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“Thank you for the offer. I’ll find my own way home.” I get up without waiting for Maureen.
Screw her.
“Hey, Clara, where are you heading?” Chuck says, pulling me in for a hug. The big bouncer’s arms surround me and I let him hold me.
“I was going home. I don’t want to be here anymore. I don’t belong here,” I say.
“Chuck, thank you for taking care of Clara for me.” I stiffen in Chuck’s massive arms and after a second pull away from his safety.
“I don’t need a ride home anymore.”
“I know you don’t need a ride home, because I told you I’m taking you home.” Ben reaches for my hand but lets it go when women from the club burst outside.
“Good night, Chuck, Ben.” I walk to the parking lot getting my phone to order an Uber.
Ben’s footsteps follow me. I want to run, but where would I go? Ben’s hand grabs my wrist, halting me from going any further. “Clara, stop. What’s wrong with you?”
I’m being a baby. I can see this. But, I don’t know how to stop. Everything’s crashing down around me, and even though I want Ben so badly, I know for a fact if I allow myself one night with him I’ll want more and more. And more.
So, it’s best if I don’t let myself get too close.
“Nothing’s wrong with me. I just want to go home.”
“Fine. Get in the car.” Ben guides me to his Range Rover.
I let him, not wanting to cause a scene, especially when I have no idea where Maureen is. “Thanks,” I tell him.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Ben asks as we pull out of the parking lot.
“Nope.”
Ben pushes his hand through his hair and grips the steering wheel. “Clara, what the hell is going on?”
“Nothing, I’m just really tired.”
There’s a war deep inside me, begging for one touch from him but knowing that one touch would lead to disaster.
With a growl, Ben pulls into an abandoned parking lot. “Talk to me.”
“Ben.” I have no idea what to say to him.
He leans closer. “I saw the way you watched me tonight.” He’s so close, and I suck in a breath before letting it out slowly.
“I...I,” my words falter.
“Your eyes were only on me. Do you know how hard it is to dance with a semi?” His face lights up as he smiles.
I laugh a little. “Did you mean what you said?”
“What?”
“About dancing only for me tonight.”
His mouth is a centimeter away from mine. I can feel his hot breath across my lips as he speaks. “I meant every word.” He licks his lips. “So, tell me what changed?”
“I guess I had a reminder of what kind of guy you are.”
Ben takes a deep breath, backing up a bit. “I’m not going to lie to you, Clara. Yes, my past with women isn’t the greatest.” His eyes search mine. “But, that doesn’t mean I don’t want you in every way possible. I meant what I said about you the other day. You’re different to me.”
“I don’t know if that’s supposed to be a good thing or not.”
“It’s a very good thing. I don’t know what it is about you, but you’re doing something to me that I’ve never felt before.”
Have you ever had one of those moments? One where if you leap, you may just land perfectly on your feet?
I want him. I want him so bad, but I remember my earlier thought about not being able to want more and more.
I believe Ben when he says he wants me, but for how long? I stick to my resolve, asking him to take me home.
He pulls the car back out onto the main road and heads in the direction of my house. The cab of his SUV is silent as I watch the city lights pass by in a blur outside the window.
He pulls into my driveway, and for a split second I think about inviting him in.
“You don’t have to take me to the wedding anymore.” And then, I rush out of his Range Rover and hightail it to my front door.
Chapter 12
Ben
“What happened with you and Clara last night?” Axel asks as he pushes the barbell he’s holding up in a steady motion.
“Fuck Clara,” I say, laying on the weight bench and pushing my earbuds deeper into my ear. “I don’t want to talk about it,” I say loudly before ignoring both of my brothers and their stupid questions.
The buds are ripped from my ears by the cord, and Axel and Damien hold me down on the bench. “What the fuck is going on?” they both ask, their hands against my shoulders keeping me down until they get what they want.
“Nothing’s going on.”
“Bullshit, there’s something going on when you declare ‘fuck Clara’ and then try to drown us out with music. So you might as well tell us.” Damien cocks his head, and both my annoying brothers, who have the same face as me, stare back, expecting an answer.
