That was above and beyond what he’d signed up for and only made her admire him more. “Sounds like a lot of work.”
He shrugged. “It’s the holidays. Gotta chip in to make it special.”
A pang of guilt hit. She’d nearly forgotten about the Harpers between working and thinking so much about Ben. She had to get her priorities straight. As soon as she got her first paycheck, she would start shopping. There was so much she needed to make their holiday everything it should be. She’d already been browsing online, but some things she knew she’d have to check out locally to find the perfect item. Plus she needed to plan a menu, buy the groceries, and buy decorations. Rena had fled their home with only the bare minimum, not wanting to alert her abusive husband that she was planning to leave him with the kids. Missy shouldn’t have neglected her work for them this week.
“You’re right,” she said. “Some work now will make the holidays special later.” She’d come up with the menu tonight.
“So after this Hailey doesn’t need me until closing time. You want some help at the hot chocolate stand?”
Her pulse quickened, cheeks flushed, stomach fluttering. “That would be great,” she said softly.
He stopped walking, a slow sexy smile dawning, his teeth flashing white against his dark stubbled cheeks, his blue eyes warm on hers. “Okay. I’ll see you then.”
He didn’t touch her, yet she felt a radiant glow down to her toes as if he had. Like one of his hugs.
She nodded and lifted a hand in goodbye.
He winked, turned and strode away.
How was she supposed to resist a man as irresistible as Ben?
She couldn’t. Not anymore. She wanted more with him—more time, more conversation, and yes, more sex. She’d let him know at the next opportunity.
~ ~ ~
Ben followed his honorary brother, Marcus Shepard, to the basement of Ludbury House, thinking of Missy. He’d felt something from her back there on the sidewalk, something warm that said she was into him too. Thank God. He did not want to be hanging out on a lovesick limb all by himself. Whoa. Back it up. Love? No. That couldn’t be possible. They were still getting to know each other. He could count on one hand what he actually knew about Missy, but he was proud to say the look in her eyes seemed more open to him now. If he could just get through the next two weeks and one day without doing or saying anything lustily inappropriate, he’d be all set. Sure, it would be easier if he spent less time with her, rather than all this friendly shit, but he didn’t even consider it. He wanted to be with her whether or not things got physical. Damn, this was like a whole new level of enlightenment for him.
He and Marcus quickly located the long wooden table Hailey had requested. She’d taped a paper sign to it that said in black marker: Donation table for holiday stroll. She’d even added a big heart in red marker.
Marcus lifted one side of the table with ease. He was a hulk—tall with a large bulked-up body from his daily workouts—and could probably haul the table by himself. Ben lifted his side, and they maneuvered toward the stairs, Ben taking the lead on the upside, doing more steering than lifting.
He looked down at Marcus’s dark eyes with thick lashes staring back at him, his expression not showing the least bit of strain. “You still seeing three women?” Ben asked, curious. The women all knew about each other, and Marcus couldn’t seem to pick just one.
“That was a while ago. Keep up with the times.”
True. He used to see Marcus regularly for Saturday afternoon basketball games at a park nearby, but they didn’t play in the winter, so he hadn’t seen him as much. Marcus lived and worked in the city, owner of his own bar in lower Manhattan.
“So what’s your deal?” Ben asked. “From three women to zero? Or did you pick one?”
“You sound like Hailey with all your relationship questions.” Marcus huffed out a breath. “Could you move faster? The wood is digging into my palm. I think I’m getting a splinter.”
That was Marcus for you. He could heave enormous barbells and work his body to the brink of exhaustion, but one little splinter and he was done for. He was sensitive in the oddest ways.
Ben moved faster upstairs as requested. They maneuvered through the doorway and set the table down.
“Right this way, guys!” Hailey called. “We’ll be setting up outside Garner’s. Josh said it was okay.”
