From Fling to Wedding Ring

by Karin Baine

  ‘Dance lesson over. I really need to catch up on my work.’ Her trembling voice betrayed the strength of her rejection as she pushed him away, but she needed him to go so she had space to wail and cry over everything she was throwing away in peace.

  ‘We still have the turns to work on.’ Ben was every bit as shaky as she was but still he pushed for more.

  ‘Can we do it tomorrow night? Please, Ben.’ It was a desperate plea for him to heed her decision to stop this in its tracks, even when it seemed she was having trouble following her own advice.

  He gave a silent nod and reached for the door handle. A final act of kindness when she was at breaking point and one more heat-filled gaze or brush of his skin against hers would either result in her tearing off his clothes or dissolving into a puddle of tears. She couldn’t be sure which way the pendulum would swing if she gave into her emotions once and for all.

  When the door slammed shut behind him only the weeping option remained.

  * * *

  It was a couple of days before Ben contacted Mollie again. He knew he’d pushed her too far and he was fighting a losing battle. She’d made her decision and he had to accept that she didn’t want a relationship with him or lose her altogether. They still had to get through this dance competition, but after their last rehearsal he knew it was going to be a tough call trying to get her back to The Shed. In the end he’d had to play dirty and remind her she’d volunteered to paint a mural for them, and with Tom out of action all of the volunteers had to put in extra shifts to try and get the place spruced up. If he could at least get her there, let her see he wasn’t going to put her under pressure to get back on track as a couple, he might be able to persuade her to rehearse again.

  She was waiting for him outside The Shed, paint supplies in hand, and she seemed to stand up straighter when she saw him coming. As though she was steeling herself to go into battle. After everything they’d shared and the hopes he’d had that they could still salvage their relationship, he wasn’t ashamed to admit it hurt. Not that he would let her see that when he was doing his best to coax her back into a non-threatening dance partnership.

  ‘Hey. Thanks for coming.’ He left the shutters down so they could have some privacy but opened the door and flicked all the lights on so she could see for herself that work still needed to be done to get the place ready for any future visitors.

  ‘I didn’t want to break my promise and let anyone down.’ She got straight to work unpacking her materials and giving a clear signal she was only here to work and fulfil the duties she’d promised to carry out before things had become complicated.

  ‘I appreciate it.’

  ‘So, what would you like me to paint?’

  The wall was a blank canvas and Ben knew whatever she added to it would improve it one hundred per cent. It would also make him think of her every time he came into the room. He wasn’t sure that was going to be conducive to forgetting her once the contest was over and there were no more excuses to see her outside work.

  ‘Anything you like. What about some cherry blossoms?’ He couldn’t help himself from teasing but only succeeded in prompting her into giving him the death stare.

  ‘Behave yourself or you can do it yourself. I believe you’re quite handy with a can of spray paint.’ The burn didn’t sting nearly as much as it should when the person inflicting it was smiling and looking pretty smug with herself.

  That teasing about his past misdemeanours helped ease some of the tension between them and would hopefully pave the way for another foray into the world of ballroom dancing before the contest was upon them.

  * * *

  Even if Ben hadn’t been in contact with her, Mollie knew she’d have had trouble staying away. Her fevered dreams of dances and kisses were making him impossible to forget. Their last encounter had made her question if those kisses might be worth taking a risk after all.

  She painted the outline of a woodland scene and set Ben to task colouring the blades of grass in the hope it would occupy his mind and keep him from making any further innuendo referencing the intimacy they’d shared only nights ago.

  ‘I think I’m getting repetitive strain injury,’ he complained eventually and downed his paintbrush in his restlessness.

  ‘Well, we can’t have you suing me if I’m putting your livelihood at risk. We can finish this another time.’ Mollie began to clean her brushes and pack up her paints. She could store them here until the job was complete. It wouldn’t take long and there was nothing stopping her from popping in on her days off. When Ben wasn’t here to distract her.

  ‘We just need a break.’ Ben walked over to the shelves at the back of the room and turned on the radio, filling the airwaves with the sounds of nineties’ pop songs.

  It brought back memories of the summer Talia had spent teaching her cheesy dance routines, which were a world away from the grace and passion of her lessons with Ben.

  ‘May I have this dance?’ He made a sweeping bow before her as he made his proposal.

  ‘We can’t dance to this.’ Mollie laughed at the absurdity of the notion the steps he’d taught her could be related in any way to the repetitive squawking going on in the background.

  ‘Why not? There’s no law saying we’re limited to only performing a waltz. You can still dance for fun, you know.’ His eyes were sparkling with mischief as he took her hand and offered her some respite from the usual staid rules of ballroom. He didn’t give her a chance to refuse even if his naughty disregard for convention wasn’t infectious.

  This was an altogether different arrangement than she was used to as he whirled her into what she could only describe as a jive of some sort. They were practically bouncing across the floor as Ben spun her in and out of his hold until she was dizzy. These were the moments she found it difficult to let go, when the two of them were laughing and carefree and totally enamoured with each other.

