At First Blush (A Well Paired Novel Book 1) Read online

  He closed the barn door behind them and leaned against the door, waiting for a response. She stood in the middle of the barn, her arms crossed, her body stiff and angry. They continued their stare down until Alexis caved.

  “I’m not like the women you date…or sleep with.”

  “Don’t I know it.”

  “See?” She whipped her coat off and chucked it on a side table.

  “See what?”

  “The fancy gifts. The jetting across country on a whim. The charming Italian words you whisper while having sex.”

  “I don’t talk in Italian during sex.”

  “Uh, yeah you do.” She blushed and hid her head behind a bottling machine.

  “No one has ever told me that before, so I’d say you’re the first. The only one.”

  “No. I don’t think so.” Alexis toyed with levers and moved to piles of empty boxes, an obvious attempt to keep her hands busy and something in between them.

  “Why can’t you believe that?”

  “It’s in your Italian-Irish nature. You’re a…ladies man. You say words women want to hear and they fall into little puddles of wine at your feet, licking their way—never mind.” Her voice wavered while her hands fidgeting with the cuffs of her sleeves.

  Ben appreciated her nerves, her insecurities. It meant, despite what she said, she did care. He did matter. And he didn’t think Alexis had much experience talking about her feelings. Growing up in the Martelli household, one did not hold back their feelings. Ever.

  Expressing how he felt—anger, frustration, compassion, confusion, tenderness, although that didn’t happen often—was in his genes.

  “Alexis.” He moved closer, still allowing her to keep the barrier of stacked boxes between them, and softened his voice. “There’s something between us we can’t deny. I want to keep seeing you. Sending you gifts makes me…happy. I enjoy finding things I think might bring a smile to your face.”

  She looked up, her body tensing. “Your secretary?”

  Ben shook his head. “I told you. My secretary would have sent roses. A bottle of Pinot Grigio.”

  “I liked the Chianti.”

  “I hoped you would.” He traced her ear with his fingertip, dragging it across her cheek, ending on her lips.

  “Do you usually send women lingerie?”

  Ben’s finger stilled on her mouth. It was always touch and go with Alexis. Knowing she’d prefer straight-up honesty over a bullshit answer, he continued outlining each curve of her lips. “I’ve never sent fruit to a woman before.” Her eyes narrowed and he returned her scowl with a cheeky grin. “This Ty guy?” He couldn’t help it if his voice cracked. If Ty meant something to Alexis he’d…hell, he didn’t know what he’d do.

  She didn’t hide her amusement at his nerves and nipped at his finger. “You confuse the hell out of me, Benito Martelli. I don’t know whether to trust you or—”

  “You can trust me, Alexis. Whatever our differences, I’m not a liar. I’m an arrogant businessman, I’ll admit, but I don’t cheat or steal from my clients. And I don’t lie, cheat, or steal in relationships either.”

  He caught himself in his lie, his throat thickening. No, not a lie. The thing back home with Felicia wasn’t about a relationship, but if he wanted to move forward with Alexis she should know about the baby.

  When he could figure out if they were going to move forward, he’d tell her. It wasn’t likely anything would come of their affair, though. Neither wanted a long distance relationship. Or at least Alexis hadn’t said anything about it. They had nothing in common other than their love of wine.

  Yet something about the woman lured him in, pulled at heartstrings he thought were only written into Italian operas.

  “That’s good to know,” Alexis said. “So what brings this surprise visit to Maine? Come to get your wine?”

  “I’ve been thinking about how I want to sample this ice wine of yours.” He stepped around the barrier and grabbed at the loose fitting flannel shirt, tugging her into his body.

  “Oh? Over dinner with Shane and Claudia, perhaps. You three seem to get along quite well.” Alexis’s lips lifted into a half smile, her eyebrow arching in jest.

  Ben’s cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. “Is that what you want?” He liked playing the flirting game with Alexis. She wasn’t the coy type yet picked up on the fun banter rather quickly.

  “If that’s what you want.”