Marcus and Ben exchanged a knowing look. Josh, even with a girlfriend, was still wrapped around Hailey’s little finger. The part they didn’t get was why Hailey didn’t know it. Her cluelessness was a real mystery, considering she was a woman hell-bent on bringing couples together, calling herself a “love junkie.” It was so obvious Josh was tuned in to her, magically appearing to scare off Blake Grenier at the Fierce Loving wrap party, enjoying the hell out of sparring with her at the bar. Once, the guys had all witnessed Josh toss Hailey the basketball during one of their Saturday games when she was on the other team. That was when they knew Josh was hooked. Their basketball games had always been fiercely competitive, and no one would purposely give away the ball like that. Why the hell Josh hadn’t made his move on Hailey was another mystery. She was beautiful, driven, and smart, though obviously high maintenance, which was why the rest of them hadn’t stepped up. More than once, the guys had tried to get an answer out of Josh. The man was a fucking vault.
“Logan,” Hailey called, and he appeared right quick from wherever he’d been waiting. Maybe Josh wasn’t the only one wrapped around Hailey’s finger. “Could you fetch the long four-wheeled dolly out back in the storage shed? I think that would be best for transporting the barrels.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Logan said and went to do her bidding.
Hailey stared after him and then turned to Ben and Marcus. “He’s a sweetheart, isn’t he?”
“No,” they said in unison. Not because Logan wasn’t a great guy. It was just that Logan and Josh were brothers and, if Hailey got between them, it would get ugly.
Hailey flipped her long reddish-blond hair over her shoulder. “Back to work. Would you guys like to wear elf hats?”
Marcus’s expression was one of abject horror. “No, thanks,” he muttered.
“I’ll take one,” Ben said, figuring he could put it on Missy and tease her about her previous life as an elf.
Hailey squealed and ran off to get it.
Ben shrugged. “It’s for Missy.”
Marcus shook his head, a small smirk on his face.
“What?” Ben asked defensively. “We’re friends. It’s an inside joke.”
Marcus smirked even more. “Logan says he wants to retch seeing your lovesick puppy eyes around her.”
“I do not have lovesick puppy eyes,” he said with as much dignity as he could muster. Did he? Shit. Had Missy noticed? That would be embarrassing, especially because he definitely hadn’t seen any kind of lovesick look in her eyes.
Marcus gave him a skeptical look. Logan never lied and they both knew it.
“We’re friends,” Ben said firmly.
“Uh-huh.”
“We are.”
Marcus spoke in a low tone. “No shame in being into a woman.”
Ben crossed his arms, determined that everyone know how professional and just friends their relationship really was. “She works at Checkin. Everything is aboveboard.”
Marcus gave him a sympathetic look. “That sucks.”
Ben clenched his jaw. It was only for a few more weeks, but he couldn’t explain he was waiting for the appropriate moment because what he was really ashamed of was the reason why—the sexual harassment accusation Ashley had leveled at him. He never told any of his friends about that. Unfortunately, some industry people, who could do the most damage, did know. He could not screw this thing up with Missy. Too much depended on him keeping a high profile for the investors. He was playing the long game with a lot more uncertainty in the outcome than he’d like.
Hailey appeared with the elf hat, and Ben took it, grateful to ma
ke his escape. He tucked the hat in his coat pocket and then he and Marcus hauled the table across the street and down the block, setting it on the sidewalk in front of Garner’s. The stroll was officially open for business, and people had started to arrive, checking out everything. His gaze caught across the street where Missy was serving some kids at the hot chocolate stand.
“Could you get the chairs?” he asked Marcus. “I gotta go.” He headed across the street.
“Sure, bail on me!” Marcus hollered behind him.
“Thanks!” Ben lifted a hand and continued across the street. He knew Marcus could easily handle two folding chairs on his own, and Logan would help him with the barrels. He moved quickly, eager to put the elf hat on Missy, but he slowed down as he got close enough to read her expression. She was smiling at the young kids, two boys and a girl, but there was pain in her eyes.
He crossed to her side and took in the kids. Two boys with short brown hair, maybe six and eight, holding their to-go cups of hot chocolate. The girl with long brown hair, about ten, wore a tight pink jacket she’d clearly outgrown.
“It’s okay,” Missy said to the girl. “Just between us.” She smiled. “You like whipped cream?”
