Fated Bliss (Bliss #2) (35 page)

I couldn’t tell her to go away, though. Grey would kill me if he found out I turned away a customer. That sort of thing got back to other customers, and bad reviews hurt our livelihood.

You can be professional, Sam.

I took a deep breath and smiled. “Here we are,” I repeated and laid out the paperwork for her.

Before I could go on, heavy, solid footsteps came down the hall.

Linc!

Oh, Jesus.

This was bad.

“Sam, where are the-” Linc stopped at the doorway and stared at his mother, his jaw dropping. His skin took on a nasty pallor as he glanced between us.

Surprise registered on Gwen’s face, but then it became calculating. She turned back around and stared at the reception desk, morphing in front of me.

Gwen changed into a woman that was unsure and broken. The difference was so dramatic, even her posture changed – her shoulders slumped and curled into her body, her eyes appeared lifeless, and she held herself as if she was delicate and would break at any moment.

If I hadn’t seen the radical transformation with my own eyes, I would have never believed she was anything but what she portrayed. It was effective and entirely convincing.

Gwen turned towards Linc. “Lincoln,” she whispered, her voice wobbling, and took an uncertain step closer. “My beautiful boy.” She held out her arms. “I’m here, baby.”

Oh, Linc.

“Mom?” Lincoln asked, his voice gruff, and walked a little closer. “What…what are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here.”

Gwen sniffed, and her voice became watery. “You haven’t seen me in almost a year, and that’s all you say to me?” She wiped her fake tears. “He’s turned you against me, hasn’t he?”

Wonderful.

Agony flashed in Linc’s expression, the deep and brutal kind. “Mom…don’t.”

I was through watching.

“Linc, go into the kitchen,” I demanded, my temper flaring.

How dare she come here and do this to him?!

Gwen whirled around and shot me a glower that could kill. “Excuse me? Who do you think you are?”

I ignored Gwen and gave Linc a stern look. “Now, Linc. Go. I’m callin’ your father.”

“But…” he whispered, an internal struggle written in his eyes.

“You will go nowhere, Linc,” his mother insisted, glaring at me. “How do you know Ben?”

I walked around the counter, positive I was crossing a huge line. Ben told me Gwen liked to play with her son’s mind, and that performance of hers proved he wasn’t exaggerating – I didn’t care if it was my place or not, every instinct in me screamed to protect Linc.

And I would at all costs.

I stood in front of Linc, putting myself between the two of them. I reached behind me and gripped his hand, offering my support. “Like Linc said, you are not supposed to be here. I need to call his father.”

“I see what’s going on here.” Gwen whimpered, and new tears welled in her eyes. “You’re the new one, aren’t you?”

“Mom, don’t,” Linc warned.

“Who I am is none of your concern,” I told her, squaring my shoulders. “All that matters is that Ben trusted me with his son’s care, and right now you’re upsettin’ him. You can work this out with Ben when he gets here, but Linc is not stayin’ for this.”

Gwen continued as if I hadn’t said anything. “Has he told you about the others?”

“Shut up!” Linc bellowed. “Don’t you dare do that to Sam!”

I had no idea what was going on, but whatever it was, I was proud that Linc was standing up to her.

Gwen swayed as if he struck her. “Linc,” she murmured, clutching her throat. She played the perfect victim.

Linc took a step forward, crowding my back. He looked over my shoulder at his mother, his eyes scoring hatred. “I know,” he whispered and clasped my shoulders with bruising force. “I know what you did to Dad and Aunt Mags. I know that all you’ve ever told me were lies.”

Fuck me.

Aunt Mags.

It was there the entire time, but I never once figured it out.

There were more important matters, though.

“Linc, go,” I demanded, wincing slightly as his hold on me tightened. “This isn’t the time.”

Gwen ignored me, but her inner self, the true one that was vile and deeply troubled, was coming to the forefront. “He’s lying. You know what a good liar your father is.”

“Excuse me?” I whispered, my rage burning inside me. She, of all people, should never call Ben that. “
How dare you?!
”

Gwen sneered. “You’re nothing special. You’re just one in a long list of others, and like always, he’ll come back to me. Both of them will. Now step aside and let me talk to my son.”

