Never Too Much Page 10

  Well, well, Kent thought, using his coffee cup to hide his smile. Jealousy on both their parts. He sat back, waiting to be entertained.

  Ben touched Sierra’s cheek. “Grace is my sister-in-law and a real sweetheart. You’ll love her. Everyone does.”

  Slightly appeased, Sierra asked, “And Aggie?”

  “Mrs. Agatha Harper, matriarch, society matron, and, at last check, my grandmother.”

  “At last check?”

  “She goes back and forth on that one.” He shrugged. “I call her Aggie just to piss her off, but now everyone is picking up the habit. She probably wants to raise hell with me about something.”

  “Why?”

  “Because that’s usually what she wants.”

  Sierra looked as stunned by his disclosure as Kent. It sounded like Agatha Harper was something of a wealthy woman, though Ben showed no signs of the privileged condescension familiar to people of affluence.

  For one thing, he owned and ran a middle-class motel and bar. For another, he was too easy-going, too laid-back and casual to have been raised rich.

  Regardless of that, Ben would have his work cut out for him. Thanks to some bad experiences, Sierra had a special aversion to wealthy families and the power they wielded.

  But watching him, Kent decided Ben was up to the task.

  Tired of her fending him off, Ben grabbed Sierra’s shoulders and kissed her before she could dodge him. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll see you later, okay?”

  Sierra scowled and dithered. “I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

  “So I’ll catch you when you’re done.”

  She glanced at Ben, and away. “I’m going to be really busy for at least a week. Probably longer.”

  Kent looked up at the ceiling. Sierra’s brush-off skills were sorely lacking. She could definitely use a few lessons on subtlety.

  Ben leaned down nose to nose with her, causing Sierra to press back in her chair. He cupped her chin, brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. His tone was mild, a bit husky. “I will see you later.” He gave her a brief, soft kiss.

  Kent waited for Sierra to explode, to maybe even slug Ben for being so forward.

  Instead she blinked her big eyes as if dazed.

  Ben nodded at them both and walked away.

  As soon as Ben was out of range, Sierra shook her head then glared after him. “He’s impossible.”

  “What’s this? Insults from a woman who looks like she had a night of wild debauchery?” Kent saw her face burn.

  “I was not debauched.”

  “Really? Not at all?” He expected immediate confirmation. Sierra had been badly burned, and since then she’d turned every interested guy down flat—that is, when she even bothered to notice his interest. More often than not, she didn’t.

  The immediate confirmation didn’t materialize.

  “Well . . .” She hesitated, making Kent sit up a little straighter. She frowned in uncertainty, then shook her head. “No.”

  “Oh, now that just reeked of conviction.” Kent tilted his head to study her. “So what the hell did happen last night?”

  She shrugged and flushed at the same time. “Just what I said, the storm knocked out my window, as well as the electricity, and Ben came to my rescue. He let me stay at his motel.”

  “With him?”

  She made a point of not meeting his gaze. “He lives there. None of the key cards to empty rooms would work because of the blackout. His room was the only one he could get open because it has a regular key.”

  “Uh-huh. You slept in his room all night, but there was no hanky-panky?” Being male himself, Kent found that rather hard to believe.

  Sierra held her head in dismay. “He promised we wouldn’t have sex, and we didn’t.”

  Kent stared. They’d known each other long enough to be closer than friends, without the baggage of relatives. Kent understood Sierra better than anyone. She said they hadn’t gotten intimate, so he believed her. But her manner this morning suggested that something had certainly happened—and she didn’t look completely happy about it.

  After her marriage and her divorce, she was especially vulnerable. She considered herself a hard-ass, but Kent knew better. Her heart was more tender than most. It thrilled him that she was showing signs of interest in a man again, but at the same time, he couldn’t bear the idea of her getting hurt. If she got involved with a guy like Ben, it had to be with her eyes wide-open.

  As her friend, he felt bound to warn her. “He definitely wants in your pants, honey.”

  Sierra waved that away. “Yeah I know, he told me so.”

  Kent drew back in surprise. “He told you so?” “Several times.” She made a face. “He seems to think he can convince me to spend time with him.”

