Bearly a Chance: A Second Chances Romance (20 page)

Ben felt a grin curl his lips as he listened to the devious women begin brainstorming improvements to his and Bear’s ideas. At this rate, at least he’d bought them a fighting chance. He hoped. Bear snuffed in further annoyance with all this meddling. The beast wanted to claim their mate. Claim her here and now and damn the consequences.

Ben wanted to claim their mate nearly as badly as his bear, but doing so without her permission, without her love, would doom them all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Aria tossed the few clothes she'd brought to Gran's cabin on the bed. She couldn't believe it had been a week already since Gramps had given her that ultimatum.

Mate or die. Mate, or make Faith an orphan.

But damn if she was going to be threatened or blackmailed into making a decision as final as taking a mate. Still, she could sense that time was running out, and this silliness Ben had concocted wasn't making her decision making process any easier.

She'd enjoyed the way Ben spoiled her all this week. Breakfast in bed, snuggles and movie time on the couch. An unbelievable, unwavering attentiveness to her wishes, including the one to NOT discuss the sword dangling over her head. That interest had transferred seamlessly to Faith. But a small secret part of her - the injured, abandoned girl who had faced an empty table years ago - was absolutely certain Ben was trying to buy his way into her affections. Trying to buy his way into her love and her life. Not that anyone else had a chance with her.

Aria had slowly realized as her ever shorter guardian lessons progressed under Gramps’ patient tutoring, that her choice was really Ben or nobody. And if Gramps’ warning was right, nobody wasn't much of a choice at all. But she still wasn't sure what she wanted, despite the way the air felt heavy and stale when Ben was absent. A single sight of him passing by the door was enough to lift what felt like a thousand pounds off her shoulders.

His back up had been invaluable in facing down the gods, and the dependence she'd discovered inside, that reliance on his steady, calming presence scared the daylights out of her. She'd never thought Ben would return to her life, much less be such a pillar of help. Still, how dared she trust him not to run again in light of their past.

With a desolate, determined shrug, she set about getting ready from the night. Based on snippets of overheard conversations, Ben had set up some kind of date. He'd arranged with Gran to care for Faith, and he'd insisted she dress nicely. Not that Aria wanted a date, or much of anything Ben could provide in the way of material goods.
I want him, though.
But she stuffed that wanting back into the darkest corners of her mind. She couldn't deny her physical attraction to him, or her reliance on his presence the last week. But what she needed more than anything was to find normal. Unfortunately, ever since the night Ben had walked out, normal had gone the way of the dinosaurs and the dodo.

Aria tossed aside jeans and shorts and sweats until she finally stumbled across a decent skirt.
Forgot I packed this.
She ran the purple floral printed beauty through her hands, savoring its satin smoothness and light airy heft. Beautiful, but not at all suitable for the mood she was in. Still, further searching didn't reveal any better alternatives.

With a sigh, Aria slipped the skirt on, and paired it with a lace trimmed black tank top and matching shrug. She dabbed on a bit of makeup, and gave a couple spritzes of her favorite perfume. With a final quick scan of her outfit in the mirror to ensure all her wayward curls were neatly in place and that she hadn't accidentally tucked her skirt into her nylons, she slipped her feet into low heeled sandals and tromped downstairs.

Ben's sharp intake of breath as she paused in the living room set her heart to racing. The look in his eyes only increased the speed of her pulse. Her skin tingled under his lingering gaze, and she fought to control her desperate, physical need to make him hers.
Down girl, it's just the magic talking.
But a part of her wasn't so sure, in spite of the roundabout warnings Gramps had given her. My life, my choices and damn the magic and its demands. Although, she wondered sometimes if Ben's bear overwhelmed him as much as the magic tried to overwhelm her.

"You look amazing," Ben's voice was low and rough. Aria felt her cheeks heat. But she'd put a fair bit of time into this look, for him, so she was glad she wouldn't embarrass him.

"Where are we going?" Aria asked as she looped her arm through his and headed toward the door.

She couldn't help detouring just long enough to plant a kiss atop Faith's golden curls. The girl was busy coloring, and from the watchful eye and sly wink gran sent her way, Aria didn't have anything to worry about if their night ran long. "Mommy loves you, baby." Aria whispered.

Faith turned and her arms wrapped tight around Aria. "Wuv you, mommy." Faith flashed a bright smile, then waved at Ben before turning her attention back to her artwork.

Gran smiled as their eyes met, and she shooed them out the door. "Go, have fun. I've got the babe for the night. We'll be fine, and if we're not, I know who to call for back up."

Aria nodded and allowed Ben to escort her solemnly out the door and down the stairs to his truck. He'd insisted on driving, without saying precisely why. Aria smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek when he opened the door for her. His steady hand on her arm made the step up into his tall pick up a bit less wobbly. But she still wished she hadn't needed that extra hand, and that her arm didn't tingle with sparks of desire once he'd gotten her settled and made his way round to the driver’s seat.

Not that she was against dating him, and eventually claiming him. But she didn't want to cause harm, nor be pushed around by all this supernatural stuff that had invaded her life ever since Faith started shifting.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Ben's voice was smooth and even. Aria glanced at him, checking to see if he was serious. She couldn't help but admire his steady focus as he backed the big truck out of Gran's drive. She'd never learned the mysteries of driving a manual vehicle, but the way he made it look easy didn't have her fooled.

"I'd think they're worth more than a penny," she answered with a smile.

"Alright, name your price."

"Teach me to drive this," she gestured at the steering wheel and gear shift. "If I can drive as well as you when you're done, I'll tell you anything you want to know."

"Anything?" His sideways glance met hers, locked on for a minute. Then he shook himself, and visibly re-focused on the twisty road ahead.

