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“Let me feed you and I promise you’ll have my undivided attention for the rest of the day.”
“Fine, let’s order pizza. It’s faster.”
“Done.” Ben uses one hand to put the order in, and I hug him tighter to me. Last night I couldn’t sleep wondering if this is going to be it for us. Ben hasn’t promised me anything except he’ll be my date to Maureen’s wedding, and I‘m too afraid to ask him if this is our final days together. Are we going to become just employee and employer after the wedding cake has been cut? We've been having a good time together, we get along, and he doesn't seem to be bored with me. So that’s a plus. But I'm afraid maybe he's just wasting time with me until he's done rescuing me from Maureen. Ugh, I'm so confused on if this is real, because I really want it to be.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Ben steps back and puts his hands on my shoulder.
“Nothing.”
He cocks his head to the side, questioning me with his stare. I pull him closer, and he steps his tall frame in between my legs. I trail kisses up his neck as he growls against the shell of my ear.
“You’re trying to distract me,” he whispers.
“And it didn’t work.” I pull back, blinking at him, feigning purity.
“It did work.” He glances down at the huge bulge in his jeans and I smile. “Now are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“I’m fine, promise.”
“You can tell me. Is Maureen giving you trouble?”
“When isn’t Maureen giving me trouble?” I raise a brow.
“True, tell me what’s on your mind. You tossed and turned all night. I know there’s something bothering you. Is it the club?”
“No, it’s not the club. It’s just.” Before I can ask him if we’re a couple or just a fleeting fling until he meets his obligation, the doorbell rings.
“That was fast.” Ben heads to the door with me right behind him.
“Hello, Maureen,” Ben says, cracking the door open, giving me a chance to escape.
I turn around hoping she doesn’t see me.
“Clara, we need to talk.” She pushes past Ben marching right up to me.
I tug down Ben’s t-shirt I’m wearing and head to the kitchen. “Hi, Maureen, do you want something to drink?”
“Clara, stop. We need to talk.” I hop up on one of the stools and cross my arms. Ben comes up behind me and leans against the counter.
“Is there something wrong with the wedding?” I hope she doesn’t have some last minute disaster I need to help her clean up. If this is my last day with Ben before he leaves me after the reception I don’t want to waste it curling ribbon.
“No, nothing is wrong with my wedding, it's going to be perfect, which is why he can’t come.” Her pale pink fingernail points in Ben’s direction.
“Why can’t Ben come to the wedding?” Ben stands and places his arm around me. I lean into him, wishing my evil stepsister would melt away.
“Because he slept with not one, but two of my new bridesmaids.”
As I expected Maureen changed three of her original bridesmaids. She introduced them to us last night at the rehearsal dinner. Two of them looked at Ben weird, but I assumed it was because he's so good looking.
Stupid me.
Ben’s hand clamps down hard on my shoulder to keep me from pulling away just by his reaction I know without looking at him it’s true.
“That was a long time ago. I’m with Clara now and I don’t see what the problem is.” Ben’s tone is low and covered in frustration. I want to feel bad for him, but the reminder of who he is hurts too much to give him comfort.
“It’s a problem because I don’t want my stepsister’s boy toy causing drama at my wedding. My two bridesmaids are pissed you’re escorting my plain sister instead of them. I refuse to let them preen over you on my day. And you're no longer a use to me. I don't want sloppy seconds for my first wedding tryst.”
Ben kisses the top of my head before addressing Maureen. “You’re stepsister is anything but plain, and like I said it was a long time ago that I was with your bridesmaids. I’m sure if you tell them to behave there won’t be a problem. And I can assure you all my attention will only be on your sister. She’s the only one I want.”
I glance up at him and the sincerity in his eyes is right there for me to see. The smile that blooms across my face can’t be stopped. Ben smiles right back understanding I’m on his side.
“I agree with Ben. We’re together and as long as your bridesmaids can behave I don’t see why he can’t come to the wedding. And since you no longer want him he can be my date." I gag thinking of Maureen trying to get her claws in Ben at her wedding. Ben and I would laugh at her pathetic attempts to seduce him at her wedding functions, now knowing he's been with two of her bridesmaids I feel a tad bit pathetic. I refuse to show vulnerability in front of Maureen though.