  When the song ended and gave way to adverts they were left with their arms wrapped around each other, panting from their exertions. Mollie smiled up at him, trying to catch her breath again but reluctant to leave go of him again. He obviously took it as a sign she was willing to ditch her vow as he dipped his head and tried to kiss her.

  ‘No.’ She turned her head to dodge his lips when she knew her resolve was weakening by the second.

  ‘Why not, Mollie? You know we both want this. We’re good together. We deserve some happiness for ourselves.’ He made all valid points.

  ‘I don’t want to get hurt again, Ben, and I don’t see how we can possibly have a future.’

  ‘If you keep focusing on what could happen instead of the possibilities you have in front of you you’re never going to find peace. Why can’t we just seize what we have in this moment and enjoy it for what it is?’

  For him that probably meant a passionate fling when she’d made it clear she didn’t want anything more serious. The trouble was, kissing or no kissing, every minute she spent with Ben she knew she was falling deeper in love with him and she’d sold her soul piece by piece in exchange for their snatched time together. There was no reason left for her to hold back when her fate was already sealed.

  She pulled his head down towards her and kissed him, hard and fast and eager to catch up on everything she’d been missing.

  Ben latched onto her as though she were the very air he needed to breathe, their bodies crashing against the shelves as they found each other again. Her skin prickled with the heat from the flames of their passion and she didn’t protest as Ben tore at her clothes, exposing her to his gaze, his mouth and the cool night air.

  She didn’t want time to think; there’d been too much of that lately and tonight all she wanted to do was act on those instincts telling her to love Ben in whatever way she could. His body was hard against hers, pressing his need so insistently where she wanted him most. With trembling hands, she undid his fly, elicitin
g a sharp gasp from him that made her bolder still. She pushed aside the layers of fabric to claim her prize, grabbing his erection and making her intentions known beyond doubt. This time she was no timid virgin who needed to be treated with kid gloves; she was a red-blooded woman fired with passion who knew exactly what she wanted.

  Her scars were barely of any consequence to her as she stripped away the remainder of her own clothes to accept him. Ben had seen them for himself, heard the stories behind them and he was still crazed with lust for her.

  He hooked her leg around his waist, braced the two of them against the shelving and thrust inside her, immediately satisfying that aching need he’d awakened in her since the first time he’d kissed her.

  She was forced to grab hold of the shelf above her head for support, praying it was secure enough for both of them as Ben drove deep time and time again until they’d both satisfied their basest needs. Their climactic cries drowned out the white noise of the radio along with any doubts they should be together.

  CHAPTER NINE

  WORK AND THE trials of his grandfather aside, these past days had been the best of Ben’s life. He and Mollie had spent whatever time they could find together practising their dance routine and making love. Neither of them knew what the future held but for now they were content with what they had.

  He’d looked into putting a personal care package together for his grandfather that would help them all live as normal a life as possible. So far it hadn’t been possible to stay over with Mollie, but tonight he was taking steps to address that. They’d decided on dinner at her place and Ben was hoping they might actually get to spend a whole night alone.

  ‘I’m off out, Grandad. I’ve left my number in case anyone needs to get hold of me.’

  ‘Are you seeing Mollie? She’s a nice girl. Reminds me a lot of my Ellen.’ In a rare moment of lucidity his grandfather remembered who she was, but having him bring her up in conversation now as Ben was going out of the door to meet her was something of a surprise and proved he was on the ball enough in those brief intervals to read his grandson’s mood. There was always more of a spring to Ben’s step on those nights he knew he was going to see Mollie.

  ‘Yeah...er... I like spending time with her. I hope that’s okay?’

  His grandfather gripped him firmly by the shoulder.

  ‘You go for it, son. She’s special. Don’t ever let me get in the way of you living your life. All your gran and I ever wanted was for you to be happy.’ Tears welled in his eyes as he willed Ben to leave him behind in the pursuit of his own soul mate. They’d never discussed the idea of moving him into more permanent care because it wasn’t an option Ben had ever wanted to consider. Now Hugh was basically telling him he didn’t want to be that burden holding his grandson back from anything that would bring him joy. It was a lot to take in when Ben had always believed that final decision rested on his shoulders and no one else’s.

  ‘Thanks, Grandad.’ Ben pulled him into a back-slapping bear hug, choking back his own tears. To have his blessing on the relationship and relieving him of some of that responsibility of his care when the time came when he could no longer cope with him at home meant everything. Now all he had to do was convince Mollie they could have a future after all.

  * * *

  Mollie had cleaned the apartment to within an inch of its life, showered, put on the sexy underwear she’d purchased with Ben in mind and was waiting for him to arrive.

  There was no reason to be nervous, yet she couldn’t bring herself to order the dinner she’d promised him when the anticipation of their night together had been fuel enough to get her through the day. She’d wait until they’d worked up an appetite before they put in the call for more sustenance. He’d promised her a full night together with the assurance it wasn’t for any other reason than for them to enjoy each other’s company without interruption.

