Page 41 of Planning on Happily Ever After

“Hey, you.” Holly started to say more, but when he was in front of her, he cupped her face and leaned down to kiss her on the lips. It was a brief and sweet kiss, but it was enough to give her a head to toe blush as her insides turned to mush. She leaned back, slightly dazed from the kiss and the pleasure from seeing him unexpectedly. “W-what are you doing here?”

Ben smiled, wrapping his arms around her in a big hug. Holly’s arms snaked around his middle as he lifted her off her feet, slowly swaying her from side-to-side. “I had a really good day, and I knew the only thing that could make it even better was seeing you.”

Holly smiled and rested her head on his shoulder, enjoying the warmth and spicy cinnamon scent that seemed to follow him wherever he went. “I’m glad you had such a great day and I’m even happier that you wanted to see me after.” A throat clearing behind them caused Holly to stiffen slightly, and Ben released her, shooting the perpetrator his trademark scowl, but that cleared up quickly when he realized who it was behind the counter. Holly grabbed his hand and pulled him closer to her parents who were staring at the two of them, expressions blank. “Mom, Dad, this is Ben, the guy I’ve been seeing. Ben, these are my parents Bernie and Ellen Baker.”

Her dad’s eyes were narrowed to slits as he looked at Ben. “You’re the guy my daughter’s been dating, huh?” He leaned over the counter ominously, using every inch of his six-foot-three frame to intimidate her man before breaking into a smile and thrusting his hand forward. “It’s good to meet you, Ben.” Ben shook her dad’s hand looking relieved that her dad was indeed the big teddy bear of a man Holly had made him out to be.

Walking around to the other side of the counter, Holly’s mom pulled Ben into a hug. “So good to finally meet you!” It was slightly comical to see her short statured mother manhandle the tall, athletic Ben, but Holly kept her giggles to herself, enjoying seeing her parents be so welcoming to the man she loved. As her mom parted from Ben, a silentwowwas sent over to Holly as she rejoined her husband behind the counter.

The tips of Ben’s ears were slightly pink, and Holly gushed internally at how cute it was to see him blush. “It’s good to meet both of you, too. You have a lovely daughter.” The last sentence was directed at her parents, but his eyes were on Holly. Love and affection shined through his silvery gaze, and she couldn’t help but beam it right back to him, leaning into his body and fitting like she’d always belonged there.

“Aww.” Holly rolled her eyes at her mom’s behavior and Ben smirked. They stared at each other for a moment before a plate of toffee snickerdoodle cookies was shoved at them by her dad. “Okay you two. That’s enough of that.” Holly took the offering and smiled at her dad in thanks as he winked at her.

Holly steered Ben over to a table by the window and sat down, trying not to swoon when he chose the chair next to her and scooted it closer so that he could put his arm around her shoulder. It was possessive and protective, but she liked that. It wasn’t about warning other men away, but about making her feel safe and loved. Needing to stuff something in her mouth before she blurted her feelings out in the crowded bakery, she picked up a cookie lifted it toward her mouth, but Ben grabbed her wrist and intercepted it, taking a huge bite.

Holly scoffed, but smiled at his playfulness. “It’s like that, is it?”

Ben smiled around a mouthful of cookie before swallowing. Holly watched his Adam’s apple bob and wondered when she had developed a thing for that particular piece of human anatomy, but if the ache blooming in her core was any indication, she’s unlocked a new kink. Ben smirked at her heated gaze. “See something you like, sunshine?”

Holly smiled brightly. “Yup, I do.” Plucking a crumb from his stubble, she popped it into her mouth.

Ben chuckled and shook his head. “I suppose I deserved that.”

Holly shrugged and took a bite of her cookie. “Tell me about your really good day.”

