Montana Cherries (23 page)

Dani lost her breath at the sight of them. He was so good for her. And she for him.

“Of course I will,” he told her. “We’ll make it a special day, just like Barbie and Ken.”

“And we can have ice cream?”

He chuckled, the tone low and sexy, and touching Dani in her warm, dark spots. “Absolutely,” he confirmed. “Chocolate?”

“Yes, please,” Haley answered. “But it’ll be a happy time, so we won’t need the potato chips.”

Dani held back a laugh in spite of the sad note, her gaze taking in every move made by the two. Along with now being a huge fan of her daddy’s, Haley still followed Dani around, mimicking her actions, as well. Including her love of chocolate ice cream. So much so that Dani had upped the quantity purchased on her recent run to the store.

She would miss these two people when she left. Very much so.

As Ken opened the car door for Barbie, Ben caught Dani watching. His cheeks turned pink.

“Never thought I’d see the day,” she murmured. Up until then, Ben may have bought his daughter the dolls, but he hadn’t been so keen on playing with them.

“Jenna went to town with her mom and dad,” he explained. “Someone had to step in.”

Haley’s head swiveled to face the door, her eyes as bright as her dad’s were sexy. “Hi, Miss Dani. Did you want to play?”

Dani shook her head, not wishing to interrupt, but also almost desperate to join them. She had so little time left here, and her nightly walks weren’t quite cutting it with Ben. Nor were her afternoon Barbie tea parties with Haley. She wanted more.

But such was life. And she couldn’t have everything.

Ben patted the floor beside him with the perfect mixture of “come hither” and “come join the fun.” He really had ramped up the flirting over the past week, though not once on their recent walks had he suggested anything more than holding her hand. Not even another kiss.

Which had frustrated her way more than she would have suspected.

“Come on,” he told her when she still hesitated. “We need someone to work the candy counter. You look like the perfect candidate.”

He held out a dark-haired Barbie dressed in cutoff jean shorts and purple tennis shoes, and motioned to the makeshift counter they’d created from a cereal box. The top had been sheared off and the box turned upside down; the bright colors of the cardboard lent a party atmosphere to the “movie theater.”

Aside from the counter, there was a white pillowcase draped over a large, propped-up book—she assumed it to be the screen—with a couple of Barbie-size chairs they’d swiped from Jenna’s room perched in front.

With a smile that seemed to be attached to her heart, Dani entered the room. How could she say no to a daddy-daughter moment with two of her favorite people?

As she took the doll from Ben and settled in behind the “counter,” another question entered her mind. Why was she shying away from sleeping with him? From letting nature take its course? They had eight days left. They could be having a good time.

She wanted him. She was pretty sure he wanted her.

And they couldn’t get serious because there was a clock ticking. It seemed the perfect scenario.

“Wait a minute.” Haley suddenly jumped to her feet, Mike rising with her. “Your candy girl should be
your
Barbie,” she exclaimed. She dashed from the room and shot toward the stairs.

Haley had brought Dani a Statue of Liberty Barbie back from New Mexico, along with a pink cowboy hat. Both had ended up in the girls’ room.

As feet sounded overhead, she turned to Ben. Her decision had been made. “I was thinking no walk tonight.”

“No?” he asked.

She liked that he looked disappointed, and that he sounded even more so.

“But I like walking with you,” he said. He reached for her hand.

“I like it too.” Her body temperature rose merely from thinking about
not
walking with him, and she let her thumb slide along the pad of his hand. “I had another idea.”

He studied her for a moment, not speaking, then his gaze lowered to her mouth. When his eyes lifted, his pupils had dilated. “Does this other idea still include me?” he asked.

Clearly, he was clueing in to her plan.

She nodded, and heat flooded her body.

His look turned pure predatory male, and she suddenly realized that he’d known exactly what he’d been doing since the day he’d brought her ice cream out on the dock. The man was an evil genius. He’d been seducing her.

Served her right, she supposed. It was his turn.

But she could learn from his technique. He wasn’t nearly as obvious as she.

“My room or yours?” he asked, and she almost whimpered at the unspoken promises.

She swallowed. She should say his. She’d never had a man in her room—she’d never had a man at the house. And if they stayed in
his
room it would feel less personal.

But she found that she wanted to feel personal with Ben. Her time was limited, but as ridiculous as it was, she wanted those days to be as special as she could make them. Letting Ben into her space would do that.

“It’ll just be us having fun, right?” she clarified. “It can’t be more.”

He swallowed as he watched her, and twined his fingers with hers. “Just fun.”

She nodded. Her heart pounded. “My room,” she said quietly as Haley returned.

Ben released her hand, but the flare in his eyes told her that he understood. It could be just fun, but it was also more. Their friendship made it so. She saw agreement in their depths.

chapter twenty

S
everal days later, Dani collapsed on her bed and stared up at the shadowed ceiling of her room. A light remained on in the bathroom, bathing them in a muted glow. Enough to make out the curves and angles of the man breathing heavily next to her.