  Leaning into her, pressing his lips firmly against hers, he stayed motionless until his heart toned itself down from warp speed. “I want you to be happy,” he finally said against her lips.

  “I’d be much happier if,” Alexis slid her hands under his sweatshirt, clutching at his back, “if you didn’t have all these clothes on.”

  Good Lord, she’d done it again. Fallen for Ben’s charm and good looks without a thought of the repercussions. While she untangled her underwear from her jeans that were turned inside out and tossed against the back corner of the barn, she thought about those repercussions.

  And came up empty. They were two consenting adults having fun being naked together. And there were moments when they weren’t naked and they enjoyed each other as well. Her body, even though it took a toll being pushed up against the wall, felt light and airy.

  “Even when you’re not naked in my arms I can tell when you’re thinking.”

  “You need to spend more time around educated people. Sounds to me like you date a lot of bimbos.”

  The irony of her statement made her grimace. With only a handful of community college courses under her belt, Alexis was a far cry from educated.

  “I need to spend more time with you.” Ben zipped up his fly and ran a hand through his hair, miraculously taming it back in place.

  And back to the repercussions. As long as she kept her heart and feelings out of it, there was nothing wrong with their casual affair. If the right guy came along she’d stop having sex with Ben and life would go on. Easy-peasy.

  “Wheels. Spinning. What’s up?” Ben sat on a folding chair and pulled her down on his lap.

  “This sex thing with us.”

  “It’s pretty great, isn’t it?” He kissed her neck, distracting her from all cohesive thoughts.

  Somehow she pulled herself from the sexual trance and cleared her throat. “The sex is great, yes. I’m not going to pretend to make empty promises, and I’m not looking for them from you either. I’m not looking for a relationship, but I also don’t sleep around. If you have a woman you’re seeing in California, I only ask for the courtesy of being open and honest about it, as I will be with you.”

  This was new. Sitting on a guy’s knee, talking about feelings, rambling.

  Ben let out a deep sigh. “There’s a woman…”

  Uh oh. Alexis didn’t like the guarded expression in his eyes. The barbed-wire she secured around her heart tightened.

  “Was a woman. I haven’t been with her…for a long time. Months and months before I met you.”

  “But?” She sensed the weight of a barrel of wine being lowered on her chest.

  “We…I don’t have any feelings toward her, not in the way I feel about you, but we have…unresolved…issues. She’s still a part of my life.” Ben rubbed his palms against her sides and leaned his forehead against hers.

  “You’re still in love with her?”

  “No.” He closed his eyes and turned so his cheek rested against her head. “Love was never on the table. It’s…complicated, and I have a lot I need to deal with back home.”

  “I see.” Alexis swallowed and squirmed, an ill attempt to get away when his arms anchored her to his lap.

  “No, I don’t think you do.” He pulled his head back and stared into her eyes. His dark pupils pulsating against the light blue of his irises. “It’s not what you think but I’m having a hard time explaining. You’re the only woman I want, Alexis. Felicia…she’s not…”

  “Felicia?” She’d never seen Ben so unsure of himself. Pausing so much in
between words. He had her under his spell with his touch so gentle, his gaze so tender, his words so sweet. Still, the name of another woman on his lips had her stiffening her shoulders.

  “It’s not so much her. It’s…a family issue. You, Alexis. You’re the only woman I’m kissing.” He touched his lips to hers. “The only one I touch.” His hands slid up her sides and caressed the underside of her breasts. “The only one I want.”

  Ben’s quads tightened under her butt, his arms locked hard against her waist. Alexis tilted her body so she could study his face. There was a straining in his eyes she hadn’t seen before, his jaw clenched, as did his fists.

  His tone, deep and slow, mirrored his body language. “Are you sleeping with him?”

  Alexis, taken aback at the sudden change, frowned. “Who?”

  “Ty,” Ben growled through gritted teeth.

