Whisper's Edge (15 page)

“And had to sit down?” He nodded and was polite enough not to call her out on what was an obvious lie. “So do you want to?”

“Yes.” Oh, that question held so many hidden meanings. “Wait a minute. Do I want to do…what?”

“Go back to Sully’s and get you a…What was it that you wanted?”

“A black-and-bleu cheeseburger. Blame it on Bobby Flay.”

“Kate, why did you say yes before you knew what the question was?”

Kate hesitated, but when his eyes held her captive she decided that honesty was the best policy. “Because the question didn’t really matter.”

Kate saw his very nice chest rise and fall and she wanted to reach over and see if his heart was pounding as hard as hers was hammering against her ribs. She wouldn’t have been surprised if her shirt was lifting with each heavy beat.

“Then I think we’ll just share the burger and save room for a little dessert.”

Mercy. Was he thinking what she was thinking? She looked at the hot intensity of his gaze and swallowed hard. The answer would be yes.

“S-sounds like a plan,” Kate managed to say and prayed that her legs would carry her home.

B
EN NOTED THAT THEY MADE THE NORMAL TWENTY-MINUTE
walk back to Whisper’s Edge in almost half the time but damned if it didn’t feel as if it took forever. As they walked through the streets, residents waved or shouted from front porches but Ben didn’t even consider stopping, and if someone needed something fixed it was going to have to wait.

He was a man on a mission.

When he glanced at Kate’s flushed face, Ben knew that they were on the same page, and the thought sank straight to his groin. But the fact that he was taking Kate to his place felt surreal, like he was trapped in one of the daydreams he had been having about her for a while now, but he knew one thing…he didn’t want it to end. When he spotted her sitting there on that park bench looking so alone and so sad, he knew that must be how he appeared most of the time, and it was about damned time that it ended.

What he did know was that Kate had taken young Savannah under her wing and had given her a fresh start. He’d witnessed her kindness to the elderly residents and admired
her tenacity in keeping Whisper’s Edge going when times had gotten so tough. Her quick wit kept those around her laughing but Ben recognized the sadness in the depths of her eyes…sorrow that she tried to keep hidden.

“You okay?” They’d hoofed it pretty quickly but she hadn’t seemed to mind the fast pace.

“I’m fine,” she said as they rounded the bend and closed in on his small home. “I’m in pretty good shape for an old broad,” she joked but her smile had an edge of shyness to it.

Ben realized that she must be feeling much of the same kind of emotion that was gripping him and he felt his heart kick into high gear. But then worry suddenly slipped into his mind and threatened his good mood. What if things got a little steamy? He hadn’t kissed a woman for such a long time.…What if he sucked? And damn, did he forget that he was sixty? All kinds of what-ifs started slamming into his brain and he suddenly wondered what the hell he was doing.

This was insanity!

But in truth he’d been attracted to Kate for a long time, even though he’d fought it tooth and nail. If he wasn’t mistaken, she felt the same way. He sure as hell hoped that he wasn’t mistaken. When he’d walked in on her cooling off beneath the ceiling fan with her shirt half unbuttoned he’d about lost it right then and there. The vision had stuck in his mind and invaded his brain at all hours of the day and night. He thought about it now.…

And that was all it took.

When they reached his home Ben opened the front door for her. Even though his heart was beating like wild, he calmly walked over and put the bag of food onto the round table in the breakfast nook in the corner of the room. And then, just as calmly, he walked back over to where Kate stood. He looked deep into her eyes to make sure she was feeling the same thing.

And that’s where the calm ended.

Her purse hit the hardwood floor with a soft thud when
Ben pulled her into his arms. He dipped his head and captured her mouth in a kiss that was like striking a match to dry timber. The feel of her soft, moist lips had him deepening the kiss, needing more. She moaned against his mouth and gripped his shoulders, pressing her body closer. Ben wrapped his arms around her and slipped his hands beneath the silky blouse, eager for the feel of her skin.

He wanted her beneath him, in his bed, naked with her legs wrapped around his waist.

But it was too much, too soon.…Or was it?

