Wild for You (Crave Book 2) Page 10

  Normally, this is where my brain started a red alert, but I was lulled into a sense of complacency. I could see Ben being one of my guy friends. If I wasn't so interested in his penis.

  So my brain rationalized this whole "I like him" thing as understandable because he was the type of guy I could consider a friend.

  Yes, I believed all this.

  Ben pulled on the athletic shorts he'd been wearing when I came in. They were the real cause of my behavior upon my arrival. It had been obvious that he wasn't wearing anything under those shorts when I saw them, and he'd been shirtless as well.

  I guess a bad boy in off mode was a turn on for me.

  I tried not to stare at the play of muscles in his back as I followed him to the kitchen. I think he had eyes in the back of his head because he always seemed to know when I was ogling him and it was a little embarrassing. He knew he was hot. He didn't need my drooling to reinforce it. Plus, I didn't want him to know that I couldn't keep my eyes off him. It gave him too much power over me and I had no doubt he would take advantage of it.

  Especially since I now liked him as a person rather than just a hot bad boy I could blow off steam with.

  Ben poured a cherry Coke into a glass filled with ice, stuck a straw in it, and placed it on the counter in front of me. "Have a seat at the bar. Dinner'll be ready in a few minutes."

  He'd paid enough attention to what I said to remember that I liked cherry Coke but rarely had it because I couldn't drink it without a straw. Yes, it was a strange quirk, but it was mine and I wasn't ashamed. Why did his remembering that strike me as important?

  I settled on one of the stools and watched as he turned the oven and stove back on and went back to cooking.

  Okay, I had to derail my train of thought. I had a decent amount of brain cells and right now they were all obsessed with Ben Murphy.

  "Did I tell you what happened Monday morning after you dropped me off?" I blurted out.

  He glanced over his shoulder at me. "From your tone, it sounds like it was scary."

  I nodded. "It was. Terrifying."

  "What happened?" he asked with a frown. "Did someone mess with you?"

  "You could say that," I answered. "But I can guarantee you wouldn't be able to guess."

  "Okay, are you going to tell me?" he asked.

  I couldn't read the expression on his face, but I continued because I couldn't just stop talking now that I'd brought it up.

  "I had to take the trash out because I'd forgotten to do it earlier and when I came around the corner of the house, there was this big, I don't know, thing on top of the trash can. It hissed at me and stood up on its hind legs. Of course, badass that I am, I tried to run backward and fell on my butt. It tore off toward the street before I realized it was a raccoon."

  "A raccoon hissed at you?" Ben asked, his eyebrows lowering. "Do raccoons hiss?"

  "I don't know if all raccoons do," I answered with a shrug. "But this one definitely did. And then, after I went inside, Cam snuck up on me and scared the shit out of me. I told her about the raccoon and she says 'Oh, that's Gary.' She named the fat bastard Gary! And she's been feeding him!"

  My voice had grown louder at this point and I was waving my hands around in the air. Ben watched me from the stove, his lips twitching.

  "What?" I asked.

  "I'm almost sorry I missed that," he said.

  I made a face at him and he laughed with his head tilted back.

  "You made it sound like something out of a nightmare, but I should have known it would be nothing more than an evil raccoon."

  "Gary the evil raccoon," I murmured.

  Ben was still grinning as he dished out the food.

  "What's this?" I asked as he set the bowl in front of me.

  "Jambalaya. Well, my lazy version of it."

  Lazy or not, it smelled delicious. There was a slice of buttered garlic bread sitting on the wide edge of the bowl and my mouth watered at the sight.

  "This looks amazing," I said. "And smells even better."

  "It's probably mushy because it's been sitting on the stove for a while, but it should taste okay."

  I glanced up at him. "The only things I've successfully cooked are macaroni and cheese from a box or canned soup. I normally have to go to a restaurant or order in if I want anything other than sandwiches and popcorn. I appreciate this more than you know, even if it is mushy."

  Ben chuckled. "Good to know you're grateful."