“We didn’t know it would cost so much,” the girl whispered. “Mom only gave us enough for two hot chocolates.” She glanced over to where her mom was buying a cone of spiced nuts, but she didn’t call to her for more money.
“It’s on the house,” Missy announced brightly, pouring a cup for her.
The girl’s chin snapped up, proud and defiant. “Mom says we work for what we want. I have to earn it.”
Missy’s smile faltered. “It’s for taking such good care of your brothers.”
Just then the younger boy hollered, “Hey! You made me spill!” A large puddle of hot chocolate in the street quickly ran into the drainage grate.
“I told you not to open the lid!” his brother hollered. “You made yourself spill!”
“Maddy says there’s not enough money for another hot chocolate! Gimme yours!”
“NO!”
The girl hunched her shoulders, her cheeks red. She turned, starting to walk away.
“You with the spilled hot chocolate!” Ben called to the boy. “Did you know hot chocolate is free if you believe in Santa?”
“I do believe in Santa!” the boy hollered, brightening.
“Then you get another hot chocolate.” He turned to Maddy. “And you get one too.”
“I didn’t say I believe in Santa,” she whispered.
“You ever make a Christmas list?” he asked, taking one of the carafes of hot chocolate and pouring a cup for the boy jumping with joy on the sidewalk.
“Well, yeah,” she said uncertainly.
“Ever sing a Christmas carol?” Ben asked, handing the boy a fresh cup.
“Everyone has,” Maddy said.
Missy chimed in. “Looks like everyone gets a free cup.” She shot him a grateful look that made his chest puff with pride before turning back to Maddy. “You a whipped cream girl?”
Maddy nodded. Missy piled on the whipped cream, put the lid on, and handed the cup over.
Maddy took the cup, staring at it, her lower lip wobbling. “Thank you.” She joined her mom at the nearby roasted nuts cart, her brothers running over to join them, shouting that the hot chocolate was free.
Missy turned to him, one hand on his arm, going up on tiptoe, leaning close, closer than she’d been in a hellishly long week.
He stopped breathing. She was going to kiss him. He could return it if she initiated. His heart thumped hard, the blood surging through his veins. This was okay, really okay, he couldn’t be faulted, it was inevitable, they weren’t at the office, it was all her and just him returning—
She shifted to whisper in his ear and he nearly groaned. “Those were the Harper kids I’m helping this Christmas. Thank you so much, but I’m afraid word’s getting out about the free hot chocolate, and this was part of the fundraiser for the food bank.”
He needed to calm the fuck down. If he made it through this professional hell, he should be awarded fucking gentleman professional of the year. If such a thing existed. Now it did. That was him.
He spoke gruffly, pissed at himself for getting all worked up when she was obviously not. “I’ll cover it.”
“Ben—”
He pulled the elf hat from his coat pocket and put it on her. “I come to the rescue. It’s my thing. Now you look elftastic.”
Missy didn’t react to the hat at all, her gaze drifting over to Maddy, a haunted look in her eyes.
“What’s her deal?” Ben asked.
Missy faced front. “There’s a line. Let’s get back to work.”
He had an uneasy feeling over her nonanswer, but there actually was a line. How much were they charging for this stuff anyway? Whatever. It was for a good cause. He could cough up some dough, knowing it brought a little Christmas cheer to Maddy and her brothers. Not to mention contributed to the food bank.
An hour passed and he was starting to get worried about Missy. She barely spoke to him as they worked side by side, becoming more withdrawn, not even smiling at the customers. But then another woman that could only be Missy’s sister got in line. The woman was much taller than Missy, but she had the same gorgeous shade of red hair and those lips, the dip at the top with the plump lower lip, were identical. She held a toddler girl on her hip, the girl all bright-eyed, wearing a pink knit cap with a pom-pom over her dark brown hair and a matching pink coat. A tall Italian man stood next to them with a baby tucked inside his black jacket zipped around them both. Just the baby’s striped cap over dark hair peeked out. Her sister’s husband for sure. The kids had his dark hair.
“Missy!” the red-haired woman called with a cheery wave. “We’re here!”
“Hi, guys!” Missy called with a bright beaming smile.