  So he was jealous. The last time she made a guy jealous was…never. While her head spun from trying to figure out the Felicia story, her heart did flips when Ben looked at her with heavy-lidded eyes. The world spun in confusion around her, but she put him out of his misery and responded.

  “Ty and I went to school together.” It was partially true. He was four years ahead of her, and they never talked until they both became business owners.

  “Like you and Brandon?”

  He remembered. And he was so, so jealous. Alexis wiggled out of his tight hold and turned so she was straddling him.

  “No. Not like Brandon.”

  “You haven’t answered my question.”

  And he hadn’t told her his whole story. At the moment it didn’t seem to matter. She cocked her head and studied his eyes. So stunning against his tanned skin and dark brows. And to be blessed with long lashes, she’d never noticed eyelashes before, especially not on a guy.

  “And you’re thinking again. Don’t lie to me, Alexis. You said you wanted the honesty thing.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” His hair, so dark and soft. She ran her hands through it, messing it so it wasn’t so perfectly placed, and looped her fingers together behind his neck. “You want the truth?”

  “Today, please.”

  Toying with him a little longer was tempting, but she did worry about him having a heart attack. She knew how to perform CPR, and it would be another excuse to put her mouth on him, but she went for direct instead.

  “No.”

  “Thank God.” Ben crushed his lips to hers, his fingers curled around her shoulders, keeping her in place as he made love to her mouth. Their tongues played and toyed as moans escaped their lungs, hands exploring each other’s bodies. Again. His desire evident in the hardness growing under her.

  A loud bark startled them, breaking apart their kiss, and Ben’s hand dropped from her breast. Alexis jumped from his lap as Hemmy bounded toward them, her father in tow. Too caught up in each other, they hadn’t heard the door open.

  “Dad. Hi.” Alexis straightened her shirt and she heard Ben rise to his feet behind her.

  “Shane.” Ben cleared his throat. “Nice to see you again.”

  “A pleasant surprise, for sure.” Her father winked at Alexis and she nearly died of embarrassment.

  Where they were sitting couldn’t be seen directly from the barn door, but her father was a smart man, catching Grace trying to sneak in, sneak out, and sneak off more times than he could count on his fingers and toes combined during her high school years. He knew the signs.

  The disheveled clothes and hair. The shocked manner. The nervous jitters. All signs she teased her sister about, making fun of her on many occasions for looking guilty as sin. And here she and Ben stood in the same manner.

  “Uh, Ben came to try the ice wine.” Damn, she hated how stupid she sounded. “I told him it still might not be ready yet.”

  “Hmm, isn’t that why he came last month, too? Had to rush out for some dinner date.”

  Double damn. Her father knew, and he seemed quite pleased about it.

  “Mr. Le Blanc.” Since when did Ben call her father by that? It was the guilt. The high school boys would refer to her father in the Mr. form after being busted as well. Alexis kicked Ben in the shin, thankful for Hemmy’s giant body as a shield. “Uh, I came by to see the progress on the function hall. I checked the weather forecast, and it looks like you have a few warm spring days ahead. You must be excited to see the buds start to form on the vines.”

  They talked about budding, grapes, winemaking, and then back to the upgrades again.

  “So what do you think of the function hall?”

  “I haven’t seen it yet. Just got here not long ago.”

  Alexis rolled her eyes internally. His car had been sitting in the driveway when she and Ty got back from shopping for paint. Surely her parents noticed it had been there for more than an hour as well.

  “Well, ‘bout time you check it out. Alexis can show you around. Her apartment is no more. Been staying in her old room upstairs. She’s the only room that faces the east. Gorgeous sunrises can be seen from that upstairs window. Great climbing tree next to the house as well. Claudia thinks the next big ice storm will have it crashing down. I say it’s got a few more climbing years left in it.” He gave them both a knowing smile before making a lame excuse about walking the field, calling Hemmy to trail after him.

  “Think he knows?” Ben’s shoulders finally relaxed.

  She smacked his arm. “Are you kidding me? That bit about my bedroom window? He practically told you to climb into it tonight and make love to me.”