  I knew I should wait until he sat down with me before I dug in but I was hungry and he was taking too long. As soon as his back was turned, I lifted a huge spoonful to my mouth.

  The flavors exploded on my tongue and I nearly moaned. I could taste tomatoes, bell peppers, and a myriad of spices. There was heat but not too much. It was perfect. It wasn't traditional jambalaya like I'd had in New Orleans, but it was still delicious.

  "Like it?" Ben asked as he sat next to me.

  My mouth was full so I nodded and gave him a thumbs up.

  He smiled, like the idea that I enjoyed his cooking made him happy.

  Shit, we were on a slippery slope here, but I wasn't sure I could stop myself before I flew off the edge.

  "Want a job?" I joked with him once I'd swallowed that first huge bite.

  "I have one."

  "Yes, but I'd be willing to pay handsomely for you to cook for me every day. Maybe even more than you make now at with your current employer."

  He leaned toward me. "Would it include benefits?"

  "All sorts of benefits," I answered, staring at his mouth.

  "Would I get to dictate the terms?"

  "Absolutely not," I stated.

  His lips curved up into a smile. "You drive a hard bargain. I'll consider it." He straightened and the distance between us suddenly seemed larger. "Let's pick out a movie. I don't want you turning into a pumpkin before it's over."

  "Ha, ha."

  We picked up our bowls and drinks and headed into the living room. I hadn't made it to the couch yet, but it looked comfortable and cozy and I wanted to curl up on it in the worst way.

  Ben put his bowl and glass on the coffee table and went over to a low ottoman that sat in front of one of the chairs. He lifted the top cushion off and pulled out a blanket.

  "Can I have one?" I asked. In nothing but my tee and panties, I was definitely chilly. He kept his house cool.

  "This is for you," he commented. "You're cold."

  How did he know?

  His eyes lowered and I looked down. Oh, yeah. Nipples and no bra.

  He waited until I'd found a comfy spot on the couch and settled in before he draped the blanket over my lap. I sighed with complete contentment. The throw was soft and fuzzy, like a hug in blanket form.

  "Food and an incredible blanket. You know how to treat a girl."

  Ben shook his head, handing me the bowl of jambalaya and my Coke. "You're easy to please."

  I cocked my head to the side and studied him. "Not really."

  Why had I said that? That wasn't smart. It opened the door to all sorts of questions and talking about personal stuff. Not a good idea. We were friends with benefits, nothing more.

  "You'll see when we start looking for a movie," I said. "I'm picky."

  "What about Altered Carbon? I've had the first season on my watchlist for a year and just saw that season two released not long ago."

  He had to go and pick the one show that I loved and I'd been meaning to watch. I wanted to refresh my memory before the second season became available.

  "Damn," I muttered.

  "You don't like it?" he asked.

  "I love that show," I admitted. "And you must watch it. It's imperative."

  "And you're not easy to please?"

  I scowled at him. "You got lucky."

  His expression changed as he looked at me. "I'm beginning to think I did."

  I was dying to know what he meant by that statement, but my internal alarms chose that moment to blare. Further discussion would b
e dangerous. Better to keep things light.

  Instead, I took another bite of food. "TV. Now."

  Ben chuckled but did as I asked. Then he turned off the lamp next to him, plunging the room into darkness.

  It was intimate and surprisingly comfortable. I could see myself here, doing this, on a daily basis.

  And it felt right.

  Fuck. Me. I was in so much trouble.

  10

  I'd mentally prepared myself to sit across from Ben Murphy at the table and pretend that we weren't humping like gorillas.

  What I hadn't mentally prepared for was the family drama that developed between Cam and J.J. about five minutes after we walked in the door.

  It started out nice and normal with J.J. giving Cam a huge bear hug that lifted her off her feet.

  "Cam! How's my favorite little sister?"

  She smacked him on the shoulder. "I'm your only little sister," she grunted. Then, she kept smacking him as she said, "Can't. Breathe. You. Jackass."

  Seeing them together like that made me both a little jealous but more than a little glad I didn't have siblings. They loved each other but they tortured each other, too.