  Fascinating. “How’s he going to do that?”

  She dithered, stirring her coffee, chewing her lip. Finally she blurted, “He . . . did stuff to me.” She stared at Kent hard, trying to see if he understood.

  Oh, he understood only too well. “You don’t say.”

  “But he didn’t do anything for himself.”

  Kent sat back in his seat, a little discomfited by the ridiculous conversation. And strangely aroused. He knew he needed a woman bad when chatting with Sierra made him hot.

  She confided in him as a sister might, and she deserved his undivided attention. Problem was, with Brooke still on his mind, he heard her as a man. He cleared his throat. “You’re saying he concentrated just on you?”

  She put her head in her hands and nodded. “And he’s really good, Kent. Or else, I’m really easy, not sure which.” She seemed bothered by that for a moment. “But I’ve never been easy before. Just the opposite.”

  “Maybe that’s because you hadn’t met the right guy.”

  Her head jerked up. “He’s not the right guy, either.”

  “Why not?”

  “You met him. He’s a . . . a hound dog.”

  “A hound dog who knows what he’s doing, evidently.”

  She grumbled under her breath, then said, “Yeah, with every woman he meets.”

  “You think?”

  “You saw him with the waitress.”

  Kent shrugged. “He was just being friendly. Trust me, he didn’t look at her the same way he was looking at you.”

  Her sigh was more of a huff. “Can I ask you something?”

  He could hardly wait. “Shoot.”

  “Is what he did—with me—typical? I mean, I assumed guys were kind of selfish when it came to sex.”

  She looked so confused, Kent smiled, reached out and took her hand. “Your experience is sorely limited, honey.”

  “I know. But still, do other guys do that—go without so they can make a woman satisfied?”

  Make a woman satisfied? What the hell had Ben done to her? Kent couldn’t help himself—he laughed at the awkwardness of his own feelings.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You are a delight, Sierra. If you spoke like this with Ben, it’s a wonder you didn’t shock him to death.”

  She looked affronted. “Ha! There’s not much that would shock him, I can tell you that!” But then she thought about it, and asked, “Why?”

  “All this sex talk—men are susceptible to such things. And visual. I’m getting a real good mental picture here.” She looked so appalled, he shrugged in apology. “Sorry.”

  Her face colored, then turned dark with a mortified frown. She leaned over the table to close the distance between them and poked him in the chest. “Well stop it, for crying out loud. I don’t want you picturing . . . that.”

  “Too late. I can’t seem to help myself.” Kent understood now that Ben had pleasured her. The various ways Ben might have done that had already flitted through Kent’s mind in rapid order. No wonder Ben looked so territorial today.

  Sierra groaned and dropped her head to the tabletop. “This is awful.”

  Kent had never seen her so forlorn, so he took pity on her. Smiling, he patted h
er shoulder and tried to speak as matter-of-factly as possible. “Okay, to answer your question: Men are men. Some are generous and considerate and some are pigs. Sounds like Ben is in the first category. Also, sounds like he’s damned determined to get you in the sack, and to make sure you enjoy being there.”

  Relief that he’d answered her, and impatience to discuss it, got her attention and brought Sierra halfway back across the table. “I guess he is. Do you know what he told me?”

  Kent wasn’t sure he’d survive this. He’d only occasionally seen Sierra as a sexual person because he’d met her when her life had been upside down with strife. Since then, he’d been intent on helping her start over, and in the process they’d grown very close. He’d been mourning his wife and she wouldn’t have allowed anything else. There’d been no room for sexual interest.

  “Tell me.”

  “He wants to keep giving, without getting.” She sat back, waiting for Kent’s reaction to that. When he blinked at her, she nodded hard, as if to convince him it was true. “Do you believe that? Is that even normal?”

  Again, Kent had to fight off a laugh. No, Ben didn’t sound like a normal guy, he sounded better—and just what Sierra needed.

  “It’s not funny,” Sierra grumbled. “I don’t have time for this nonsense. But he seems so determined . . .”

  Kent opened his mouth, not at all sure what he’d say, and Ben rumbled, “Are we interrupting?”