  “Oh, yeah?” He opened his arms to pull her into a hug but she stepped away.

  “No way. I’m mortified. Aren’t you?”

  “Of having sex in your childhood bed? Actually, it’s kinda turning me on.”

  “You’re always turned on.” She grabbed her coat and headed toward the door. “Come on. I’ll show you the new hall.”

  * * *

  Claudia had found them in the hall and insisted Ben stay for dinner. Unable to turn down the invitation, the four of them sat around the dining room table stuffed from roasted chicken and vegetables.

  “I can’t thank you enough, Claudia. You’re food is always amazing.”

  “Coming from a man who was raised on authentic Italian food, I take that as quite the compliment.”

  A blanket of contentment wrapped itself around Alexis’s heart listening to Ben and her mother get along so wonderfully.

  “Actually, my father is Italian, my mother Irish. But my Italian grandmother insisted my mother learn all of my father’s favorite meals before they married.”

  “She made us ravioli one night. I’ve tried to replicate it but haven’t come close.”

  “I’ll ask my mother for the recipe.”

  Claudia placed her hand over her heart and nearly swooned out of her chair. “Really? You think she’ll share?”

  Alexis hid her grin. She brought boys home for dinners in the past. Boys. As in friends from school.

  Never a man she was dating.

  Not that she was dating Ben. It was purely a sexual fling.

  “Absolutely.” Ben finished his wine and shook his head when Shane held up the bottle to refill. “No thank you. I need to drive into town. I’m assuming the Millers have rooms available at the inn.”

  “John and Melissa are in Boston visiting their son. They close the inn for a few weeks every March to travel a bit before the busy season.” Alexis’s father filled Ben’s glass and gave them another knowing glance. “Looks like you’re staying here then. Grace’s room is made up as a spare. We’re happy to have you for as long as you’re staying.”

  Heat cooked the roasted potatoes sitting in Alexis’s belly. Ben under the same roof? With her parents downstairs? The house was tiny, only Grace, Alexis’s room, and a half-bath on the second floor. Even though her parents’ bedroom was downstairs, the temptation would be too strong.

  She couldn’t have him naked and under the sheets across the hall from her and keep her hands, her body, to he
rself.

  Alexis opened her mouth in protest, but Ben placed his hand on her thigh and squeezed.

  “If it’s not too much trouble.”

  “No trouble at all. I’ll put on a set of fresh sheets as soon as I’m done with the dishes.” Claudia rose, and Ben squeezed Alexis’s thigh one more time before standing.

  “Alexis and I can do the dishes. You’ve spent enough time in the kitchen already.”

  Aaaaannnnnd thump. There went her heart, libido, and self-control, falling in a heap on the floor at his feet. Warmth filled her chest and weakened her knees.

  If only he didn’t live three thousand miles away.

  No. It was a good thing. If he lived any closer she’d fall in love with him. And she didn’t have time to do the love and relationship thing. Spring was right around the corner, and with that came the busiest months of the year. Between the new harvest, expanding Coastal Vines, figuring out how to promote the new function hall, and experimenting with the new fruit wines, her plate was already full.

  Drop-in sex with Ben every month or so was all she had time for. He’d be a distraction if he was around more often.

  “You’re thinking.” He dropped a kiss to her cheek and stacked the dishes in the sink, rinsing one at a time and them handing to Alexis to load in the dishwasher.

  “Stop it.” She lightly smacked him before reaching for the plate.

  “I like your parents.”

  “They’re good people.” Those warm and fuzzies weren’t going away any time soon.

  “So, that tree outside your bedroom. How many guys have climbed it?”

  “None.”

  “Liar.”

  She gasped and ran her hand through the faucet, splashing him with water. “Jerk.”

  “How am I a jerk?” He asked, laughing as he toweled off his face. “You probably had a stream of boys itching to climb up and sneak through your window.”

  “As if.” He’d never even glance her way if they’d crossed paths in high school. Granted, he would have been in college during her school years.