It Had to Be Them (An It Had to Be Novel Book 4)

by Tamra Baumann

  She parted his long lab coat and tugged his shirt from his pants. She wanted her hands all over his tight abs and chest again. She’d always loved the way he was built, all lean muscles and sexy definition.

  Joyce’s voice called out, “Well, looks like I lost the pool at Gloria’s. I thought it’d take at least another day for you two to figure things out.”

  Ben pulled away so fast she almost toppled forward and off the countertop.

  He stuffed his hands into his lab coat pockets, then turned to face his nurse. “What pool?”

  “The latest one at the diner. Everyone’s betting on how long it’ll be before you two are back together again.”

  Ben growled, “We’re not back together. That wasn’t what it looked like.”

  Joyce cocked her head to the side like a confused puppy. “I may be getting old, but I don’t think much has changed about kissing.”

  Feeling like she’d just been caught making out in high school by the principal, Kline hopped down and moved beside Ben. “He’s right. That wasn’t your run-of-the-mill kiss. That was . . .” She glanced his way for help. She’d have liked to say it was the best kiss she’d had in a very long time, but that wouldn’t help their cause. She whispered, “What was that?” and raised her brows in question.

  His eye did that twitching thing again. “Nothing. It didn’t mean anything.” He brushed past his nurse. “I’m not on call tonight so I’m going to Brewsters for a damn beer. Lock up on your way out, Joyce. And not a word about this to anyone or you’re fired!”

  The slamming of the back door made both Kline and Joyce flinch.

  Joyce asked, “What was that about? Ben’s never raised his voice to me before.”

  “I’m . . . not entirely sure.” She turned, picked up the pie box, and held it out. “Here. Ben will feel bad for yelling at you. So tomorrow when he apologizes, tell him it’s okay because you enjoyed the pie he forgot in his haste to separate himself from me. Again.”

  Joyce accepted the box and sighed. “Maybe you should go after him?”

  “Nope.” She shook her head. “He hates to lose his temper, so I’ll just let him cool down and talk to him later. Instead, I’ll go home and have a nice dinner with my mom. After all, it’s her I’m here to see. Not Ben.” She waved and started for the door.

  As she gathered her things, Joyce mumbled under her breath, “Didn’t look to me like you were thinking about anyone but Ben.”

  Joyce was right. He was stirring up all sorts of emotions she’d thought were long buried. Maybe she should go after Ben and get things straightened out between them. Once and for all, so they could both understand the rules while she was in town.

  She pulled her phone out and texted her mom to let her know she’d be a little late.

  As she headed toward Brewsters, a familiar voice called out, “Kline? Wait up.”

  She turned and smiled as Ben’s brother caught up in two long strides. Ryan wrapped her up in a bear hug. “Missed you, Kline.”

  “Missed you too.” Ryan had always held a special place in her heart. He was handsome, built like a pro athlete, and didn’t see the need to talk much. Because he was the middle child between his two sisters, they tended to do the talking for him, but he used to talk to her. A lot. Mostly about his father, the mayor, who tended to have a heavy-handed, mean way about him that affected Ryan more than he had ever let on to the others. He was the little brother she’d never had.

  She leaned back and said, “I hear you’re the sheriff these days. And that you actually have a serious girlfriend? Is she quiet like you?”

  “No. She’s the new dentist in town. Casey and Meg can’t figure out how a quiet guy like me snagged her. Or how I keep her.”

  “You must actually talk to her then, huh?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. It’s not a chore with her. She’s great.”

  And Ryan was clearly in love with her. It made Kline’s heart swell. “I look forward to meeting her.”

  “You’re going to love her. Really good to see you again, Kline.” He gave her a friendly shoulder bump as they walked. “Heard you and Ben got off to a rocky start, though.”

  Of course he’d heard that. Little did he know how much rockier things had just gotten with that kiss. Hopefully Joyce could keep a secret for a change. “I’m headed to talk to Ben right now. Set some things straight between us.”

