They were his buddies now. The Three Amigos. Of course Benji was certain Jeb would be the Martin Short of the gang personality-wise, but if they were going to judge it based on height, he’d be the Martin Short of their gang.
Snickering at the thought, he finished buttoning his shirt and grabbed for the black vest folded neatly in the bottom of his gym bag. The one thing he enjoyed most about being a guy was his fashion sense. He liked to dress dapper as fuck on some days, and today was definitely one of those days.
“Damn, Ben. That’s a sharp outfit.” Callum commented when he turned back around to face them. “What you getting all dressed up for?”
“Well, I—”
“He’s probably got a hot date and didn’t even tell us.” Jeb’s eyebrows shot upwards. “Dude, who is she? When do we get to meet her?”
“What?” Benji’s eyes widened and he felt sweat beading on his forehead.
For fuck’s sake, I just took a shower.
“I bet she’s hot.” Jeb crossed his arms over his chest and his muscles seemed to bulge beneath the skin as he grinned. “Is she local?”
“Dude, no. I’m not going on a date.” He replied, raking his fingers through his hair nervously. If Jeb had any idea who he had his eye on, he’d probably be dead meat.
This is awkward. I can’t do awkward today.
The truth was, he really was going to see Laney. He’d do his best to make it seem casual, but he was worried about her and needed to make sure she was okay.
If only it was actually a date…
“Yeah, yeah. You’re just keeping it to yourself. I can respect that.” Jeb nodded and glanced down at his watch. “Shit. I have to go.”
“Where are you going?” Callum asked.
“Uh…” Jeb glanced back and forth between the two of them, as if he was trying to come up with a reply, and then he shrugged. “Just got some stuff to do, man. I’ll call you later. Try to think of something you guys want to do tonight, okay?”
“Okay…” Callum seemed suspicious, but after Jeb left the room, he must have brushed it off because he was already pulling his phone out. Benji assumed he was texting Lydia.
“Well, I guess that’s that, huh?” He asked, attempting to make conversation.
“Huh?” Callum glanced up from his phone and blinked. “Oh, yeah. I’m probably going to head out, too. I think Lydia wanted to sample some cupcakes today.”
“Cupcakes.” Benji groaned as his stomach growled. “Sample some for me.”
“Sure. Maybe I can bring one back for you?”
“Nah, man. That’s fine. I’ll pick something up on the way home.”
And maybe I can convince Laney to have lunch with me.
His pulse quickened at the thought. Would she?
“All right. Well, I’m out of here then. See you tonight?”
“Yeah. Sounds great. Have fun with Lydia.”
“I will. I always do.” Callum grinned and it was easy to see how sincere he was about that statement.
Again, Benji was grateful his best friend had found someone who loved her so much.
One day, he affirmed as he gathered his things and followed Callum out. One day.
After stopping at the local diner and getting two orders of French fries and two cheeseburgers, he pulled into the parking lot of the complex and got out. Gripping the bag filled with deliciousness in one hand and his gym bag in the other, he made his way inside and took the stairs, all the while thinking about Laney.
He couldn’t get her out of his mind. Even though he hadn’t seen her too much since his arrival in Prairie Town, he still clung to the hope that things would work out between them.
And even though Jeb and Callum had no idea how he felt about her, Lydia knew all too well—she had for a while—and she had asked him to take things slow.
This was slow, right? Bringing her some lunch was nothing more than a friendly gesture. Checking in on a friend wasn’t anything bad, was it?
“Nope.” He muttered beneath his breath, carefully lifting the strap of his gym bag onto his shoulder before knocking on her door.
Listening closely, he heard someone walking in the apartment and he licked his lips, reminding his body to remain calm.
Don’t make a fool of yourself. Just be cool.
But that was easier said than done when the door opened up and Laney appeared, wearing nothing but a pink towel around her body with damp curls framing her perfect face. Steam was still rising from her skin. Had she literally just gotten out of the shower?
