"I just yelled an expletive at you in my head," Baylor said and he grinned.

"I do that a lot," Lucy muttered, and Benji laughed.

These people were crazy.

Grinning at only Lucy, he shook his head. "Actually, I need to talk to your sister."

Jayden's brow rose again as he looked around. "Oh, go ahead."

She paused, looking back at Jayden and then back to Benji, her eyes full of unease. "Why?"

His grin didn't falter, it actually grew. He swore he couldn't decide if she was hotter when she was coming on his face or when she was nervous like this. Clearing his throat, he said, "Well, I mean, I guess we can talk here. Totally up to you."

Her eyes widened and then she pushed him toward the door, pausing to put shoes on. "I'll be right back."

"Lucy?" Jayden asked and Baylor laughed.

"Shut up, Jayden," Lucy shot back before pushing Benji out.

"Are you leaving, Benji?" Angie called, and he paused as Lucy pushed.

"In a few," he said and her smile dropped.

"Are you leaving with Jayden?"

He nodded sadly. "Yeah, sunshine. But don't worry, I'll be there for your game, though. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

She grinned as she climbed off Jayden and ran to give him a hug. "Awesome. Kick some butt and score me a goal."

His throat was thick with emotion as he hugged her back. How had this little girl wiggled her way into his heart so fast? "Consider it done."

"Um, wow, I think I got replaced," Jayden said and Benji grinned at him. "I guess I'm chopped liver now."

Angie giggled as she ran back to Jayden, tackling him at the thighs, which caused him to fall onto the couch in a heap of laughter. Before Benji could even laugh or say anything, Lucy pushed him outside.

"I love when you put your hands on me," he teased as she shut the door behind them and then headed past him, down the stairs.

"Oh, Jesus. Hush and come on," she called back at him as he grinned.

So he followed.

Watching as her ass moved side to side in those sexy jeans, Benji was almost mesmerized before she stopped at the end of the driveway, right behind his truck. Looking back at the house and then to her, he scoffed. "I think we're far enough away. I doubt anyone will hear us," he said with an exaggerated wink.

"Oh, hush," she snapped, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. "So what do you want to talk about?"

He grinned, matching her stance. "You're so cute when you don't want to talk about something."

Looking up at him, she glared. "I can go back inside."

"But you won't."

Her glare deepened. "Get to talkin', Paxton. I've had a shitty day."

"I heard," he said then, tucking his hands in his pockets. "How long will you be out of your apartment?"

She shook her head and let out a long breath, her shoulders sagging. "I don't know. They say Tuesday, but when I went there this morning, it looks so bad. Like the water was seeping through the ceiling of my shop. I don't know how it got so bad. I called right when I smelled something weird."

He nodded. "That blows."

"You have no idea. I love my brother and his wife, I do, but I hate imposing on people."

"Yeah," he said softly. "You know you're more than welcome to come stay at my house. I have room, and I won't even be there this week. Plus, you can work on it."

Her face scrunched up as she gave him a suspicious look. He wanted to regret asking her, but he didn't. He didn't mean it to get her back in his bed; he really did want to help her, and he understood not wanting to ask her brother for help. They were practically newlyweds. No one wanted to be under the same roof with that.

"I don't know you. Why would I move myself and my child in with you?"

He scoffed. "You had sex with me, though."

She balked. "Um... Yeah. So?"

"So you trust me. If you didn't trust me, you wouldn't let me between-"

"Jesus take the wheel!" she wailed, holding her hands up to stop him, which of course, he smirked at. "Maybe I just wanted sex. Maybe I'm a whore."

He gave her a dry look, shaking his head. "Even I know that's isn't true. You aren't like that."

"How do you know?"

He grinned, taking a step toward her. "Because even though I've only known you six days, I've seen the way you are with your daughter. You're a great mom. Great moms don't sleep with random men. They are responsible, they are smart, and it's okay, Lucy, you can admit you trust me."

That stunned her, but she recovered quickly. Scoffing, she said, "Please, you were there."

"Okay. Lucy, do you want another hug? You look like you need another one."

He moved toward her with his arms out, and she laughed as she pushed him away. "Stay away from me, you and those hugs."

"Dangerous, huh?"

"Yeah," she breathed, shaking her head.

"But, hey, it led to a great night," he said huskily, and her lip quirked as she looked away.

"Doesn't matter. It was a mistake," she said quietly.

He couldn't agree with her if he tried. Last night was not a mistake, but she already knew that. "It was?"

She looked up, her eyes wide and worried, distress all over her beautiful face. He may have been kidding before, but he really did want to hug her. "Benji, I'm so busy, especially now since I have to find a way to run my business out of my brother's house. I was supposed to hire a new designer this weekend, but that looks like it's going to shit and I'm a fucking mess. Really. Also, I have a kid-"

"I don't know what Angie has to do with us."

"Um, no man wants a chick with a kid or a baby daddy to deal with."

He snorted. "Your baby daddy is nothing to me."

"He's a dick. You don't want to deal with that or my kid."

"Again, he doesn't matter. As a real man, I don't care that you have a kid or a baby daddy. That baby daddy has no effect on me, and your child is an extension of you. Also, Angie is freaking awesome, just like you," he said with a wink, but she didn't look convinced.

"No one says that."

"Or you haven't met the right man," he said, pointing at her.

