Chapter 15
Attraction and Oddly Tasty Snacks…
Ben
Okay, so this is strangely ... nice. The air has been cleared.
It’s clear. My future sister-in-law and I can hang out together, alone, and it’s all fine.
It’s comfortable. We’re laughing at the movie.
I’m sipping a beer, and letting the sense of relief settle in.
I made up with her, which will mean Dominic will be happy with me and my mother will be proud.
(Not that I need her to be proud, of course.
I am a grown-ass man, after all. Well, a grown-ass man who called his mum to tell on his brother, so…)
But most importantly, Vivian and I are fine now, which means when they move, we’ll be on good terms. And theoretically, that means they’ll come back to visit more often, which is all I really want. I want my brother to live his dreams, but also to be an important part of my son’s life, and mine.
Vivian holds out a bowl of popcorn to me. I glance down at it before I take some. “Are those…?”
“Chocolate chips, yes,” she answers without looking at me. “Try it. I know it’s a little unorthodox but it’s frigging delicious.”
I take some out of the bowl and give it a try, even though I’m quite skeptical. “Mmm, that is good.”
“I know. Paige introduced me to this,” she says, setting the bowl between us on the couch.
Taking a bigger handful, I say, “How did I go this long without knowing about this?”
Vivian chuckles. “It’s because it’s a very strange combination.”
“I guess sometimes strange combinations just work,” I say, thinking about her relationship with my brother.
She offers me a smile out of the side of her mouth, and I know she gets what I meant.
We watch the rest of the movie, and I tease her when the part with the immigration officer comes up as the credits roll. “Are you taking notes? You’ll need to know which side of the bed Dominic sleeps on.”
She laughs and tosses a piece of popcorn at me. “Why don’t you tell me?”
“That doesn’t count because we’re being forced to share a bed. Neither of us picked a side.”
Vivian chuckles some more. “Fair. I’ll have to ask him that one. Although, I’ve been sleeping on my own for so many years, I pretty much take up most of it myself.”
“Really?” I ask, trying not to imagine her sleeping. Oh wait, I’m not trying that hard. Instead, I’m actively picturing her in a little silk tank top and shorts on top of the covers.
“Yes. And I’m a terrible cover hog. Honestly, I’d be a nightmare to sleep with.”
“That bad?”
She nods gravely. “Snoring, muttering in my sleep, rolling around, the whole deal.”
Shutting the TV off, I say, “Is that why you’re single? Too afraid to actually sleep with someone?” I give her a little grin so she knows I’m just kidding, not prying.
“Oh yeah, totally. I’m more of a ‘love ‘em, then tell ‘em I have to work early so you should go’ kind of girl.”
I burst out laughing. “You know, when I first met you, I thought that might be the case.”
Vivian stands and stretches, her t-shirt lifting up a little at the waist as she does, showing the tiniest bit of flesh on her stomach.
God, that’s hot. I quickly turn my head so she doesn’t catch me drooling.
She picks up the bowl and her glass and walks into the kitchen.
I get up and follow her to rinse out my beer bottle.
After putting her dishes in the dishwasher, she glances at me. “It’s pretty full.”
I grab a packet of dishwashing detergent and pop it into the soap compartment, while Vivian holds the door open.
It’s the closest we’ve been since she moved in, and I can smell her perfume.
It’s something light and airy and wonderful, and it does something to me it shouldn’t.
We lock eyes for a second, and there’s a shift in the room from friendly to a longing that I haven’t felt with anyone for years.
There’s a seriousness to her, to the way she’s staring up at me, that says she feels it too.
Nope. Bad idea.
I clear my throat and look up at the ceiling while Vivian pushes away from the counter and wanders over to my desk. “I’ve been wanting to ask you about this ship you’re building.”
I feel a small swell of pride in my chest and I walk over to look at the plans with her. “Is she sea-worthy? No, I’m afraid not. But she’ll be fun.”
Vivian glances up at me from under her long eyelashes, then shifts her gaze back to the paper. “Who is this for?”
“A three-year-old named Nolan.”
“Seriously? I figured it was for a preschool for rich kids.”
“It’s for one rich kid.”
“Did you come up with this design yourself?”
“That’s all me,” I answer, staring down at the porthole windows.
