When I emerge again, clean and ready to face the day, I know what I have to do.
I give Roman a kiss and say goodbye to Lucy, heading out the door again. Birds sing, the sun shines, and happy little clouds float across the pretty blue sky. It’s a perfect Sunday morning, but my eyes aren’t on the beauty around me. I head straight over to Benji’s house.
I need to know how he feels. If I made a mistake by pushing him away. If he still wants me the way he did a few days ago.
I need to know if Sawyer’s right, and maybe it’s time to take care of myself, for once.
But when I get to Benji’s house, no one’s home. I ring the doorbell and peek through the window. Silence answers. Taking a deep breath, I spin on my heels and head to the garage.
It’s barely seven o’clock on a Sunday morning. If he’s at work right now, I need to give the man a raise—but the garage is dark. The roller doors are closed. I head for the small glass door that leads to reception, unlocking it and slipping inside. The alarm is off. Someone’s here.
There’s no one in the main garage space, so my feet carry me to the office.
The light is on. The door is closed.
Taking a deep breath, I push the door open, hoping to see the man I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.
Benji’s sitting at the desk, frowning at the screen. He’s got a mound of receipts and papers in front of him, and his eyebrows jump up when he sees me.
“Rae.”
“Hey, Benji.” My throat is tight. I nod to the paperwork. “Working on a Sunday?”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
I take a step toward him and close the door. “Me neither.”
He leans back in the chair, watching me. His throat bobs as he swallows, and heat flames in my gut. I watch as Benji rakes his fingers through his hair, his ropey forearms tensing as he moves.
He’s not wearing his coveralls today. He’s got a thin, white T-shirt on that molds to the curve of his muscular chest. My heart jumps.
Benji stares, his eyes sweeping over me. “How’s your brother?”
“He’s fine. Your sister?”
“She’s good.”
There are a million things we don’t say out loud. I don’t know how to start. All I can do is stare at him as he sits on the other side of the desk. Too far away, when all I want is to have him close.
The air thickens.
Benji knows why I’m here. I can tell by the way his eyes darken when they run down the length of my body and back up again.
He knows I’m here for him.
He knows I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about him.
He knows I need him. Badly.
But neither of us moves. As his eyes roam over my body, I feel alive for the first time since we were in my old car together. My nipples pucker under his gaze. Fire licks the edges of my stomach. Waves of heat wash over me, making my cheeks turn red and my whole body burn.
I stand rooted to the ground, unable and unwilling to move.
I like when he looks at me like this.
It’s exactly why I’m here—because I want more.
Benji’s the first to move. He pushes his chair back and stands up, stalking toward me. His tall, broad body fills the room, and I inhale his presence like oxygen. He gives me life. He makes me feel electric, even when all he’s doing is existing in front of me.
This is more than just existing, though. He walks toward me, not stopping until the distance between us disappears. When his fingers sweep over my cheek and tangle into my hair, I lean into his touch with a groan.
For a week and a half, I’ve orbited around Benji. I’ve told myself I can’t be with him. That it would be betraying Sawyer’s trust. That I’m here for my family.
I’ve kept my distance.
But I’m tired. I’m sick of resisting. Sick of giving up what I really want.
Benji’s body is broad. His chest brushes against mine as his thumb sweeps over my cheek, tilting my head up toward his. When I open my eyes, Benji’s gaze is fierce.
“I don’t want you to run away from me again, Rae,” he growls.
“Neither do I.”
“I don’t want you to regret this, either.”
“The only thing I regret is spending the last week without you.” I gulp, putting my hands on his chest. I can feel his heart beating beneath my palms, thumping against my skin as I struggle to contain my emotions. “You got under my skin, Benji. I don’t know how, but you did.”
His lip tugs at the corner. Instead of answering, though, he dips his lips to mine. As soon as his mouth claims me, I melt. I burn. I dissolve into nothing but a wisp of desire, existing only for Benji.
From the first day I stepped foot in Woodvale, I’ve been lying to myself.
I told myself I was only here for Lucy and Sawyer. I said I liked it here because it was the promise of a new life for us.
But that wasn’t the whole truth.
I like it here because this is where I met Benji. I like the garage, because when I come here, I can steal a glance at him. I like the town because he lives in it.
Everything has shifted. Before, I wanted to put my family first. My sister. My brother. My nephew.
Right now?
I want to put myself first.
Benji’s kiss deepens, his tongue invading my mouth. His lips war with mine. His arm snakes around my back, pulling me into his broad body. I wrap my arms around his neck, melting into him until I’m not sure where I stop and he begins.
Between his legs, his cock pulses, and I know I won’t be able to resist.
Why would I?
There’s
