other and talk about the whole thing with my mom. A part of me wonders if he was serious about us just being friends and that’s why he hasn’t even tried to kiss me, but then he looks at me in a way that makes my heart flip and I know that’s not the case. He readjusts and reaches for his cell phone.

  “How mad will you be if you lose the forty dollars you spent on this room?”

  “Honestly? Not that mad.” I laugh. “You can just buy me dinner and we’ll call it even.”

  “Good.” He clicks and clicks and tosses his phone aside. “Let’s get out of this shithole.”

  * * *

  We end up in the Chateau Marmont and as he checks in with the front desk, I’m watching everyone like a hawk in case I see any famous people. I tell Bennett this as we walk to our room.

  “Did you see anyone?”

  “I don’t think so.” I frown. “It occurred to me as I looked around the lobby that I don’t know what anyone looks like in their regular clothes.”

  “I’ll be sure to let you know if I see anyone.” He laughs, bringing an arm around me and pulling me into his side. “Are you too tired to go get dinner?”

  “Definitely not. I haven’t been here since I was a kid and I kind of want to take advantage.”

  When he drops his arm to open the door, I try not to dwell on how much I want to be in his arms again. The room isn’t a fancy suite like the one we had in Vegas, but it’s a billion times better than the one we just came from. We get ready in silence. He gives me my space in the bathroom and I give him his. I appreciate it because it gives me a chance to process everything that’s happened in the past twenty-four hours. I decide to lie down while I wait for him to finish getting ready and evidently fall asleep because when I open my eyes again, it’s completely dark out. I sit up quickly, checking the time and realize it’s only eight-thirty. Bennett is sitting at the desk, typing on his laptop. I watch him for a silent moment. He has the perfect facial features and the most intense expression on his face as he reads whatever is on his screen. I decide to stop doing the creeper thing and clear my throat before I speak up.

  “You should’ve woken me up.”

  “You were tired.” He glances over his shoulder momentarily before closing the computer and walking over to the bed. He sits on the edge, and reaches out to brush my hair out of my face. “You sure you want to go somewhere? We can order room service.”

  My shoulders sag. “I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon and I haven’t really seen anything.”

  “So we get up early,” he says.

  “You look hot though.”

  He chuckles. “I’ll look just as hot tomorrow.”

  “So arrogant.” I grin, reaching up to tap the tip of his nose. He takes my hand and our smiles drop. The air shifts between us, our amusement replaced by something else. I squeeze his hand. “Thank you for coming. I really did not expect that.”

  “You don’t have to thank me, Morgan. I wanted to be here.” He tilts his head. “I want to be where you are all the time.”

  “We need to talk.” I feel myself smile. I sit up, Indian style, in front of him.

  “Let’s talk.”

  “I was really upset with you for lying to me,” I start, “But I’m over it. I mean, I don’t want you to lie to me again, but I don’t believe any of what she told me. I knew deep down that she was lying about the baby and about you guys working things out if it weren’t for me.”

  “I swear that when I met you, my marriage was one-hundred-percent over,” he says, “I wasn’t divorced, but we were finished and she knew that.”

  “I believe you. I just wish you’d told me sooner.”

  “I wish I had too.” He scoots closer to me. “I’m sorry I didn’t.”

  “I’ve never had anyone go out of their way to be here for me on a day like today.”

  “If you’d told me, I would’ve dropped everything and come sooner. Even as your friend I would’ve done that.” He searches my eyes. “I mean that.”

  “Is that what you want? For us to stay friends?” I whisper.

  “No, but if you don’t want to pursue this with me and you ju
st want us to stay friends, I’d deal with it because I just want to spend time with you.”

  “Even without having sex?”

  He squeezes his eyes shut momentarily. “I mean, I would think about it a lot, but yeah, even without having sex.”

  I laugh. “What if I start dating someone else? Would you want to go on double dates?”

  “Would you?” He raises an eyebrow.

  “No.” I scowl. “I would hate that.”

  “Yeah?” He scoots closer, until his nose is almost touching mine. “Why is that?”

  “I don’t like the idea of you being with another woman.”

