Page 44 of Cups of You

She walked to the front door and steeled herself before knocking firmly. Amber could hear talking from inside that paused after her knock. It only took a few seconds before the door opened and there stood Benjamin freckles and all.

Amber stared. In the warm light of the house, his hair appeared almost aflame. His beard was darker and looked soft and inviting in a way that made Amber itch to run her fingers through. This Benjamin looked comfortable and so very touchable with his dark green shirt that showed his—

“You have a tattoo?”

He laughed softly and took a step back. “Good evening to you too.”

Amber shook herself. “Sorry. Yes, hi. Good evening. Thank you for inviting me.” She tore her eyes off his chest and walked into the house. The spicy scent of his cologne enveloped her and if not for the other two people sitting on the couch in clear view, she might have turned her head to capture more of that alluring scent.

Hands came up and brushed her shoulders and Amber looked up and over her shoulder.

“Can I take your coat?” Benjamin asked.

She nodded and unzipped it. When she shrugged out of the sleeves, she sighed at the warmth from the house. The temperature was perfect.

He is perfect.

Amber turned back to Benjamin, ignoring that voice in her head. He hung her coat up in the small closet by the door before walking back over and placing his hand on the small of her back. The warmth of it radiated through the fabric of her shirt and Amber couldn’t stop herself from leaning into it. It had been a while since she had felt a touch that wasn’t her own and Benjamin’s hand was so damn big.

I wonder if he’s big everywhere.

“Amber, let me introduce you to my friends, Randy and Samantha.”

Amber was grateful for something to take her mind off her inappropriate thoughts. She let him guide her over to the couch and reached out to shake both Randy’s and Samantha’s hands.

“It’s so nice to meet you.”

Samantha smiled. “It’s nice to meet you too. We’ve heard a lot about you.”

Randy leaned forward shaking Amber’s hand vigorously. He looked slightly familiar, and Amber narrowed her eyes as she tried to place him.

“You look so familiar.”

Randy nodded. “We went to the same high school. I was a few years ahead of you, but you probably know my brother, Todd.”

Amber’s eyes widened slightly as she finally placed him. “Right. No wonder you seemed familiar. Wow, the genes are strong in your family for sure.”

He laughed and hooked an arm around Samantha’s shoulders. “That’s what I keep telling the wife. She thinks our kiddo will get her features, but I’m convinced this kid will pop out looking like a mini me.”

Samantha glanced at him. “If I go through the trouble of incubating this child for ten months only for him to pop out looking like your clone, we will fight.”

Beside Amber, Benjamin chuckled the vibration sinking into her bones from his hand that had shifted to lightly resting between her shoulder blades.

She didn’t know if he remembered it was there, but she hoped not so he wouldn’t move it. Or maybe she hoped he knew it was there and was keeping it there on purpose.

Damnit girl get it together. One hand touch and your mind is already shot.

“How far along are you, Samantha, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh, please call me Sam,” she insisted. Sam put a hand on her stomach rubbing it slightly. “I’m almost eight months and already ready for this to be done.”

“Speaking of done,” Benjamin said. “The food is waiting if we want to go ahead into the kitchen.”

Amber looked over at him. “I’m sorry. Was I late?”

He shook his head. “No, you’re perfect.”

“Benji has been cooking up a storm so I hope you’re hungry,” Sam said walking over and threading an arm with Amber’s.She guided her away from Benjamin and Amber glanced back at him over her shoulder. He was standing there arm still up, but he quickly dropped it when he saw Amber looking and gave her a lopsided smile. It wasn’t fair the way that grin made her heartbeat jump.

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