Aria nodded, slow and solemn. "I'll even pinky swear if you like."

His gentle chuckle warmed her from the inside out, like hot chocolate on a bitter winter day. When he held his nearest hand up, pinky out, she giggled, and clasped her pinky round his.

"I promise to tell you all my thoughts if you teach me to drive your truck like a pro."

"Promise?" His voice was low and rough.  

"Pinky swear."

"I pinky swear to teach you to drive my truck like a pro," he whispered, and she felt the weight of that promise in the gentle pressure of his hand on hers.

"When do you want to start?"

"After I upgrade my insurance. Just in case. This old beast has a hell of a kick for somebody just learning to drive manual."

Aria slammed back in her seat when Ben stomped the gas, emphasizing just how much 'kick' the truck had. Her stomach dropped, as the truck topped out on a hill and rocketed down it, before accelerating around a sharp curve. Aria shrieked and gripped the door handle so hard her hand turned white.

"It's not a race car, Ben." She couldn't help scolding him. His answering chuckle set butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

His warm smile and laughing eyes reassured her a bit. "I'm still under the speed limit. But you're right, I'll take it easy if you insist."

Aria nodded once. "Better safe than sorry."

The hot gaze that met hers after Ben tapped the brakes was filled with worry and need and questions. Damn, where'd he been hiding all that all this time? And why was it showing up now?

Then she realized he'd turned off the main road. She'd assumed he was taking her back to 'their' restaurant. Back to make amends for the night he vanished from her life for years. But the small gravel road the truck was aimed down wasn't on the way to Aurora, or any place else she was familiar with.

"Where are we going Ben?"

"You'll see." His voice was tight and tense. But his body stayed loose, and he eased the big truck over the gravel road with skill borne of long practice.

"Do you live out here?"

His wordless no wasn't much of an answer. From the way he was hyper focused on the road ahead, eyes flitting from one land mark to another, he wasn't all that familiar with this this drive either. Odd.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Aria fought to keep her curiosity in check. Ben needed to focus on driving, the gravel was loose enough that the truck had fishtailed around a couple of the tighter curves. The way the trees lined the road, looming over the road almost like angry sentinels. The last thing they needed tonight was to end up wrapped around one of those trees because Ben lost focus at just the wrong moment.

From the way he was slowing, and peering closely at the tree line on his side of the road, wherever they were going, they were damn close.

Then Ben slammed on the brakes and cranked the wheel hard. The truck slid before turning into a hidden drive. Aria's shrieked and clamped on tighter to the door handle, with both hands this time.

The truck rumbled down the drive and through the trees a bit until they entered a fairly large clearing. A small log cabin squatted in the precise middle of the clearing. It was a reasonably well kept, trim little cabin with a nice front porch and a bright red door.

"Is this your place, Ben? Because I thought-" Aria's voice trembled, then hitched when he shook his head in answer once more.

"Then why are we here?"

"It's yours. If you want it. Or ours, if you'll have us both."

"Ben are you asking me to marry you?" Aria's nerves were so shot she was trembling as she twisted sideways for a better view. How the hell had he decided that giving her a cabin was the best way to start out a potential relationship? Much less propose in such a roundabout manner?

She shivered as she watched Ben struggle with his jacket pocket for a moment, the pulled out a velvet box. She so wasn't ready for this.

"Ben, I can't accept this-" She waved vaguely toward the cabin, then pointed to the box in his hand, and continued. "Or that, if it's what I think it is."

Her heart sank at the disappointment that welled in his eyes. But he didn't put what she assumed was a ring back in his pocket. Instead, he held the box out on a flat palm.

"It was supposed to be yours three years ago, it should have been yours all this time. I'm sorry for that, for not finding you sooner. Making things right."

Aria choked back a sob at the pain that seeped into his words and echoed in her soul. Damn right things should have been different. Damn high handed relatives, meddling in stuff. Damn gods.

Ben held his hand out, rock steady despite the tremble she'd heard in his voice. But she wasn't ready to say yes.

"What will it mean to you if I accept this?" Her eyes locked onto his, hoping for an answer to her unspoken question.
Will you run again?
She couldn't handle another night like the one three years ago, the night she'd thought he left her.

Ben shook his head, then closed his large hand gently over the box before putting it back into his pocket. "Give it – give
me
- a chance before you say no? Please?" He pointed at the cabin, then jerked a thumb at his chest. "I haven't let you down since you've been back, have I?"

Aria couldn't help but shake her head at his question. He'd been there for her, for Faith. No questions asked, nothing held back. And she was damn grateful for that. But the hope blossoming in her chest, filling her head with daydreams that could never be made this even harder. Finally, after a moment of silence she spoke. "Ben, you've never let me down. Your bear, on the other hand-he stole you away." Her voice broke on the word away. "And he returned you a whole different man years too late."

Ben nodded once. "Before you continue, come with me?" He hopped out of the truck, and dashed around the front.

Before she could collect her thoughts, he'd opened the door, and helped her down. She was damn glad she'd worn flats, and beginning to wish she'd worn jeans as well. Oh well, not like monsters were going to get her, considering she had her own guardian bear.
For now.
The negative thought snuck inside and rattled around her brain. How long would he stay if she kept turning him down? How long could she fight her feelings-and the magic's demand to mate? She had the uneasy sense that if the magic didn't destroy her, her feelings damn sure would.

Still, he'd gone to all this trouble, and he was offering a damn fine gift, without strings.
Except the strings he tied three years ago.
Still, this Ben, this faithful, devoted, rock steady Ben deserved her best. She nodded, and followed him into the tiny cabin.