That might have been an insecurity I had months ago, but Ben had proven otherwise. He was far from the man she described.

My mouth got the better of me, and I found myself saying, “I know that Ben is the type of man that would move heaven and hell for his son. He’s good and givin’ and so remarkable that he blows my mind. And I’ve seen the destruction you’ve left behind with not only him but with Linc too. Don’t you dare spew your hatred and lies about Ben at me.”

Gwen’s laugh was brittle and full of ice. “Oh, that’s rich.”

To make the scene even more volatile, Ben walked through the front door. He noticed me first, and his face gentled, but then he discerned my protective stance as I stood in front of his son and Linc’s hold on me. His brows scrunched in confusion as he took a few steps and glanced into the sitting room.

One look at Gwen and fury, plain and simple, contorted Ben’s face. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he growled and stalked into the room.

Clearing the anger from her expression, Gwen lifted her chin and braced herself. “Ben.” A loving smile graced her lips. “I’ve missed you.”

Gag me.

“Are you out of your mind?!”
Ben roared.

Gwen’s mask slipped. Snarling, she pointed at me. “You need to tell your new floozy to back off and get away from my son.”

Ben folded his arms over his chest, his presence exuding intimidation. “Floozy?” he asked, his tone dark and malicious. “You have some nerve, Gwen.”

“She’s standing between my son and me!” Gwen yelled, stomping a foot.

“Looks to me like Samantha’s protecting him from you,” Ben stated, leveling her with a glare. “What are you doing in Bliss, Gwen? You’re supposed to be in rehab.”

Rehab?

I froze, realizing there was a whole lot about Gwen he’d left out.

You’re surprised, Sam?

Even though I shouldn’t be, I was.

Thoroughly.

She shrugged. “I got out.”

“The courts said you had to do a full year,” he added, his nostrils flaring with impatience. “Again, what are you doing in Bliss?”

Courts?

This just keeps getting better.

My anger scorched hot inside me.

“Daddy pulled a few strings,” Gwen revealed with another shrug.

Ben’s laugh was cutting. “Why am I not surprised?”

I didn’t believe this was healthy to do in front of Linc, so I pushed against him, forcing Linc to walk backward with me. “You two can finish this, but I’m takin’ Linc to the kitchen with me.”

“You’ll go nowhere,” Ben rumbled, flashing me enraged eyes. “Do not take one more step.”

Lync and I stopped immediately.

That was far from the man I knew, and it scared me.

Have I known him at all?

Ben’s eyes swung to Gwen. “But you are.” He prowled to her, grabbed her suitcase and purse, and marched to the front door.

Gwen scrambled behind him, her voice shrill. “
Ben!
What…what are you doing?!”

He opened the door and threw her belongings onto the porch. “You are not welcome here. Go back to Portland.”

Gwen stomped a foot by the door. “You can’t do that!”

“Yes, I can,” he snapped and pointed a finger outside. He leaned in and glared at her with nothing but hate. “Get. Out.”

“I have a reservation!”

“And it became null and void when you made a scene in Samantha’s establishment. If you don’t leave, I’ll call the cops.”

Gwen’s shoulders slumped, and tears spilled down her cheeks. “But…Ben.” She placed a hand on his chest. “Please, darling.”

Ben took a step back, letting it drop. “Don’t you dare touch me.”

Sobbing, Gwen put her head in her hands.

“That won’t work on me,” he warned.

The tears disappeared immediately, and Gwen glowered at him. “Damn you, Ben.”

“Out.”

“This isn’t over,” she vowed, screwing up her face.

“It never is with you.”

Gwen huffed and stomped out the front door.

Ben slammed the door behind her and hung his head, taking a few deep breaths.

Linc released my shoulders and stepped around me. “Dad?” he whispered, his voice agonized.

Ben straightened and met his son’s gaze, his tormented. “Come here, Linc.”

Linc rushed to him and slammed into his father, wrapping his arms around him, his body shuddering. “I told her, Dad,” Linc whispered, sounding broken. “I told her I know.”

“Linc-”

“She won’t do it again, will she?”

