by Lexi Ryan
Point taken, she threw back the second shot.
When he smiled at her, the warmth in her belly grew beyond the boundaries of the hot trail left by the tequila. “I’m Reese,” she said softly. “Thanks for saving the day.”
“Ben.” He whisked the empty shot glass and wiped the bar in front of her. “And I didn’t do a damn thing.”
Something pulled inside her chest as she studied him. She swallowed. “So, what about you? Are you a student?”
“I’m finishing up a degree in construction management—two semesters left.”
“Oh, so you’re my age.”
He chuckled. “Not unless you, Miss University of Chicago, are also on the six-year plan.”
She waved a hand. “Doesn’t really matter in the end. What are you going to do with that degree?”
“I’m going to build houses for people who have more money than they know what to do with.” He leaned forward on his elbows. “What about you?”
Reese reached for her water. “I’m in public relations. Actually, I stayed in town this summer because I was taking an internship, but it fell through. This morning.” She forced a smile. “It’s turning out to be a gem of a day.”
Ben frowned and snapped his towel toward her. “Hey, what about that charming bartender you met today? That part wasn’t so bad.”
Reese bit her lip, her cheeks warming. He was flirting with her. “I think he was trying to get me drunk,” she said, voice low. “But he is pretty charming.”
Ben propped himself on his elbows and leaned forward. “And handsome?”
“Don’t push your luck,” she said. Her cheeks were full-out burning now.
“You’re cute when you’re embarrassed.”
His gaze dropped to her lips and Reese stopped breathing. His Adam’s apple rose and fell as he swallowed. God, he was sexy, and man alive did she want him to kiss her.
She parted her lips, leaned forward a fraction of an inch. Movements so small someone across the bar probably wouldn’t have seen them, but they both knew it was an invitation.
Ben snapped upright and made work of straightening some bottles.
Reese inhaled deeply, looking for sanity in the deep breath. He’d seen her be embarrassed and he was trying to be nice. She wasn’t the type of girl to pick up a hunky bartender. Men like him—tall, charming, handsome, a body like oh-my-God—didn’t date women like her—short, frumpy, awkward, a body like oh-my-Jenny Craig.
She pulled a few bills from her purse and threw them on the bar. “I should be going,” she said with as much cheer as she could muster. She slid off the barstool.
“Don’t go.”
She stopped and turned to see him standing, thumbs in pockets, a sheepish grin on his face.
He gave a half-hearted shrug. “I’d feel better if you’d let me escort you home. You know, after pushing the hard stuff on you and all.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay. I walked.”
He stepped forward, pressing his palms against the bar. “Still.” He spotted her money and shook his head, holding it up for her. “What’s this?”
“For my drinks.”
“No way. Those were on me.” He left his post and tucked the bills into her purse. “My relief will be here any minute. Let me walk you home. What do you say?”
“You really don’t—”
The bell over the door rang as a tall, lanky man strolled in.
“Speak of the Devil,” Ben said. He shoved a hand in his pocket and came up with a set of keys that he tossed at the other man.
He snatched them out of the air. “Your house on fire, Hawk?”
“Reese, meet Luke. Luke, meet Reese.”
Luke raised a brow. “Nice to meet you, Reese.” He and Ben exchanged a look Reese couldn’t quite interpret.
“You too,” Reese said.
“I’m going to escort my friend here home,” Ben said, shocking Reese by sliding an arm around her shoulders. “She’s had a crappy day.”
Luke set his jaw. “Just be careful, Reese. Sometimes we do things when we’re feeling down that we wouldn’t have done if we’d given it some thought.”
Reese watched the looks the friends were exchanging. There was something going on here. Was this guy trying to warn her about Ben? Did she need to worry about walking down a busy street in the middle of the day with this guy she didn’t know?
“Have a nice shift,” Ben said, leading Reese toward the doors.
“Bye, Luke,” Reese called over her shoulder.
Once they were outside, Ben dropped his arm. “Where to?”
Reese shook her head. “You want to tell me what that was about?” she asked, gesturing toward the bar.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, but his eyes said he knew very well.
Reese propped her hands on her hips. “I’ve had a crappy day, Ben. I’m not interested in being a pawn in some game between you and your friend.”
Ben grimaced. “Shit,” he muttered. “Listen, I’m sorry if I made you feel like that. I really just want to make sure you get safely to wherever you’re going.”
Reese nodded slowly. She started walking, knowing he’d follow. “Guys are never this nice to me,” she confessed. “Unless you count my dad.” She meant the last as a joke, but it came out sounding as pathetic as she felt.
“Do you ever give them a chance to be?”
She turned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
They came to a crosswalk and stopped while they waited for a break in traffic.
Ben raised a shoulder. “Guys aren’t invincible. We’re afraid of being rejected too. Maybe you are so convinced all guys are jerks like the one you met today that you shut them down before they have a chance.”
They crossed the road and Reese thought about it. Or tried to. More than anything she was trying to figure out if Ben was interested in her or if he just had a really bad case of Nice Guy Syndrome.
“My apartment is right up here,” she said, turning onto a side street.