  Kent turned, and found both Ben and Brooke standing beside the table. Suspicion and a touch of jealousy darkened Ben’s eyes. It was clear that he didn’t like the way they had their heads together, whispering. His body language, not to mention his gaze, challenged Kent.

  Brooke, on the other hand, seemed determined not to look at him. Kent found that interesting, especially since from one breath to the next she lost the battle and her attention darted toward him, then caught. Kent refused to release her, and they stared at each other for a long moment. Her chest rose on a deep inhalation.

  Damn, she was beautiful. And classy. And begging to be fucked. His voice dropped despite his best intentions. “Hello again.”

  Ben appeared irate until Kent realized he was holding Sierra’s hand. He released her and sat back in his chair.

  “My mother has an offer for you.”

  “Yeah?” Kent felt his blood heat. “What kind of offer?”

  Warily, Brooke dismissed Kent and turned to Sierra. “New landscaping.”

  Sierra said, “Excuse me?”

  Brooke cleared her throat—and kept glancing at Kent. He shared an intimate smile with her that had her smooth cheeks turning rosy and her big brown eyes narrowing with annoyance.

  Impatient, Ben picked up the explanations. “Mom bought a new house about two years ago and the landscaping is outdated. She wanted to see if you were available to give her a quote.”

  Kent knew Sierra would protest, that she’d see the ploy as a handout more than a legitimate offer. She was so stubborn, so damn independent she questioned any good fortune. Forestalling her, Kent pushed back his chair and stood. “That’s my job, and I’d be glad to.”

  Brooke took a hasty step back. “But . . .”

  Her son frowned, ready to intervene at this sign of his mother’s distress, and Kent continued. “Sierra has to work on unpacking and setting up house. But I can run out and give you an idea of what’d it cost, and how soon we can do it.”

  “I, uh . . .”

  Kent turned to Ben, offering him a new focus. “Maybe if you’re not too busy, you could see about getting Sierra’s window replaced?”

  Both Sierra and Brooke objected to that. Sierra shot to her feet. “I can take care of it, Kent, and you know it.”

  Brooke glared daggers at Kent. “You think a woman is incapable of something as simple as ordering a window?”

  “I’m glad to help,” Ben interjected, but the women paid him little heed.

  Lord save him from independent women. Kent laughed out loud and that just seemed to set everyone off again. He held up both hands. “Acquit me, ladies, please. I wasn’t insulting the whole of womankind. Sierra is the most self-sufficient person I know, but she is new to the area and with Ben owning an established business, I assumed he’d know who’s reputable, reliable and reasonable.”

  “Absolutely,” Ben insisted, taking the bait gratefully. “Let me make a few calls and I’ll see if I can’t get someone out here today.”

  Sierra wasn’t ready to relent, but she quieted when Kent sent her a look. If Ben stayed busy with Sierra, he couldn’t be playing watchdog over his mother.

  “There, it’s all decided.” Taking a step closer to Brooke, Kent noticed that she was a slender woman, fragile in size and features, unlike her son, though the family resemblance was still strong. This time, just to get to her, he deliberately lowered his voice. “When do you want me?”

  Heat rushed to her face and she gasped in affront. “I beg your pardon?”

  Oh, she might deny it, but her mind was there in the gutter with his, centering on carnal thoughts. Kent did his best to sound innocent. “At your house? To discuss what you have in mind?” And then, with a grin, “For the landscaping.”

  “Oh.” She laced her fingers together over her belly. A softly rounded belly that Kent wanted very much to kiss. “I have errands to run, and a meeting. It’s really a rather busy day, and I . . .” She stopped babbling to blurt, “Around two?”

  He had her confused, and he liked it. “You want to give me directions?”

  Ben stopped a waitress and tore a page off the back of her order pad. Using her pen, he jotted down the address and the simplest route to the house. “It’ll take you about twenty minutes from here, give or take five depending on traffic. White two-story on a corner lot. You can’t miss it.”

  Kent accepted the paper and tucked it into his back pocket. “I’ll be there.”

  Brooke tore her gaze away from his. Her smile was shaky as she faced her son. “I suppose I better get going or I’ll be late.”