I had no idea what he was talking about, but the fear in his voice undid me. No matter what, he loved his mother.

“If she does, it isn’t on you,” Ben murmured, running a hand down his son’s head. “It never was. She’s sick, Linc.”

“But-”

“Get it out of your head. I’ll deal with this,” Ben assured him, continuing to comfort his son.

There were so many different emotions swirling inside of me that I couldn’t think straight. I was pissed and hurt and so damned overwhelmed by what just happened. And it wasn’t only Gwen. I could have handled Gwen. It was what she represented – all the half-truths and secrets Ben kept from me.

And it was at that moment that I realized how well and truly in love I was with Ben and how much his secrecy was slowly breaking me. I was turning into someone that wasn’t
me
to give him everything
he
needed, all the time and space to come to terms with his past.

Well, it was time to take care of myself for once.

I deserved better than a man that wouldn’t give me all of him, especially when he had all of me.

I spun around and rushed back into the kitchen.

Mrs. Birdie was waiting by the door for me, having overheard the ruckus. “Are you okay?”

“I…” I combed my hand through my hair, not able to find the words. “I can’t do this.”

She stepped forward, concerned. “Sammy dear?”

“Can you call Mom or Teresa to help out for the rest of the day? I need to get out of here.”

“Don’t run, sweet girl. Stay and talk to him,” she advised, shaking her head.

My voice broke. “I can’t.”

She nodded, her eyes teeming with sadness. “Then go. I’ve got everythin’ under control. Take care of yourself.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Birdie.”

I left after placing a kiss on her cheek, running out the back door as if the hounds of hell were after me.

Chapter 28

Ben

I fucked up.

Huge.

Samantha deserved the truth. She deserved a man that could grow a pair and merely talk to her.

I had more moments than I could count to open my mouth and finally tell her everything, but yet again, I was a coward and thought I had more time.

Well, I was out of time…
yesterday
.

Gwen decided to show up and ruin everything, and now, not only had my girlfriend run from me, my son was an emotional wreck.

I was in hell.

You were afraid she’d run – good job on making it happen.

I cursed under my breath.

That was nothing but the truth. I was a self-fulfilling prophecy. It was no one’s fault but my own that Samantha disappeared like that.

Lincoln’s state of mind was another’s. That was on Gwen. All I could do was love him through it, which was exactly what I did. I called Pops to fill in at the clinic and spent the afternoon with Lincoln. He might have remained quiet the whole time, stuck inside his own mind, but I let him see that I wasn’t going anywhere if he needed me.

“Go, talk to your girl,” Pops said from behind me.

He’d arrived an hour ago with dinner for Linc and me, wanting to check in. It’d been the first time in a long time that our meal was silent, which was another reminder of Samantha’s absence.

I stared at the kitchen counter, unable to meet Pops’ eyes. “I will.”

“You’re only drawin’ it out by not movin’ your ass.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe.” My smile dwindled. “I don’t want to leave until Linc falls asleep. He needs me.”

Witnessing the destruction of Gwen’s surprise visit almost leveled me. It made me loathe her even more. I couldn’t believe she showed up like that. After everything…

Pops words were low. “And so does Sam, Ben.”

My gut sank.

“And you need her,” he added.

“I know,” I muttered.

“Go tell the girl you love her and put this bullshit behind you.”

“Pops,” I sighed, “it isn’t that easy.”

“Yes, it is.” He sat on the stool next to me and patted my back. “Benjamin, you’re a smart man, but you’ve been stupid when it comes to Sam. That girl has been right here, willin’ to shoulder your troubles. Hell, in a way, she already has.

“Look at her with Linc, son. She might not be his mother, but she’s become it in every way. She spends time with him, looks after him…protects him. She’s everythin’ to him that Gwen isn’t. All you need to do is embrace it and stop hidin’ behind excuses.

“You’re not scared to tell her anythin’, Ben – you’re scared to let her in the rest of the way. You’re scared you’re gonna get hurt again.” Pops paused. “Well, I hate to tell you, son, but life isn’t all kittens and rainbows. It’s up to you to grit your teeth, buck up, and fight for what you want.”