They walked in silence. When they reached the front doors of her building, Reese studied her feet for a minute, wondering what to do next. She wanted to see this guy again, but despite all his kindness today, she had no idea how to make that happen.
“Listen,” he said softly. “I could probably get you hooked up with a summer internship in PR.”
She snapped her head up and studied him. “Really?”
His gaze was all over her face. Was he trying to size her up for the position or memorize her? “Give me your number and I’ll see what I can do. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Oh. Wow.” She reached in her purse, searching for a pen. “Let me—”
He handed her his cell. “Why don’t you put it right into my phone? That way I don’t lose it.”
She keyed in her name and number, trying not to let her nerves show. “I don’t even know how to thank you,” she said, handing back the phone.
His fingers stilled over hers. “How about we say you owe me one?”
Her stomach knotted with anticipation. “Fair enough.”
He treated her to that wickedly adorable grin.
She took a breath, steeling herself for uncharacteristic bravery. “I don’t mean to, you know.”
“Mean to what?”
If she was going to do this, she needed to go all in. “I don’t mean to shut guys down. So—if you’re afraid of being rejected…” God, could she be more awkward? “Do you want to come up? Keep redeeming my day?”
Ben’s face fell. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” He backed away, as he’d suddenly discovered she had a deadly contagious disease and he was afraid he might not escape her. “I’m sorry, Reese. I just—can’t.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Reese!” Caroline Hawk exclaimed the moment Reese entered her kitchen. “Come here and give me a hug!”
Reese warmed as the woman hurried toward her, mop of gray curls bouncing. When she reached Reese, she wrapped her in a tight hu
g. “Thank you for inviting me,” she said, squeezing the woman in return. “I don’t remember the last time I had a home-cooked breakfast.”
She pulled away and narrowed her eyes at Ben. “Why didn’t you bring her sooner?”
Ben sighed and lifted his palms. “I thought maybe she had something better to do with her Saturday mornings than raise her cholesterol count?”
Caroline swatted him. She shifted her gaze to Reese and gave her a once-over. “Skin and bones, this one. Needs a good meal.” Then, on a mission, she waddled back to the kitchen.
Reese followed Caroline and the smell of coffee and bacon.
“It’s our lucky day. Your brother is joining us this morning.” Caroline said as she stirred the contents of a simmering pan.
Ben stilled. “You don’t say.”
She nodded, wafting the steam toward her nose. “Yep, he’s making the time. You know he’s normally busy with production meetings and whatnot.”
“Bullshit,” Ben muttered.
Reese nudged him and narrowed her eyes.
Ben lifted a shoulder, unapologetic.
“He’s real excited to be seeing you guys. Told me Reese is leaving him at the station for some big promotions director position. Doesn’t get to see her much anymore.”
Ben stomped to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.
“Ben!” His mother scolded. “Where are you manners? Our guest might like a beverage as well.”
Ben poured a cup of black coffee and handed it to Reese.
“Thanks,” she said softly.
“You might ask her what she wants, you putz,” Caroline said.
“I know what she wants,” he grumbled
Reese hid her grin in her mug. The coffee was hot and rich. She had no idea how, but this woman made the world’s best coffee. “He does,” she said, sighing with pleasure. “Your coffee doesn’t need anything but a cup, Caroline.”
“You flatter me,” she said, turning back to her stove. “You two relax. The food will be ready in a minute.”
“Let me help you, Ma,” Ben said, and so began the requisite argument over whether or not the woman would allow her son to work when he was her guest.
The scene was familiar to Reese and made her heart ache a little. She’d come to a lot of Hawk family brunches when she was finishing her undergrad and the months after. They had been her surrogate family when the distance between herself and her home in Kentucky had seemed too far.
As always, Caroline finally acquiesced and allowed Reese and Ben to carry a few items to the table. They were all filling their plates with scrambled eggs, bacon, and biscuits and gravy when Mark strolled in.
“It smells delicious in here, Ma,” Mark said.
Caroline popped up from her seat to hug him, then pulled out a chair. “So glad you could finally find some time to visit your lonely mother.” She heaped food onto his plate.
“Aw, Ma,” Mark said, “I thought you’d need extra time for Dad now that he’s retired.”
She waved a hand and slid the plate in front of him before lowering into her own seat. “Save your excuses for those pretty girls you date and never call back.”
Ben choked on his coffee, and Reese bit her lip.
“Caroline, I’ve missed you,” Reese said.
Mark winked at Reese across the table. “You see how gorgeous Reese looks with her hair down, Ma?”
Caroline glowered. “She was gorgeous with it up. What’s wrong with you? You think women need to dress and primp just to please you.”
Mark sighed and lifted a hand in frustration. “I’m trying to say something nice about our guest and you turn it into an insult. Now you made her feel bad and made me look like an ass.”
“You are an ass,” Ben muttered.
“Don’t talk that way to your brother,” their mother warned.
Reese grinned into her coffee.
“Tell me about the company, Ben,” his mother prompted. “How’s business? Are you keeping busy?”