Exasperated, she threw her hands up. "When did you become a smooth-talker? You're supposed to be a huge dork."

He grinned. "I am, with a side of sex god and smooth-talker."

"Okay, just stop," she said, holding her hand up and he laughed. "Jesus, Benji. I mean, yeah, last night was so good, but let's be real," she said, talking with her hands until she shivered and had to wrap her arms around herself. It was chilly out, and he was sure she had been more concerned with getting him out the door than getting a coat. At least she'd put on shoes. "It would just be a waste of our time. We are in two different places in our lives, and right now, things are not easy for me."

He was listening, he was, but she was talking more for herself. Everything she said may be true, but Benji didn't care. He wanted to try. It was crazy, but he had to do this. Something inside him was begging him to do it.

Shaking out of his coat, he reached around her and put it on her. His body was so close to hers, and even though it was cold, she made him burn from the top of his head to the tip of his toes.

She tried to stop him. "I'm fine-"

But he ignored her, closing the jacket, and then pulling away slowly. Tucking his hands in the pockets of his jeans, he met her gaze. "Maybe it hasn't been easy because you don't let it. You do this thing, finding every single reason possible not to be happy. Isn't that exhausting?" When her eyes narrowed, he just grinned at her. "Aw, don't get mad. I'm just making an observation."

"An observation you can shove up your ass," she mumbled, but she didn't mean it. She was trying not to grin back at him.

"Always so snarky," he said, tapping her nose, which made her eyes widen.

"What in the world?"

"What? You're cute."

She let out a frustrated breath. "Like I said, last night was awesome, I had a blast. But this, whatever you think it is, just isn't a good idea."

"I'm not asking for anything. Not yet, at least, and I don't think us getting to know each other and spending time together would be a waste of anyone's time, as long as we're having a good time."

She shook her head, sucking in a breath, and he smiled. "Benji..."

Taking ahold of her belt loop, he pulled her to him. He couldn't handle the distance anymore. He had to touch her. Coming to a halt against him, she looked up at him, surprised, as his hands slid underneath his coat to her back. She shivered against his touch and then relaxed. But as soon as she relaxed, she tensed up again, glancing back at the house. But he moved a hand and took hold of her chin, bringing her face up to look at him. "No one can see us."

"You don't know that."

"Hush, you," he demanded, and she snapped her lips shut, her eyes narrowing.

"Your hands are cold," she complained, moving closer to him.

"Someone has my coat," he said, moving his nose along hers. "Now, tell me something. Did you have fun last night?" Her grin fell, her green gaze blazing as she sucked in a breath. "Don't lie either," he admonished, and when her lips fought to curve, Benji's heart went wild. It was funny how life could change with just a flicker of a smile. Just a little bitty smile had Benji in knots.

Hell, this girl had had him in knots since the beginning.

"I did," she admitted, her hands coming up to rest against his chest.

"Okay, so we both have fun together, right?"

She nodded slowly, not liking that he was right. "Right."

"Okay, so let's get to know each other. And, if at any time, it gets to where either of us feels we are wasting each other's time, we'll stop. Okay?"

He was pretty sure that would never happen, but obviously he had to say something to keep this woman from running the other way.

Like he knew she would be, she was hesitant as she bit into her lip. "I don't know. I have so much baggage...and I just don't know."

She was preaching to the choir on that one, but it was time to no longer allow that baggage to hold him back from what he wanted. He wanted Lucy and she wanted him; he knew she did. So he just grinned, his hands coming behind her and reaching for her phone he had seen her tuck into her back pocket when they walked outside earlier. Her breath caught as he said, "Fine, let's start with just your number. Give me that, and we can talk. If you get bored with me, just let me know and we'll stop."

"You think I don't feel you taking my phone?" she asked as he dialed his number on it. "And that I don't know you are dialing your number so I have no choice in the matter?"

He gave her look as his phone sounded. "Oh, baby, don't act like you don't have a choice. You could've stopped me at any time," he said roughly against her cheek. He saved his contact info and then tucked her phone back into her pocket. Pulling back, he met her desire-filled gaze. "You just don't want to."

Her lips pursed and everything inside him went hot. "Maybe."

He held her gaze, watching her eyes darken as he held her tightly to him. "Maybe you want another kiss?"

She pushed him away, her lips curving. "Not now. That's a bad idea."

He eyed her. "You sure? I'm going to be gone for a week."

"Okay...?" she laughed, rolling her eyes.

"Now, Lucy, I know it's going to be so hard remembering how I kiss. Maybe I should give you another taste?"

She rolled her eyes. "Dork, I'll survive."

"Will you?" he teased and she shook her head.

"I gotta go," she said as she went to walk past him, but he stopped her, his hand holding her at her hip.

"Because I think I need another taste of you to hold me over. Because, while I could never forget the feel of those lips on mine, I just want something to keep me going until I see you again."

"Bye, Benji," she breathed as she tried to walk away, but he took her by the hand, lacing his fingers with hers.

She looked at his hand holding hers and then back to him, her cheeks reddening as she held his gaze. Bringing her hand up to his mouth, he kissed it softly as she gasped, her lids dropping a bit into a sexy, kitten look. As his lips pressed to her knuckles, a dreamy look appeared in the depths of those green eyes and he smiled against her skin.

Moving his lips from her hand, he held her gaze, fully expecting her to pull away.

But she didn't move.