The Bottom Line (5 page)

After seeing how crowded the mixer was, Mallory wished Ben had chosen something more intimate.

“There are a lot of new people.” She was glad to see Juliana, although she was well occupied with a tall blond who appeared to have spent a little too much time in a tanning bed.

Didn’t he know those things caused skin cancer?

From the speed her hands were moving as she spoke, Jules was relating one of her many adventures, probably a humorous tale about the pitfalls of traveling overseas with students. Why the woman let herself get roped into chaperoning the school’s biennial trip to France, Mallory would never understand.

She’d always wanted to see Paris, had even added it to her bucket list. As soon as the renovations were done and paid for, she’d start saving for that goal. But she sure as hell wasn’t going with students tagging along. She wasn’t even sure she’d share the trip with Juliana, Bethany, or Danielle. This was something she wanted to do for herself. If she was extra frugal, she might even be able to squeeze in a few days in London on the same trip.

Her gaze wandered the large room. Of all the new people, the majority—a good two-thirds—were women. She had to swallow her apprehension when all of them seemed to stare at Ben. Not that she could blame them. Dressed in a baby-blue polo and Levi’s that fit him perfectly, he certainly stood out from the other guys. Many of them were older forty-to-fiftysomethings, balder, wider in girth, and casting an air of desperation. The blond talking to Jules was an exception, as was Robert. At least there were two friendly faces in the crowd she could ask for a ride home if Ben decided to search for greener pastures.

“More women than men tonight.” Mallory tried to keep her tone from revealing her attack of nerves. She ran her fingers through her short hair.

“Yep. But you’re my date,” Ben replied, giving her other hand a squeeze. “You dance with me. Only me.” A few seconds passed by before he added, “Right?”

She squeezed back, touched that he seemed as insecure as she felt and secretly enjoying the possessive tone of his voice. “I don’t want to dance with anyone else, Ben. Only you.”

Robert raised his beer bottle in a silent toast when his gaze fell on them.

“Not even Robert?” Ben teased.

“Not even Robert.”

Mallory couldn’t stop the heat rising on her cheeks as Robert leveled an intent gaze at them. She’d always kept her private life out of school. With the exception of the Ladies, she wasn’t even sure most of the faculty knew about the divorce or—

“It’s a slow song, Mal. Wanna dance first? Then we can grab some drinks and talk to Robert and your friend. Julie, was it?”

“Juliana. Or Jules.”

Ben held out a hand. “So can we dance?”

“Sure.” She let him lead her onto the empty dance floor, looking around to see if anyone was gawking at them. With no one else out there, she felt as obvious as if a spotlight shone on them.

Ben tugged her into his arms. While she loved being so close to his strong body and arousing scent, she couldn’t force herself to relax. Every eye had to be turned their way. She hated to be everyone’s focus, at least anywhere but her classroom.

Leaning down, he whispered in her ear. “What’s wrong?”

“Why would you think something’s wrong?”

He snorted. “You’re as rigid as a two-by-four.”

“Nothing’s wrong. Really.”

“Ah, ah, ah.” His warm breath caressed her skin. “We have a rule about that. Remember?”

She released a sigh, wondering how often her promise to always be honest with Ben would bite her in the ass. “Fine. I don’t like being the center of attention.”

“Is that what you think you are right now, the center of attention?”

“I don’t think I am. I
know
I am. Every woman here has already zeroed in on you and is probably plotting how to get you away from me.” She raised her chin so she could see his face. “By the way, you look great tonight.”

A smile reached his dark eyes. “I’m supposed to tell
you
that. Which, by the way, you do.”

With a shrug, Mallory dropped her chin. Jay had given her compliments all the time. Words didn’t mean much when there weren’t feelings backing them up.

Ben raised it with his finger. Then he touched his lips to hers. “I came with you, Mal. I’m leaving with you.” He gave the air a quick sniff. “Love the perfume. What is it?”

She found a genuine smile. “Twirl.”

With no warning, he let go of her and did a quick spin. “Ta-da!”

How long had it been since she’d laughed?

She gave him a playful slap on the chest, resisting the urge to run her fingertips over the firm muscles she found there. “No, silly. The name of the perfume is Twirl.”

