Five Ways to Fall (Ten Tiny Breaths #4)(19)
Author: K.A. Tucker

“Funny.” I know today’s paintball incident isn’t going to die quietly with Ben but right now, I don’t want to be reminded about the few seconds before I opened fire, when I could hear them together, when I knew that Jared was inside her.

The dull ache in my chest is coming back. I need an effective diversion. “Speaking of evil . . .” I pull the key that I swiped from the dune buggy out of my pocket and wave it above his face. “It’s going to be a long walk back for you when I leave you stranded out here.”

“Are you f**king kidding me . . .” Laughing as he tries to grab it from me, I quickly shove it back into my pocket. “Really? Have you not figured me out yet?” As if to prove a point, Ben has me on my back in the truck bed, both of my arms easily pinned above my head by one of his in seconds. “Oh, wait. Just in case . . .” He shifts his body, forcing my thighs around his hips. “Wouldn’t want you injuring the goods for a second time today. Not before you get full use of them.”

“I would never stoop to that level,” I exclaim with mock insult.

“Really?” His blond brow arches severely.

I offer a sweet smile. Truthfully, I was just getting my knee ready.

Feeling confident—I know because he’s staring down at me with a grin that could charm the pants off half the women in the office, married or not—he reaches down with his free hand. I feel a tug as his fingers dig into my pocket and begin rooting around. I could try to buck him off me but, well, given my position, I honestly think he’s hoping for that. And so I remain still as he takes his time, until he’s got the old silver thing dangling off one finger in front of me.

“You can get off of me any time now, you know,” I remind him.

With a sigh, he shifts his weight slightly as his free arm comes up to slide beneath my head, providing a cushion against the hard metal. “I could,” he agrees, those brilliant blue eyes searching my eyes, my nose, my mouth, as if evaluating me.

And then he leans down and kisses me. No hesitation at all, as if there’s no way I couldn’t possibly want Ben Morris’s tongue in my mouth, sliding its way around mine in a smooth, practiced dance. The problem is that in this moment, out here in the middle of nowhere, with reality so far away and the tranquility of the grove, I do want it. Now I can see why Ben was so eager to give me a “tour” rather than head back to work.

He pulls away to peer down at me with a knowing smile.

“You do realize that normal friends and work colleagues don’t do this sort of thing, right?”

“I like to bend the rules.” He releases my wrists, freeing his to snake up the front of my shirt, lifting the material as he goes. The guy clearly has a goal in mind because his fingers have unfastened my bra without any stalling and pushed it away within seconds. “Oh, thank God,” he says through a groan, his head dipping down to grasp onto the ring with his mouth.

As I reach up under that soft T-shirt of his to feel the tightness in his back, as I feel Ben’s tongue coil around the ring and tickle me, I echo his words in my head. Yes, thank God.

He lifts his body ever so slightly, his hand reaching down to undo the top button and zipper of my jeans with a casual flick. “I never did take full inventory of your piercings.”

When I make no indications of an answer, that wide grin takes over his face and I know what he’s planning even before I feel the first tug on my jeans. They’re too tight for him to squeeze a hand in. He wastes no time sliding off the tailgate to stand in front of me with intent written all over his face. Reaching down, he gets a good hold of my jeans and begins shimmying them down.

And that’s when the sudden rumble of an engine and the squeak of brakes sounds.

“Who is it?” I ask as Ben’s attention whips to his left. I can’t ignore the disappointment flooding me, a dull ache in my lower belly forming.

His head tips back as he looks up to the sky. “Who do you think?” With a deep groan, his eyes rake over my exposed chest. He bends down for one last chaste kiss on my lips and then steps away, leaving me to button my pants and affix my bra and shirt just as a red pickup truck with a thick white stripe around the center pulls up.

Wilma hops out of the high cab quite easily for someone her age. “Benjamin James Morris, did you bring this young lady out here in the hot sun without anything to drink?”

Scratching the back of his head lazily, he mutters, “I guess I did. Sorry.”

I purse my lips tightly. Considering what Ben brought me out here in the hot sun to do, I think a cold drink was definitely not on his mind.

“It’s like I didn’t raise you at all, sometimes.” Coming around the other side, she opens the passenger door and pulls a cooler off the bench. Ben’s at her side in seconds, relieving her of the weight. “Mama, you know you shouldn’t be lifting heavy things.”

“Oh, hush. I’m not an invalid. One tiny heart attack isn’t going to kill me.” Ben’s stern glare of disapproval only makes her smile wider at him. I can see where he got his impish charm from. But I can also feel the weight of his fear at Wilma’s words. In just one afternoon, I can see how this woman might leave a sizeable hole in many people’s lives when she’s gone.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, Reese, so there’s some water, sweet tea, and Coke in there. I also packed a light snack. Some scones and homemade marmalade. Ben’s favorite.”

“Of course it is,” I tease, reaching up to pinch Ben’s cheek playfully as he sets the cooler down on the tailgate. “Thank you so much.”

“How’d you know where to find us?” Ben asks as he fishes through the selection.

A knowing smirk curls Wilma’s lips. “Because this is your favorite spot in the grove. Did you honestly think I didn’t know it was you and Jake leaving beer cans out here?” She looks at me and shakes her head. “You know, Ben and his brother would sneak out here at night—thinking I had no idea—and then try to convince me that the grove workers were drinking on the job. Oh, but I wasn’t ever allowed to confront or fire them without better evidence. My little future football-player-slash-lawyer was so worried about potential lawsuits for doing that.”

