The Husband Hunt - Kat's Season (The Bachelor Series) (11 page)

“I didn’t know you watched Liam’s season?”

He shrugged. “Mom and Jade were watching, rooting for you. I told them not to tell you this, because I didn’t want to look like a fan stalker.” He smiled at Kat. “I happened to say how cute you were and that Liam was a fool, and they said later that I was watching the TV like it was the Super bowl. And when I watched you roll Liam’s head up in the window, I laughed and said “I want someone like that,’ and pointed at the TV. When they heard you were the next Bachelorette, Jade got the idea to submit my name and photo for an interview.” He looked around the table. “There, my big secret is out.”

Kat’s parents looked like Ben had just crossed the line to
future son in law.

“I’m surprised
.” She squeezed Ben’s hand and her parents smiled at them both. “And happy that Jade did that. I think your sister is my new best friend.”

Walking her
mom and dad to the elevator, Kat was given the stamp of approval for both men. “They are very different. Your life would be good with each of them, so I think you have to ask yourself if you want a readymade family on a ranch in Arkansas with a cowboy at heart, or a city life in Atlanta with a lawyer who doesn’t want to start a family for a few years.” Grace Houston took her daughter’s face in her hands. “Who can’t you imagine life without?” At that, the elevator door opened and her parents left to go back to Napa.

             
The fantasy suite card had arrived by the time Kat returned to the table and Ben had the invitation in his hand. “It’s addressed to both of us.”

             
“You open it.”

             
“Do you know what it is?”

             
“Yes, don’t you?”

             
He shook his head and she laughed while the cameras kept rolling. When he read the words ‘fantasy suite’, Ben grinned and looked at Kat. “Does this mean what I think it does?”

             
“I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but before your thoughts get too carried away, the fantasy suite is a place where the cameras do not come. That’s the fantasy. We get private time with each other, if you choose to accept the invitation.”

He stared at her, still grinning.

“What do you think, Ben?”

             
“Hell ya!”

             
Kat laughed at his enthusiasm, and they left the table for the fantasy suite.

             
The set decorators had turned a large suite into a romantic paradise with scented candles, low lighting, and a bottle of champagne chilling beside a tray of dessert canapés. Soft music played in the background and once the cameras got footage of them staring out the floor to ceiling glass windows at the lights of San Francisco, they were left alone. When the door closed and everyone was gone, Kat had a funny feeling. Unchaperoned, alone with Ben, she suddenly felt shy. “Here we are, alone,” she said strangely. “Is this the first time we’ve ever been completely alone?

“It is.” Ben
took her hand and they moved to the couch to open the bubbly. “Let’s take this really slow and just see where it goes, Kitty Kat.” He popped the champagne cork like an expert, and handed her a glass. “To privacy.” He poured them each a glass.

             
“Thanks for coming here with me.” She took a sip of the champagne.

             
“Are you kidding? Who wouldn’t want more time with you?” He took her hand and kissed the inside of her forearm, a gesture that was so intimate, she blushed. “I’m crazy about you, Kat, I want you to know that.” He looked sincere, but she called him on it, just the same.

             
“Oh, now you say that, when we are faced with privacy and a bed.”

             
He glanced over at the king-sized bed, strewn with rose petals. “Is that a bed?”

             
They laughed, and he stroked the side of her face with his hand. “I don’t want you to think that’s why I’m here. It’s not. I just want to be with you. The more time I spend with you, the more I don’t want to be without you.”

             
“I’m not allowed to tell you how I feel, you know.”

             
“I know, but I’m just hoping I already know how you feel.” He moved in for a kiss and she wouldn’t let him pull away. She led, deepening the kiss, her hands finding his strong arms. When his tongue sought hers and his arms encircled her shoulders, she knew they’d never make it to morning without using that bed. He was just so damned sexy. And, she trusted this man. Things escalated quickly, until Ben broke away and whispered into her hair “I need to stop, if we’re just going to talk.”

             
“We are not just going to talk.” She looked into his eyes and kissed him passionately, her hands running up his shirt to his neck, and drawing him to her harder, she repositioned herself so that she was straddling his lap. “We can talk all night. After this.” She took his gorgeous face in her hands and kissed him again.
Such nice lips.

             
He pulled back, his eyes all dreamy. “Wait. Just a minute. Did they lock the door? I do not want one of those nosey cameras waltzing in here.” He moved her aside and went to lock the door and fasten the bolt.

             
When he returned, he stood looking at her on the couch.

“We are going to do this
, aren’t we?” Kat held his gaze.

             
“If you are sure. But my vote is a definite yes.” He waited.

             
She downed her champagne in one gulp, and passing him, advanced to the bed, sliding up the silky bedspread, smiling provocatively. When he lowered himself on top of her, she could feel his hardness against her thighs. She pressed herself into his groin and he moaned into the kiss. They were all hands, lips, skin on skin, and heavy breathing while they rolled around the bed, pulling off clothes, exploring each other’s bodies. Ben felt heavenly beneath her fingers and mouth. Playfully she tried to rip off his shirt, tearing all buttons but the last one, which wouldn’t give. They laughed and after she undid the button, he pulled her camisole up and over her head, revealing the lacey lavender underwear she’d chosen to wear tonight, just in case.

             
Once they were fully naked, they kissed and caressed each other until Ben said they’d have to slow down or it would be all over. “I want it to last,” he said while they paused to quiet the excitement. Their skin colors together, looked beautifully contrasted in the half light.