His eyes brightened and he sat a little taller in his chair, his obvious pride bringing joy to Holly’s heart. Ben had certainly come a long way in a short time, opening himself up more, and she was just as proud of him as he was. “A colleague asked me to help her with her new game design, but I thought it would just be doing the programming and some other stuff. It turns out she also wanted me to be there to help present the game to our supervisor.” He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, his nerves coming out. Holly nodded her head and held his free hand, encouraging him to continue. “Well, you know how nervous I get around other people, especially if I have to be the center of attention, but it turns out I did pretty well. My supervisor even said he was pleased to see me asserting myself and that there might be some bigger roles for me down the road even if this particular game doesn’t get greenlit.”

Holly smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in tight. “That’s so great, baby.” She held him closely for as long as she thought appropriate in the public setting, basking in their shared happiness. “I’m really proud of you, and I’m glad other people are getting to see other sides of you, too.”

“Thanks.” Ben smiled sheepishly as his cheeks tinged pink, but there was no masking how pleased he was with himself. “I thought it could be fun to take you out to dinner tonight to celebrate. What do you say?”

Holly bit her bottom lip, wondering if she could be as bold as she had been last weekend. “That sounds great.” After a fortifying breath, she moved closer to him, lowering her voice. “Maybe after we can go back to your place for dessert? I don’t have work tomorrow, and I could pack an overnight bag.”

Holly hazarded a glance at Ben and caught his heated gaze, his Adam’s apple back at work as he swallowed thickly. “I would like that. A lot.”

Holly leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Pick me up at six?”

Ben nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. “Absolutely.” The desire she saw in his eyes was mirrored in his hoarse voice, and she couldn’t stop herself from kissing his cheek one last time, needing the contact.

“I should probably finish up my work so that I’m ready for you.” They said their goodbyes at the door and shared a chaste kiss, something to tide them over until later that evening when they could really enjoy one another. Holly floated back through the bakery, not even bothering to hide the contented look on her face.

Her mom chuckled as she passed her on the way to her office in the back. “Like I said, you’re smitten.”

Holly smiled at her mom over her shoulder. “One hundred percent.” As she disappeared back into the office, she tried to concentrate on work, but was more focused on everything else she would need to prepare for tonight. She knew she was ready to take their relationship to the next level, she just hoped her nerves wouldn’t get in the way.

***

Later that night, Hollywas escorted into Ben’s apartment with his hand on her lower back. Their dinner at one of the nicer Italian restaurants in the area had been quite lovely, the dark walls, low lights, and violin music creating a very romantic atmosphere, and when Ben bought a rose from a vendor just outside on the way home, it had definitely put her in the mood for love. Sitting across from him all night had been both good and bad. Good because he looked amazing in his button-down white shirt, gray vest, and matching slacks, and bad because he looked so very tempting.

Each time Ben reached across the table, the fabric of his shirt would stretch across his biceps and each time he put the fork to his mouth, Holly was laser focused on his lips. To say she had a one track mind all evening was an understatement since she hadn’t stopped thinking about sex since the moment she suggested they have a sleepover. Now they were here, and Holly tried to temper her expectations before she chickened out.

Ben tossed his keys on an entry table before taking her coat, clutch, and overnight bag as Holly kicked off her heels and took a moment to look around his place. The light walls contrasted nicely with the dark beams that were exposed in the ceiling and were covered in simple art prints. Bookcases lined one side of the room, and as Holly started to imagine her romance novels next to his programming texts, she smiled. Then she peered through the open doorway to his bedroom and stared at the king size bed covered in a white bedspread, and suddenly the nervous feeling she had been suppressing all night reared its ugly head. There was a swarm of bees in her belly and she wanted nothing more than to smoke them into submission.

Ben slipped his hand into hers and steered her over to his modular gray sofa where she took a seat on the surprisingly comfy piece of furniture, breathing as deeply as possible to quell the tension in her body. It helped, but what grounded her most was Ben cupping the side of her face with his large hand. “Talk to me, sunshine. Where did you go?”

Holly exhaled shakily. “I’m still here, just getting a little nervous.”

Ben nodded and stroked his thumb across her cheek. “We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for, Holly. I can take you home or we can watch a movie. Whatever you want to do is what we’ll do.” His reassurance that they didn’t have to go through with anything tonight helped suppress some of the nerves, but there was something else that was bothering her. “What is it, sunshine?”

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