I swallowed hard and ran a hand through my hair. “Tell me something I don’t know, Pops.”

“Then what the hell are you still doin’ here?”

“He’s right, Dad.”

Jolting, I looked over my shoulder. Linc was standing at the counter and had been listening for who knew how long.

Shit.

My voice came out ragged. “Linc?”

“I’m cool, Dad,” he assured me, moving closer. There was genuine worry for Samantha in his expression. “Really, I’m good. Go check on Sam. She’s not used to Mom like we are.”

He shouldn’t have to be
used
to his mother at all.

I wasn’t entirely convinced and asked, “You’re sure?”

“Mom would’ve never stepped in front of me to protect me.”

Damn you, Gwen.

I stood and ambled to him. Clutching his shoulder, I peered into his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “It’s on Mom.” Fear haunted him. “Sam’s awesome. Don’t let Mom screw that up for us. We can’t lose her.
We can’t.
”

My jaw ticked.

He was right – if I didn’t fix this, I’d be letting her walk out of both of our lives. It wasn’t just me in this.

Good job, asshole.

“I can do that,” I rasped.

His head bobbed with jerky movements. “Good.”

The doorbell rang.

“How much do you wanna bet that’s Sam?” Linc questioned, smiling a small smile.

“That would be a miracle, but I wouldn’t be complaining,” I retorted. A kernel of hope lingered inside me, though.

Samantha wasn’t one to back down from a fight easily. She’d proven that more than once.

“I’ll be right back,” I told them and walked out of the kitchen, saying a silent prayer. I opened the door, holding my breath, but then I saw who was standing there.

So much for prayers.

Had all of my demons decided to smack me in the face today?

Was the universe not done with me yet?

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I barked. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Ben,” my father murmured, his eyes traveling my face. “You look good, son.”

The Rhodes’ genes were strong, so I did, in fact, look a lot like my father. In the year since I’d last faced him, though, he’d aged ten years. He was far from the strong and intimidating man he’d once been. His three piece suit sagged off of him, his eyes were shadowed and more wrinkled, and instead of only having a little grey at his temples, he’d gone fully grey.

“What are you doing here?” I asked again, trying to come to grips with the vast difference in my father. I stepped out onto the porch and shut the door behind me. There was no telling what Pops would say if he saw him here. He was the only person alive that had more dislike for Dad than I did.

Something flashed in Dad’s eyes. “You don’t answer when I call. I needed to speak with you.”

Was that pain I detected?

I crossed my arms over my chest, not buying it. “What do you want?”

“Well…” He shifted nervously. “I came to warn you. Gwen’s coming to Bliss.”

“Too late,” I grumbled. “She’s already surprised us.”

“Damn… Ben-”

“Why didn’t you send Uri to tell me? Seems he’s been making frequent trips to town – what’s one more?”

“I deserve that,” he admitted, shocking me.

“I’m sorry?”

How many times had I wished he’d own up to his actions? But he never did. No, Dad would never admit to anyone that he was wrong.

I had to be dreaming.

“It’s my fault. All of it. Everything with Gwen even.” He jutted out his chin. “Uri was never supposed to approach you. You won’t see him again.”

Had hell officially frozen over?

Too much.

I couldn’t do this today.

“I have to go. I have things I need to take care of because of Gwen’s surprise visit.”

“Ben, please. I need to talk to you.”

“Dad-”

“Please, Ben.”

I’d never heard him beg, either.

I prayed I wasn’t making a big mistake by agreeing to this. “I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll schedule a time to meet.”

Dad’s expression filled with hope, but he blanked his face quickly. “That’s fine,” he whispered gruffly. “Thank you, Ben.”

Wow.

A lot of firsts today.

“Stay away until then. I’m serious, Dad,” I warned. “I’ve got too much going on to deal with you.”

“You won’t see me,” he vowed.

He turned around without another word and walked down the sidewalk. I could only stare at his back in astonishment. As he opened the door to his rental car, my thoughts turned back to Samantha.

I’d deal with Dad later.

I had to fix things with her first.

∞

I pulled up behind Samantha’s truck, thankful she was home. I hopped out of my Bronco and jogged to her front door. I knocked a few times and waited.

