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Zoey scooped up a spoonful of ice cream and held it up, facing him as if she had a weapon. “Are you sure you don’t want to retract that statement?”
Bennett laughed. “Be careful, young lady. I believe I saw a can of whipped cream in your refrigerator earlier.”
“You wouldn’t.” Zoey’s eyes widened, as though she considered what to do.
He got up, walked over, opened the door, and took out the can. When he returned to the table, he sat it in the middle of them. “Your call, sweetheart. But you best know, I’m even better with whipped cream than I am with bowling balls.”
Slowly Zoey put her spoon back into the sundae container.
“I thought so,” Bennett said confidently.
He knew right away she’d taken that as a challenge. Zoey quickly grabbed her spoon again and flipped it toward him, causing ice cream to fly across the table and land on his left cheek. She didn’t wait for him to grab the can of whipped cream because she got it first with her free hand. Feverishly shaking it, she removed the cap. Stepping away from the table, looking him square in the eyes, Zoey giggled and said, “Maybe you should stick to bowling.” Her laughter filled the room as she held the loaded can pointed in his direction.
Bennett didn’t even try to wipe the ice cream off his cheek. He knew it was about to get very messy. She wanted to play, and he was game. In fact, he’d hoped she would take the bait when he put it on the table. He got up from his chair and started to walk toward her. “Okay, Zoey. Give me the can.” He used a serious tone, but there was nothing serious about the situation.
She backed away. “Don’t you take another step. If you do, I’m going to—”
Bennett closed the distance between them so quickly she couldn’t get away. But that didn’t stop her from trying to get a shot of whipped cream off at him. As she held on tightly, pressing the nozzle, he pushed her hand up. Instead of hitting its mark it went shooting up in the air and came down on both of them.
“You were saying?” Bennett asked.
“Look at what you did. I’m a mess,” Zoey said as she wiped whipped cream from her hair.
“Me? The evidence is still in your hand, not mine.”
She stepped back, and he saw her looking at the can. “You’re right. What was I thinking?”
“That you could win. You should’ve known better tha—”
Before he could reach her again, she took the can and opened fire directly at him. This time she hit her mark, covering him with the sticky cream. She tried to outrun him, but his reach was too much for her. Grabbing her with one hand he pulled her into his arms, her feet no longer on the floor, so she couldn’t escape.
Damn, she’s beautiful. Bennett knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t stop himself. Tasting her lips at the party was for her guests’ sake, but ever since he’d wanted to enjoy them for his own pleasure. He brushed his cream-soaked cheek against her dry one. Some of the contents made its way to the corner of her mouth.
Bennett pulled her closer and claimed her lips hungrily. He was always in control, yet he felt as though he had lost all of it. This was a need like he’d never experienced before. This wasn’t about Zoey. It was about him.
He’d intended to stop the madness, but when she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her, passion consumed him. His tongue traced her lips until she opened to him. The sweetness of the cream mixed with the sweetness of her was delicious. There was nothing tender about the way he was kissing her. He was behaving like a teenage boy who couldn’t hold back. Although he was enjoying it and his body wanted her, he needed to slow down. He wasn’t about to take her in the kitchen, yet he knew if he didn’t stop, she’d let him.
Pulling his lips away from hers, he said, “Zoey, I don’t want—”
“Me either. This can’t happen.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Zoey pulled her arms from around his neck and tried to push against his chest. “It doesn’t matter what you meant. The fact remains the same. We can’t do this.”
Their moment was over, and he knew it. Zoey had shut down like she had when they’d been talking last night. Bennett wasn’t sure if that was a good thing. If they continued and ended up having sex, what effect would that have on her? He knew he could make her feel amazing physically, but what about her heart? Was he only going to hurt her more by sleeping with her?
Bennett let her slide out of his arms so her feet were once again on the floor. “You’re right. We can’t do this right now. But mark my words, Zoey, this isn’t over.”
He grabbed a napkin off the table, wiped his face, and left her standing alone in the kitchen. Saying anything more would only cause her to retreat further. And staying there would only risk him pulling her back into his arms to show her there was nothing to fear with him. Both would be a mistake.