She kissed him back with hot passion, and when she tugged his shirt from his pants Ben eagerly awaited the sensation of her hands sliding up his back. He explored her sweet mouth, kissing her deeply, thoroughly, and loving ever second. When his mouth moved to her neck she gasped, pressing her body even closer, as if she couldn’t get enough. Well good, because neither could he.

“All these damned clothes are in the way,” he grumbled.

“True.”

“I want you in my bed,” he said into her ear. “But—”

“Then take me there,” she answered in a sexy, breathy voice that made him groan. He looked down at the tent in his pants. Yep, all of his parts were working.

“No problem.” When he scooped her up in his arms she yelped and then laughed as he carried her down the short hallway to his bedroom. His house was small and his furnishings were simple but Ben kept everything clean and neat even though he rarely had company. The blinds were pulled shut but fingers of waning sunlight bathed the room with a soft glow. A paddle fan turned in a lazy circle but did nothing to cool Ben off. He let Kate’s long legs ease to the floor and then kissed her again. “I need some skin,” he pleaded.

“Me too.” Her tone was husky, needy. When she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt he chuckled softly and then helped her. When he was shirtless she ran her hands over
his chest. “You’re gorgeous. All that muscle makes my knees weak. It would make my day when you would mow your lawn in nothing but gym shorts. I made a point of having to pass by your house but pretended not to stare.”

Ben chuckled. “I had no idea.”

“I fully confess that I find you gorgeous and sexy as hell.” Her fingers fumbled again this time with his belt and when she brushed against his erection he sucked in a breath. God, he hoped he could hold it together. “And it evidently makes me clumsy.”

Ben laughed. He stepped back and toed off his leather sandals before making quick work of his pants and underwear.

“Dear God.” She reached out and grazed her fingers down his chest, sending a hot shiver down his spine. The female admiration in her gaze made him even harder, and when she lightly touched his cock Ben had to swallow a groan. “You are one gorgeous man.”

“So you say.”

“I mean it.”

“Why do
you
still have your clothes on?”

“Good question,” she joked, but Ben sensed hesitation.

He tilted her head up with the tip of his finger. “Are we going too fast?”

“No, it’s just that…” She swallowed hard. “I haven’t been naked in front of a man for a long time and—”

Ben smothered her insecurity with a hot kiss. “You’re beautiful, Kate. And, um, as you can tell you turn me on something fierce.”

“You haven’t seen me naked yet,” she joked, and Ben felt emotion gather in his throat. The humor was her shield, her guard.

“Well, I’m about to remedy that.” He made quick work of the belt and then tugged the billowy shirt over her head. He took in the sexy sight of her standing there in a cream-colored bra before reaching behind her to unhook it. When
she reached up to cover her breasts he beat her to the punch, cupping the lush fullness. “You are one beautiful woman.”

“So you say,” she teased him with his own line but her voice was breathless.

“So I mean it,” he said softly but firmly.

She opened her eyes as if to see if he was telling the truth.

“You are.” When he brushed her nipples with his thumbs, her eyes closed and they sank backward onto the bed.

“I’m no spring chicken,” she protested.

“Neither am I but I swear you make me feel like I’m eighteen again.” Ben quickly pulled off her sandals and tugged her pants off until she was naked except for a pair of cream silky panties and he wanted to lap it up. “Those are hot.”

She laughed low in her throat. “And I’m damned sure glad that I shaved my legs,” she joked, but her breath hitched while he explored her soft skin.

When she shivered, he asked, “Are my hands too rough? I have callouses.”

“God no, you have the hands of a workingman. I love the way they feel on my body.” Youth might have passed them by but there was a certain beauty that comes with age. She moaned when he caressed the silk fabric between her thighs until she felt hot and moist. “I need to taste you, Kate.”

“Ben!” she protested but he tugged her panties down and buried his face between her thighs. “Oh…” She pushed at his head but he laved and teased with his tongue until she tugged his hair and arched her back. “God!” she gasped hoarsely but he could feel her giving in to the pleasure. He wanted to please her, to pleasure her until she couldn’t take any more. He loved the taste of her, the feel of her, and when he reached up and caressed her breasts she cried his name.