  Ryan frowned. “So I’ve wasted my ten bucks in Gloria’s pool then, huh? No hope for a reconciliation?”

  The sharp pang to Kline’s heart at the thought of reconciliation reminded her of the pain Ben had caused her. She had no desire to go through that again, no matter how the man had grown even more handsome and maybe a tad more confident and interesting since she’d left. “Nope. Sorry about your ten bucks.”

  When Ben pulled open the door to Brewsters, country music annoyed his ears, while the aroma of greasy sliders and fries turned his stomach. Why the hell had he kissed her? It was like shoving the dagger into his heart even deeper. She’d killed him when she questioned why he’d done it. Why did she think he’d kissed her? And why the hell had she kissed him back like . . . that?

  It had been damn lucky they’d been interrupted, because ten more minutes and Joyce would’ve gotten a real eyeful. No way they should ever sleep together again. It’d just make everything worse. Now if only he could convince his libido of that.

  He ran a hand down his face and searched for calm before he took someone else’s head off. Yelling at Joyce for no reason had been a jerk move. He’d be sure to apologize for that in the morning. Better yet, he’d call her at home later. For now, he needed to pull it together because his siblings were like vultures on a carcass if they sensed he was upset. His sisters would want to talk about feelings. His were so raw he couldn’t bear anyone poking around there.

  He found Meg seated at a table. Thankfully it was two-for-one happy hour so there were two pitchers of beer in front of her. He planned to put a dent in one of them. He pulled out a chair and sat down while Meg finished up a phone call. He grabbed a beer mug and filled it, then downed half the glass in one gulp.

  God, he was an idiot! What had possessed him to kiss her?

  When Meg’s call was finished, she laid her phone on the table and hitched her brows.

  Showtime.

  He plastered on a fake grin. “What?”

  “What’s really going on with you and Kline? Casey saw you walking with her earlier.”

  His sister Casey had a big mouth. He took a long drink, debating how much he wanted to tell. His sisters were pretty damned nosy, but gave good advice when it came to women. “I honestly don’t know.”

  Meg took a long drink from her mug and then banged the glass onto the table. “Why don’t you tell her why you signed that contract with Dad and the town in the first place?”

  He’d been tricked into signing that contract and had felt like an idiot for it. Maybe his ego back then was as much to blame for not telling Kline as was his desire to let her live her dreams. “It doesn’t really change why we’re still fundamentally never going to be together. And after all this time, do you think it’d even matter?”

  “I’m sure it couldn’t hurt.” Meg’s face lit with a smile. “Casey said Kline looked really good. Does she seem happy?”

  He shrugged. “She’s not happy to be home. She’s here to see her mom, but plans to leave again as soon as she can. She hasn’t changed her mind about not wanting to live here.”

  Meg’s grin turned mischievous as she picked up her phone again. “The pool at the diner keeps growing. The whole town wants to see you two get back together. And we need a new science teacher. Maybe we all just need to show Kline what she’s missing here. I can send out an e-mail on the loop to rally everyone. She’ll be so welcome home she won’t know what hit her!” Meg’s thumbs quickly tapped out her post. “Do you think Kline’s mother will keep that a secret from her?”

  “She’d like Kline to come home too. So yeah. I’m sure
of it.” He wished he could tell her that Grandma and Betty were way ahead of her, but he had to keep that to himself. “But I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Meg.”

  Meg ignored him as usual. She hit one last button on her phone and then put it away before she glanced up and said, “Oh. Hey there.”

  He turned to see who she was looking at. Kline stood behind him next to Ryan with her hand lifted.

  She said, “Hi, Meg. Sorry to interrupt. I just need to talk to Ben for a minute.” She glanced at him. “Please? It’s important.”

  About the kiss, most likely. Why the hell had he kissed her?

  Kline’s heart warmed when she saw Meg, Ben’s youngest sister, who’d hopped up to hug her and told her how much she’d missed her. Kline had worried his siblings would take Ben’s side over hers, but neither Ryan nor Meg seemed to have done so. She’d missed them too.

