Free Recipe for Kisses by Michelle Major Page B

She’s super smart about all this techie stuff, Ben.”
    “I had no idea,” he muttered. “I sent her a laptop for Christmas because Cory said she needed one for school, but this is amazing.”
    “She’s amazing.”
    He looked at her, and Chloe willed away the blush she could feel starting to creep up her neck.
    “I’m glad she’s working here even if it’s to stick it to me,” he said, a sad smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I don’t know why I went off like that. It’s just . . .”
    “You want the connection with her. With both of them.”
    “I don’t know what I’m doing.” He dropped his head into his hands. “I barely know Abby and Zach, and it’s clear I’m not cut out to do any sort of real parenting.”
    “You’re here.” She hesitated but couldn’t resist brushing her fingers over the back of his neck. Her husband had taken so much from her, and she’d thought her need for a physical connection had been wiped out for good. But despite his strength, there was an emotional frailty to Ben that made something long buried inside her spark to life once more. She massaged, gratified when a bit of tension eased under her hand. “Give yourself a break.”
    “I didn’t get where I am in life by giving myself breaks.”
    “Tell me about their mother.”
    He looked up at her and she moved her hand away, embarrassed at how affected she was by touching him. Her breath heaved out in shallow pants, and she expected him to comment on it.
    Instead he slowly took her hand, pressing their palms together as he spoke. “Chrissy and Cory hooked up a few times. She got pregnant. They were never officially together, and she already had Abby. I guess Abby’s dad was a true one-night stand, so he was never in the picture. Chrissy got clean for a while after Zach was born; then for several years, she wasn’t. Cory had his own problems, so like Abby said, he didn’t see Zach much. But two years ago their mom fell off the wagon and left town. She dumped both kids with Cory, and they got word shortly after that she’d died. She might have had problems, but she was still their mom so it was a terrible blow to both kids. Abby and Zach are devoted to each other, and I don’t think there was ever a question of splitting them up, but I know the thought of it scares Abby to death.”
    His honesty was startling, but at the same time, it made her want to be closer to him. His defenses were down, and for the moment, she felt safe with this burly beast of a man and the damage he was trying to undo for his niece and nephew. “That’s an awful thing to have hanging over your head as a kid,” Chloe murmured.
    Ben nodded. “Cory talked about adopting her but hasn’t done anything about it. He was in no shape to take care of them. He and my dad had been at odds for a while, so Cory wouldn’t take help from him. I should have done more, but I was too wrapped up in my own life.”
    Chloe laced her fingers with his. His hand was warm and callused, and the connection made awareness prick all the way up her arm.
    “If you don’t want them here with what’s going on between us, I understand.”
    “What’s going on between us?”
    She tried to laugh, choked a little instead, and tugged at his hand. “You’re trying to steal my space.”
    Ben didn’t let go. “You’re months behind on rent, but that’s not what you were talking about and we both know it.” He dropped her hand and swiveled her desk chair so she was fully facing him. “I want to kiss you,” he whispered, and his soft voice and the wicked intentions it carried made her ache for more. “But only if it’s what you want, too.”
    She swayed closer, caught in the intensity of his eyes. After her reaction to him reaching for her in the store and that first night when she’d maced him, he must understand that she wasn’t a good bet. “I don’t think I know how to be with someone like you. I like things ordered, soft and gentle.”
    “I