Oh, fuck. Whatever greeting he’d rehearsed on the way up was quickly forgotten, the words lodged in his throat as he stared at her like a deer caught in headlights.
“Hi, Benji.” She said in that ever so sweet voice of hers. “Have you been standing here for long? I was in the shower.”
“N-no.” He finally managed to say. “I just got here. I um…God, I’m sorry, Laney. I thought you might like some lunch, but I should have called ahead. I wasn’t thinking.”
Hell, he still wasn’t thinking. He was far from thinking as his eyes wandered over the soft pink fabric covering her breasts, zeroing in on her cleavage. Dirty and totally inappropriate thoughts flooded his mind as he bit his tongue and swallowed hard.
His mouth practically watered for just one taste of her skin.
“Would you like to come in?”
Yes.
Oh, he wanted to come in all right. He wanted to rip that towel off her body and put his mouth everywhere. He wanted to hear her moan as he put his tongue ring to good use. He wanted to hear her beg as he kept going even when she became too sensitive. He wanted to—
“Benji? Did you hear me?”
His eyes snapped back up to her face and the blush on her cheeks said she’d definitely caught him looking—gawking was more like it. He was being an absolute pig and he knew it.
Sorry, not sorry.
Okay, he was a little sorry, but holy shit. How could a man not stare when the epitome of perfection was placed before him?
“Yes. Please. Thank you.” He cleared his throat and stepped inside, eyes wandering everywhere but back to her. The last thing he needed to do was make her feel uncomfortable.
I’m an asshole.
“Ags isn’t hungry?” She asked as she closed the door and moved into the kitchen. Clutching the towel around herself with one hand, she opened the fridge door and pulled out a pitcher of lemonade, glancing at him.
“Ags is at work.”
“Oh, right. And how is the job working out?”
“Tula is a great employer. Ags appreciates the hours—and the money. I’m glad she gave her…uh, him a chance.”
Agnes was back, at least for a little while. Benji didn’t mind as long as his friend was okay. That’s all that mattered to him, really. Knowing his friends were content was one of the most important things that determined whether his days would be good or bad. And he felt the same way about Laney now.
“Ah. Agnes.” Laney smiled, pouring them each a glass. “I thought about seeing if he was available for a massage last night, but then I realized I was being ridiculous. If anybody needs a good rubdown these days, it’s probably Lydia. She’s freaking out about the wedding.”
“I know she is. Why didn’t you call? Agnes wouldn’t have minded.”
He really wanted to ask what had her so worked up. Hell, he wanted to know everything. Yes, she was beautiful and he wanted to do wicked things to her, but he also wanted her to be okay. If there was anything he could do to help her, he wanted to.
“I don’t like bothering people.” She replied sheepishly, nodding towards the table. “Come sit. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“Cheeseburgers and fries. I don’t know if you even like that kind of thing, but—”
“Are you kidding? I love cheeseburgers.” She smiled. A real, genuine smile and that gave Benji hope. If she was still capable of smiling, then there was a chance she’d be okay.
Then again, he knew f
rom past experience that people could fake smiles and still be falling apart on the inside.
I’ll glue her back together.
“Are you excited about starting your new job?”
“Oh, yeah.” He nodded enthusiastically.
Tula had really come through for both he and Ags when she heard they were looking for jobs before they could move to Prairie Town. Ags was now her personal masseuse and Benji, well, he would get the privilege of being the first employee at her brand spanking new book store, Bookleberry Finn’s, opening smack dab in the middle of Prairie Town.
“That’s wonderful. Truly, it is. I can’t wait to see what she puts in there. It’s for the lesser-known authors, right? Indies, I think?”
“Yeah. I reckon that’s how she started out before getting picked up by a big name publisher. She said it’s her way of giving back.”
“That’s awesome. I love to read.” Laney gave him a warm smile and then gasped. “I should probably put on some clothes.” She laughed as he set down and began sorting through the food. “I almost forgot I was naked under here.”
