The Playboy's Proposal (Sorensen Family) (17 page)

Chapter Seventeen

“You Sorensens are really a competitive bunch,” Henry said, following Benny after a backbreaking game of badminton—a game that he thought was supposed to be more…tame. Gentrified.

“We just like to keep things interesting. It was better than beating each other up.”

“I thought that was what we were doing.”

“Not even close.”

She took a seat on a bench tucked away at the back of the flower garden. It was hard not to stare at the pretty pink flushness of her face, now highlighted by the fading summer sun, the way several more pieces of hair had fallen around her face to frame it just so. The way he wanted to pull her in his arms and tilt her chin up and kiss that full mouth, feel the warmth of this woman who had made him laugh more than he’d laughed with anyone.

Maybe sitting in such a private location out of sight of the rest of the Sorensens wasn’t such a good idea.

He cleared his throat and took a seat next to her before handing her one of the two plates he’d been carrying. Chocoflan was what Daisy had called it. Benny took it, her eyes widening even more as she coveted the dessert that had a thick, gooey chocolate cake on the bottom and a rich caramel-covered flan on top. She took the first bite and closed her eyes over the richness.

Damn. Now he wanted to know what that mouth would taste like even more.

Best to keep his gaze from hers. Instead, he looked back toward the house. From their position, they could see inside the house, where the kids were playing a mean game of Apples to Apples with their mom and grandparents at the dining table, Dominic and Kate were at the kitchen window laughing and doing the dishes together, having lost the bet made in the heat of the game, and Cruz and Payton were whispering and laughing together out on the deck, their arms around each other as they rocked in a porch swing.

He supposed this was what it meant to have a family. This happy, warm contentment of just being in one another’s presence one minute, even if an hour before they’d been shouting threats of pain and torture as they egged one another on. Of knowing that they had somewhere they fit, where they belonged.

There was a strange tugging sensation around his heart. The scene was something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Something he’d never really believed existed outside the painter’s mind.

“I’m glad I came. This was fun.”

“Me, too.” She took another bite of the rich dessert and kept her gaze on the house. “You know, when I was growing up, I used to come out here at night and sit with my dessert, too. Watching everyone inside. Of course, back then Daisy wasn’t playing board games with her kids or our parents. She was usually where Cruz and Payton are now, whispering and laughing with some jock. She was never at a loss for a boyfriend.” Benny said this wistfully. Maybe even a little begrudgingly.

“How about you? You didn’t have any high school boyfriends over? No one you liked?”

“When I was fourteen, the only boy I liked was too in love with another girl to see me as anything but a kid.” She smiled a little sadly.

“Then he was an idiot.”

“No, quite the contrary. He was heading to college on a full scholarship,” she said, missing his point. How could anyone not appreciate this woman? But she was lost in her own memory now as she continued. “Scottie was the lifeguard at the community pool and I’d been kind of stalking him all summer. I knew his schedule and always made sure to be sitting in whatever vicinity he was, usually reading Tolkien while sneaking glances at his near-godlike physique from behind my sunglasses. One afternoon Daisy and a couple of her friends decided to come by. He took one look at her and was as instantly in love with her as I’d been with him. Daisy has that effect on people.”

“Did you ever tell her?”

“Tell her what?”

“Tell her that you were in love with Scottie the lifeguard. She’s your sister. She might not have dated him if she knew what it was costing you.”

“No, of course not. I mean, he was this gorgeous creature and I was—I was…me. Still a tomboy with twenty pounds of baby fat. No one was going to look at me.”

She said that with such certainty that it angered him as much as it made him want to hug her. “Ridiculous. I think you sold yourself—no, I think you
still
sell yourself short, Benny. I don’t know what you were like back then, but there are some things that time and age don’t change. Like the fact that you’re easily the most stubborn but also strong and determined and fiercely loyal woman I’ve ever met. That you’re not only smart and intelligent but have a sharp wit that makes me laugh and wonder what you’re going to say next. And when you look at me sometimes, with those large, expressive eyes, I am utterly convinced you’re the most beautiful woman on the entire planet.”

She swallowed and looked at him, almost as if waiting for a punch line.

He only smiled, shaking his head. “Any man would be lucky to be with you. Don’t ever believe otherwise.”

And he’d never meant anything more. From the long, graceful arch of her neck to her expressive face, the dark lashes that framed the most beautiful set of blue eyes he’d ever seen. But he knew beneath the soft, demure picture she painted now, Benny Sorensen was a tough, independent and strong woman who had a lot to offer some lucky guy.