No response.

I knocked again, this time harder.

Still no response.

Screw it.

I checked the door and found it unlocked. When I walked into her small bungalow, her scent surrounded me, bringing with it a sense of belonging.

Samantha’s house was warm and inviting, adorned in soft and feminine colors. She had a simple light-grey couch in the living room and pictures of her whole family were lined sporadically along the walls. Her kitchen was tiny, with only a small table and minimal counter space. It fit her lifestyle and her perfectly.

Samantha and I had shared a lot of good times here. However, once we were past this, she’d be moving in with me. I was done living in separate homes.

I was thirty-three years old now, having shared one birthday with Samantha, and I had lived through enough bullshit to know that I’d found the one I wanted to spend my life with in Samantha. Trivial things such as knowing each other for a limited amount of time meant little in the face of that. After today, I was done being scared and letting anything stand in my way.

Samantha was mine.

Samantha wasn’t in either of the rooms. I walked down her hallway, listening for her, but all was quiet. When I entered her bedroom, it was dark and empty.

Water splashed in the bathroom, gaining my attention. I rushed across the hall and quietly pushed on the cracked door.

I found Samantha reclining in the bathtub, a rag over her eyes and earbuds in her ears. Her hair was in a bun high on her head, with small tendrils escaping. Suds hid her nakedness, but her nipples peeked out, tempting me.

Gorgeous.

I leaned against the doorframe, observing her. She was breathtaking even when she was doing something so simple. But how was I supposed to alert her of my presence without scaring her half to death?

Instead, she startled me. “I know you’re there.”

I fought a grin.

She pulled her earbuds out of her ears and threw them over the side of the tub, but she didn’t uncover her face. “I’m not in the mood today, Ben. Go home.”

Not happening.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I’m not leaving until we talk about what happened.”

Her jaw clenched.

Instead of beginning with Gwen and her sudden appearance, I decided to lay it
all
on the table.

“Did you know that my father never directly spoke to me until I was teenager? In fact, up until I was in high school, I was positive he wasn’t aware of my existence.”

Samantha stilled, not even breathing.

She wanted this…
badly.

I shook my head, calling myself a fool for doing this to her.

“Most of my life all I wanted was for him to look at me like other fathers did their sons. My grades were excellent. I didn’t act out. When he was home, I barely whispered. I did everything I could to get him to notice me.

“Then freshman year of high school came along, and good ol’ Dad figured out I was there. He wanted to groom me into a business man like him. By that time I was dead-set on being a doctor. If he’d started out on me earlier, actually paid attention, I might’ve turned out like him. Thankfully, I had Pops to guide me. It’s my only saving grace, but that didn’t mean Dad didn’t push me. He wanted me to be a surgeon. You could imagine how disappointed he was when I settled to be a measly ER doctor.”

Samantha pulled the cloth from her face and revealed swollen, red rimmed eyes. “That still doesn’t explain all the secrecy, Ben.”

I swallowed thickly, witnessing what today had done to her. I’d never seen Samantha cry, and she’d done a lot of it this afternoon.

Because of me.

I felt gutted.

“It doesn’t,” I agreed, my voice gravelly. “But the rest of the story is hard to come to terms with. It’s why I never told you.”

Samantha covered her face again. “It’s too late, Ben. I can’t do this any longer. I need more than what you’re willin’ to give.”

I swayed at the conviction in her tone.

No.

This can’t be happening.

I steeled myself.

I wasn’t giving up without a fight.

“As I said, my father was adept at not noticing things at home. If he didn’t notice me, he definitely didn’t notice the young girls next door or that one of them was my girlfriend.”

Samantha attempted to interrupt me. “Ben, stop. After today-”

“Dad likes his mistresses younger than my mom. Blondes, brunettes…
red heads
, none of it mattered to him – they just need to be young. Mom was too busy drowning her sorrows in alcohol to ever notice. Or maybe she did. Maybe that’s why she’s a raging alcoholic. Who knows?

“A few weeks before Gwen did what she did to me, she snuck into one of my parent’s parties. One look at her and my Dad was smitten. He slept with her, Samantha, having no clue she was only sixteen years old.”