  “So good to see you, Meg.” Kline leaned back to study her. Meg was still short and adorable. A mini version of her sister, the beautiful Casey, who was tall and willowy. Both Ben’s sisters had dark hair like Ben’s and big smiles. “Congratulations—I hear you just got married. And you run a lodge now across the lake?”

  “Yep.” Meg held her hand up, showing off an impressive rock. “Josh is the best.”

  “I look forward to meeting him.” Kline glanced at Ben, who was ignoring everyone and rearranging the condiments on the table. She needed to clear the air between them.

  After Ryan pulled out a chair next to Ben, she said, “I’ll let you have Ben back in just a minute.” They needed a little privacy, so she grabbed his hand and pulled. “Let’s dance while we talk.”

  Ben reluctantly followed behind her to the dance floor just as the music turned from a two-step to a slow tune. He was a good dancer and usually enjoyed it. But the expression on his face was of a man about to have a root canal. Or in his case, deal with an unorganized closet. His new habit was a little confusing. And maybe a touch concerning.

  He tugged on her hand to make her stop walking. “Look. I’m sorry I—”

  “No. Don’t.” She shook her head. “I kissed you back, so we’re even there.”

  “Then what are we doing, Kline?” He pulled her close and into the fray of people dancing.

  Enjoying his strong arms wrapped around her more than she should, she said, “Dancing?”

  He let out a frustrated grunt and pulled her closer. His warm breath feathered across her cheek, sending a delicious shiver up her spine when he whispered, “You know what I meant. What are we going to do about . . .”

  “Us?” More out of habit than conscious effort, she snuggled her chest against his hard one and circled her hands around his neck. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. What happened in the past is over and done for good reasons, but obviously we’re still attracted to each other physically. It’s basic science, really, and probably can’t be helped.”

  “Big understatement there.” He slowly slid his hand lower toward her butt, stopping just before he’d earn them an R rating from the spectators.

  Straining to stay focused on their conversation and not what she knew those hands could do to her in bed, she said, “You hurt me, Ben. And it took me a long time to get over that. Seeing you again has stirred up lots of feelings. Not all of them good.”

  “For me too. But mine are mostly good.” He nuzzled his stubbly cheek against hers.

  He wasn’t making things any easier by being so nice to her. And by being so damn sexy. “I’ll never live here, and you’ll never leave your family, so anything long term will never happen.”

  His face nodded against hers in response.

  “We could go one of two ways here. We could give in to basic human desire and sleep with each other again, thereby enjoying the physical release while it lasts, or we can use the higher, more developed parts of our brains, decide we’re just going to be friends, and then keep our hands and mouths to ourselves.”

  He leaned back and stared into her eyes. “Cut the science crap, Kline. What do you want?”

  You, naked in my bed was the first thing that popped into her traitorous mind. “I hope we can be friends again, but I’m afraid the only way that’s going to happen is if we leave our physical desire for each other out of it and keep things platonic.”

  He studied her for a long moment before he finally nodded. “You’re probably right.”

  “Okay then. Friends with no benefits it is.” She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, determined to enjoy the rest of the dance, while familiar sadness washed over her. It’d be nice to be friends again, though. He used to be her best friend. She’d never found another like him. She snuggled closer and breathed in his familiar scent.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket against her leg. He ignored it, but a moment later it started up again. She said, “Aren’t you going to get that?”

  “I’m not on call tonight. And I’d rather enjoy a dance with you.”

  “Thank you.” When they were in high school Ben didn’t carry a cell, and yet his family still seemed to find a way to interrupt whatever they were doing. Now that he was a doctor, it must be twice as bad. But she appreciated that the new Ben seemed to have found some better work-family-life balance for his own good.

  Wayne Jacobs suddenly appeared and cleared his throat. “I’m cutting in, pal.”

  Ben shook his head. “Go away. We’re having a conversation here.”

  “I didn’t see any talking going on. Besides, Betty sent me to find Kline.”

  She lifted her head. “Is my mom okay?”