It pained him to think of that lucky guy being Luke Seeley.

No. If he were honest with himself, it pained him to think about that lucky guy being anyone other than…him.

Unable to help himself, Henry reached out and ran his finger across Benny’s full bottom lip. “If a guy can’t recognize how special you are, then you don’t want them.” Without taking his gaze from hers, he lowered his mouth until he was inches away from that delectable mouth. He could smell chocolate and caramel on her breath.

He wanted her to know what he was about to do.

He cupped the side of her head in his hand and moved slowly until he was kissing that bottom lip, sucking on it and then parting her mouth open with his. Tasting her. Feeling the softness and strength of her. There was the sound of a fork clattering against the bench as she released her hold on her plate, then her hand was gripping his shoulder as she leaned into him. Embracing him. Tasting him as well.

It was almost like this was where she belonged.

In his arms. Her mouth opened to his, demanding as good as she got.

Almost.

…

Benny knew that she should stop him. That she wasn’t supposed to want kisses from Henry. But what she knew was entirely different from what her body wanted.

She wanted to kiss him more than anything. The moment he’d smiled wickedly before letting a birdie fly her way she’d been hit with a sudden wave of desire. She’d wanted to bolt over the net and toss him to the ground right then and kiss him senseless for challenging her like that. And it hadn’t let up.

And now
he
was kissing
her
, his tongue tangling with hers as the heat grew around them almost like they were in a fireball of energy and she could shut everything out but the taste of him. The feeling of his mouth, his lips, his hand on her head, and his other hand resting—no, gripping—her right hip as he held her closer.

It was like before, but now she could hear the subtle chirps of the crickets and smell her mom’s lavender surrounding them and Henry’s sure and haunting scent.

She never wanted this to end. She wanted to hold him like this, kiss him like this…forever.

But something outside their cocoon was happening, and she felt Henry freeze and start to pull away, but she resisted, trying to pull his mouth back to hers.

“Henry,” Jenna called out, echoed by Natalie a moment later.

Benny froze. Her nieces were looking for him.

Oh. Lord.

She was making out with Henry in her mom’s garden as her nieces scoured the backyard with their laser-beam eyes looking for them.

If they saw them kissing, the girls would shriek the news to everyone. And it would be impossible to convince anyone that Henry was just a friend.

Henry came abruptly to his feet, his face turned away from her.

A sudden fear reached her heart. Was he regretting what had just happened? Had she misjudged him, misjudged the moment when it seemed everything had faded away and it was just him, and they’d kissed—

No. Wait. She was almost sure that it had been Henry who’d initiated it. Right?

Well, she didn’t have time to analyze right now. She had to minimize damage. Picking up her plate, she crossed the lawn, the grass soft and warm under her bare feet. “We’re right here, girls. But I think we are going to have to call it a night. We both have early days.”

There was no way she could risk any scrutiny from any of her family who might see her undoubtedly flushed skin and guess the truth.

Not when she didn’t know what any of it meant.

…

They’d driven home in silence, which was fine with her. The wind whipped her hair, and she savored the rush of the air against her face, trying to clear her thoughts. She caught him watching her a few times, his expression impossible to read. Maybe he was giving her some time to process. That’s it. Not that he was…regretting anything.

It was only as they stepped onto the elevator that Henry finally spoke. “About earlier. That kiss. I’m sorry. That was entirely inappropriate.”

Her stomach felt like it was dropping through the floor, and they hadn’t even started their ascent. He was sorry?

She couldn’t say anything, only stood there frozen. Nodding. Like she understood.

“I think we’d just had such a great day and there was this sudden rush of adrenaline as I saw you sitting there, your face flushed and bright. I couldn’t resist. It just felt like the most natural thing to reach down and kiss you. Only…” He paused and raked a hand through his hair, trying to find words as the elevator grunted and started to climb.

“Henry, you don’t have to explain anything. I get it. You’re used to planting that mouth on anything with breasts, and I was no exception.” Even though she’d said this through a forced smile, intending it to be a joke, she’d sounded more bitter than she’d intended, but it couldn’t be helped.

“No. It’s not like that. You’re not like anyone else. That’s why my kissing you was most definitely the wrong thing to do. In the past couple of weeks you and I have become friends. Really good friends, and I don’t think I could ever say that before about a woman. It’s been really, really nice and not something I want to risk losing. Not with my track record.”

Right. Why was she such an idiot? She knew this. He’d so much as told her so himself. Men either wanted to sleep with you or they didn’t. She’d been permanently friend zoned. And it hurt a hell of a lot more than she’d thought possible.