  “I don’t like the idea of you being with another man.” He taps his nose against mine in an Eskimo kiss. “Quite the dilemma we’re in.”

  “Only if you don’t want to be with me.”

  “Are you kidding?” He chuckles, pulling away slightly, and bringing a hand to cup the side of my face. “In case I need to spell it out, I’m completely in love with you, Morgan Elizabeth.”

  For a solid moment, my heart feels like it might just burst. Somehow, I manage to keep from externally screaming and jumping on the bed, and continue holding his gaze. He leans in close again, his lips almost touching mine.

  “Hey, Ben,” I whisper.

  “Hm.”

  “I love you too.”

  He finally brings his lips to mine. The kiss is slow and delicate, his tongue sliding slowly into my mouth to meet mine as his hand caresses the side of my face. The growl of my stomach reminding me I haven’t had anything to eat breaks our kiss. He smiles against my mouth.

  “Let’s get you something to eat.”

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Bennett

  Neither one of us eats much even though the food is great. The wine is even better. Morgan is sitting across from me, staring at me as she drinks, as if she can’t really believe I’m actually here. I guess the feeling is sort of mutual. The minute my father called me and told me what was happening, I dropped everything and took the first flight available. Had she told me what was happening instead of telling my father, I would’ve traveled with her. The thought of her alone on that flight and taking care of her mother once she got there was heartbreaking. I understand why she wouldn’t want to tell Devon right now, since his wedding is approaching quickly, but I hate that she thinks she has to carry the burden alone. More than anything, I hate that she’s had to all these years.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” she says.

  “I was just thinking about how amazing you are. How strong. And how I want you to share your burdens with me so they won’t feel so heavy on your shoulders.”

  “Oh.” She blinks, setting her glass down and pushing her chair back to walk over to where I’m sitting. She stands between my legs, brings a hand up and runs her fingers through my hair, tilting my head back with a tug at the end. “And here I was thinking that you were thinking about fucking me.”

  “I’m always thinking about fucking you.” I reach up, cupping the back of her neck and bringing her face to mine. Instead of kissing her, I press my lips to her jaw and work my way down her neck, sucking on the spot where her pulse is quickening. “Let’s get you out of these clothes.”

  I tug the tie of her dress, feeling my own pulse kick when the dress curtains open in front of her body, revealing her bare breasts and her tiny red lace underwear. I flatten my palms on her abdomen and make my way up to her breasts, squeezing them as I lean forward and cover her left nipple with my mouth, sucking and biting, before moving onto the other. Her grip on my hair tightens as she gasps. I do it again, and again, and again. Her tugs get harder, her gasps louder.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” I say against her flesh, tugging her underwear slowly down her legs. She kicks them away. I bring my attention back to her lips, kissing her slowly, pushing my tongue inside her mouth. A groan escapes me as we kiss and suddenly I need to taste her everywhere. The need to make up for lost time blinds me with lust. I break the kiss and make my way down her body as she reaches to unbutton my shirt. I reach around her and push the empty plate in front of me to the other side of the table before lifting her onto it and burying my face between her legs. I don’t waste time teasing because I’m sure how long I’d last tonight. I’ve spent too many days without her. “I love the taste of you on my tongue,” I say as I lick her. “Love the way you move against my mouth.”

  “Bennett,” she sighs, throwing her head back as she grinds against my mouth, chasing her orgasm.

  I suck her clit and am rewarded with the convulsion that’s only made better by the chant of my name. I stand up, carrying her to the bed and tossing her onto it. She places her elbows on it and sits up to watch as I unfasten my jeans, lowering them along with my boxer-briefs. I push her legs apart and kneel between them, running the tips of my fingers along her legs and stopping at her clit. Her eyes widen, another gasp escaping her lips as I reach her clit and rub with my thumb, dipping two fingers inside of her. She brings a hand between us and closes it around my cock, moving it up and down in a rhythm that makes a burn run down my spine and straight to my balls. She cries out, her hand increasing the movement as she comes again, and it takes everything in me to unwrap her hand. Before she can fully come down from her orgasm, I thrust inside her, grabbing her hips tightly and holding her there as my cock pulses inside her.