  "You look...different." He frowned down at Cam.

  She rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks. That makes me feel special. And you saw me seven days ago! I can't have changed that much."

  He released her and tugged her ponytail, deftly evading her hand when she tried to slap his arm again. "I meant it in a good way, sis. You look kinda pretty."

  "Kinda?"

  His grin was positively evil when he answered. "I can't tell my sister she's pretty. It's weird."

  And like the Cam I knew and loved, she obliterated that verbal opening like a wrecking ball.

  "It's only weird if you ask her if she comes here often right after you tell her she's pretty."

  I laughed as she headed into the dining room and poured a glass of tea. I greeted her brother. "Hey there, J."

  He turned to me with that wicked grin still in place despite the fact that Cam had just zinged him a good one. "Sierra," he replied, his smile growing wider until he resembled a shark. "Hey, you're single now, aren't you? What do you think of my friend, Brody?"

  Behind him, Cam choked on the tea she was drinking and started coughing her head off. I moved toward her, just to the left of J.J., and suppressed a smile. No way were she and Brody just friends. She might still be fooling herself about it, but she'd have to come to the realization eventually.

  J.J. whacked her on the back a few times. "You okay, Cam? Jesus, what happened?"

  It was obvious she couldn't speak, so I interrupted by saying, " Thanks so much for the offer to fix me up, J.J., but I'm pretty sure Brody isn't interested in me. And I'm not really interested in him."

  He started to say something, but I shook my head at him, giving him my evil eye, and headed into the kitchen to say hello to Colette and Malcolm.

  I'd just finished giving them each a hug when J.J. appeared.

  "Hey, Sierra, I didn't screw up back there, did I?" he asked, looking chagrined.

  Yeah, he had, just not in the way he thought.

  "Not exactly. Brody and Cam went to the movies yesterday, so I think she was just surprised you were trying to set him up with me."

  J.J. stared at me with wide eyes. "They went to the movies?"

  "As friends," I stated, not liking the expression on his face.

  Before the conversation could continue, the doorbell rang and my heart leaped in my chest. I knew it was Ben and his brother.

  J.J. was out the kitchen door like a shot but I had a feeling that things weren't going to end well. Colette and I followed at a more sedate pace and Malcolm stayed behind to keep an eye on the food. And probably avoid the hugs. He was a sweet guy, but one hug a day, per person, was his limit, and he'd get those when we all left.

  I arrived back in the foyer in time to hear J.J. say, "Unhand my sister, you scoundrel!"

  I wasn't sure if he was serious or not, but Brody took it as a joke and asked, "What is this, the nineteenth century?"

  Before J.J. could reply, Colette came up to Brody and gave him a hug, too.

  "And my mother too? Pistols at dawn it is!"

  "Have you been watching historical romances again?" Cam asked.

  "I would never," J.J. stuttered.

  "PBS or BBC?" Cam asked me, sotto voce.

  I laughed, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from Ben, who was receiving a hug from Colette.

  He looked really good today, even though he was fully clothed.

  "Shut up," J.J. grumbled.

  I vaguely heard Colette talking to Brody and Cam, but my eyes were still locked on Ben and he was staring at me.

  When Colette said his name, our intense stare broke, and Brody and Ben followed her into the kitchen. I smirked at the look J.J. was giving Cam until I realized he wasn't exactly happy about what he'd just seen.

  "Sierra, can you give me a minute with my sister?" he asked.

  I met his gaze for a protracted moment before I glanced at Cam. She didn't seem too worried, so I nodded and headed into the kitchen. Maybe I could discreetly ogle Ben a little more. It would keep me from eavesdropping, which is what I really wanted to do.

  A few minutes later, I heard Cam's raised voice before the front door slammed and J.J. came into the kitchen, looking upset and a little hurt.

  "Where's Cam?" Colette asked, absently. "We're almost ready to sit down and eat and I could use her help bringing the food to the table."

  J.J. rubbed the back of his neck as he looked down at the floor. "Cam left," he mumbled.

  Colette stopped stirring the pot on the stove and turned to look at him, her eyes glinting. "She what?"

