"No, sweetie, we're fine," Mom says. "I think your father and I should go straight back to town to get that air mattress."
"I'd offer you the sofa bed, but that's where Ben sleeps." Okay, maybe I slipped that bit of info into the conversation strictly so my parents will get the idea that I'm not sleeping with Ben. Sure, I've gotten naked with him. But we're not sleeping together. "I should at least go with you to the Discount Depot."
"No, no, we don't want to be a bother," Mom says. "You and Ben stay here. Chuck, let's get going so we can be back before sunset."
"Sounds like a plan," Dad says as he stands up. He squints at Ben and speaks in a growly tone. "I got my eye on you, Brit boy. If you hurt my daughter, I'll gut you like a carp and have you for dinner."
Ben just stares at my father.
Dad bursts out laughing and points at Ben. "I had you, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did," Ben says with a nervous laugh. "You had me going for a minute, Mr. Lockhart."
"Call me Chuck." Dad grabs Mom's hand, urging her to rise. "Shake a leg, Judy. Time's a-wasting."
Ben and I follow my parents to the front door and watch them get into their car. As they drive off, I shut the door and lean back against it.
"I am so sorry," I tell Ben. "My dad isn't usually like that."
"So fish-related death threats aren't a common occurrence in your family."
"No. I think my parents are just confused by the fact I have a stranger living with me. I've never lived with anyone except my family."
"Really?" Ben leans his shoulder against the door beside me. "Chuck did have me going for a second or two, but I like that he wants to torment me with fish humor."
"Why would you like that?"
"Because I think it means he likes me. Don't you?"
I need to consider that suggestion for a few seconds. "Maybe that's what it means. My dad hasn't had much opportunity to torment my boyfriends since I rarely introduced any of them to my parents."
"But why not? You seem close with your mum and dad."
"Sure, I am. But I've never had much luck with men. It's embarrassing to introduce a guy to my parents, then have to tell them two weeks later that the jerk dumped me for a girl with breast implants the size of beach balls."
He studies me for a moment, searching my face with his gaze. "You've dated the wrong sort of men."
"I know. But it's nearly impossible to find a decent guy these days." I bite the inside of my lip as I look at Ben. "Then one just fell into my lap."
"Never been happier to get stranded in a blizzard."
"Do you, um, have to go home right away?"
He leans closer, gazing straight into my eyes. "I was hoping you'd ask me that. The answer is yes, but I don't give a toss. Doing my duty has only made me miserable."
"What duty are you talking about? I thought you were a massage therapist, but you make it sound like you're in the military or something."
"No, it's nothing like that." He sighs and rubs his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. "I suppose it's time I told you the truth about me."
Oh great. Is he married? Or maybe he's actually gay. Both of those scenarios have happened to me, so I'm not just being paranoid. But we've had plenty of sizzling-hot sex, which seems to rule out option two. That leaves option one. He must be married. With half a dozen adorable little British kids. He hasn't wanted to talk about his family much, and he's been cagey about where he's from, always saying he lives in England. That's not the same as beingfromthere.
Yeah, he must be married. I'm an adulteress.
Ben pushes away from the door, facing me, though he bows his head and scratches his scalp. "I want to stay here with you and your parents for Christmas, if you want me around for that long. But I, ah…need to tell you the truth about me first."
Yep, now I'm sure he's not only married, but he probably has three wives in various places around the world with dozens of adorable little British babies.
"Bloody hell," he moans. "It shouldn't be this hard to tell the truth."