Benji honestly didn’t mind the fact.
At all.
“Sure.” He smiled, forcing his eyes to remain on her face. “I’ll just wait right here.”
“Okay.” She bit her lip and blushed. “I’ll hurry back. Promise.”
And I’ll behave. Promise. He thought, watching as she rushed into her bedroom.
“Oh, God.” He groaned under his breath when her door closed. “Please don’t let me fuck this up.”
----------
Laney
“Oh, God.” She whispered as she shut her door and leaned against it. Clutching the towel tightly between her hands, she allowed a breath of relief to escape her lungs and closed her eyes.
What kind of idiot forgot they were wearing a towel?
The kind who loses the ability to think when they’re in the presence of a smoking hot guy.
The visit from Benji was totally unexpected. Lydia had only been gone for a few minutes—out with Callum to do wedding stuff again—and Laney had seized the opportunity to take a shower, sing loudly while taking said shower, and was looking forward to running about in nothing more than her birthday suit when the knock sounded.
The fact he looked so devastatingly handsome in a vest definitely did not help matters.
“Shit.”
Quickly rummaging through her clean clothes to find something decent to wear, she wondered briefly about what could possibly happen while they were alone.
Her mind wandered to dark, erotic places.
No! I will not think about such things. He’s just being nice.
It really was sweet of him to bring her food, but a part of her wondered if Lydia had put him up to it. She appreciated her sister’s efforts to cheer her up more than she’d ever know, but she didn’t want sympathy.
But what if he really just wants to have lunch with me?
Oh, now that was an exciting thought. Butterflies filled her stomach and she glanced at herself in the mirror. Yep, her cheeks were still red. Why did she always have to act like a schoolgirl around him?
“Get it together, McIntosh.” She scowled, quickly getting dressed. “It’s just lunch. That’s it. Nothing more.”
And that’s exactly what she kept telling herself while they were eating. It was difficult to keep from staring at him. Benji was a really attractive guy with beautiful big blue eyes and an irresistible dimple on his left cheek that popped up every time he smiled. His face was ridiculous in the best way possible.
It was really hard not to stare.
“So, how are things at work?” He asked as he crumpled up the wrapper from his burger and tossed it into the trashcan a few feet away.
“Honestly? I hate it.”
“Really? I thought you liked your job at the bank.”
“I do.” She sighed. “It’s just…it’s complicated. I guess I don’t really hate it, I just really don’t like it right now.”
“I get what you mean. I was pretty bipolar about my job, too.”
She stiffened when he said the word ‘bipolar’ and her eyes widened slightly. Surely he hadn’t meant it the way she was taking it. Her brain was being stupid. Ugh.
But Benji must’ve realized his mistake and her paranoia over people discovering the real her worsened when he stumbled over a quick apology.
“Laney, I’m sorry. That was a terrible word choice. I just meant there were times when I hated my job and other times when I really loved it.”
“It’s fine, really.” She tried to laugh it off as she tucked some semi-damp hair behind her ear. “I think everybody can be bipolar about work. It’s no big deal.”
“It’s a big deal to me.” He said quietly, sliding his hand across the table and resting it atop hers.
The warmth of his fingers touching her knuckles caused little sparks of energy to jolt straight up her arm. Her heart wanted to explode; her stomach flooded with butterflies.
Damn it!
“Laney?”
Slowly, very slowly, she gazed at him and the intensity of his gaze made her want to melt right then and there. She wasn’t sure a guy had ever looked at her like that before.
“I really am sorry. Whatever you’re thinking… it’s not true, okay?”
What was she thinking, exactly?
Her mind was always a whirlwind of thoughts and it rarely slowed down. She supposed that’s why it was so hard to fall asleep at night; too many thoughts. Too many what-ifs. Too many regrets, and too many worries.
