CHAPTER TWO
There are few things better in life than when you add the perfect amount of creamer to your first cup of coffee. One of the things better? The perfect cup of “tea” made by a five-year-old princess.
~Text from Ben to Kimbra~
Kimbra
Today’s been a great day. It started with the sexiest of silver foxes bringing me my coffee exactly how I like it, which is impressive because I can be pretty particular about it.
You’d be particular about it, too, if you had to survive on hospital swill for years between med school, residency, and even a few days since then.
After I made my rounds and got two of my three patients approved for discharge, we quickly made the trip back to my place to drop my car off and made the fifteen-minute drive over to Mathis’s place to take his bike out for a ride.
He had to give me a quick lesson as I’ve never been on a bike before, but if all of them ride like that, I’m gonna be addicted.
Not only is it amazing to ride with my arms hugging so close to Ben that I could feel his muscles and…
well, let’s just say it’s been a few years, and I was this close to achieving something that I’ve only had by myself since Bailey was born.
I think he knew because he slowed down for a turn way more than I thought was necessary.
Talk about a tease. If there was ever such a thing as the female equivalent to blue balls, that’s what I experienced this afternoon.
Inside my mind, I called him all sorts of names, but the only thing that came out was a groan of sexual frustration. Bastard had the nerve to chuckle at me.
Just a few minutes ago, he pulled into a restaurant just a few miles out of town.
I’ve been here a couple times with the kids after one of Branson’s games, and I know they have good food.
It’s the kind of place that Brian would have turned his nose up at since food comes in baskets and you use paper napkins.
I don't know when Brian changed or if it was always how he was and he just hid it well, but I like that Ben isn’t pretentious like that.
As soon as we got off his bike, he took my hand and led me inside.
He gave me a quick kiss. “I’ve got to use the facilities.
Grab us a table?” The hostess overheard us and showed me to a table by the window, placing two menus down and letting me know our waitress would be with us shortly.
Looking down at the menu, I read the cover and chuckle like I have every time I’ve ever read it.
Lefty’s. The one time it would be wrong to turn right.
I’m one of those people who likes to look at the menu because I always like to try something different.
When I’m at home, I tend to cook things I know, which is why when I go out, I like to be more adventurous.
A couple of minutes later, our waitress arrives at our table at the same time as Ben.
“Can I get you two something to drink?” Ben nods toward me.
“I’ll have an iced tea with lemon, please. ”
Ben orders a beer, and the waitress goes off to get our drinks.
Ben doesn’t even open the menu. “You know what you want, Doc?” I think for a second between the two dishes that caught my eye and decide on my choice.
“Yeah, I do, but you haven’t even opened your menu.
How do you know what you want?” He gives me a smile.
“Because ever since I first tried this specific burger, there’s never been a need to order anything else.
But no, I’m not one of those people who always orders the same thing at places.
Just here. Well, here and my breakfast order at Millie’s is almost always the same.
I do like trying new things, though.” Well, now I need to know.
“So what’s your order here?” He grins at me.
“The Lefty burger. It’s a classic for a reason.
I add their barbecue sauce to it and get half onion rings and half fries.
” Well, crap. Now I need to look at that one.
I open the menu and read the ingredients.
“It sounds pretty good, though I would have to get it with no tomatoes.” Ben tilts his head at me.
“Do you not like tomatoes? I noticed you didn’t eat them on your salad last night.
” I shake my head. “Actually, I love fresh tomatoes, but Bentley has a severe allergy to raw tomatoes. So I don’t eat them, and they aren’t allowed in our house.
I can’t order something and just take them off for him.
He has such a reaction that he has an EpiPen because of it.
He can handle cooked tomatoes, like in sauce or ketchup, but any kind of raw tomato sends him to the emergency room.
I don’t eat them because if I have and I bend down and give him a kiss, his skin breaks out, and it could still cause a horrible reaction. ”
The waitress stops by, gives us our drinks, and we place our order with Ben saying no tomato on his burger like I do.
The waitress takes the menus and lets us know she’ll get our order in now.
I have to ask because I’m nosey. Sue me.
Before I can open my mouth to ask, he speaks up.
“You’re gonna ask why I said no tomatoes, aren’t ya?
” I nod and wait for him to continue. “Well, two reasons, really. The first is I plan to kiss you as much as I can the rest of the day. I wouldn’t want to put any of your kids in danger ever, so I don’t want any chance of my having a fucking slice of tomato on my burger doing that.
I also hope to be around you a lot more, and if it can make your life easier and your kids safer, I can give up something as unimportant as raw tomatoes.
It’s really not that big of a deal, darlin’.
” Tears build up, but I will them not to fall.
I’m not ready for him to see just how easily I cry when it comes to anything with my kids.
“It’s big to me. My kids mean everything to me.
You haven’t even met them yet and yet…you’re willing to do that.
Just know it means something to me.” He gives me a big grin and a nod as he takes a sip of his beer. I think I’m in serious trouble.
**********
After we ate, Mathis took me on a ride on the back roads.
I loved every minute of it. We were out for a couple of hours, stopping at a couple of scenic spots to stretch and steal a kiss or two.
I know I don’t have a ton of experience kissing a large number of guys, but he’s got to be at the top of the list. We won’t go into the fact that I’m using the term list pretty damn loosely.
We had just gotten off the bike at my place and are walking up to the front door when my phone rings.
I pull it out of my pocket and look at it before I answer it.
A groan comes out without my realizing it until Ben turns toward me with a questioning look.
I answer the phone. “What’s the matter, Brian?
” I swear he huffs in derision before saying anything.
“I have to go into the hospital for an emergency surgery as the on-call is already in surgery. I’m dropping the kids off in about fifteen minutes.
” He’s always fucking doing this. I rub my forehead and sigh.
“You’re lucky I’m home. You can drop them off this time, but you need to work on a sitter or something if this happens on your weekends.
I won’t always be home and available. Hell, talk to Ms. Elenore to set up a plan with her.
” Brian huffs into the phone. “Isn’t that something you can arrange?
” I let out a laugh. “I did when we were married. We aren’t anymore, so your time with our kids is your responsibility to arrange and handle.
I’m their mom. I’m not yours.” He mumbles something, and I know it has to be “whatever” or something along those lines.
He probably thinks I’ll bend on this, but I’m done bending to help him out.
He’s their dad. It’s time he takes on all the responsibility of that and not skate through it.
He tells me again he’ll be here shortly.
I end the call and hang my head in frustration.
I feel a hand on my neck. “What is it, Doc?” I look up and see a concerned look on Ben’s face.
His sexy, masculine, delicious face, which I had planned to kiss a lot more tonight.
Cockblocked by my ex-husband was not in my plans for tonight.
“Brian got called into the hospital for surgery and is dropping the kids off. I’m sorry our date is getting cut short.
I’ve had the best day with you.” He squeezes my neck.
“Okay, so if you’re good with it, how about I go out and pick up some pizza for dinner?
I know you’re a mom, darlin’, and I know your kids are going to be around a lot of the time.
I also know what I’m suggesting might be way too soon, and I’m okay with that too.
I know introducing someone to your kids is a big step.
We do this all on your timetable, Kimbra.
” I could overthink this whole thing, or I could go with my gut.
When it comes to my kids, I’ve done both, and I think my gut usually steers me right.