The elevator was just cresting seven. Three more flights. Time to get this conversation over with and run back to her place to lick her wounds.

For now, be positive. Don’t let him see how much his apology stung.

“Henry, don’t be ridiculous.” She delivered a megawatt smile, her face feeling like it would crack under the pressure. “It was a nice kiss—no. A great kiss. But you don’t have to worry about me. I know we’re friends. Luke is the whole reason I’ve been doing all of this, and thanks to your help, I’m finally getting what I want. Really. Don’t give it a second thought.”

His shoulders sagged in obvious relief. He faked a punch to her right arm. “You’re a great woman, Benny Sorensen. You’re going to make some lucky bastard the happiest man in the world.”

The doors were opening, and she rushed forward, needing to distance herself from him as fast as she could. “Well, thanks for the lesson today. But I’m pretty wiped out, and if I’m going to look human again tomorrow, I should probably get to bed.”

“Okay. I’ll catch you later.” He didn’t argue with her or try to coerce her into an episode of
The Good Wife
like he’d done in the past.

She made it to her place before any tears could fall, thank God.

It wouldn’t be fair for her to make Henry feel guilty over her misguided feelings. She should know by now that men like Henry were completely out of her league.

Unlike Luke and the other men who’ve shown her interest in the past couple of weeks thanks to the shiny new package they’d concocted, Henry wasn’t fooled by the makeup, the new clothes, or the haircut.

Henry knew the real Benny.

And as she’d feared, he knew she just wasn’t good enough.

Chapter Eighteen

Henry was in a foul mood. He knew it as he nodded and ignored the well wishes when he left the gym earlier that morning, when he snapped at the parking lot attendant as he’d pulled into the lot at work, when Marion, his assistant, mused about why he’d looked like something the cat dragged in.

Two cups of coffee later, his mood still hadn’t improved, and he knew why. Because he was furious. Annoyed. Frustrated. At one person.

Himself.

What had he been thinking getting so close to a woman like Benny when he should have realized how dangerous she was? Dangerous in how absolutely perfect she was, and it was inevitable that he’d start having feelings for her.

Because just as much as he wanted her, wanted the happiness that would come with being with her, wanted that kiss to go on forever, he’d known deep down that things would never work out.

People like Henry didn’t have a happily-ever-after. People like him were destined to be alone.

He felt like he’d spent his entire life alone. Not wanted and abandoned by his mother, abandoned in death by his heartbroken father.

So just for another moment, he’d pretended that what he and Benny had could be real. That it could be forever.

Only as soon it was over, the reality of the situation came crashing down. He could never have Benny Sorensen. Not the way she wanted. Not forever.

So although it had been a little late, he’d had to be honest with her last night in the elevator. Had to put the brakes on things before he was too far gone. Before he did something stupid like fall completely in love with her. Before he could be too invested only to have her realize things wouldn’t work out and leave him. Like everyone inevitably did.

He had to admit, however, that seeing how quick Benny had been to agree with him that their kiss had been a mistake had been a bit of a bruise to his ego. She could have at least had the courtesy to look a little disappointed.

But then, why would she? She finally had Luke eating out of her hand. Dr. Luke Seeley, who was everything she could ever want in a man. Ambitious, hardworking, selfless, loving, from a good family, and apparently, if all signs were correct, on his way to falling in love with her.

Yes. Benny was definitely going to be better off.

All the same, knowing this stuff and coming to terms with it were completely different things, and Henry’d spent the entire night torturing himself with these thoughts until he finally rolled out of bed and headed to the gym to work off his stress.

He was cradling his baseball in his hands, still recalling the details of yesterday’s afternoon with Benny, when he realized someone was talking to him.

He looked up to see Becks standing at the door with a bemused expression on her face.

“Henry? You doing all right?”

Lord. How long had she been standing there trying to get his attention? “Just fine. Sorry. Had a rough night’s sleep.”

“I could probably come back when you’re feeling a little more…animated,” she said, and walked across the office before sinking into the seat opposite him, “but since I have some big news I thought you should know straight away, I’ll take what I can get.”

He’d been about to toss the ball to his other hand, but her statement stopped him. “News?”

“I just got off the phone with AirPro Athletics. They were impressed by your presentation the other day, not to mention your assurances that you understood and shared their vision of family and community. We’ve got the account.”

She was looking at him expectantly, and he supposed he should express some modicum of enthusiasm. “That’s great. Just what we wanted. I told you it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“That’s it? That’s all I’m going to get?” She smiled, though, shaking her head. “Whoever she is, she’s really messing with your head.”

