Page 10 of Reckless Flames

I hesitated for a moment, the electric current of our earlier conversation still buzzing between us. “Lead the way,” I finally said, my curiosity piqued not just by the house but by the palpable tension that seemed to grow with every shared glance and laugh.

“This does need work,” I said, stepping into the foyer.

Ben watched me with a hint of amusement as I took in the surroundings. “Yes, it does. Nothing major, but the house is worn and outdated. I understand that the sellers had lived here for many years, and it looks like they didn’t do much with the place as they aged.”

We moved from room to room, discussing what should be done in each one. But in addition, the undercurrent of our flirtation grew, each comment and laugh drawing us closer, both physically and emotionally.

“This is the last stop on the tour,” Ben said, his voice lower now, a subtle shift that sent a shiver down my spine.

I turned to face him, the distance between us minimal. “This must be the master bedroom. It’s spacious,” I managed, the words feeling inadequate as the tension spiraled, drawing us into a moment that felt inevitable.

Without another word, Ben closed the gap, his hands finding my waist as he pulled me closer. The kiss was electric, a collision of every unspoken word and suppressed emotion that had formed between us. It was as if a dam had burst, the pent-up desire flooding in, overwhelming in its intensity.

He lifted me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist as he pressed me against the bedroom door, the solid wood a necessary support. The kiss deepened, both of us lost in the maelstrom of sensation and emotion that the other evoked.

Time seemed to stand still, the world outside fading away until there was nothing but the heat of his lips against mine, the strength of his arms around me, and the racing of my heart. The realization that this was more than just a fleeting moment, that what was unfolding between us had the potential to change everything, lingered at the edge of my consciousness, too insistent to ignore yet too daunting to fully embrace in the heat of the moment.

The abrupt blare of Ben’s phone shattered the spell that had enveloped us, its insistent ringtone slicing through the charged atmosphere like a cold blade. Startled, we sprang apart, the sudden intrusion of reality grounding us instantaneously.

He cursed under his breath, a frown creasing his forehead as he fished the device from his pocket. The transformation in his demeanor was immediate, the warmth in his eyes giving way to a steely reserve as he glanced at the screen. “Shit, I have to take this,” he muttered, an apology laced with frustration.

I nodded, trying to mask the swirl of emotions his abrupt change in attitude stirred within me. As he moved away to answer the call, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of unease, the intimacy of moments before now replaced by a palpable tension.

Though his words were inaudible, the gravity of the conversation was written all over his face. His features hardened, each line and contour settling into a mask of cold efficiency. The transformation was jarring, a stark reminder of what lay beneath the surface of the man I thought I knew.

When he finally hung up, the silence that followed was heavy, fraught with unspoken questions. The air between us, once electric with desire, now felt charged with a different kind of energy, one that spoke of challenges and unforeseen complications.

He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that seemed to signal a return to a world far removed from the one we’d momentarily created. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to go,” he said, his voice devoid of the warmth that he had been showing me since I left the wedding shower and ran into him.

The abrupt transformation—with no explanation—stung, leaving me feeling exposed and suddenly a little vulnerable. The intimacy we’d shared had been real—or so I’d thought—but his swift retraction left me reeling, questioning the authenticity of every look, every touch.

“I...okay,” I whispered. The distance between us felt like a chasm now, the connection we’d shared moments before, now as insubstantial as smoke.

As I made my way to the door, the reality of what had just transpired began to settle in, and a mix of embarrassment and confusion clouded my thoughts. The warmth of his lips on mine was still a tangible memory, yet the cold dismissal that had followed left me feeling adrift, unsure of where we stood.

This time with Ben, which had started with such promise, had taken an unexpected turn, leaving me to navigate the aftermath of a moment that had burned too bright, too fast. As I rejoined my family, my mask of composure firmly back in place, I couldn’t help but wonder about the enigmatic man next door and the complex web of emotions and circumstances that seemed to envelop him.

Chapter six

Ben

Iwas impressed with Sophie’s assessment of the work that needed to be done at the house. She wasn’t as knowledgeable as I am about the prices of finishes and materials, of course, but she pretty much nailed it as far as what work needed to be done. I couldn’t help but think how much fun it would be to work with her on future projects.

Then, just as with every other time I’m drawn to her, I feel pulled in the opposite direction by circumstances. It came out in our conversation at the house that shower guests were prodding for information on her love life—to the point of asking her if she was going to have children or not and repeating that ticking clock nonsense.

Sophie was so frustrated by all the questions about having children that I can’t help but wonder how would she take theinformation that I have a child? I’m so afraid that that news wouldn’t go over well that I’ve not said a word to her about Caleb. Yet, how can I not tell the person I would like in my life about the most important person in my life—my son?

I had no intention of getting physical with her in the house, but we just feel so right together. I enjoy her company so much, and I’m very attracted to her physically. She’s so beautiful and doesn’t even seem to be aware of it. I haven’t dated that much since Beth died, but I’ve been out once or twice with beautiful women who couldn’t stop looking in a mirror or fiddling with their hair or their makeup. Sophie’s different, and I want her in my life but how? I feel torn in two.

Even worse, my dilemma is affecting her, too. I’m sure it is. I got a phone call from Beth’s parents when Sophie and I were at the project house, but I didn’t dare tell her what it was about. Apparently, Caleb wanted to come back home early, and they needed to give me his flight information. That call was like a bucket of cold water thrown on my overheated body, shocking me back to my reality as a father.

So I picked up Caleb from the airport the following day. The drive to the airport was a blur, my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary, the frustration and disappointment from the abrupt end of me and Sophie’s time together simmering beneath the surface. The phone call from my former in-laws had come at the worst possible time.

Caleb wanting to come home early wasn’t the issue—I’d drop everything for him without a second thought. It was the timing, the what-ifs and the might-have-beens with Sophie that gnawed at me, turning each mile into a mental replay of the day’s events.

“Fuck,” I muttered to no one, the word echoing in the confines of the car, a futile release for the tumult of emotions churning inside me. Yesterday could have been...well, it could have been a lot of things: romantic, sexy, a turning point. Instead, there I was, caught in the transition from what felt like the brink of a possible new relationship back to the reality of single parenthood.

I couldn’t shake the image of Sophie’s face as I told her I had to leave, the mix of surprise and hurt that had flickered across her features. It was a look I’d never wanted to be the cause of, especially not for someone who’d been creeping steadily past the defenses I’d built around my heart.

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