Chapter 20 #2
“I’ve missed these,” he said as he took another step closer and lifted a hand in the direction of her no doubt glowing cheekbones.
His movements were slow, giving her ample time to back away if she wanted to.
She didn’t. As it was, she practically sighed when his thumb finally made contact with her skin.
Not for the first time, she wondered if Ben had any clue how strongly he affected her.
She was so attracted to him that her reactions to his words and physical presence bordered on embarrassing.
“Hey,” Ben said as he gently hooked his index finger under her chin.
He exerted a little pressure that tipped her head back, forcing her to look at him.
“Melody . . .” His gaze was warm and searching.
“In the event there’s any doubt in your mind, I do want to be your suitor.
” His lips quirked adorably. “Or whatever today’s modern-day equivalent is.
” His earnest eyes searched hers. “Okay?”
“Okay,” she affirmed. There went her voice again, getting all breathy.
Thanks to all their texting, she felt like she’d gotten to know him quite well over the past couple of weeks.
And yet, she wasn’t used to his physical proximity.
She’d spent enough time around Ben to know that her attraction to him was undeniable, but it was hard to reconcile the man she’d gotten to know via text with the one standing in front of her.
He felt like the Ben she’d gotten to know, but also somehow not.
How many of the pieces of his life and personality had she properly put together?
Did she really know him as well as she thought she did, or had she constructed him into the image she most wanted?
So much of human communication was nonverbal.
What nuances might she have missed from not having been able to observe his body language or take note of his tone of voice?
Part of her wanted to step forward, close the gap between them, loop her arms around his neck, and touch her lips to his.
She wanted to lose herself in this attraction she felt for him, but she was conscious of not wanting to fall for a mirage.
She was half gone on him already, but she wanted to make sure the man she thought she knew was the real deal.
Determined not to manufacture problems that might not exist, she shook off her worries and returned her attention to the present. “I should probably put these in water. Would you like to come in for a minute?”
Ben gently brushed her jaw with his thumb in a subtle caress before pulling his hand away from her face. She smiled shyly as she took a step back and motioned him into her apartment before heading to the kitchen.
“Nice place.”
“Thank you.” She hadn’t been in her apartment for all that long, but she felt like it reflected her style.
She went up on tiptoes to open the cupboard above the refrigerator where she kept her vases.
“Can I help?” Ben asked.
She could feel the warmth of his body crowding her back. He must have stepped close once he realized she wasn’t tall enough to reach the vases without assistance.
She fought the urge to arch her back and tilt her head back into his chest. Instead, she forced herself to stay still and answer his question with words.
“Yes, please.” Unless she wanted to press her luck and jump up to grab a vase, she would have needed to grab a stepping stool.
Being nearly a foot taller than her five foot three, all Ben had to do was lift his arm.
“Which one would you like?” he asked. She shivered as his warm breath ruffled the hair at her temple.
“The large one on the right, please.” She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had bought her flowers, but she liked to buy them for herself. There was just something about fresh flowers that beautified a space. This sentiment had resulted in the acquisition of numerous vases over the years.
“Thank you,” Melody offered when he placed the largest of her vases in her waiting hands. She was careful not to let their fingers touch for fear she would shiver again and drop the darn thing. “I guess your height comes in handy sometimes, huh?”
“That it does. You never know when I might need to reach a vase for a fair damsel in distress.” Her heart gave an involuntary jump at the twinkle in his eyes. It wasn’t enough that he was six feet of gorgeous, chiseled perfection? His eyes twinkled, too?
Melody answered his eye twinkle with a smile before striding across the kitchen, flipping on the tap, and filling the vase with water.
Once finished, she moved the water-filled vase onto the countertop.
She wasn’t sure if they had a reservation to get to, so she made quick work of transferring the flowers into the vase.
“I hope I’m dressed all right for tonight?” she asked as she angled her head to look back at him. “Since I wasn’t sure where we were going or what we might be doing, I took my best guess when it came to appropriate attire.”
Warmth rushed through her body as his eyes gave her an appreciative sweep. “You’re perfect.”
She wrinkled her nose in silent disagreement as she tweaked the positioning of a few stems. “I don’t know about perfect,” she argued, “but thank you.”