  Ben enfolded her in his arms and lifted her off her feet for a bruising bear hug, making her laugh. Brooke clung to him, hugging him back and admonishing him at the same time.

  They were so comfortable with the embrace, Kent assumed it was typical. He liked seeing her this way, at ease, happy, secure. Her laugh was low and throaty and to Kent’s overwrought senses, very sexy.

  Sierra, who’d never known a mother’s love, watched their easy affection with a wistful kind of melancholy. Kent felt for her. The transition to her new place wasn’t going quite as smoothly as she’d probably hoped.

  She appeared mired in confusion and no wonder with her background. How much of her past, if any, had she shared with Ben? Probably none, considering how private Sierra could be.

  Kent would have reciprocated with the warning Ben gave him, except that he knew Sierra would have a fit. Her independence was hard won and she refused interference, even the well-meaning kind, with ferocity. One reason they’d remained close friends was that he never underestimated her strength, and he respected her pride—something her ex had failed to do.

  Damn. There’d been times when he’d wanted to kill her ex, but he hadn’t.

  His morbid trip down memory lane jolted back into the present when Ben set Brooke on her feet. She patted Ben’s shoulder, kissed his cheek. Her smile, the love she felt for her son, shone in her light brown eyes when she turned to Sierra and caught both her hands.

  “Sierra, it was wonderful meeting you.” Soft as butter, Brooke’s voice stroked over Kent, and she wasn’t even addressing him.

  Pathetic, he thought. I’m turning into a lovesick pup. But he couldn’t look away from her.

  Sierra gave an awkward nod. “You, too.”

  “I’m sure we’ll talk again later?”

  “Uh, sure.” Sierra glanced at Ben then tugged away from Brooke, uncomfortable with the show of affection.

  Drawing a breath, Brooke faced Kent with discreet caution. “Mr. . . ?
”

  “Monroe, but Kent will do.” He propped his hands on his hips and stared down at her meaningfully.

  “Mr. Monroe.” Her prim, aloof tone tickled him. “I’ll see you at two.” She strode out, her hips swaying gently, her head held high.

  Kent watched the show with burning eyes until Ben shoved him. Drawn from his sensual perusal, he said, “Hmm?”

  Ben frowned, but Kent could see he tried hard not to laugh. “Don’t gawk at my mom, damn it. It’s unsettling.”

  “That right?” Kent glanced out the window in time to see Brooke getting into her car. He straightened. “Well, you might as well get used to it, since I’ll be seeing her a lot.”

  Ben shook his head. “Sorry, but I know she’ll refuse.”

  “I’ll convince her.”

  Startled by that proclamation, Ben barked a laugh. “God, she’s going to kill you.” He reached for Sierra, kissed her hard and fast, and with a negligent, “Later,” he headed off.

  Kent took in Sierra’s chagrined expression and smiled. “We should get to work, too. The lot is a mess.”

  In something of a stupor, Sierra stepped outside with him. Already the day was so humid, the air seemed to sweat. The heat brought her around and she elbowed Kent in the side. “God, you were embarrassingly obvious. I’ve never seen you carry on like that before.”

  “Yeah?” That was like the pot calling the kettle black. “Well back atcha, honey.”

  Her lagging steps made Kent slow his pace. Normally she left him in her dust with her inexhaustible energy, but now she seemed very pensive. “You think it has something to do with the air here in Gillespe?”

  The bright sun reflected off all the wet leaves and pavement, the remaining puddles. It was going to be a scorcher. “Maybe.”

  “I’ve gotten so used to being alone, I don’t know if I like liking him.”

  Kent laughed and gave her a squeeze. “You like it. I can tell.”

  “It’s not smart.” She wore her most mulish expression. “I can’t afford any interruptions.”

  “You don’t have to decide anything right this minute.” And Kent wasn’t at all sure Ben intended to leave the decision up to her. “Why don’t you give him a chance?”

  For a brief moment, she considered it. Then she shook her head, resolute. “No. For a million reasons, it’d be a dumb thing to do, and I’m not dumb. Ben is a complication I do not need.”