Kiss Me (You & Me 3)

“Ben, why are you sorry?”

“Because, I cost you your job.”

Her head slowly moved back and forth. “You didn’t cost me my job. Tim storming in there and causing a scene was wrong. He had scared everyone long before you arrived. Please don’t be sorry. It isn’t your fault in any way. I’m so grateful that you showed up when you did. It could have ended very differently for me.”

“I wish there was something I could do. I can help you look for a job,” he volunteered.

She smiled and leaned forward, giving him a soft, warm kiss. “You’re too good to be true,” she whispered.

“I’m real and I’m yours.”

She couldn’t stop smiling. He was a dream come true. He was too good. How had the man remained single for so long? The women of the world had no idea what they were missing out on. She had no intention of ever letting them find out.

“I’m glad we met. I know I wasn’t the friendliest person in the world those first few meetings but I’m glad you are persistent.”

He chuckled and shrugged a shoulder. “I’m a man who knows what he wants and when I find it, I make it my mission to get it.”

“I would say so. Thank you for pushing me to see what was right in front of my face.”

“Anytime, sweetheart.”

With another quick kiss, she stood up, smoothing down her shirt and pushing her hair back over her shoulders. “I should get going. I need to start pounding the pavement.”

“I could go with you,” he suggested.

She reached one hand up to cup his face. “You have a job. You don’t need to wander around the city aimlessly with me.”

“I would love to wander anywhere with you.”

“Thank you, but I’ll be okay. This is something I need to do,” she said, hoping she wasn’t hurting his feelings by brushing him off.”

He nodded his head. “You’re right. I can’t help that I like spending time with you.”

A cheeky grin spread across her face. “I guess you can’t, can you? I am that exciting.”

He reached around and squeezed her ass, bringing her pelvis against him. “You are very exciting. I get excited every time I see you.”

“I feel that. You’re an insatiable man.”

“Only where you’re concerned,” he said, his voice husky as he stared at her mouth.

She stared into his green eyes and let herself get lost for a few brief, wonderful seconds. Fate had a funny way of resolving itself. She thought about all those nights with Tim. The verbal and physical abuse that had been so bad at times she had almost wished for death. She hadn’t died because fate had Ben in store for her. She had made it through the darkness and Ben was the light on the other side. She felt like she owed him so much. He had shown her life could be good and she was worthy of being treated with all the respect and kindness she’d seen other women get.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her heart feeling full.

“For?”

“Being you. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have found you. It all seems surreal. I’m going to do my best to show you how much I care, but I’m going to admit it right now; I may not always do a good job. This is all new to me. There’s so much I want to say and do, it is going to take some time before I get it right,” she explained in the best way she knew possible.

His arms tightened around her. “I’m here. Take your time. I’m a patient man. I can wait. I’m here to support you when times get tough. You can count on me to always be in your corner.”

“Thank you. Really, I know I keep saying it, but I mean it. Now, I will get out of here,” she said, brushing off the serious topic.

“Where are you headed?”

She shrugged a shoulder. “I want to stay somewhat close to home. I think I’ll walk around the next few blocks and check things out.”

“It’s mostly corporate buildings in this area, but I know there are a few restaurants and coffee shops. There’s a donut shop tucked in to the ground floor of the building down the street,” he offered.