             
“Have you got protection?” she suddenly remembered.

             
He grabbed a condom from his discarded pant pocket and came back to bed. Kat couldn’t help but want more from him. Everything. She wanted this man to make love to her all night, to declare his love for her, and eventually propose to her at the end of all this. But it might not happen, even after this. At that moment, she didn’t care. If Ben didn’t want her she would go home alone if she couldn’t have him after all this. Kat rubbed on him while they waited to let things slow down.

             
“That is not helping,” He chuckled into her neck.

             
She could feel him harden under her. “Good. I don’t know what we’re waiting for. You’re young. We have all night.” She moved down his body to his six pack abdomen, groaning at the athleticism of this man. Slowly her tongue and lips explored Ben’s lower half. When he pulled her up and flipped her over on her back, she was ready for him. So ready for this gorgeous man.

They made love th
ree times before morning when Ben dressed and left for his own room to try to keep “my girlfriend’s reputation intact”. Kat missed him as soon as the door was closed. During their night of passion, they’d gotten as close as two people could, making love, talking about what might happen with them after the show finished. “I want you with me as soon as possible, and if that means I have to hang around whatever town you’re hiding in, I will.” He’d joked that he’d go “undercover as a white guy with a blonde moustache and pretend I’m your accountant.”

             
By the time she dressed for the day, Kat was confident that Ben at least wanted to be with her after the show. Unfortunately, he let it be known that he was still bothered she couldn’t make plans with him. But she’d signed a contract that said she wouldn’t let him know he would be her pick. During their night together, they hadn’t talked about Colton, and she hadn’t mentioned that he’d turned down spending more time with her in the fantasy suite. She owed Colton her silence. And now, with Ben the one, Kat felt badly for Colton. It wasn’t all because they hadn’t had extra time, but the last twelve hours had given her and Ben what they needed to know they were compatible in every way.

             
That day the show travelled west to Monterrey on the California coast, to overnight at a hotel overlooking the ocean, near the world famous golf course. Kat was exhausted all day and her emotions fluctuated between excited and scared to see what Ben would do once she told him she loved him, and sad to break the news to Colton who probably had them all moved in together and her pregnant already. When she told Mary that she was going to sleep early, the producer teased that she must’ve stayed up all night talking the night before. Kat just grinned, hoping to not give away the fact she’d spent the night being ravaged by a dashing young lawyer from Atlanta who couldn’t seem to get enough of her.

With her head on the hotel pillow, thoughts raced through her mind.
All day she’d rehearsed what to say to Colton when he arrived at the final rose ceremony. It was the same position she’d been in only five short months before, with Liam. Kat didn’t relish breaking someone’s heart. Colton was a sweet, handsome man. If she was being honest with herself, bringing Colton to the end had happened because she was so taken with Bug and wanted to be her mother. But, that was no basis for a loving marriage. She assured herself that Colton would have loads of attention from women after this show aired. He’d find someone who wanted to live with them in Arkansas, who felt passionate about him, even though Bug came first in his heart.

For the final rose ceremony, Kat had chosen a dress designed by Jaxie’s friend Phillip, an up and coming designer, now living in Los Angeles. It was a stunning gown. But, as she stepped into the white, one shouldered toga-style dress, she was still thinking about Colton. Telling him goodbye would definitely cloud her happiness at having chosen Ben. When the dress was zipped up and the hair stylist put the finishing touches to her updo, she wondered if Colton was scared, thinking he was going to be sent home to his little girl that night without a fiancée. It was with these thoughts she watched Mary, the producer walk through her hotel suite door.

             
“Wow! You look like a million bucks,” Mary said from the doorway, wearing her usual khaki pants and jean jacket with her ponytail flopping around in the back.

             
“Thanks. I’m worried about what to say to Colton.” The hairstylist sprayed a final curl and fiddled.

             
“I came to tell you that you have a visitor.” Mary moved aside to show the camera that was setting up a shot like someone was coming through the door.

             
The knock was loud, and Kat startled before she walked over and pulled it open. Colton stood in a pair of jeans, a shirt and his cowboy hat, not dressed for the rose ceremony.

             
He spoke first. “May I come in?”

             
“Of course.” This man was going home, she felt it. “What’s going on?” She motioned for him to sit on the couch and the cameraman backed up to get the shot.

             
They sat. “I’m leaving. I can’t do this Kat.” He took her hand. “It just isn’t right for me, and I’m hoping you feel it too.”

Kat felt like
she’d been slapped in the face, even though she knew he was right.

He bit his lips
together while gathering his words. “We have differences that I just can’t get over. I think you’re amazing, but I can’t propose to you.”

             
Rejection was staring her in the face, and that hurt but she had to remind herself that she was just about to reject him. She took a deep breath, and smiled sympathetically. “I understand, Colton. I think the world of you. You need to get back to your Bug.” She didn’t want to tell him he’d be doing that anyhow.

             
He nodded. “I’m not sure I’m ready for another wife. As much as I think Bug needs a mamma.” He shook his head.

             
She took his hands in hers. “We’ve had fun, haven’t we? You’re a good guy Colton, and when you are ready, you’ll know it.”

             
“I’m sorry to do this now.” He looked around the room. “… but I did a lot of soul searching last night and this is what I woke up with.”

             
“I understand.”

             
When he left the room, Kat’s eyes widened and she smiled at Mary. “Ben!”