Love Entwined (7 page)

“From Bentley,” she sassed.

“Wh—What do you mean from Bentley? I asked, wide-eyed.

“He told me about the bouquet. And about how he made you pick it up.”

“That’s it? That’s all he told you?”

“Yes, that’s all I needed to know.”

“And, you got a marriage proposal out of all that? You know what, I love you, but I can’t handle this nonsense today. Maybe I should just go home and we can talk when you get back from your honeymoon—when your head is back on straight.” Maybe I was being rude, but Katie was seriously acting delusional. Just as I turned around and began to head back to my car, I felt his presence behind me once again. How was he able to do that?

“You’re leaving before you even come in? What about our plans for coffee?” Bentley asked.

“She was just grabbing something from the car. Right, Ireland?” Katie said. Even she knew I would never leave her without a proper goodbye.

“Yeah, I actually left their wedding gift in my trunk,” I answered.

“Oh, I’ll come help you then,” Bentley said, stepping out onto the front porch in his bare feet. I don’t know how he did it, but even his feet were sexy. And, you know what they say about a man’s feet . . .

After nearly four hours of watching Katie and Greg open about every kind of blender, toaster oven, mixer, countertop grill, and slow cooker imaginable, it was time to see them off. Seriously, who knew there were so many types of small kitchen appliances? As long as I had a microwave and Keurig, I was set for life.

After Katie and Greg loaded their luggage into the back of the taxi and we said our tearful goodbyes, they were off to Bora Bora for the next ten days.

“Are you going to be OK?” Bentley asked, rubbing circles on my back, as we watched the taxi back out of the driveway.

“Yes. I know I’m being ridiculous, but we haven’t been apart for more than a day since we met. She’s the only constant I’ve had in my life since . . .” I said, trailing off.

“You don’t have to explain, Ireland. I wasn’t making fun of you for being upset. I truly just want to make sure you’re OK.” I looked into his eyes and saw his sincerity.

“I really have missed you,” I said, as I stood on my tiptoes to place a chaste kiss on his cheek. It was the first time I’d taken the initiative to kiss him. It may have only been on the cheek, but I hoped he could tell I was trying.

B
entley insisted on driving to the coffeehouse and was I ever relieved when we drove up only to find a street filled with nothing but parallel parking. I’d never been able to master the skill myself, always trying to pull into the spot, but leaving the rear of my car crooked and sticking out in traffic. I didn’t care to recount all the times I’d been honked at while struggling to park before finally giving up and driving off.

Bentley pulled up next to the car in front of the space and effortlessly backed into it as if the car were on autopilot. I laughed out loud without even saying a word.

“What’s so funny?” he questioned, shifting into park and removing the keys from the ignition.

“You just made that look so simple.”

“You’ve lost me. Made what look so simple? All I did was park a car,” he shrugged.

“You didn’t just PARK a car. You parallel parked a car. And, it only took you one shot!”

“Please tell me that you’re kidding,” he chuckled.

“No, I’m not kidding. You have skills.”

“Those aren’t the only skills I possess, Shamrock,” he said with a wink.

“You’re such a flirt,” I sassed, slapping him on the shoulder.

“Kevin taught me how to parallel park before I was even sixteen. He told me then that it would impress the ladies. I guess having an older brother does pay off. Remind me to thank him the next time I see him.”

“I’ll do that,” I joked. “Seriously though—parallel parking has never been my forte.”

“It’s not that hard. I’ll teach you sometime. In fact, I’ll teach you all my skills.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“You love it,” he said, before opening his door and sliding out, leaving me in the car alone.

“Probably more than I should,” I mumbled to myself as Bentley came around and opened my door.

“Oh, such a gentleman,” I said, stepping out of the Range Rover.

“Just call me Prince Charming,” he said with a grin. Bentley’s smile alone was enough to melt my panties right off. His teeth were perfectly straight and dazzling white.

I bowed my head, hoping he hadn’t just caught me staring. “My breakfast is stuck in my teeth isn’t it?” he asked, rubbing his front tooth.

I laughed, “No, quite the opposite actually. I can’t get over how perfect they look.”

“Oh, well Staci’s father is an orthodontist. Her entire family takes great pride in oral hygiene,” he said, rolling his eyes.

“Oh, I—I didn’t realize.”

“Shit, sorry, I probably shouldn’t have brought up my ex-wife on our first date.”

I took a deep breath before speaking. Did he really just call this a date? I didn’t have time to worry about all the logistics right now. I just needed to focus on having a good time with Bentley over a cup of coffee. That should be simple enough, right?

Taking my silence as something more than it was, Bentley spoke, “I really am sorry, Shamrock. I won’t bring her up again. I promise. Way for me to kill the mood before we even step foot inside,” he said, putting his hand on the small of my back, ushering me into the coffee shop.

“It’s OK, Bentley. I want to get to know you again. She’s been a major part of your life for so many years. You share a son. I would expect you to talk about her,” I said, reassuringly.

Before opening the door, he stopped in front of the shop and pulled me into his chest. As if I’d been doing it my entire life, I instinctively leaned my head back on his chest.

“I love how easy this feels between us,” Bentley whispered before placing a soft kiss on the top of my head. “I know eventually we’ll have to talk about the hard stuff, but today I just want to keep it about us. Deal?”

