Never Too Much Read online

  He’d gradually taken more liberties with her, and she’d gradually allowed him that privilege. “Griffin? That’s your ex?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’ve never talked about him much.”

  They had discussed her plans for the future, especially where the landscaping business was concerned. Ben had shared his own plans for some day buying a house so he could live separate from the motel. But she’d steered clear of anything that touched on her past, and he hadn’t pried. Until now.

  “There’s no reason to talk about Griff. He’s old news.”

  “He kept the house when you divorced him?”

  “Yes.”

  Sierra tried to edge away from him, but he clasped the back of her neck, massaging the tense muscles there.

  His touch never failed to affect her and she had to struggle to keep her wits. “Why all the questions now?”

  “Just curious.”

  She frowned, determined to avoid certain topics. “Don’t be.”

  Ben let her pull away. She walked to the opposite side of the minuscule kitchen and opened the fridge. She’d bought food as she needed it, but now that things were in order she really needed to stock up. “I suppose I should make a list of stuff to get from the grocery, huh?”

  Her attempt to change the subject brought on a heavy silence. Sierra glanced back at Ben. He watched her so closely, his gaze probing, unsettling. He wanted to read her mind, to know her every secret. No way would she let him do that. He couldn’t get that close.

  She gave him her back.

  “Come here, Sierra.”

  Drawn by the sound of that compelling voice, she froze. Still not looking at him, she squeaked, “Why?”

  “I want to kiss you.”

  Her heart gave a heavy thump in anticipation. Ben’s kisses were addictive and the more she got, the more she wanted. She closed the refrigerator and gave him a suspicious look. “Just a kiss?”

  His smile enticed, his eyes darkened. “No, of course not. One kiss with you is never enough. You already know that.”

  True enough. Whenever he kissed her once, she wanted more until finally he would call a halt, because she never could.

  Knees turning into noodles, her heart soaring, Sierra succumbed. Just that easy, just by the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes, he aroused her. She’d had no idea she was such a sexual person. Her indrawn breath was shaky, giving her away. It should have embarrassed her, the way she reacted so strongly whenever Ben got near.

  She walked to him.

  Satisfaction curved his hard mouth. That damn irresistible dimple appeared, accompanying the dark flame in his eyes with devastating effect.

  He pulled her close and nuzzled below her ear. “Kent’s gone for the night?”

  “Yes.” Kent spent his spare time working at Brooke Badwin’s. To Sierra, it seemed he took inordinate pleasure in spending time at her place.

  Ben smiled. “He’s driving my mom crazy.”

  “And vice versa.”

  He laughed. “I think she likes him; she just doesn’t want to like him.”

  Sierra knew how she felt, because she had the same quandary with Ben. “Kent is a good man.”

  “I’m not arguing with you.” He smoothed her hair back from her face, grinning wickedly. “If I thought otherwise, I wouldn’t find this so entertaining. I’ve never seen my mom so befuddled. It’s good for her.”

  Sierra could only stare at Ben. He stunned her. No man should be so damn sexy, so adept at lovemaking, and be able to handle any chore with ease. He ran his own business, loved his mother to distraction, and was generous to a fault. He was far too perfect to be taken seriously.

  Sierra wasn’t at all sure it was fair to pack so much emotional wallop into one exquisite body. How was any woman supposed to resist him?

  With melting intent, his breath soft and warm, he licked her ear, and Sierra realized she wasn’t supposed to resist. A man like Ben came along once in a lifetime. Only a complete fool would waste such an opportunity.

  The trick would be to enjoy him, without getting emotionally trapped.

  The sun had already started its descent into the horizon. Sierra didn’t have air-conditioning, so her home was warm despite the fan in the window stirring the less humid evening air. Ben’s richly scented body heat encompassed her, turned her bones liquid, her mind into mush.

  “Let’s call it a day, sweetheart.” His voice dropped to a low rumble. “I’m dying to lie down with you.”