“How’s your car holding up?” the guy asked.
Ben turned to Missy. She was having car trouble? He would’ve made sure it was fixed if he’d known. As a friend. Friends could help each other out.
“Good, Nico, thanks,” Missy said. “I appreciate you taking a look at it.” She turned to Ben. “My car was making this funny noise whenever I stopped. Nico is a master mechanic. Usually he just works on classic cars, but he made an exception for me.”
Nico grinned. “That thing’s so old it’s already a classic.”
Missy laughed. “I know, I know.”
Nico looked down at the baby on his chest and started bouncing a bit in place, saying something to the mom.
“That your sister?” Ben asked Missy while they continued pouring hot chocolate, trying to keep the line moving.
Missy’s eyes widened. “You can tell?”
“Come on, that red hair? Those lips?”
She blushed, so cute when she blushed. “Yeah, that’s Lily. We both took after our biological mom.”
He wondered if Missy had been given up for adoption, but her sister kept. Or maybe they both were given up. Now was not the time to ask. Hell, she hated answering questions. One thing he knew about Missy, if he pushed for too much information, she’d pull away. And, really, what more did he need than just to be with her? He already knew the basics from his background check on her. What did the nitty-gritty details of her past really matter?
Missy called to her niece. “Chloe, did you see Santa?”
Chloe nodded vigorously, her pink pom-pom bouncing. “Yes! Pony!”
Nico tapped Chloe on the nose. “Santa doesn’t have ponies. Too cold at the North Pole.”
“He might have a My Little Pony,” Missy offered.
“He might!” Lily exclaimed with great enthusiasm to Chloe. “Remember Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle?”
“No. Pony,” Chloe said stubbornly.
The parents had a quick whispered conversation.
By the time Lily and her family made it to the front of the line, Chloe was off the pony thing, too busy playing with a sma
ll flashlight attached to her dad’s keychain. Nico was pacing the sidewalk with the baby. Missy had introduced Ben to everyone. Lily beamed at him and immediately invited him to Sunday dinner.
“Sure, that’d be great,” he said, looking to Missy. But her eyes were only for her baby nephew.
“Nico,” Missy called, “can I take Leo for a bit? I’m in serious baby withdrawal. You guys can walk around with Chloe, and I’ll get him settled in the café.”
Nico looked to Lily, who nodded. “I fed him before we left,” Lily said. “He’s probably ready for a nap.”
Nico pulled the baby out of his cozy pouch, still swaddled in a thick blanket, and handed him over to Missy, who immediately started cooing, “How’s my little Leo? How’s my sweetie-weetie?”
Leo stared at her for a moment before breaking into a big gummy baby smile.
“I’m on break,” she called over her shoulder to Ben.
“Yup.” Sure, leave him with the line. But he couldn’t work up much irritation because she was so obviously thrilled with her baby nephew.
Several minutes later, he caught her eye through the large window of the café, the baby curled up on her chest, seeming to be asleep. Missy looked relaxed and content. She gave him a soft smile that crossed the distance between them and zapped his heart. He couldn’t tear his gaze away, heart pounding, something primal in him waking for the first time ever. Missy was a woman meant to have children, and he was meant to give them to her. He knew it like…fate.
And then it started to snow.
He pointed up at it. Missy’s jaw dropped and then she beamed.
He watched her staring at the snow coming down with a look of pure wonder. He swallowed over the lump in his throat. A woman who thought snow was magical, who went soft with a baby in her arms.
He’d never seen anything more beautiful.
Chapter Eleven
Missy spent the next week and a half in frustrated uncertainty. She’d been so sure Ben had definite interest in her at the holiday stroll, but once she’d returned to work at Checkin, he was so distant she’d started to think she’d imagined it. Or, worse, maybe he’d lost interest. She wished she could’ve followed up on her instincts right after the holiday stroll, but he was busy packing up, and then he was with Logan and Marcus, loading up the truck for their deliveries. Her mind looped with thoughts of Ben. Something in her had shifted, a softening toward him that both scared and exhilarated her. She knew better than to trust a man, but with Ben she wanted to at least give him the benefit of the doubt.
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