  Wayne tried to cut in, but Ben blocked him with his shoulder. Wayne matched them step for step as they danced. “Betty said she was going to go to bed early and didn’t want you to eat alone. She wanted me to take you to the diner and keep you company. She asked if you could bring home a chocolate mousse pie.”

  Whoops. Gloria would get suspicious about two pies in a day. But she’d rather just go home. It’d been a long, emotional day. “I appreciate the offer Wayne, but—”

  “Your mom said it’d mean a lot to her if you’d have dinner with me. She said you need a decent meal after you’ve been sick and all.”

  Kline glanced at Ben, who rolled his eyes. It made her laugh.

  She was starving. “Well, okay then.” She stopped dancing and leaned back but Ben still had her wrapped up and wouldn’t let her go.

  Ben whispered, “Why don’t I take you to dinner? We could go to the hotel for a quiet meal. It’d give us a chance to catch up.”

  The hungry look in his eyes made her stomach clench. Having dinner at the hotel could very well lead to them going upstairs to one of the rooms for dessert. Better not go there. “Maybe another time, Ben. Wayne went out of his way to find me.”

  “Fine. Have fun.” Ben slowly released her.

  “Thanks.” She turned to Wayne. “Okay, let’s go.”

  She led the way, winding between people standing in clusters talking. At the front door, Ben appeared beside her. He held out his jacket. “I noticed you didn’t have a coat. Take this.”

  God, that was so sweet. “But then you’ll be cold. I’ll be fine.”

  Ben glanced at Wayne, who wore a leather jacket. “You walked, right?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. It’ll be a cold walk home, Kline. You should take it.”

  Obviously Wayne wasn’t going to offer up his.

  Ben slipped his coat over her shoulders. “I’m going to drink enough beer tonight that I won’t care about the cold.” He turned and walked back toward his table.

  “Wait. Ben?”

  He lifted a hand over his head and just kept on walking.

  So maybe he wasn’t happy with their friends-with-no-benefits agreement, but it was for the best.

  Wayne slipped his hand around her arm and tugged. “Let’s go eat. I’m starving!”

  When they stepped outside, a blast of cold air sent a shiver up her spine, so she slipped her arms fully into Ben’s jacket. It s
melled like him, a combination of sexy aftershave and soap. Yum.

  Luckily it was a short walk to the diner. Wayne held the door open for her. “After you, babe.”

  Babe? She’d better make sure Wayne understood right away that nothing was going to happen between them. Sure, he was tall, muscle-bound, blond, and cute in his own way, but not her type. He’d always been all about sports and chasing women. In that order.

  She dated casually, but she didn’t sleep with guys just for the sake of having sex. Ever. Although, with Ben she was sorely tempted to make an exception. But he was different. She’d once loved him.

  Gloria walked up to their table with two glasses of water and a frown. “Didn’t expect to see you two here for dinner. Where’s Ben, Kline?”

  Gloria was the hub of all relationship gossip in town so Kline needed to clear things up, pronto. “Ben is with his family. Mom wasn’t feeling well so she asked Wayne to keep me company. It’s not a date.” She glanced at Wayne to gauge his reaction.

  His forehead crumpled, but he didn’t say anything.

  Relief softened Gloria’s expression. “Sorry Betty’s not feeling well. So, what can I get you two?”

  Before Kline could answer, Wayne said, “The usual.”

  “Chicken-fried steak with a double serving of mashed potatoes. You got it.” Gloria turned to Kline. “Meatloaf is the special tonight.”

  “Meatloaf sounds perfect. And I ended up giving away that pie I picked up earlier to Ben, so I’ll need another.” She wouldn’t complicate the story by telling her that Joyce ultimately ended up with the pie.

  “Shared it with Ben, huh?” Gloria smirked, probably thinking how that would increase the action in her betting pool. “I’ll have your food right out. And Kline, your dinner and the pie are on the house. Call it a welcome home gift.”

  Gloria left before Kline could thank her. So she turned her attention to her non-date. “Last I heard, you were teaching in Denver. Why would you ever decide to come back here?”