  Sierra, already lost, went over the edge with the husky way he said that. She was about to groan out her agreement when her phone gave a loud jingle. Since it seldom rang after business hours, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

  Ben sighed in resignation as she stepped away to answer it. “Hello?” She listened, frowned, then said, “Sure. Um, just a sec.”

  Shrugging, she handed the phone to Ben. “It’s for you.”

  “Me?” Wearing a frown, he took the receiver from her. “Ben Badwin here.” The frown lifted, replaced with a warm smile. “Hey, Gracie. What’s up?”

  Grace? Sierra remembered the name. She was Ben’s sister-in-law, married to the awesome Noah. Ben’s family wasn’t big, but they did all sound impressive in one way or another. Perhaps it was the love Ben felt, and the way he spoke of them, that made them seem so.

  Since her father’s passing a year ago, she’d had no family at all.

  Ben listened, made a face, and cursed. “Well, hell. Have you tried . . . Well, what about . . . I see.” He groaned in disappointment, which Sierra assumed meant she’d be disappointed as well. “Yeah, all right. I’ll be right there. Thanks, babe.”

  Sierra stiffened. “Babe?”

  He gave her a quick look and replaced the receiver in the cradle. “My sister-in-law.” Laughing, he chucked her under the chin. “Grace is a babe and an employee. Much to Noah’s annoyance, she works as a waitress for me.”

  That sent her thoughts in a new direction. “I thought you said Noah was rich.”

  “He is.”

  The suspicion in her voice proved unavoidable. “But he makes his wife work as a waitress?”

  “Make Grace work?” Ben gave her a piercing glance. “Hell, no. He can’t make her do anything. If you’d ever met Grace, you’d already know how silly that is.” Ben tipped his head, scrutinizing her. “He wouldn’t even want to try to force Grace to do something she doesn’t want to do. Believe me. But he loves her, so when she insists on working for me—and she is the one insisting, Sierra—well, he tries not to grumble too much about it.”

  Knowing she’d given herself away again, Sierra flushed. All she could think to say was “Oh.”

  Ben looped his arms around her waist with his hands resting on her bottom. She started to object to that, but then he arched her pelvis into his in a casual, yet secure embrace, and she forgot her objections. “You want to tell me why you made such an asinine assumption?”

  She might have been insulted if she hadn’t been more concerned with evading his questions. “No.”

  Ben looked far too serious for her peace of mind. “Sierra.” He gently rocked her. “Why would you assume any man would try to force a woman to—”

  “Let’s go to bed.” The blurted words hung heavy in the air between them. Sierra winced. She’d wanted to distract him—and she definitely wanted to have sex with him—but she was stunned by her own audacity.

  Surprise, hot desire, and finally regret passed over Ben’s features. Pressing his forehead to hers, Ben groaned. “Damn. That is by far the nicest offer I’ve ever had, and there’s nothing I want more than to stay here with you and taste you from your ears down to your toes.”

  Taste her?

  “But two people called in sick and Grace is swamped. She tried calling in two other people but struck out.” He rubbed her back. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart, but I have to leave.”

  Common sense told Sierra that she’d just escaped by the skin of her teeth. It was better th
at he leave now before her unruly mouth gave away any more secrets. She hadn’t even known him that long and already she’d let slip things that were better left buried.

  Knowing it was best didn’t stop the disappointment, though. She’d only just decided that it was safe to let him a little further into her life. “It’s all right.” How could she not respect Ben’s sense of responsibility to his business, when he’d respected hers?

  Keeping her pressed to his body, he asked, “What are you doing tomorrow?”

  Excitement of a different kind filled her. “If the weather forecast is right, I’ll be working all day. I should be able to get the finishing touches on Parker’s Point, then I have another estimate to give at a doctor’s office.” So far, the jobs had been steady, with another planned for when she finished with the good doctor. On a professional level, she couldn’t have been happier.

  She touched a button on Ben’s polo shirt. “I won’t be home till really late.”

  “And you’ll no doubt be worn-out.”

  She pushed so hard that she stayed tired, but she hated to admit it so she just shrugged.

