Page 13 of Live Like There's No Tomorrow
Kenzie leaned across the bar and pecked his lips. “Sorry.”
He touched her cheek. “Don’t be. I love that you care so much. I’ll see you when we break.”
As she watched him make his way back to the stage where Eddie was waiting to start their first set, Kenzie smiled to herself. It was amazing to her that she did care so much. When she’d first arrived at the lake, she’d been determined not to get attached to anyone. She didn’t want to care about people—because when you cared it made it harder to walk away. These days she couldn’t ever see herself leaving this place and she cared fiercely—about all her friends, and especially Ben who’d been so good to her in helping her find her feet.
~ ~ ~
By the time they’d eaten, and Angel had finally finished going through her promotion schedule, Ben was starting to feel claustrophobic. He wanted to get out of the Boathouse and just go home. Normally the restaurant itself felt like home, but tonight it felt as though it wasn’t his space anymore. He couldn’t just be himself. Angel was with him, and everyone who even glanced their way seemed to have an opinion about it. He stood up abruptly. “I need to get going.”
Angel looked at him in surprise. “Okay. Are you getting back to work?”
He shook his head. “I need to get home.”
She smiled. “Great.”
She didn’t think he was inviting her to come with him?
“I’ll come with you and pick up keys for the safe at the lodge. You hadn’t forgotten had you?”
Shit. He had. He’d rather drop them off to her tomorrow than have people see her go into his apartment with him now. But then that would mean he’d have to see her again tomorrow. And right now, an Angel-free day sounded like a very good thing. “Okay.”
Kenzie gave him a sour look as he made his way through the bar. A few of the guys gave him knowing smiles and winks as he passed them. Angel walked by his side with a smile on her face.
They walked across the parking lot and Angel started up the stairs to his apartment door ahead of him. Ben pursed his lips and refused to let himself watch the way her rounded ass bounced before his eyes. She stood aside when he reached the top to let him unlock the front door. He didn’t want her to come in, but it seemed rude to say so. He sighed as she followed him inside.
“Let me grab the keys. I’ll be right back.” When he returned, she was standing by the kitchen counter.
“Thanks,” she said as he gave her the keys. Her hand brushed his and she looked up into his eyes.
Ben swallowed, hard.
“I don’t suppose you’d be interested in something casual, would you? Just while you wait to hear from Charlotte?”
Ben wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. He watched her lips curve up into a smile. Her tongue darted out to moisten them as she took a step toward him. He froze as she placed her hands on his shoulders. What was she doing?
She pressed her body against his and reached up to kiss his cheek. Her arms slid up around his neck. His brain was still frozen but his body reacted automatically. His arms slid around her waist and held her to him. She was warm and soft and …. He came to his senses and let go of her, stepping back as though she’d stung him. “No!”
She gave him a sad smile. “I’m sorry.”
Ben stared at her. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I’m not interested, Angel! You know that.”
She shrugged. “Idon’tknow that, Ben. If you really weren’t interested, why did you hold me that way? Why did you even let me get that close to you?” She raised an eyebrow. “I’m not trying to be a bitch. I can’t quite believe I did that, but something tells me that youareinterested, you want me, and I think we could be good together. You’ve gotten so used to the fact that you love Charlotte, you’re waiting for Charlotte and you don’t want anyone else, that you’ve forgotten to ask yourself if it’s still true.”
Ben stared at her. “It is true.”
She nodded. “Maybe, but don’t you think you should at least be sure?”
Ben shook his head. “I am sure. I’d like you to leave now.”
She looked upset. “I’m sorry.”
Ben blew out a sigh. “So am I. I think we should forget this ever happened.”
“Okay.” She held his gaze. “If we can.”
Ben showed her to the door and closed it firmly behind her. What the hell had just happened? He went to fix himself a drink, then remembered. Smoke had wanted to do a whiskey night tonight. He jumped at the sound of a knock on the door. Had Angel come back? He opened the door with shaking hands.
Smoke stood outside holding up a six pack in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. “I wasn’t sure if you still wanted to talk to me tonight. For a while there it looked like you had other plans.”
