Emily's Affair (35 page)

"A powerful one considering that Helen's mother lived across the street."

He stared at her hard for a minute as he digested her words. Thank God, Lexi's parents lived out in the country and had their own lives. Helen's obsession with her mother sounded… painfully invasive. No wonder Vince had plans to move as far away from the area as possible. Which reminded him of a text message he'd received earlier. "Bill and Sheila?"

"Sheila found out that Bill preferred men to women and only married her to keep his secret from his family." He must have had a look of pure horror on his face, because Lexi laughed and gave him a reassuring pat on the arm. "We could play this game all day."

Ben heard a chuckle and glanced over his shoulder at the elderly couple who'd just past them. It was like looking at Lexi and himself in fifty years. Which probably explained why the older gentleman sent Ben a commiserating look.

Now
that
was disturbing.

A few more steps and Ben recovered. Slightly. "My point exactly," he mumbled then cleared his throat. "There are too many unknowns in the beginnings of any relationship. That's why it's better if we live together first,
then
—"

"No, it isn't," Lexi fired back. "And besides, my father would kill me if I let you move in without—"

"Honey, there's no difference between living together and marriage."

"Yes, there is." Lexi yanked herself away from him and stomped her foot in exasperation. "Marriage is about commitment. It's a statement. If you marry me, then you are telling everyone who cares to listen that you chose
me
. That you want to spend the rest of your life with
me
."

He smiled at her. "You are beautiful when you're angry."

"
Benjamin
," she growled in warning.

Ben chuckled and, taking her hand, pulled her into his arms. He dropped a kiss on the top of her silky blonde head, then pulled back to look into her baby blues. "Lexi, my sweet beautiful nymph, you know you are the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."

She relaxed against and him and he watched as her annoyance melted away to be replaced with genuine confusion. "Then why are you so against marriage?"

"Because marriage has a way of changing a relationship." Ben trailed a finger down her cheek and gazed at her with a look that he hoped like hell would get him out of the doghouse and to the restaurant faster. "All the couples we know who married—with the exception of your parents— ended up in divorce court."

"But that won't happen to us," she whispered.

"Bill and Sheila said the same thing after John and Denise," he replied just as softly.

She tilted her head to the side and he could have sworn he heard her mind whirling.
"Why do you always put his name first?"

"What?"

"His name: Bill and Sheila, Vince and Helen, Jim and Tina, Tim and Sara, John and Denise. Why not Sheila and Bill?"

"Because that's the way it's done," he said.

"Why?"

"Because… the Mr. and Mrs. thing."

"What kind of answer is that?"

"It's a good answer and the only one you're gonna get. Come on. I'm starving." Ben wrapped an arm around her and started walking for the restaurant. "Why did Sheila and Bill break up?"

Lexi leaned her head against him. "Because Bill was allergic to Sheila's cats and Sheila refused to get rid of the cats."

He laughed. "Are you serious?"

"Yep."

"Was that the only reason?"

She sighed. "No. Sheila wouldn't get rid of the cats because she needed them as an excuse to visit the vet." Ben groaned and Lexi continued, "After she divorced Bill, the affair with the vet crumbled and she got rid of the cats. So now she doesn't have a husband, a lover, or a cat."

They rounded a corner and started down the last block to the restaurant.

"Ben?"

"Hmm?"

"You do realize that I cannot move in with you."

"I know. I'll move in with you. Your place is bigger," Ben said.

"No. You can't move in with me."

He glanced at her. "Why not?"

"Because I don't want to be a roommate. I want to be a wife."

"Lexi, you won't be a roommate."

She took that in stride, and then said, "All right. I don't want to be a mistress."

"Lexi—"

"I can't, Ben. I won't."

"Lexi," he growled. "You won't be a mistress."

"There are plenty of men who would jump at the chance to marry me."

He tensed, but kept silent. This was a test. It had to be. But just to be sure… Ben waited until they were almost in front of the restaurant, then turned and backed her up against the brick wall. "Who? Give me their names and I'll kill them."

Lexi smiled and brushed a strand back from his forehead. "You know there are no names to give." Then she stretched up to give him an entirely too soft and too quick kiss on his cheek.

"There better not be." He slid a hand up her side, felt her shiver, then cupped the back of her neck and urged her closer. "Get over here, woman, and give me a real kiss."

Lexi did, then pulled back, leaving him weak kneed and less interested in making their dinner reservation. But that was nothing new. Lexi could make him feel that way with a look, a word, or a gesture.

She leaned into him and pressed her lips to the hollow at the base of his throat.
"You know, you're kind of sexy when you switch into Neanderthal mode."