  Ben smiled. “Can I bring you over something to eat when you get in?”

  “Ben.” Her automatic objection mingled with a laugh at his persistence. The man was just too outrageous, and damned if she wasn’t starting to like it. “This is starting to become a habit.”

  “You don’t hear me complaining. But for tomorrow, I have ulterior motives.” The soft promise teased her lips.

  Breathless, she said, “You do?”

  “Hell yeah.” He brushed her mouth with his. “I thought I’d let you eat”—his lips touched her ear, his tongue tickled, stroked and his voice dropped to a exciting rumble—“then I’d eat you.”

  Excitement exploded. Breathing became an impossibility. He said the most shocking, stimulating things and constantly kept her off balance.

  His lips moved against her jaw, her chin, the corner of her mouth. “You’ll come, Sierra, at least once. Maybe twice. Have you missed it? Because I have.”

  A groan bubbled up inside her. “Ben, I’m really not sure . . .”

  His kiss turned hard. His hands slid to her bottom, caressing, grinding her into his pelvis so she could feel his semierection.

  When he let her up for air, she was dizzy with need.

  Sierra felt sure that once she gave in to Ben, the challenge would be gone and he wouldn’t want her anymore. That thought made her chest feel tight, but at the same time she knew it’d be for the best.

  They could still be friends, because Ben was friendly to everyone, especially the women he knew. But once she got him out of her system, then she could concentrate more on her future plans. They’d settle into being friendly neighbors, and that would suit her just fine.

  All plausible reasons, Sierra thought, and said, “All right. Yes.” She gulped air past the restriction in her throat. “That’d be wonderful.”

  Ben’s eyes flared, his hands tightened. “Damn right.” He stepped back, giving them both the chance to recover from that killer kiss. Half a minute passed before he’d regained his control. In that time, he watched her face with an intensity bordering on satisfaction. “I’m glad you’re finally going to trust me a little. You won’t regret it.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Trust you?”

  He gave a sharp nod.

  Sierra threw up her hands. “I didn’t say anything about trusting you, Ben. I said I’d sleep with you.”

  “It’s the same thing.”

  “It isn’t!”

  Exemplifying patience, he touched her cheek and explained. “If you didn’t trust me, you wouldn’t get involved with me.”

  Sierra trotted after him, determined to make her point. “We’re not involved . . .”

  He slanted her a look. “Yeah, we are.”

  “No!” They’d only fooled around a little. Or rather, a lot. Almost daily in fact. And he’d already claimed he wasn’t fooling, but still . . . Surely, that didn’t indicate any real involvement. Sierra squared her shoulders. “I never agreed to that, Ben. I agreed to . . . to . . .” What the heck had she just agreed to?

  Ben pulled her to her tiptoes and kissed her. “Don’t panic. I’m not asking you to elope with me.”

  Now why should that make her blush?

  “But common courtesy dictates that while we’re exploring all this intense sexual chemistry between us, we shouldn’t be making time with anyone else. Right?”

  Like she was supposed to believe he’d give up other women? Ridiculous. The man lived to flirt. Feeling cornered, she said, “I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”

  “You don’t have to ask. I don’t want anyone else, and I’m assuming you don’t either.”

  Ben waited, but when she just stared at him, unwilling to admit there was no one else, he continued. “That makes it exclusive and makes us involved. Which has to mean you trust me.”

  Sierra wasn’t ready to agree to anything. “I’m going to have to think about this.”

  Ben smiled slowly. “You do that. And while you’re at it, think about this.” His mouth took hers, both tender and ravenous, his tongue moving against hers, his hands everywhere, stroking her, inciting her, until Sierra forgot what she’d objected to.

  By slow degrees, he ended the kiss and Sierra struggled to open her heavy eyelids. When she did, she saw that Ben was just as affected.

  “Damn. It’s not going to go away, Sierra. At least admit that much.” He touched her swollen bottom lip with apology. “I better go before Grace gets too overwhelmed.” Their gazes locked. “I’ll miss you tonight.”