At that very moment in time, however, she was only thinking about how badly she wanted to kiss him. Having feelings for her sister’s best friend had been confusing her for months and secretly thrilling her simultaneously.
Benji was the leading man in all of her fantasies.
She wasn’t supposed to like him.
But she did. God, she did.
I don’t even deserve somebody like him.
“Laney?”
His voice brought her back to reality and she realized he was closer. When had he moved closer? She hadn’t even heard his chair scoot across the floor, yet here he was, right beside her. The delicious scent of his cologne invaded her nostrils and it frazzled her senses.
“Hm?” Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
“Look, I know we’re not really close or anything and maybe I don’t have any right to get involved, but I just want you to know that if you ever need a shoulder or someone to talk to, I’m your guy.”
‘I’m your guy’. What did he mean by that? Oh, lord, what did he mean? Waves of heat tingled and pricked at her insides as she latched onto her bottom lip again and began nibbling it, her eyes darting back and forth between his, trying to decipher the look in his beautiful ocean blue hues.
What did he mean? Was he just trying to be nice? Did he know?
“Thank you.”
Really? Her mind screamed. Thank you? That’s all you can say?
“You’re welcome.” He gave her a crooked grin and patted her knee lightly before pulling back.
Oh no. Why was he pulling back? She liked how close he was and she liked the fact she could smell his cologne.
It suddenly felt too cold without his closeness. Ugh.
“Do you have any plans tonight?” Whoa. Where did that come from? She definitely wasn’t going out tonight, so why had she asked?
“I was thinking of going out tonight. Callum and Jeb were going to fill me in on what there is to do around here. Unless,”—his eyes swept over her body and he gave her another adorable grin—“you’re more of an expert. Do you know of anything fun to do on a Friday night in this place?”
I could think of a few things. She whimpered on the inside as she envisioned his body pressed against hers. The temptation to bite his lip ring was far too great at the moment. A distraction was needed, stat.
“Bowling.”
“Bowling?” He repeated, arching a brow.
; “Yes.” She wasn’t sure why she said bowling. Of all the things she could have said, it had to be the one thing she was horrible at.
Her name could have been Laney “Gutter Queen’ McIntosh, she was so bad at it. Why did she have to say freaking bowling as an option?
“I’m pretty good at bowling. Do you like to bowl?”
“Yes.” Lie!
“Would you, uh,”—he leaned forward in his seat, resting his elbows against his thighs—“maybe want to go with us tonight? Bowling?”
Yes. Hell yes. I don’t care if I’m bad at it.
“Will Lydia be there?” What did it matter if her sister was there or not?
“I imagine Callum will invite her, yes. Why? Are you afraid she’ll be better at it than me? Do you think she’ll beat me?” He asked, his tone serious.
“She might. You never know. You didn’t bowl in Vermont?”
“Sometimes, but we usually ended up going to the club or the local theatre to watch performances. Ags and theatre; it’s a match made in Heaven.”
“Ags is wonderful.” She smiled. “I hope he can come, too.”
“You think he’s going to pass up the chance to play with balls?” Benji snorted. “Never.”
“You’re terrible!”
“But you love it.” He nudged her knee with his own and they locked gazes again.
Her smile faded as his fingertips brushed against hers and it was all she could do to keep a needy, pathetic noise from escaping her lips.
Kiss me. She wanted to say. Kiss me senseless.
But instead, much to her disappointment, he simply smiled and stood up. Moving the chair back to where it belonged, he cleared his throat.
“Thanks for having lunch with me, Laney. I enjoyed it a lot.”
“Well, thank you for bringing lunch to me. We should do it again sometime.”
“We should.” He opened his arms and shrugged. “Hug?”
He wouldn’t have to ask twice. She stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around his body, trying to keep their embrace platonic, but that was easier said than done.
Benji’s arms slowly circled around her and her eyes instantly closed.
90 Days (Prairie Town Book 2) Page 7