He sat up straighter. “She is? I assure you, that’s not what’s going on here. I told you. I just didn’t get much sleep last night. This news is…great. Unbelievable. I’ll be sure to meet with the team right away to give them the good news.”

She came to her feet. “You do that, Henry. You might also just want to take a day or two off. Get some real relaxation in. What with landing this account and earning that nomination, not to mention managing to go three full weeks without so much as a byline from any of the tabloids, you’ve earned it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks, Becks.”

Only he didn’t feel like celebrating now any more than he had before Becks walked in that door. In fact, his mind was somewhere else. With someone else.

He wondered if she’d already taken the steps she’d need to move on with the good Dr. Seeley. He just hoped he’d be able to keep up the pretense that imagining her with anyone else wasn’t like a knife to the chest.

She deserved to be happy. Even if it wasn’t with him.

…

“You know, my parents are going to be in town next weekend. They really would like to meet you,” Luke said, wrapping his hands around her waist and facing her while the elevator slowly crept upward to the tenth floor.

It was Thursday night, and they’d just come from a movie where she’d eaten too much popcorn and drank too much soda, and she felt a little sick.

“Your parents?” Luke’s parents had moved to a retirement community in the sunny southern climes of Tempe, Arizona, which was about ten hours’ drive away from Salt Lake, so their trip up, she hoped, had nothing to do with meeting her.

“Don’t look so worried,” he said and laughed, tucking a stray hair from her face. “They’ll love you.”

“They’re not coming all this way to meet me, though. Right?”

“Not that that would be so unbelievable, but no. There’s actually an amateur golf tournament next weekend they already had planned on attending. Meeting you is just a happy coincidence.”

“In that case…I can’t wait.”

She tilted her head up to catch his kiss, a move that, after Saturday and two more dinner dates under their belt, was feeling much more natural. He was a good kisser, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sweet moment.

She hadn’t even been aware that the elevator doors had opened until the sound of someone clearing their throat brought her back to earth. They grinned at each other and turned to apologize to whoever had caught them in such an awkward moment.

Holy Hannah.

All her sweet, tingling feelings were swept away as she stared into Henry’s brown eyes. “Sorry to interrupt,” he said to her before turning his attention to Luke. “How’s it going?”

Luke seemed to recognize him, and as they stepped off the elevator, he held his hand out to take Henry’s. “Good, man. It’s Henry, right? The golf instructor?”

“I suppose that’s accurate enough.”

Luke draped his arm casually over Benny’s shoulders, unaware of the tension between the two. “Well, I appreciate you helping out. Actually, if you had a minute, I was wondering something about your club. I might be looking to move somewhere new, and I hear the course there is excellent. What’s the USGA course rating?”

Benny worked to keep a slight smile on her face as the elevator door shut behind them and Henry answered the question without any sense of urgency. His demeanor was easy and casual. Not seeming to be affected in the least by coming upon the two of them kissing just a moment before.

And dang. He looked so freaking good, even if it hurt her heart a little bit to see him right now.

Since their last encounter on Sunday night, they hadn’t seen each other—not even in passing. She’d kept to her regular schedule, one that usually involved her passing him once or twice in the parking garage or at the mailboxes.

But it was as if Henry was purposely avoiding her, which was a relief as much as it was a stab to the heart.

“Oh, by the way, Benny mentioned to me that you’re a bit of a baseball fan and”—Luke paused and looked down at her with a grin—“I thought as a way of thanking you for your helping out with golf, that I’d pick up a few extra tickets for the Bees’ game on Saturday.”

Henry finally leaned forward and pressed the call button to the elevator. He was dressed to go out, clearly. Even though it was after ten. “That’s pretty nice of you. But I don’t know if I’m going to be free that day…”

“I know that it’s not going to be anything like seeing the Giants,” Luke added, “but I managed to get four front-row seats. You’ll feel like you’re on the field.”

Four tickets? Like…a double date?

Not. Going. To. Happen.

“That’s sweet of you, Luke,” Benny said and leaned her head against Luke’s shoulder, “but it sounds like Henry’s already got plans. We don’t want him to feel obligated to take us up on your offer. You know, I can check with my brother Dominic and his wife, Kate. You haven’t had a chance to meet them yet, but I’m sure they’d love to—”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t available,” Henry said a bit loudly, and she pulled her gaze from Luke’s to Henry. “In fact, front-row tickets…that’s nearly impossible to say no to.”