“I’m trying to land a renovation that could net us more profit than all of last year,” he said. “Actually, it’s for McCormack Manor. Reese’s new boss owns it. It was her grandfather’s home, and she wants it fixed up to live in after she gets married.”
“That’s lovely,” Caroline said, pressing her hand to her chest.
“McCormack Manor? Really?” Mark asked, looking impressed.
“I didn’t know that,” Reese said.
“Gorgeous place.” Ben took a sip of juice. “I talked to some other contractors who have been out there. Word is, the place has good bones but nothing had been updated since the ’80s. I’m hoping Reese can put in a good word for me so they’ll give me a chance to bid the job.”
Reese put her fork down and turned to him. “You know I’m happy to talk to Halie about it. Why didn’t you say anything?”
Ben lifted a shoulder. “I hadn’t gotten around to it.”
“You shouldn’t have to grovel to get a job,” a scratchy voice said from the hallway.
Reese didn’t miss the tick in Ben’s jaw as his father came to the table.
“I’m not groveling, Dad. It’s called using my connections.”
“Same thing. And this is what you’re trying to turn my business into.” He shook his head as he settled into a seat. “Kissing a bunch of rich ass.”
“No cursing at my table,” Caroline snapped.
“If Mark was running the company—”
Mark blanched. “Dad—”
“Well, he’s not.” Ben put his napkin on his plate. “I’m sorry you had to settle for your younger son, dad, but me using connections to get business is no different than when you got jobs because your pals recommended you. The only difference is these jobs are bigger and the clients have money to pay the bill.”
“The difference is you think you’re better than the company your father gave you.”
Reese dropped her gaze to her lap.
“I’m trying to save the company you gave me. There’s a reason Mark was so eager to let me run what could have been his.” Ben pushed back from the table. “Excuse me, Ma. I’m not hungry.”
***
Ben squeezed the porch rail at the squeak of the front door. He didn’t want to talk to his family right now. Not to his mother or brother, who always failed to stand up for Ben, and not to his father, who never failed to be disappointed, no matter how hard Ben tried to make him proud.
After college, Ben had decided to prove himself by working for one of Chicago’s top builders. Between his experience, his degree, and his drive, he’d been a hit. He’d moved up quickly in the company, and after two years he was managing jobs bigger than Hawk Construction had ever seen. But it hadn’t meant a damn thing to his father.
Soft fingers kneaded the tight muscles at the base of his neck and pulled him from his thoughts. He relaxed his shoulders. Reese. “I’m sorry about all that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He turned and pulled her against his chest. She had no idea how good it felt to have her here—in his arms and standing by him when his family wouldn’t. “You haven’t exactly been making yourself available to me lately.”
“I know. I’ve been…busy. I’m sorry.”
She had been busy, but she’d also been avoiding him. When he thought about their little talk on Thursday night, he wanted to pull her into his arms and never let her go. She’d been trying to ditch him. When he’d realized it, the terror had gripped him so tightly, he’d said the first thing he could think of to make her change her mind. And now what? He was going to help her dress like a slut and pickup guys in bars?
“You know I would have made time if you needed to talk.” She squeezed him tighter.
He breathed in her scent, brought his hands up to tangle in her hair. “I like your hair down.”
She pulled back and dramatically tossed it over her shoulder. “Yeah? Does it say sex goddess?”
Something thick and tight knotted in his
chest. “Something like that.”
“Well, this is just the beginning. Tomorrow is the big makeover day. For all I know I’ll come out of it a platinum blonde with a boob job.”
He winced. “You don’t need the job that badly.”
“I thought guys liked blondes?” She wrinkled her nose. “Don’t think I can pull it off?”
The tightness rose to his throat and he didn’t trust himself to answer. “You want to get out of here?”
She nodded, heading toward the car. No insistence he work things out with his dad, no suggestion that their leaving might be misinterpreted. She just walked to the car.
They were on the interstate before she spoke. “Do you mind if we swing by the mall?”
“You hate the mall.”
“Yes, I do. Which is why you’re coming with me.” She cast a sideways glance at him. “Anyway, I need your help.”
“Why? Need to pick out some new lingerie for your Slut Hotness lessons?”
Her cheeks blossomed red.
He grunted. “You’re kidding, right?”
Reese folded her arms and leaned back in the seat, avoiding his eyes. “Unfortunately, I’m serious. Halie wants me to throw away all of my underwear, and I figure I better have my new undergarments before my shopping trip and makeover tomorrow.”
He bit his lip against a laugh. “Have a nice collection of granny panties?”
She turned to him, eyes narrow. “No. They were those cute cotton boy short panties. You know what I’m talking about? Tell me, what’s so wrong with those?”
The grin dropped from Ben’s face. He knew exactly what she was talking about, and there was nothing wrong with those. Not a damn thing.
He had first-hand experience with just how sexy they looked on Reese. It had been a trip to a country winery with friends, they—the two single people—had been put in a room together, and since Reese didn’t seem to register he was male, she hadn’t even bothered to find the bathroom before changing into her pajamas. She’d just quietly gone to the corner and stripped down to her undies before pulling on a pair of flannel pants.
He choked back a groan at the memory. “So, why do you need me?”