“That was amazing,” she panted.

A bead of sweat trickled its way under the bottom curve of one breast and headed toward the mattress as Ben rolled to his side. He reached out a large hand, wrapping it firmly around her waist, and pulled her to him.

“
You
are amazing,” he mumbled into the pillow they shared. “And you’re too far away.”

“I’m trying to get some air. You wore me out.”

A sexy hum came from deep in his chest as he nuzzled her ear. “If I recall correctly, it was you on top. You set the pace of that one. I was merely an innocent bystander.”

She smiled. Yes, it had been her on top. A place she might return to before the next few days were over.

“But don’t think just because you did so well, that’s earned you a rest.” He nipped at her earlobe while the hand at her waist began to glide lower. It didn’t take a direct path, instead caressing and cherishing each and every spot it crossed. “I intend to keep you sweaty and breathing hard for a while yet.”

She shifted to her side. “Are you saying you have no intention of me getting much sleep tonight?”

Not that either of them had gotten a lot the past few nights.

Ben drew a finger through the dampness at the top of her thighs. “Who needs sleep? You’re leaving me in a matter of days. I have a lot to fit in before then.” He nibbled along her jawline as the finger below wove deeper, the tip slipping just inside her heat, and her body once again sputtered to life. It shocked her that anything could reset that quickly after the round they’d just had.

“Then I guess I’ll just have to go along with your plans,” she conceded.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” He bent over her then, using his mouth to seek out the hidden spots of her neck, and she angled her head to allow for easier access. She enjoyed the slide of his tongue over her body with the occasional teasing of his teeth along the way. He moved slowly, yet she could sense renewed desire already building.

“Sure you’re up for going again?” she teased.

He growled against her as he pushed another finger inside her body. “I can’t seem to do anything
but
be ready when I’m around you.”

She laughed. She loved his hands on her. She loved every minute she had with him.

They’d spent a lot of time together over the past few nights. All of it hidden away behind her bedroom door. There had been a few hard and fast moments, but also some long, slow, draining ones.

And the thing that meant the most was that it never felt cheap. He always took the time to cherish her body. The man also had a talent for making her want more.

More than four more nights.

She groaned in pleasure at the things his fingers were doing to her, and involuntarily thrust against his hand. “I can’t believe I get on a plane in five days,” she moaned.

He rose over her then, settled between her legs, and without warning he pushed inside her. They both sucked in sharp breaths.

“I’m going to miss you, you know?” His words were spoken with heavy sincerity wrapped around a passion-fueled grunt, and they seemed to lodge right in the dead center of Dani’s chest. “A lot.” He pulled back and pushed in again. “Will you think about this when you’re gone?”

“Oh, God, yes.” She squeezed her eyes shut. Too much ran through her head to say one thing more. She just wanted to feel this man. Experience what he did to her.

Be amazed that he could satisfy her again so soon.

“Promise me?” He thrust once more.

He seemed to swell even larger, and she wrapped her arms tight around him. “I promise,” she panted out. “Probably every night.”

There were no more words spoken between them, but their movements said volumes. This was casual sex, yes, but there was nothing casual about it. They fit perfectly together. Their bodies in sync, as if the two of them had been doing this for years. They knew what each other liked, and what sent the other over the edge, without either having to speak a word.

And yes, Dani was going to miss him, too.

This man was important to her. Even ten years ago. She couldn’t put words to it.

He gripped her butt in his hands and pumped hard, the softness of their lovemaking gone as she met him move for move, gasping from the sheer rawness of it all. At the last minute she opened her eyes. He was a thing of beauty, and she had memories to store up.

When her climax began to crest, she saw that his was too. Wanting the moment to be perfect, but unsure that was an achievable goal, she spoke his name.

Hot, drugged eyes met hers.

That was all it took.

With one last thrust, he caused her to splinter around him, the sensation of a million lights blinking to life pulsing through her body. She did her best to simply hold on as he followed her lead, shaking in her arms.

When they were both spent, he collapsed, heavy breaths matching hers, and immediately shifted so the mattress supported most of his weight. He kept a leg over hers, as well as an arm around her torso, and he buried his face in her neck.

“You . . . are . . .” he breathed out, but then chose to kiss her neck instead of finishing the sentence.

“You too,” she whispered in return. Whatever he’d been about to say, he was, too.

After their heartbeats slowed, Dani found herself wide awake. Ben’s breathing had evened out. It sounded like he was nearing sleep. But she couldn’t even make her eyes close.

At the unlikeliest of times, her mother got into her head.

Dani could hear her now. It was sophomore year again, and Dani had brought home the one boy she’d dated in high school. He’d been on the academic team with her. They’d been friends since first grade, but sometime late in her fifteenth year, he’d begun looking like more than a friend to her. Surprisingly, the same had happened to him.

They’d gone out a few times, then she’d proudly brought him home for dinner.

She’d been head over heels for him already.