Chuckling, he pulled her close again, and she surrendered to the love song by laying her cheek against his shoulder. How easy it was to pretend that he belonged to her, that the safety she found in his embrace was something more than a fleeting comfort.

But he didn’t belong to her. She wasn’t ready for a real relationship. Not until she was whole again.

Ah… but for tonight, he was hers.

The song ended, but Ben made Mallory stay with him on the dance floor when another slow tempo song filled the air.

A brazen bottle blonde tapped her on the shoulder. “How about I cut in?”

Trusting that he didn’t want to be disturbed any more than she did, Mallory shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she replied, loving Ben’s responding grin.

“But—but this is a mixer,” the woman insisted. “You’re s’posed to be meeting new people. Two dances with one girl isn’t fair. Probably against the rules.”

“Yeah, well…”

Ben flashed her a crooked smile. “Sorry. I guess the lady and I don’t play by the rules.” Then he did a few turns, moving them farther away from the intruder.

The possessive gesture made Mallory deliriously happy.

A chuckle made his chest rumble, a sound she heard clearly because he pressed her head back down on his chest. “Rather pushy, wasn’t she?”

“A little.”
A lot.

Content, she hardly noticed when the next song began.

“Wanna grab a drink?” he asked. “Disco isn’t my thing.”

What she wanted was for the DJ to stop playing songs that were recorded before she was even born. “Mine, either.”

He wrapped his hand around hers and led her toward the bar.

Juliana cut them off before they got there. “You two having a nice time?”

“Yeah,” Mallory replied. She rubbed her cheek against Ben’s upper arm, loving how tall he was and how warm she felt just being close to him.

The smile on Jules’s face was the faux one she plastered on when dealing with clueless parents. “Gonna make this a weekly habit? I’m sure the new ladies would love that.”

“Why not?” Ben smirked. “Seems like you’re here every Saturday.”

The sparks flew between them, but not the same type that Mallory shared with him. This tension was pure hostility, and she didn’t have a clue as to what caused it. They seemed fine at the last mixer.

“Too cheap to spring for dinner and a movie?” Jules asked. Since sarcasm was a lifestyle for her, that reaction wasn’t surprising.

Ben’s was. “You’ve got me all figured out.”

Horrified that her best friend and her date were getting off on the wrong foot and having no idea what caused the antagonism, Mallory scrambled for the right thing to say. “Ben likes dancing. Not too many places to do that in Cloverleaf. So… here we are.”

“You’re a dancer, Ben?” Jules asked.

“Not particularly. Just wanted a place where Mallory and I could come to listen to some good music, have a drink, and dance a little.”

Mallory leaned in to whisper to Juliana. “What’s wrong with you?”

Jules shrugged.

“Stop being an asshat. Okay?”

With her lips pulled to a solemn line, Jules nodded.

What was she trying to accomplish? Judging from Ben’s stiff frown, all she was doing was pissing him off. Perhaps one day Juliana would learn exactly how abrasive she could be.

Mallory needed a minute alone with Juliana to figure out what was going on in her friend’s head. “How about a glass of wine, Ben?”

“Preference for red or white?” he asked.

“White. Please.”

Jules finished her drink and handed the glass to the blond, who was still hovering at her side. “Do me a favor, Patrick? Refill?”

His whole face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. “Sure thing, honey.” He trotted after Ben.

Mallory barely waited until he was out of earshot. “What’s with you? For pity’s sake… you wanted me to go out with him.”

“I
did
. Now I’m not so sure.”

“Why not?”

She took a long time before answering. “I just wanted you to get back into the swing of things. I didn’t think you’d like the guy. You’re not ready for that.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Jules asked. “I know you better than anyone, and I saw the way you were dancing with him.”

“So what?”

Jules heaved a sigh. “You were supposed to date him a couple of times, have a nice time, and then cut him loose. That’s all. Not… not…
this
.”

“This
what
?”

“This relationship. You’re already in too deep. I don’t want you to get hurt again, Mal.”

Her temper rising to a slow boil, Mallory knit her brows. “You’re assuming an awful lot after watching a couple of dances.”

“I told you, I know you. I know exactly how you think. I’d bet my bottom dollar you didn’t tell him everything. Right?”