“Such detail. Just like Henry’s playhouse,” she says, leaning over the paper. “Have you done any others?”
“I’m glad you asked,” I say with a light grin.
Taking my phone from my pocket, I open the folder of all the playhouses I’ve built.
Handing it to her, I stand over her shoulder while she slowly flips through each photo.
God, she smells heavenly. I forgot a woman can smell this good.
“This one is the one I did after Henry’s.
They wanted the exact same thing, but I decided to add a round balcony to the second floor. ”
“It’s gorgeous.”
Speaking of gorgeous… I am definitely struggling to remind myself this woman is off limits. “Thanks.”
She flips to a treehouse I made. Instead of building it into a tree, I made a huge tree as part of the design.
The staircase is inside the wide trunk and the whole playhouse part is outside with a red clay roof to protect the kids from the rain.
I point to the screen. “That telescope actually works.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, I used a real telescope and I built the housing for it out of wood, then painted it blue. It makes it a lot less delicate and I think it fits the rest of the treehouse better this way.”
“It’s perfect,” she says, leaning back a little as if she’s fully aware of my body so close to hers. “Honestly, Ben. You’re an artist.”
“Well, I wouldn’t call myself an artist, but I definitely enjoy this type of work,” I answer. “In fact, it’s what I’d do full-time if I could. It would allow me to work from home, other than when they have to be installed.”
She turns to me and hands me my phone, our fingers brushing. “Why don’t you?”
I shrug. “Not enough clients. This is a tiny island.”
“But it’s a great big world,” Vivian answers. “Seriously, Ben, what you’re doing is beyond anything I’ve seen before. Each piece is an original. You could be the Banksy of playhouses. You could charge whatever you want for these and spend as much time as you need to work on them.”
“Yeah, maybe. Or maybe I’d shut down my construction company and it would be a huge flop,” I say, surprised by how honest I’m being with her. “I have looked into it, but it’s a risk—all that time and cash to advertise. And taking risks isn’t exactly something a responsible father does,” I answer.
She stares up at me, her eyes filled with compassion.
I feel understood in a way I haven’t in a long time, and it suddenly feels like too much.
I give her a little shrug and stuff my phone back into the pocket of my jeans.
“But, that’s okay. It’s nice to have a side gig that I love.
It brings in some good money that I’m putting away for Henry for school, and that’s enough for me. ”
Vivian stares at me, and I can tell the wheels are spinning. “But if someone else could get the word out, would that be something you’d want?’
“Well, sure, but…”
A slow smile crosses her face. “In that case, allow me to be your introduction to the global market.”
I narrow my eyes, trying to figure out if she’s serious or not. As tempting as it is, I can’t ask her to take on the marketing required to get my fledgling business off the ground. “That’s very kind of you to offer, but I have to decline.”
She scrunches up her face. “Why?”
“It’s too much to ask. You’ve got enough going on in your life without adding that kind of responsibility.”
Vivian places her hand on my forearm, spreading a feeling of warmth through my entire body. “Ben, let me do this for you.”
Our eyes lock and I find myself leaning toward her ever so slightly.
I glance at her full lips. Oh man, do I ever want to kiss her right now.
Not that she’s asking for a kiss. But she did just lick her lips and her cheeks look flushed and her voice comes out breathy as she says, “It’s the least I can do since I’m taking your brother away. ”
My brother. Those two words are a cold splash of water to my nuts. “Right. Dominic.” I step back and turn away. “You know what? I better hit the hay. It’s late and morning comes early around here.”
Her voice gets louder and suddenly more formal. “It does. Yes. And there’s a very sweet five-year-old who I promised car-shaped pancakes to.”
“Thanks for a lovely evening, Ms. Whitlock,” I say in an overly polite tone. “And for introducing me to your strange snack food.”
She smiles, clearing away the awkwardness between us. “You’re most welcome, sir. And if you change your mind, the offer still stands. I’d love to help you out.”
“I won’t, but thank you anyway.” I turn toward the hall, calling over my shoulder, “I appreciate the gesture.”
I force my feet to continue in the direction of the bedroom, and as soon as I’m safely inside, I let out a long sigh. The truth is, I want her. I want her in a way I haven’t wanted a woman in a long time. Which is just wildly inconvenient…