  Even though she was expecting the rap on the door her heart gave an extra beat when Ben confirmed his arrival with a loud knock. He looked hot as hell, too, standing there on her doorstep with carnal intention written all over his handsome face. It wouldn’t have mattered if he’d turned up wearing his scrubs, a tux or nothing but a smile because they both knew the reason he was there and it wasn’t to practise their dance steps.

  ‘Did someone order a booty call?’ He leaned against the door frame with the lazy sort of smile that would make aphrodisiacs a billion-dollar industry if they could bottle it.

  ‘Sorry. I think you’ve been prank called. We get a lot of that around here. I had five pizza-delivery boys sent here last week.’ She feigned nonchalance even though there was every chance she would drop into a dead faint at the sight of him at any given second.

  ‘Oh? I sincerely hope they didn’t get the kind of welcome I’m expecting.’ His lips were on hers before she had a chance to make another sassy comeback as he pushed into the flat and kicked the door shut behind him.

  With her arms and legs wrapped around him, he carried her easily with him across the floor.

  ‘The bedroom’s behind you,’ she mumbled, the compact nature of her new abode and the proximity of the rooms at least proving useful on this occasion. They wouldn’t have to wait too long to be properly reunited.

  ‘Good.’ The growl of his impatience at her ear rippled through every erogenous zone in her body until she practically fell onto the bed in surrender to her libido. There was a new depth to the urgency of his desire to match her own tonight. Hers was fuelled by the strength of her feelings for him, which she couldn’t dare voice. Admitting she was in love with someone who didn’t feel the same way and sticking around was tantamount to self-abuse and that was before she even added his grandfather into the equation.

  Ben paused briefly to admire her lacy lingerie before unceremoniously tossing it onto the floor and she stopped thinking about everyone else other than the man she loved.

  * * *

  ‘I love you, Mollie.’ The words slipped out as they lay in the afterglow of their lovemaking and Ben couldn’t take them back even if he wanted to. The truth was he wanted this to work, he wanted to have a proper relationship with her and still carry on caring for his grandfather. He wanted desperately to have it all, but the soft rhythmic breathing coming from the beautiful woman next to him in bed said he’d have to wait to get her verdict on that idea.

  He’d only just begun to drift off to sleep himself, any idea of food long forgotten now they were both sated, when his phone buzzed somewhere against the floorboards. It took him a while to locate his trousers in the dark and answer the call with a lowered voice for fear of waking Mollie and breaking the spell that they were the only people in the world tonight.

  ‘Hello?’ He scooped up his clothes and tiptoed out of the room to take the call out of earshot. It was the house landline and there was no doubt in his head that he was going to have to go home tonight after all.

  ‘Ben? Your grandfather’s behaving a little...peculiarly. I think you should come back.’

  ‘I’m on my way.’ He should be used to these calls by now, whether emergency or false alarm, but tonight especially it felt particularly unfair. There was a lot for him and Mollie to talk over and another crisis wasn’t going to help his cause to persuade her they should think about getting serious. With a heavy heart he dressed quickly and scribbled an apology note on the chalkboard shopping list hung on the kitchen wall. He’d phone her as soon as he could and beg for her forgiveness in person once he’d got this latest problem under control.

  ‘I thought you were staying the night.’ Mollie appeared in the living room wearing the sheet from her bed as an improvised toga.

  ‘So did I.’ He sighed and pulled on his shoes before this beautiful vision in white could lure him back to paradise.

  ‘Hugh?’

  ‘It’s probably nothing major but I should go back and check he’s okay.’ Whatever was happening
at home, he knew there was little chance of coming back here. The moment was over and probably the idea of them having a relationship beyond the bedroom.

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Do you want to come with me?’ He knew it was a lot to ask but he needed some sign that the next time he made his declaration of love, when she was conscious, she might reciprocate the sentiment. There couldn’t be more proof of love than someone willing to go out into the cold night on another mission of mercy.

  ‘I...er... I’m not dressed.’ She made no attempt to move and all his hopes were dashed that they’d moved past what had happened that morning at his. She’d already shown her eagerness to escape the responsibility placed upon her by her own family by moving out here and he should have known taking on more was never going to end well.

  ‘Okay. No problem.’ He snatched up his keys and headed off on his own, wondering what this meant for their relationship if she didn’t want to be part of his life where it mattered.

  ‘Ben! Wait!’ He looked back in time to see Mollie running across the car park after him, struggling to get arms in the sleeves of her sweater so she could button up her jeans.

  ‘I thought you weren’t coming?’ The sigh of relief as she jumped into the car beside him was immense.

  ‘I had a bit of a wobble after what happened the last time me and Hugh were in the same room together, but when it comes down to it I want to be with you, Ben. Whatever that entails.’ It was the most he could expect considering everything she’d been subjected to regarding his grandfather, and he could analyse it later when he had the time. For now he was just glad he had her support.