What was Henry thinking? This whole week he’d worked to avoid her, and now he wanted to be part of this double-date nightmare?

She narrowed her eyes at him.

Henry smiled, nodding. “Yeah. I think I can make it work.”

“Great,” Luke continued. “I’ll leave the tickets with Benny tomorrow, if you and your date want to just meet us there.”

“I look forward to it.”

Benny had no words, and fortunately the elevator arrived and Henry was stepping on it making further conversation unnecessary.

It was hard to miss the smugness in that grin as it shut a moment later.

Well, fine.

They were friends, weren’t they? Maybe Henry was just trying to regain that platonic footage they’d had up until Sunday’s fateful kiss. If he was okay with seeing her with someone else, she could be just as okay. No, better than okay. She would be great.

Everything would be just…great.

…

Henry had to be insane.

To put himself through this torture of watching the happy lovebirds teasing and laughing with each other as they returned from the ballpark’s snack bar, looking to the world like they were completely head over heels in love with each other.

Wasn’t it enough to have that gut-kicking moment the other night, when the elevator doors opened to reveal Benny and Saint Luke in a passionate lip-lock, unaware of anyone or anything but each other? It had made him want to pull Luke off her in a blinding moment of fury and slam his fist in his gut in the same way it felt someone had slugged Henry.

He should have just politely declined the invitation—Benny had given him the opening. But no, she had to mention her brother and inviting him and his wife for a little family excursion with the new beau.

Sweet. Disgustingly so.

And suddenly the thought of Luke being welcomed into the embrace of Benny’s family had been too much and he’d spoken before he’d really considered what he was doing.

“Here you go,” Luke said and passed down Henry’s date’s nachos, followed by a hot dog with the works. The guy had insisted on picking up the tab, of course.

Luke waited for Benny to take her seat before sliding in the one next to hers. He draped his arm around her shoulder, looking far too cozy and content as he leaned over to lay a quick kiss on her mouth.

Yeah. This was complete torture.

Made worse by the fact that seeing Benny all dolled up like that struck a chord with him.

Not that she didn’t look stunning. She did. Gorgeous, even, in a long sleeveless dress, a deep blue color that matched her eyes. But her usual natural makeup palette—a touch of color to those full lips and a swipe or two of mascara—was abandoned for this more airbrushed, magazine-perfect face with carefully sculpted cheekbones and dramatic eyes and lips.

She didn’t look like…Benny. Not the Benny he knew. More like she was dressing up just to appease Luke.

Wasn’t that what he’d been telling her to do from the beginning? To make herself into someone else, someone that Luke would want?

Henry was beginning to question the wisdom of his advice. Of everything.

Why should Benny have to dress up as anything other than who she was when she was so perfectly intriguing and wonderful as she was? Why couldn’t she see that?

“Thanks again for the tickets,” Henry said. “I insist on repaying you. How about joining Lela and me for dinner tonight? My treat.”

What on earth had he just asked? As if this afternoon wasn’t torturous enough, he wanted to add a meal?

“Ah, man. That’s nice of you,” Luke said. “But I actually already made reservations for that new Market Place restaurant. It’s an anniversary of sorts.” He squeezed Benny’s shoulder.

For crying out loud. They had only been seeing each other for two weeks. What on earth could they have to celebrate?

Wait. Had he said Market Place?

“I’ve heard that place is good. Isn’t their specialty…seafood?” Henry asked, looking directly at Benny.

“It is. Brought in fresh daily,” Luke said enthusiastically. “Their sushi is phenomenal. I was there a few weeks ago and have been meaning to take Benny ever since.”

“Do you even like sushi?” Henry asked Benny, having a distinct memory of her gagging when he’d offered her a bite of his California roll he’d picked up last week.

“It’s great,” she said and gave him a piercing look that told him to drop it.

“Uh-huh.”

Luke glanced down at her, not reading the obvious lie she’d just spoken. “Yeah. We had it our first date. She loved it. I’m this close to becoming vegan, but I just can’t give up my sashimi.”

“You going to let me have a bite of that?” Lela asked from Henry’s side, probably not liking her sidelined role in the conversation.

He looked down at the loaded hot dog still in his hand. Without hesitating, the woman leaned over, opening her mouth in a bold way, and took a bite from the end.

A move that any other time probably would have been a welcome and appreciated act by him and any other hot-blooded guy. But right then, it felt just…uncomfortable. He risked a glance past the woman to find—sure enough—Benny watching the entire thing.

She met his gaze and raised her brows as if to say,
Really?