“Deal,” I promised before reaching for the door handle.

“Uh-uh,” Bentley said, stopping me. “Prince Charming, remember?”

I gave Bentley my order before scoping out the coffeehouse to find us some seats. Being that it was a Sunday afternoon, the place was fairly empty minus a few summer school students feverishly typing on their laptops, presumably working on final papers before the upcoming holiday. We pretty much had our choice of seats, but it was the U-shaped booth lined with pillows nestled in the back corner that caught my eye. It was probably too cozy and intimate for two friends reconnecting, but I couldn’t help but fall into the seat.

I’d scooted into the middle, propping my feet up beside me. Grabbing one of the pillows, I held it against my chest as Bentley came over with our beverages.

“It took me a minute to even find you over here,” he said, sitting down in the booth. “Looks like you’ve already made yourself at home though,” he added, pointing to my now bare feet.

“What? I like to be comfortable and I hate shoes and socks,” I shrugged. “But, you already knew that because it’s definitely not a new trait. Now hand over the caffeine,” I said, taking one of the cups from his hands.

“Shit! That’s hot!” I blurted out as some of the liquid sloshed over the side and onto my wrist.

“Serves you right for having grabby hands,” Bentley said in mock disgust.

Putting my wrist to his lips, he cooed, “But, I suppose I can find it in my heart to kiss it and make it better.”

In that moment, I felt my heart flutter inside my chest. How was it than in just twenty-four hours, Bentley had succeeded in weakening the impenetrable walls that I’d built around my heart?

“So, tell me about Jamie?” I interrupted, hoping to get my mind back on track.

He looked puzzled. “I thought you were refusing to call me that. You’ve only called me Bentley since we were reintroduced at the wedding.”

“You’ll always be Bentley, but I already know Bentley. I guess I want to get to know Jamie—even though I’ll still call you Bentley,” I laughed. “Did that make sense? Because it totally made sense in my head before I said it out loud.”

“It made perfect sense. What do you want to know?”

“Everything. You played football for the University of Tennessee?” I asked, taking a sip from the cup sitting in front of me.

“Blech. What the hell is this shit?!? I yelled, spitting the liquid into my napkin.

“It’s coffee, drama queen. I can already tell someone was a thespian in high school,” Bentley said, rolling his eyes.

“Actually, yes, and in college too. I’ll have you know that I played Alice in
Alice in Wonderland
and Dorothy in
The Wizard of Oz
. Now take your black coffee-shit and hand over my caramel-crème latte.”

He swapped cups with me before answering, “I don’t know how you drink that sweet shit. I feel like I’m wearing a sweater on my teeth.”

“It’s better than a cup of dirt like you’re drinking!”

“I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree about this one. But, back to a more important issue.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Please tell me you still have those ruby slippers because I’d love nothing more than to see you sprawled out on my bed wearing nothing but those.”

I felt my cheeks flush at his admission. “Is it—is it hot in here, or is it just—just me?” I stuttered.

“It’s a little warm—yes, but you’re the only thing in here that’s hot. And, that’s saying a lot since we’re in a coffeehouse.”

I couldn’t contain my laughter. “Well you did have me turned on until you said that. You’re so fucking cheesy.”

“At least I can still make you laugh,” he said with a smirk. Even under his day-old scruff, I still saw the same dimpled cheeks that I’d fallen in love with as a kid.

It wasn’t until the barista had refilled our drinks about ten times that I took a look at my phone to check the time. I was shocked when I saw that it was already nearly seven o’clock. We’d spent the afternoon reminiscing and catching up on our lives over the last two decades. I’d heard everything from Bentley’s time at the University of Tennessee playing football to earning his degree in architectural engineering.

Although Bentley said he wanted to keep the conversation just about us, the topic of Staci did come up again. The two had met as undergrads and after a year of dating Staci became pregnant with Tanner during their last year of college. Bentley graduated at the top of his class, but Staci didn’t finish and followed Bentley to Detroit where he’d obtained a job at a prominent architectural firm. The two got married and moved their small family from Tennessee to Michigan.

That’s where he met Greg and the two hit it off right away. After just three years, they both left the firm and made the decision to become partners in their own firm. I could only feel impressed with everything he’d been able to accomplish and overcome at such a young age.

I could tell he didn’t want to get into their actual marriage, or the way things ended between the two of them. I suppose if we were to continue doing whatever it was we were doing then that would be a topic for another day.

He talked about Tanner and how his son wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps and takeover the architectural firm someday. I could see the joy in Bentley’s eyes each time he told me a story about Tanner and could tell his son meant the world to him. I knew instantly that if he was anything like his father then he was a good kid.

I went on to tell him about my job as a counselor, working primarily with orphaned children. It had always been my desire to turn my negative experience into something positive and I never wanted children to feel alone and scared. I didn’t want them to blame themselves as if they’d ever done anything wrong. Although I was still living with my own fears and insecurities, I hoped I was making a positive impact on their lives.

As more time passed, I found myself cuddling closer into Bentley’s side. He had his arm propped up on the cushion behind me and I felt safer here than I had in years. It was like no time had passed between us.

“Hey, I have a crazy idea,” Bentley said, sipping his coffee. I still couldn’t believe he was drinking that shit black.