  “Bennett,” she pleads, trying to grind against me. I hold her steady, not letting her move. “Ben. Please.”

  "Give me a moment, baby. It's been too long since I last had you and I need time to convince myself this is real."

  “It’s real. It’s so real,” she whispers. “I love you.”

  I bite down on my lip, shutting my eyes briefly, relishing this moment. When I open them, I meet her gaze. “Say it again.”

  “I love you,” she says. “I love you.”

  Then, I start to fuck her, driving into her hard and fast, spreading her legs wide, opening her as much as her body will allow her. With each stroke, she screams my name. Each scream making my balls tighten. She’s so wet and I’m so out of control that I can barely focus on her face. I reach up and pinch her nipples, and she arches into my touch, the movement giving me deeper access to her.

  “Bennett, Bennett, please,” she pants. “Please. Oh my . . . I’m going to . . . I’m so . . . “

  I pound in harder, digging my nails into her waist, groaning her name as she explodes all over me and I follow shortly after. Yeah, there’s no fucking way I’m giving this up again.

  Chapter Fifty

  Morgan

  I walk into my apartment with a huge smile on my face and drop the bag on the floor by the door, tossing the keys on the kitchen counter. The television is set on ESPN, of course, so I know Devon is already here.

  “Oh, look who’s finally home,” Devon calls out.

  I roll my eyes. “I’m too exhausted to argue right now.”

  “Too bad.” He stands up from the couch and walks over to me, arms crossed. “What the fuck were you thinking?”

  “I was thinking that I’ve done this before and you’re getting married in less than a week—the last thing I want to do is stress you out with anything. Besides, they don’t let you take sage on airplanes, so you wouldn’t have survived the trip.”

  He stares at me for a beat before breaking out in laughter. “Fuck you. Sage is great for your energy. I should’ve brought extra to burn it in Bennett’s apartment while I’m here.”

  “He will lose it.” I smile thinking about it.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t call me, Morg.”

  “I was fine. It was fine.” I shrug. “Bennett showed up on his own. He said he’d been there with you once when you played a game out there.”

  “Yeah.” He shakes his head. “Damn, that guy has the memory of an elephant.”

  “Anyway, Mom’s fine. She said she hadn’t used when I got there, but she was acting weird so there’s really no telling,” I say. “And her boyfriend
is loaded. Like more loaded than you are.”

  Devon scoffs. “Yeah, right.”

  “I’m serious. I drove a Bentley from Vegas to LA and that was like a side car. His house is insane, like gold everywhere.”

  He frowns. “What’s he doing with Mom?”

  “That’s exactly what I said.” I shrug. “She said they click.”

  “Yeah, she clicks with that bank account.”

  I laugh. “Whatever. She seems happy despite this episode.”

  Dev looks like he doesn’t believe me. “Obviously she’s not coming to the wedding.”

  “I don’t think so.” I offer a small smile. “I can walk you down the aisle if you want. I mean, you’ll have to return the favor if I ever marry Bennett.”

  His eyebrows hike up. “You guys went from not talking at all to talking marriage?”

  “We worked things out.”

  “Shit, I hope so after he chased you to the other side of the country to hold your hand through this shit.” He blinks. “I still can’t believe you didn’t call me.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t call you, okay? But look at the way you’re acting. If you’d gone, you would’ve been screaming at Rodney’s butler and stuff.”

  “He has a butler?”

  “I swear he’s like Batman or something.”

  He chuckles. “I hope he’s not your type. How awkward would that be?”

  “Oh, please.” I roll my eyes. “I’m not Mom.”

  He cringes. I shrug. I’m over it. Well, as over it as I can be.

  “So you and Bennett, huh,” he says. “I guess that’s good. Saves us from having to pay an extra setting at the wedding.”

  I snort. “Right, because you’re so tight on cash.”

  “Nah, you’re right, especially with my bangin’ new contract.”

  “What do you mean?” I frown, trying to catch a glimpse of the television to see if he’s telling the truth. If he is, I know they’d be talking about it.