Unable to wait any longer Ben scooted up and covered her body with his. He groaned at the sheer pleasure of skin
on smooth skin. Her alluring, feminine perfume filled his head and the texture of her curves fitting perfectly against him made his senses sing. Ben dipped his head and kissed her, and when she parted her thighs he entered her silky warm heat.

God, it felt amazing.

“Oh!” Kate moaned and then wrapped her legs around him. He rocked against her, moving slowly, savoring each stroke, wanting to make this last. He kissed her neck, loving the sweet sensation of being sheathed inside her body. But when she arched her back and pressed her hands to his ass and squeezed, he stroked faster, went deeper. “Oh, Ben!” When he heard her soft gasp and felt her body clench Ben thrust deep and climaxed with hot pleasure that seemed to erupt from his toes.

“God…” He pressed his forehead to hers and then chuckled softly. He shuddered. “That was…”

“Amazing? Stupendous? Incredible?”

Ben pulled back and looked into her eyes. “Yeah…all those things.” He dipped his head and kissed her gently and then rolled to his side and pulled her close, enjoying the warm afterglow of their lovemaking. “And more.” He could feel the fast beat of her heart and he smiled. He kissed the delicate slope of her shoulder and then sent a warm trail of kisses up her neck before hugging her close. She sighed, and he smiled again at the sound of her contentment. Relaxed. As it should be. They spooned for a while, not speaking, neither of them wanting to break the spell.

“Are you hungry?” he finally asked.

“Famished.”

“Sorry we had dessert first.”

Kate rolled over and faced him. “Dessert? I thought that was just an appetizer.”

Ben laughed and he felt something ease inside him. Kate was melting the hard ball of pain that had been lodged in his gut for a long time. Ben was starting to feel more like his old self.

And it felt good. No, it felt great.

Kate smiled, and Ben was pleased to see that the sad, haunting look in her eyes had vanished. Life, as he well knew, sometimes threw you curveballs, and it was hard to keep your head in the game. But Ben suddenly felt recharged. He had no idea how long the feeling would last, or where this would go past tonight, but he refused to think about anything and, instead, simply live in the moment.

“H
OW DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE CHARCOAL IS READY?”
Tristan waved his hand over the coals but wasn’t sure.

Savannah finished lighting the citronella lanterns and then walked over to stand beside him. “When it turns an ash gray and looks as if it’s glowing red from the inside.”

“Oh.” Tristan examined the mound of charcoal she had fashioned in the Weber grill, and then nodded. “I think we’re almost there.”

Savannah picked up a stick and poked a briquette. “I do believe you’re right. Haven’t you used charcoal before?”

“No, only the gas kind of grill.”

“Sweet. Well then you’re going to be pleasantly surprised.”

“I like those kind of surprises the best.”

Savannah chuckled. “The flavor is so much better. Lots of the folks here in Whisper’s Edge use old-school charcoal. It was all they knew back in the day.” She pointed to the grill. “Of course, this relic was left here by the previous
owner, looking all crusty but I brought it back to life with some elbow grease.”

“Is there anything here that hasn’t been salvaged?”

“Hmmm…” She tapped the side of her cheek. “Not much, I suppose and I guess in a way even I fall into that category.” Savannah peered down at the charcoal but then glanced back up at him and winced. “Sorry that it’s taken so long for the coals to get hot. I should have gotten it lit a while ago but…” She paused and rolled her eyes. “I was too caught up in deciding what to wear.” She looked down at her yellow sundress and shrugged. “I think I’m overdressed. The outfit was Kate’s idea.”

Tristan loved her honesty. “Well, you look very pretty, Savannah,” he assured her with a firm nod.

“Thank you, Tristan,” she said, but then ducked her head and gazed down at her toes. “An improvement over what I was wearing earlier, I suppose?”

Tristan chuckled. She sure would be surprised if she knew that he’d found her sexy as hell in her tattered shorts and tight tank top. But surely she’d been told that she was pretty before? He could tell that she was nervous, and he wished he could put her at ease. Of course, he guessed he’d be jittery too if his boss had come over for dinner, and he hoped she didn’t regret her invitation. Maybe she was only being polite? He hoped not. But although Tristan didn’t really feel like her boss, he was well aware of the fact that he held her future in the palm of his hands.