Is
that
the kind of boy you want to be seen with, Danielle?

It was as if her mother were in the room with her right that very moment, and Dani silently shook her head. The same way she’d done that night after her soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend had gone home. Her mother had given no explanation as to what was the problem. She’d simply thought him beneath what Dani could get.

You can do better than that. Why would you settle for less than you deserve?

But the thing was, before Dani had gone to bed that night her mother had pointed out that Dani didn’t
deserve
anyone. No one could possibly love her.

Most memories came to her like that. Her mother’s words contradicting themselves, her actions rarely making sense. Dani had even caught herself doing things in certain ways over the past week simply because her mother had once badgered her to behave in that fashion.

She didn’t want to be her mother. She didn’t want to
act
like her mother. Or believe her mother.

And she certainly didn’t want to be locked in a world that had her mother in it.

“What’s wrong?” Ben asked, making Dani realize that her body had grown taut and unyielding as she lay there. She forced herself to breathe normally, and concentrated on relaxing her muscles.

“Weird memories,” she replied.

Ben lifted his head off the pillow. “Anything I can help with?”

She shook her head. She didn’t think it was anything anyone could help with. The only hope she had was that once she made it to New York, the change of scenery might allow her mind to shut off the past.

“You need to get out of here,” Ben said, as though he were reading her thoughts. “How about we go into town tomorrow night? A date.”

She blinked at him as she reset her train of thought from moving to New York to going into town for an evening. “A date?”

They didn’t date.

“You know, you dress in something hot and I shine up my boots.”

“Your boots are new,” she pointed out, but she did give him a small smile. The sound of his voice had a way of making her mother’s recede.

“Then I’ll shine up your boots,” he offered. He pushed to his elbow. “Let’s do it. Let’s go out. Did I mention that Haley and Jenna are spending the night with Leslie tomorrow?”

“Jenna’s friend?”

“Haley’s now, too. She’s filled one of her coveted friend slots.”

“And they’re staying overnight?”

“Yeah.” A naughty twinkle lit his eyes.

“You think she’s ready for that?”

His shoulders sagged. “Quit worrying about everything, babe. Yes, I think she’s ready for that. Jenna will be with her. And if she isn’t ready, then they’ll call and we’ll go get her. Leslie only lives five minutes away. But let’s talk about you and me. I want to take you out. I’m tired of hiding away in your bedroom.”

“But we don’t date. We’re just”—she waved a hand back and forth in between them—“this.”

“We are this,” he confirmed, mimicking her action with his hand before grabbing hers and kissing her fingers. “But we could be more.”

“I don’t have time for more, Ben. I’m leaving in . . .”

“I know. In five days. You don’t have to remind me. But that’s three nights of dates, if we want, and one going-away party. We have time. Say yes. Let’s have some fun.”

She’d thought they were already having fun.

But she eyed him as she considered his suggestion, uncertain what her hesitation stemmed from. She
would
like to get out of the house for an evening. That could be fun. And she’d love to get her mother out of her head for a few hours, as well. That could be exhilarating.

“We’d be letting everyone know what’s going on between us,” she said.

“You think they don’t already know?”

They’d been trying to keep what they were doing just between them, but yeah, Dani knew they’d failed. If they were in the same room together, her brothers watched them like hawks. Gabe eyed Ben as if considering taking his head off.

No, it wasn’t a well-kept secret. “No one has said anything,” she retortd anyway.

He merely stared at her. “They know. Come on, let’s go,” he urged. “I heard Jay and Megan talking about a sports bar in town. They’re going tomorrow night. Cord and the twins, too. We’ll go with them.”

“You want to go out
with
my brothers?”

“You’ll be leaving soon,” he reminded her. “Don’t you want to spend more time with them before you go?”

“Using my brothers against me?” She shook her head as if disillusioned. “You play dirty.”

He smiled. “I play to win.”

She laughed then, and the pressure from her mother’s words finally lifted. She did want to go out with Ben. And she wanted to hang out with her brothers. They’d all continued to smooth things over during the week—not including her father—and heading to the bar sounded like fun.

“Jay’s going tomorrow because Sunday nights are line-dancing nights,” she explained. “You up for some dancing, Hollywood?”

“With you?” He pulled her body back to his. “All night long, babe.”

The bar was packed.

Dani stepped inside the front door, flanked by her brothers, Ben, Megan, and even Michelle, and peered through the low light, hoping to magically find a table where they could all fit. Instead of a table, she saw hordes of people. Locals, tourists, and a wide selection of the single men who were in the area for work. Young men who spent their days in the cherry fields, and looked for a good time at night.

She knew the group of them must make quite the sight, especially given that not a single one of the men with her was anything but drop-dead gorgeous. But if she hadn’t already been aware of this fact, the many female heads now turned their way confirmed it.

Dani slipped her arm through Ben’s.

“This is exactly what we needed,” Gabe declared.

“I haven’t been country-western dancing in years,” Cord added.