When they arrived at Lane’s house, Jake and Jess were already there. Ben and the kids encouraged Lane to go to bed assuring her that they’d handle the cooking. Ben said he’d crash for a while on the couch in the family room while the sauce simmered. He was glad that when Lane remodeled the kitchen she’d put in a six burner gourmet cooking range.
“So, Jess, what’s with that guy you were talking to at the party,” Jake asked.
“He investigated mom’s car fire. He’s a fire captain or something.” She smiled at Ben. “I invited him to brunch.” She raised her eyebrows. “I might need more incentive tomorrow if he shows.”
Ben was up to his elbows in pasta dough. “We’ll see. I haven’t checked the price tag on the last negotiation yet.”
“I could do it as a favor, but then you’d owe me,” she said as she opened the fridge and got a bottle of water. “I’m going to bed.”
Ben shook his head as he laughed. “He might be a fire captain, but maybe he needs to learn not to play with fire since some fires are completely out of his league.”
Ben looked at Jake. “Hey, will you call the Bambino and tell him to grab some sausages from the freezer.”
Ben had called Jamie Bambino - kid, since their first meeting. Jamie was the youngest of the Parker kids; and for some reason, Jamie had attached himself to Ben like a magnet. Jamie wasn’t sassy like Jess, or confident like Jake. Jess often called Jamie the good kid. Not that Jess or Jake ever did anything really wrong. Jamie was just more quiet and introspective.
Jake made the call then looked at Ben.
“What do you think about Mom’s assistant?”
“In what respect, Jake?”
“You know, as a person, as a woman.”
“I’ve only met her a couple of times, Jake. As a person, she seems nice. Your mom likes her. I trust that, you know?” Ben smiled. “As a woman? I can’t answer that one for you. I know she has a kid, and I have to respect that she chose to have and keep the baby. A lot of women have made a much different choice. That tells me something about her. You think you’re interested in her?”
“I just met her tonight. We spent a lot of time together. But, yeah, I liked her. Jess invited her to brunch tomorrow. I was wondering if I should, you know, call her and tell her it’s okay to bring Abigail.”
“Don’t know that I can be any help. Until your Mom came along, I avoided women with kids like the plague. With your Mom, I just didn’t care that kids were part of the package.” Ben shook his head and chuckled. “Even when I thought you were all still rug rats. Truth is it would have been my loss all the way around if I’d run the other way. But, it’s something you have to decide for yourself. Maybe you can text her in the morning and give her the choice. You know, a text would give her some time to think about it without having to give you an immediate reaction.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. Thanks. I’m going to head to bed. You okay here? You need anything, a pillow for the sofa maybe?”
“No, I’m good. Go ahead. And, Jake, just relax. Whatever happens it’ll be fine.”
Ben had just cut the pasta when Jamie came home. “Hey, Bambino. The dishes all done?”
“Yeah. I’m sure you have a crew coming tomorrow … today but I didn’t want to leave the mess, especially since I knew you wouldn’t have a chance to do anything with it because you’d be here.” Jamie held the bag up. “I brought all of the sausages from the freezer. Jake didn’t say how many and I’ve heard the brunch guest list keeps growing.”
Ben chuckled. “That it does. Although, I think the final count might be in. Unless you plan on inviting someone at the last minute.”
Jamie smiled. “I don’t think so. I don’t know anyone who’s ready to meet the family in a one on one setting let alone the Parkers, Bellinis, and Lucianos all in the same place at the same time. Mom’s not bad, but Jess is intense, you know? Besides, you know I don’t plan to get serious with anyone since I’m leaving in a few months for school. There are rules, you know?”
Ben smiled. Sure there were rules, hadn’t he taught them to Jamie? “Yeah, Bambino, I know. You’d better get a little shut-eye. I’m going to crash on the couch once the sauce starts to simmer.”
“Okay, I’m going to bed. You need anything? A pillow for the couch? A blanket?”
Ben laughed. “You must be related to Jake, I had almost the same conversation with him. I’m good. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Jamie got up and started to leave the kitchen but turned around and looked at Ben. “Ben, you’re really going to sleep on the couch, aren’t you?”
“Bambino, do you mean am I going to sleep in your mother’s bed? Your Mom would be embarrassed that you even asked. And, you know even if I were going to sleep in your Mom’s room that it’s none of your business. But man to man, I really am going to crash on the couch.”
“Ben, you’re the closest thing to a real dad I’ve ever had. But if you hurt my mother…”
“I know, Bambino. She’s been hurt by enough men. I’m just waiting for your Mom to catch up to me, you know? Believe me my intentions are completely honorable. Go on to bed.”
Jamie nodded once and went down the hall.
Jess might be five feet four inches of intense and sassy as hell, and Jamie might be quiet, but he was his own kind of intense. Family was important to all three Parker kids. It had been them and their mother against the world for nearly 18 years. They stuck up for each other and for their Mom. God help anyone who hurt any one of them.
Ben woke with a start. Someone was banging around in the kitchen. He grabbed his phone to check the time. It was nine o’clock. It had been nearly four o’clock when he finally crashed. He smelled coffee and followed his nose to the kitchen.
Lane looked at him. He was standing in the doorway barefoot and bare chested in his wrinkled khaki slacks. He had washboard abs and a lot of beautiful dark chest hair. Some men wax their chest hair. She was glad he didn’t.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.” She couldn’t help herself, she walked over and ran her hand up his abs to his chest until her fingers were buried in his chest hair. She kissed him and as always the moan she gave as their tongues met sent him over the edge.
He wrapped one hand in her hair the other around her waist and pulled her into a full body caress. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could be patient. He didn’t think he’d gone this long without sex since he was 16. But, like he told Jamie just hours before, he was in this for the long haul.
Lane pushed away enough to catch her breath. Her hand was still on his chest and she could feel his heart pounding out the same frantic rhythm she felt inside her own chest.
He didn’t attempt to move. “Maybe I should go shower and change before the kids get up.”
Lane didn’t attempt to move either. “That’s probably a good idea. You can use my bathroom. I’ve finished in there.”
Lane’s house had four bedrooms and four and a half baths. Both Lane’s and Jess’s rooms had private bathes. The boys shared a Jack and Jill bath. There was a powder room on the main floor and a full bath in the basement.
He needed to get rid of the erection brought on by his reaction to her moaning before he went walking down the hall, risking running into Jake, worse yet, Jamie and worst of all Jess. He wasn’t going to lose the erection standing with her like this, but he didn’t dare step away for the same reason he couldn’t walk down the hall. He took a half step back, reached over and got the cup of coffee she’d made for him. He took a drink. Then another. Then a third.
He kissed her gently. “I’ll go shower now.”
She went to the driveway to retrieve the paper. It had rained overnight. She smiled. The weather had finally broken and her sinuses felt great. Lord, had it only been a week since she found Paul Gardner?