Ben groaned and shifted his weight then he pulled back and held me by my shoulders. “I’m still working on that part. But I’m hoping you’re interested in joining.”
For the umpteenth time that day, I wished he wasn’t wearing his sunglasses. I’d give anything to see his eyes. But the sincere tone in his voice told me everything I needed to know. Ben wanted me. Was into me. Was hoping that this would be more than a weekend fling.
And that was probably when I fell all the way for this sweet, caring, gorgeous man standing in front of me.
And I had to let him know. Reaching out, I grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him back to me. Then I went up on my toes and kissed him.
I tried to put everything I was feeling in my kiss—all the hope, the joy, the urgent, driving need pulsing through my body.
And he kissed me back.
I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and just held on. In seconds, my nipples were pulsing points of need. I wanted this man like I’d never wanted someone before.
After an endless moment, Ben pulled back with a groan. “Christ, you’re potent, woman.”
I grinned and buried my face in his soft shirt.
He grunted. “So, I take it that we’re good? You’re okay with hanging with a loser like me?”
I pulled back to gently slap his arm. “Don’t talk about my guy like that. I happen to like him a lot.”
A huge, pleased grin stole across Ben’s face. “Really?”
I rolled my eyes. Like he didn’t know.
Ben leaned down and kissed me again, gently this time. Just when I was in danger of losing all sense of decency, he pulled back. “You make me forget everything. Like where we are. Like the fact that hundreds of people are walking around just on the other side of that si…shit.”
I looked up at Ben’s sudden curse and found him staring in disbelief at the sign next to us. My gaze followed, but it was still the same white-boy rapper with his droopy pants and thuggish swagger.
I opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong when he shook his head, grabbed my hand, and pulled me away from our hidden sanctuary and back into the chaos of the festival.
We walked for a few moments before he stopped and turned to me with a laugh. “I don’t even know where I’m going.”
I wanted to ask about his mood, but he seemed to be over whatever had him annoyed a few minutes ago, so I shrugged. “How about the merch tent?”
“You want to go back? Aren’t you afraid we’ll run into the step-monsters?”
“They’re probably gone already. But screw them. They don’t run my life. Especially Daphne. She’s just an entitled princess who doesn’t know how to tie her own shoes. I’m not afraid of her.”
Ben’s eyebrows went up and after a beat he nodded. “Okay. To the merch tent.”
We backtracked and headed for the VIP line at the merch tent. For all my bravado, my heart pounded in my ears the whole way. But when we reached the line and I couldn’t see any sign of Daphne, her minions, or Amelia, I breathed a sigh of relief and sagged in relief.
I jumped when Ben’s arms came around me from behind. He rested his chin on my shoulder and asked, “So, what are you getting?”
My eyes ran over the display in front of us. There were festival shirts, hoodies, hats, canvas bags, scarves, koozies, and more. Most were printed with designs for the festival, but a few of the headliners had merch here too. At this tent. The event was dotted with individual merch tents for all the artists playing, but I was here for festival gear.
That I couldn’t afford.
Who paid fifty dollars for a shirt? Or ninety-five for a hoodie? I could maybe afford one of those twenty-dollar scarves. And I really doubted that the forty-dollar canvas tote would hold much.
I wanted to cry.
“Maybe one of those koozies?” I pointed. I could afford ten dollars. And it was more practical than a shirt. Gwen would love a koozie to keep her drink cold at barbecues.
Ben’s arms tightened around me for a second before he relaxed slightly. “Do you want to check out one of the artist’s merch tents?”
I sincerely doubted the prices would be any better anywhere else. I shook my head. I really wanted something from the festival though. Or at least something for Gwen—she’d done so much for me.