He chuckled and smoothed his hand down her back. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." She lifted her head and gave him her best smile.

Which he rewarded with another kiss. "Honey, if you keep teasing me like this we'll never make our reservations."

She purred and looped her arms around his neck. "I don't mind if you don't."

"Insatiable," he whispered against her lips. "But you're not getting any until after dinner." He set her away from him and drew in a deep breath. "Better yet, we'll order it to-go, then catch a cab back to the house." He took her hand and dragged her down the street.

Lexi laid her head against his arm. "Do you want children?"

"What kind of question is that," he muttered.

"It's a legitimate question." She raised her head. "Well, do you?"

He was silent for a long minute. "Do you?"

"Yes, but—"

"How many," Ben interrupted.

"Two-point-five rounded up."

He laughed softly. "Three. In any particular order?"

"Boy, boy, girl. But I'm flexible."

"She's flexible," he repeated. "I suppose you've already picked out their names."

"Just the first boy's name. He'll be named after his father." She heaved a dramatic sigh and looked away from him just as a guy strolled by. "Whoever that maybe."

Ben gave her a small shake. "Lexi, you know who it will be."

"Do I?" She turned back and looked up at him. "Ben, I'm not supposed to have children until after I'm married and if you don't marry me…," she trailed off with a helpless shrug.

"Lexi." Ben stopped and slowly drew her around to face him. "Are you saying that you'd leave me if I don't marry you?"

Her chin lifted a notch. "I would, but I wouldn't want to."

He narrowed his eyes. "You'd find someone else," he stated rather than asked.

"I… would." Her voice cracked.

Hearing her say that hurt more than he'd expected.
"I thought you loved me."

"I do," she said in a rush. "But, Ben, I—"

"No." He shook his head when she drew in a breath to speak. "Let me get this straight. You love me and if I don't marry you, you'll find someone else?"

"Ben, I—"

"Yes or no, Lexi."

"I… yes."
She looked miserable and on the verge of tears.

Damn. He hadn't expected that.
Ben ran a hand through his hair and gazed at her for a long, hard minute. He willed his mind to ignore the hunger pains and figure out what the hell his woman was looking for, because after eight months of dating Lexi he knew there had to be a reason for this absurd, back-ass-wards discussion. She always had a reason. Granted it wasn't always a logical reason that made sense to him, but there always was a reason.

But why start this discussion now? Typically Lexi started relationship discussions after she'd had her way with him and he was too relaxed and sated to argue with her. He knew she was happy. Hell, he'd learned the hard way months ago how to tell when his woman was displeased with him. So he was certain Lexi wouldn't leave him. At least, he was almost absolutely positive she wouldn't. "He won't be as wonderful as me."

"Who?"

"Him. Your husband."

"Ben, no man is as wonderful as you."

"Then why would you leave me," he demanded in a harsher voice than he'd meant.

Her bottom lip quivered. "Be… because I love you," she whispered.

"Honey, that makes no sense whatsoever. You'd leave me because you love me?"

Lexi's back went stiff. "
Benjamin
."

He fell back a step. "Oh lord, I've done gone and made her mad."

"You have made me mad." She advanced on him and pounded a forefinger into his chest. "Why won't you marry me? Am I not good enough for you to—"

"Enough." He caught her hand and forced her palm flat over his heart. "Lexi, when I'm ready to marry, you're the only woman I'd even consider asking."

"I am?" Her anger floated away with the warm breeze flowing up from the river and Ben finally found himself relaxing some.

"You are." He lifted her hand and kissed her palm. "The only one."

"Why would you ask me?"

"You know why."

"Do I? Do you love me?"

"You know I do," he said softly and meant every word of it.

"Then say it."

"I love you." He kissed her once for good measure, then bent down and looked her in the eye. "Now, can we go?"

She harrumphed. "You don't sound like you love me." Lexi yanked her hand from his and marched the last few feet toward the restaurant.

"Lexi," Ben called.

"Well, you don't. You sound mad. I don't want you to say you love me when you're mad."

"Woman, I am not mad." He grabbed her hand and slowed her pace. "I'm annoyed, because we've turned a ten minute walk into a thirty minute hike."

"So sorry." She sniffled and jerked out of his grasp. "Don't want to be late for your precious reservation, do we?"

"Lexi, don't be that way. Please, honey, just calm down."

"I'll be whatever way I want to be."

Ben had no idea what they were fighting over, but he knew she was mad. Spitting mad. "Lexi." He caught up to her outside the restaurant and spun her into his arms. "Honey, this… why are you crying?"

"I am not crying."