“It’s our first date!” Mallory insisted. “Besides, he knows about Jay.” As though that would satisfy Juliana…

Thankfully, Ben and Patrick came back with glasses of wine and bottles—Patrick’s beer and Ben’s water.

Juliana threw her a this-is-far-from-over look that made Mallory glad the next day was Sunday. She’d have a day’s reprieve from any more interrogation or insinuation.

Ben handed Mallory her drink and then gave Juliana a wan smile. “Look… I’m not sure why you were giving me a hard time, but… I’m sorry I rose to the bait. I was out of line.”

Jules huffed and took her drink from Patrick, who kept nervously shifting his weight between his feet.

“I know you’re Mal’s friend,” Ben continued, “but I just don’t know why you’re being so… so…”

“Hostile?” Jules shook her head. “I didn’t mean to be so rude. Just looking out for Mallory.”

“Then we have something in common,” Ben added. “Because I’m looking out for her, too.”

“Here’s to friends, old and new.” Mallory raised her glass, clinked it against Ben’s water bottle and then held it out for Jules, hoping she’d catch the hint.

After a couple of tense seconds, Jules clinked her glass against Mallory’s. “To friends.” She arched an eyebrow at Ben.

He touched the lip of his bottle to her glass. Then he looked over his shoulder to see Patrick walking away, shaking his head. “Didn’t mean to scare off your date.”

With a dismissive wave, Juliana said, “Just met him. Guess he decided I’m not his type. How about we get some pretzels and sit down for a nice long chat?”

* * *

Mallory folded her hands in her lap after Ben threw the truck into park.

Thankfully, he and Juliana had worked past their earlier dislike. While she had no doubt Juliana was simply trying to protect her, Mallory didn’t need that kind of protection. Sure, she might have been fragile when her world went in the crapper, but she’d pulled herself up, dusted herself off, and got on with surviving. Jules had helped her all along the way, but the time had come for Mallory to truly live again.

At least by the time they decided to call it a night, Ben and Juliana found some common ground—they both spoke fluent sarcasm. Mallory even had a fleeting thought they were better suited to each other than she was to Ben. Not that she would ever give him up.

He killed the engine and then smiled at her. “Want me to come in?”

She gave her head a quick shake. “Not tonight. I’m really tired.”

“Me, too. Just enjoyed myself so much, I didn’t want to call it a night. Not yet.”

“You enjoyed yourself?”

“Yeah. A bunch. You’re a great dancer.”

“Oh, please.” Although she rolled her eyes, she smiled. “I’m amazed I didn’t break any of your toes.”

“As little as you are? No way. Probably wouldn’t even leave a bruise.” He had slowly turned toward her as they talked. Now he eased closer.

Funny, but she was doing the same. With a sigh, she admitted to herself she wanted him to kiss her.

Bullshit. You want him to carry you inside and screw your brains out!

A giggle bubbled out.

Ben smiled in response. “Sure you don’t want me to come in?”

Hell, yes.
“Not tonight.” She nibbled on her bottom lip as she squirmed.

The heat inside her grew with each move he took in her direction. Unfortunately, she was already stifling yawns left and right. If he came in and tried to keep up conversation, he’d probably think she found him boring. And Ben Carpenter was anything but boring.

He slid the rest of the way, cupping her cheeks and lifting her head. “I had a nice time.”

“So did I.”

“Then you’ll go on another date with me? I’ll even pony up the dough for a movie. Popcorn, too, if you play your cards right.” Giving her no chance to reply, he brushed his lips over hers.

When he pulled back, Mallory let a frustrated growl rise from her throat.

Ben grinned and kissed her again. A little deeper. A little longer.

She was tired of waiting. Her tongue pushed between his lips, stroking his as she looped her arms around his neck. He held her by the waist, pulling her close enough she might as well have been sitting in his lap.

The kiss was thorough. Sweet. Hypnotizing. His taste was becoming familiar, something she craved as much as chocolate. She let his tongue chase hers back into her mouth, then she grasped it between her teeth and gently tugged.

Ben lifted her, bringing her up and over until she straddled his hips, never breaking the kiss.

Mallory tunneled her fingers through his hair, letting whatever was causing her libido to run rampant take control. Tearing her lips away from his, she kissed his cheek, working her way over to his ear. She traced the ridges with her tongue, then took his lobe between her teeth.