  It took an effort, but Sierra rallied enough to snort at that. She doubted Ben would miss any woman, and she wouldn’t let herself start thinking impossible things.

  “You little cynic,” he teased with a laugh.

  She was cynical, but with good reason. Any involvement carried risks that Ben would never understand. “Good-bye, Ben.”

  He stepped outside. “Think of me tonight, okay?” Refusing to answer, Sierra watched him until the lengthening shadows swallowed him up. “As if I’ll have any choice,” she whispered to herself once he was out of sight.

  She closed the door, dropped back against it, and wished like hell she could figure him out. Or figure herself out. She knew what she wanted, what she needed, and Ben didn’t figure into that. He couldn’t figure into it beyond a brief fling.

  So, why was she already missing him?

  She groaned, then jumped when her phone rang yet again. Thinking it had to be Grace intent on hurrying Ben along, Sierra answered with a smile. “Hello.”

  “Hey, baby. You been missin’ me?”

  Brittle, painful memories threatened to crash down on her. Her smile froze in place, the hand holding the phone trembled. Griff had found her.

  Her first thought was, Thank God, Ben has already left. She didn’t need his probing questions now.

  Her second was to wonder how close Griff might be. Was he in Gillespe? Had he followed her? She glanced toward her darkened windows and visions of him just outside, perhaps looking in, sent a chill down her spine.

  “You’re so happy to hear from me that you’re speechless, huh?”

  It wasn’t easy, but Sierra dredged up her strength and her pride and her confidence. “You always were pathetic, Griff.” She hung up the phone on his mean curse, not slamming it down, but settling it gently in the cradle.

  Arms around herself, she dropped against the wall, her eyes wide, her thoughts whirling. He’d found her already when she had hoped he wouldn’t bother.

  Why had he? What did it matter to him? It didn’t make sense.

  She’d thought that moving out of state would satisfy him, put her far enough out of reach. But he’d called, and that had to mean . . . what?

  He claimed she’d stolen his life by forcing him into marriage, then humiliated him by leaving. But what alternative had he given her? None.

  She jerked around and took
the phone off the hook. Oh no, he wouldn’t call her again tonight. She wouldn’t let him throw her off, wouldn’t let him make a shambles of her life. Again.

  Filled with renewed purpose, Sierra checked to make certain all the floodlights were on outside. She gazed through the darkness, but her yard looked as empty as ever. She checked the locks on her doors and windows and knew that was an expense she’d have to take care of immediately. But until then . . . she hesitated, her independent nature warring with common sense.

  Common sense won out.

  She set the telephone receiver in the cradle long enough to get a dial tone, then called Kent. By the sound of his voice, he’d been sound asleep. “H’lo?”

  “Kent, I’m sorry to wake you.”

  He responded with a new alertness. “What’s wrong?”

  Sierra hated herself, hated Griff for his petty persistence. He’d chased off every friend she’d ever had, not that she’d had many. Only Kent had refused to budge. “He called.”

  “Griffin?”

  “Yes. I guess he knows where I’m at.”

  “Fuck.”

  “He didn’t threaten me or anything. Just asked me if I’d missed him, but . . .”

  “I’ll be right there. Don’t answer the damn door until I show up, all right?”

  Tears filled her eyes when she hadn’t cried for so, so long. “Kent, I am sorry.”

  “Don’t make me turn you over my knee, young lady.” Sierra could tell he was dressing as he talked.

  She smiled and wiped at her eyes, knowing that at least this threat was empty, a term of affection but no more. “All right. Thanks.”

  “Hang tight. I’m on my way out the door now.”

  He hung up and Sierra left the phone dangling off the hook. She turned out all the lights inside her small sanctuary and stood in front of the window, watching the yard. It didn’t take Kent long to arrive. His truck, a much newer, fully loaded black Ford that cost more than she expected to make in a year, pulled into the lot with undue haste. Sierra opened the door to greet him.

  His look was grim, his attitude more so. He stepped into the house and shut the door behind him. “I’ll kill the son of a bitch this time.”