"That's so sweet of you to say. And I feel the same way about you." I turn toward him, tucking my feet under me cross-legged. "Like I mentioned earlier, men have disappointed me so many times that I've been taking an extended vacation from dating. That's why I moved out here. I needed a break from all the craziness of city life and the social scene. My old job became so stressful that I needed to get away, at least for a while."
"You're not permanently living here."
"Not sure yet. I do love the area, but sometimes I get lonely."
"I know the feeling." He veers his gaze away from me. "You can be surrounded by people and still be lonely, though. I have mates who are amazing, but I've never found… I don't know. Sometimes I feel like there's something missing in my life, but I don't know what it is."
"You said you're stressed because of your family obligations. Maybe what you've been missing is time to kick back and forget about all that."
He looks at me and smiles. "Are you inviting me to kick back with you?"
"Isn't that what we've been doing? I mean, that and screwing each other." I lean in to give him a quick kiss. "But I guess sex is part of relaxation. Right?"
"Certainly makes me feel more relaxed."
I scoot closer to him. "Wanna play a game?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Go fish." I slant forward to whisper in his ear, "Strip go fish."
"Strip? Never heard of doing that with go fish, but I'm up for anything with you."
"Ben, you are so unbelievably sweet and hot."
"So are you."
I hop off the sofa. "While I find a deck of cards, you can get us something to drink."
He heads for the kitchen while I go to my room to rummage around in the big closet. I know I've got cards in here somewhere, but since I haven't had any reason to get them out in a long time, it takes me a while to hunt them down. Finally, I dig them out and return to the living room, where Ben sits on the sofa again.
Two bottles of root beer sit on the coffee table.
"Root beer?" I say as I settle onto the sofa beside him. "I assumed you'd pick something sexy like wine."
"I want you sober while I beat you at strip go fish." He smirks. "Because I plan to fuck you afterward. Or possibly during the game. Maybe both."
"Boy, I had no idea I picked up a sex fiend on the road last night. You seemed like such a nice, clean-cut guy."
"Every man is a fiend at heart. We can't help it. Women drive us barmy."
I pretend to be offended, clucking my tongue. "So you're blaming women? I may have to lock you in the basement until you change your ways."
"Lock me up anywhere you like, love."
A delicious shiver tingles over my skin when he calls me "love." No man has ever called me that before. I've been referred to as "hon" and "sweetie," but that was by elderly gentlemen, not guys I dated. I suppose "love" is a British thing, more like saying hello than an endearment, so I shouldn't get too excited about it.
But everything about Ben gets me excited.
His gaze wanders to the mantel over the fireplace. "Why do you have seven stockings?"
"For me, my parents, my brother and his wife, and their two daughters. I put the stockings up as a way to… I don't know. Feel closer to them, I guess, even though they aren't here."
"Why aren't you visiting them for Christmas?"
"Thought I wanted to be alone. Until you turned up."
"Yeah, I thought the same thing. Until you rescued me."