Ben has the decency to look a little sheepish as he sucks back a gulp of water. “So, is that why you came out here, Mama?”

She gives him a pointed look but then says, “I really need you to take a look at that tractor before you go.”

“Sure,” he offers, pulling his phone out to check the time, and heaves a sigh. “I didn’t realize how late it was.”

“Well, maybe you should just stay for dinner.” I hear the hopefulness in her voice. She really likes having her son here. I’m betting she’d love to have her other children here, too.

“Yeah, I’m sorry, Mama. But I’m just learning the ropes at work. I’ve already lost a lot of time today.”

By the tone of his voice and his sincere look, I can tell he’s disappointed. I guess I didn’t really help with that, given the change in plans I forced this morning, all in the name of revenge. “We’d love to stay,” I interrupt, elbowing Ben gently in the ribs. “I’m already stuck with you all week. I guess they’ll be long days.”

He peers down at me for a moment, an unreadable look on his face.

And then he winks.

Chapter 14

BEN

“I’ll remind you of this the next time you mock me for taking her cooking home.” I give Reese’s ass a playful slap as she passes me on the porch, her arms laden with leftovers.

“I didn’t. I mocked you for being a mama’s boy, and that still stands,” she clarifies, sticking her tongue out at me.

Since my bold move earlier today, out in the grove, I’ve been itching to get my hands on her again. I’m seconds from chasing her down the steps when my mom appears with a box of her homemade jams and preserves. “These are for Reese,” she clarifies, shoving it into my chest. “Carry them for her, darling.”

“There’s enough for me, right?” I ask, counting out eight jars.

I get a smack upside the head for that—I don’t know how Mama, at five-foot-one, always manages to reach me, at six-foot-three, when she needs to do that.

With her arms free, she meets Reese at the bottom of the porch. “Don’t you be a stranger now, you here? We’d love to see you here again.” Pushing a strand of fallen hair off Reese’s face, she grasps the girl’s shoulders and leans in to lay a kiss on her cheek.

I’ve only ever seen Reese unnerved twice—the day we ran into each other in her office and yesterday, running into her ex. Now, though, she’s peering up at me with wide, questioning eyes, looking as stiff as a tree. That doesn’t dissuade my mom, who rubs her back as she adds, “And the ‘we’ includes Ben.”

Oh, hell. Why’d she have to go and say that? It’s true, but, still.

Caramel eyes flash toward me, a sudden wicked gleam in them. “Only if Ben lets me drive that dune buggy out next time.”

“Oh, Ben. You didn’t let her drive?” Mama scolds, a stern furrow in her brow.

Of course, Reese hams it up, her bottom lip pouting out just enough to look sad without seeming pathetic. “I begged, but he said something about women not belonging behind the wheel.”

My mouth drops as Reese scampers away with a howl of laughter, just as I get a second—gentle—smack upside the head. “I think you’ve met your match,” Mama murmurs, adding, “I like her.”

“That’s because she humored you by going through my baby album.”

“And I’ll be sure to dig up your awkward years for next time,” she retorts, beaming.

I shouldn’t let this go on. “She’s just a friend, Mama,” I remind her.

“Yes, I heard you before, son.” Her voice is light and airy. Dismissive.

“I’m serious. Don’t go booking any ceremonies with your pastor. Reese is the stepdaughter of my boss and if I get caught with her as anything more than just friends, my ass is gone from Warner. You don’t want me getting fired, do you? I’ll end up settling fishing disputes in Alaska.” I pull her frail body toward me, remembering a lifetime of car rides to football practice before the sun was up, when she was struggling to balance running this place and five kids in their teenage years. The woman has given me so much. “Then who’s gonna come out here and take care of you?” Sure as hell none of my brothers. They’ve all but washed their hands of this situation.

“You don’t worry about me. I’d rather see you happy.”

“I am happy.”

“With a wife,” she clarifies sternly.

“Well, I can guarantee Reese isn’t looking to become a wife again anytime soon.”

“Again?” Mama repeats, her brow arched.

“Yeah.” I give her a knowing look as I add, “Until her husband cheated on her.”

Mama makes a tsking sound. A pause, and then she murmurs wryly, “You didn’t seem too worried about losing your job out in the grove earlier today.”

I open my mouth but she hushes me with, “Oh, Benjamin. I’ve watched you chasing girls since you were six years old, so don’t pretend otherwise. I can only imagine what you’ve been up to all these years, working in that club. This one’s different, though, isn’t she?”

“No.” The bells. The f**king church bells are ringing in her head. I just know it.

“I’m your mama, Ben. I know when you’re lying.” She pauses. “You haven’t been this relaxed at home in years.”

I can do nothing but sigh. She’s right, to be honest. Usually when I turn into this driveway, all I can think about is how lonely the place is, how much fun I used to have here. But today, I got to see it all new again through Reese’s eyes, which lit up as she took it in.

I glance over to see her ass sticking out from the backseat as she loads the food in and I chuckle, a flash of Cancún hitting me. “Think whatever you want, Mama, but don’t get your hopes up.”

“I don’t know why you have to be so thick-headed about settling down.”

“You know exactly why,” I remind her softly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “See you next weekend.” I’m halfway toward the car when I remember why she called me. “That tractor needs a good tune-up is all. Don’t let Bert sell you on anything more.” That tractor is as old as I am. Years of watching Granddaddy and then Josh working on it has taught me the basics.

“Okay. Thanks, son.”

“No problem.” Mama shouldn’t have to deal with any of this. That sorry hump of flesh hiding out in that old barn should be man enough to do it. Unfortunately, he proved what kind of person he is years ago.