Ben didn’t say anything until she picked up the vase and turned once again to look at him. His gaze locked on hers before he spoke again. “Perfect,” he repeated slowly and distinctly.
Her heart picked up its tempo at the way he held her gaze. Had her heart ever raced the way it currently was?
She had to fight to keep her breathing steady when her body drew level with his as she moved toward the dining room.
Her thighs clenched together when he broke eye contact to drop his eyes to her lips.
For a brief moment she thought he might kiss her but, despite slowing her steps ever so slightly, he let her pass.
She couldn’t tell whether the rush she felt was disappointment or relief.
If she was honest with herself, she would have to admit it was probably a combination of both.
She wanted Ben’s kiss, but she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it yet.
When she reached the edge of the dining room table, she put the vase in the center.
The table was a classic rectangle with an airy but weathered look. It was a gorgeous piece of furniture with a double pedestal base that she’d been lucky enough to find at a flea market she’d stumbled on soon after moving to the city.
She felt a little surge of happiness as she took a moment to survey the completed look. The blooms were gorgeous, but it was the thoughtfulness with which they’d been given that she particularly appreciated.
She wondered if he could tell how much she loved his gift. Loved the way it brought extra beauty and an added sense of welcome to her living space.
When she turned back to face Ben, she found him watching her with rapt attention.
He might not have instigated a kiss when she’d walked past him moments ago, but he was definitely surveying her with the interest of a man who is attracted to a woman.
She might have woefully little romantic experience, but even an amateur such as herself could figure some things out, especially when Ben was wearing his heart on his sleeve.
“Should we get going?” she inquired. She was still nervous, but she was eager, too. She couldn’t wait for the events of the evening to unfold.
“If you’re all set?” Ben asked.
“You tell me,” she quipped. “I’m not the one who knows where we’re going or what we’re doing.” Her tone was light and pleasant, but she made sure he could see her smile so he knew she wasn’t at all upset about her current lack of knowledge.
“Are you comfortable in what you’re wearing?
” Ben asked as he waved at her soft but form-fitting dress.
“Can you move freely?” He lifted his elbows up until they were practically in line with his shoulders, fists facing each other in front of his chest, before making a somewhat comedic display of using his torso to rotate from side to side.
Melody couldn’t help but laugh at his exaggerated movements. “Are you trying to tell me there might be rock climbing or spelunking on the agenda?”
Ben dropped his arms back to his sides. “How did you guess?” His tone was incredulous.
Melody felt her eyes bug out of her head. “Seriously?”
Ben laughed softly. “I’m kidding,” he reassured.
His gentle smile went a long way in helping to calm her suddenly racing heart.
“As happy as I would be to go to a climbing gym with you, that isn’t the plan for tonight.
As for spelunking, is it even possible to do that in Chicago? ” Ben’s expression was thoughtful.
“I couldn’t even begin to guess,” Melody admitted, “but I kind of doubt it?”
Ben settled for a shrug and a return of the easy, sexy smile she was becoming so fond of. “As I said before,” he reaffirmed, “you’re perfect. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t think it was true.”
Melody’s lips quirked higher, but she couldn’t help but raise a challenging eyebrow. She could agree that she looked nice, but perfect was mighty high praise. “I’ll just grab a coat then, shall I?”
“I don’t think you’ll need it,” Ben responded, “but it couldn’t hurt. Mine’s in the car.”
Melody pulled her peacoat off a hook by the front door. She shrugged it on before slipping into a pair of cute, but comfortable, ballet flats and bending down to collect her purse.
“All set?” Ben asked.
“All set,” she affirmed as she dug her keys out of her handbag.
She pulled open the front door and gestured for Ben to precede her through the doorway. He stepped back a bit so as not to crowd her while she locked up.
Once her keys were safely back in her purse, he lightly touched her back and guided her to the elevator. She couldn’t seem to help herself from swaying her body ever so slightly into his.
“Let the adventure begin,” Ben proclaimed.
If the rest of the evening was even half as pleasant as the comforting weight of his large hand on the small of her back, she felt confident she was in for one of the best nights she’d had in a long while.
“Let the adventure begin,” she echoed happily.