  "She left," he answered again with a sigh. "I said something stupid and I upset her."

  "Then, you can call her, right this minute, and apologize."

  J.J. gave his mother a sheepish look. "I think it might be best if I give her a little time to cool off first. She hasn't been this mad at me in a while."

  He was right. When Cam got mad, it took her a bit to cool off enough to handle the situation in a reasonable manner.

  Colette cocked her head and stared at her eldest for a long moment. "You're probably right. Well, come help me get the food on the table. While we're doing that, you can tell me what you did."

  "Actually, I need to talk to Brody for a sec," he said.

  Colette looked like she wanted to argue but ultimately nodded and roped her husband into helping her. The woman might behave like a Southern belle, but she was sharp as a tack and sensed emotional undercurrents that might usually go unnoticed.

  J.J. and Brody disappeared out the back door and huddled together on the edge of the back deck.

  Crap. I hoped what I said to J.J. wasn't the cause of his fight and the tense conversation he seemed to be having with Brody. I'd assumed Brody had mentioned taking Cam to the movies to J.J., but maybe I was wrong.

  I glanced at Ben. "This may be my fault," I admitted. "I mentioned that they went to the movies last night and he didn't know."

  Ben shook his head. "It's not your fault. J.J. worries about both of them."

  I took my phone out of my pocket and scrolled to Cam's name. "I'm gonna find out what's going on."

  Ben watched as I lifted the phone to my ear. Cam answered on the second ring.

  "I am so fucking sorry. I was just so mad when I left, I didn't even think," she said.

  "What did your brother say to you?" I asked. "Because he looks like a puppy who just got the crap beat out of him with a newspaper." When she snarled, I cringed. "Whoa. You really are mad."

  "He told me to quit messing with Brody," she answered, her breath hitching as though she were trying not to cry. "That I shouldn't be playing mind games with his best friend."

  I stared out the back door, my eyes narrowed on J.J. "Oh, no he didn't." My voice was dangerously low.

  "He did."

  "Okay, then I'm officially not
upset you forgot to take me with you when you left. Want me to hurt him for you?" Because I totally would. I loved J.J. like a brother, but I wouldn't hesitate to make him regret hurting my bestie.

  Cam laughed, no longer sounding as though she wanted to cry. "Thanks, but that won't be necessary. Just make him squirm a little."

  "Oh, that I can do."

  There was a pause, and then Cam said, "Crap. I have no idea what to tell my mom."

  "Tell her the truth, that J.J. was being an asshat," I said. Though it probably wouldn't be necessary. It seemed he was willing to admit that he'd screwed up.

  I glanced back out the door and J.J. and Brody were still talking but their body language wasn't as stiff.

  "I can't," she said. "She's always had this thing about how we had to work out our differences without yelling or violence."

  "How exactly does she think you're supposed to do that?" I asked because that didn't make sense to me.

  "By talking," she replied, her tone as arid as the desert.

  "You mean shouting?" I asked.

  "Nope. Talking. Calmly and reasonably about why we were upset with the other person and resolving the issue with compromise and love."

  I scoffed. "Screw that. Total annihilation is the only way to go."

  I heard Ben snort next to me and shot him a look. He just grinned at me as if he wasn't concerned.

  "Today, I'm going to settle for not having to stare at my brother's face across the dining room table at lunch. If you want, I can swing back by and pick you up."

  I really appreciated her offer, but I didn't want her to have to potentially deal with J.J. and her mother.

  I waved a hand even though she couldn't see it. "Don't worry about it. I'll get Brody or your mom to drop me off at the shop. Besides, if I leave now, who will make your brother squirm?"

  Ben pointed to his chest, as if to say he would be happy to give me a ride. I winked at him, which made him grin again.

  "Let me know if that changes," she said.

  "Roger that, Ghostrider." I hung up just in time for J.J. to come back inside. Brody was still standing on the back deck, staring out into the backyard. "Feel better?" I asked J.J. sweetly, but I knew my smile was scalpel-sharp.