I reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair back into his stocking cap. It had fallen over his eyes and was undoubtedly adorable, but I knew it had to bother him while he tried to work.
His skin was so cold to my touch. I pressed my hand against his face, hoping to help warm him up.
I watched his eyes darken at the gesture and my stomach flipped again.
“I missed you last night, Liz.”
His rumble of words hit me straight in the belly and caused tingles to ripple out from my center. I took a steadying breath and tried to banish my hormones.
This had been happening more and more lately. He had somehow infiltrated my life in as many ways as he could. He ate dinner at our house often and came over after the kids were in bed to talk over wine or popcorn. He helped me around the house and in the yard and even helped Blake with his math homework occasionally.
I had gotten used to seeing him almost every day and when our schedules didn’t line up or we spent our evenings apart, there were always text messages to exchange or short phone calls to check in.
I wasn’t surprised to see him out shoveling my walk without asking him to do so, but I was so grateful that he chose to help me. I was like this never-ending charity case for him and he was my mega hot Good Samaritan.
I knew our relationship was unconventional, but I couldn’t stop myself from drawing closer to him. He had saved me more times than once. And more than that, I really enjoyed spending time with him.
“Liz, is everything okay?” My mom’s voice saved me from replying to Ben’s sweet words.
“Hi, Mom.” I sounded ridiculously breathless. My cheeks heated with a mixture of shame and embarrassment. “I, um, I’m just talking with Ben. Ben this is my mom Julia. Mom, this is Ben, my next-door neighbor. He’s the one shoveling the drive.”
“Hi, Ben.” My mom extended her slender hand, only to be swallowed up in Ben’s big, gloved one.
“Hi, Julia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you for shoveling for us. That is very generous.” I watched my mother assess Ben from head to toe and I felt guilt all over again. I didn’t know what this looked like to her, but I could only imagine the thoughts running through her head. Especially because Ben still held my coffee cup.
“He’s just being neighborly,” I explained quickly. “Ben is the best neighbor. He helps out a lot.”
Ben’s face flashed with irritation and I immediately regretted my words, but it was too late now. I should be able to explain Ben to my mom without feeling this sick to my stomach. Ben and I weren’t anything but friends. I didn’t understand where this acidic feeling of indignity came from.
“Just being neighborly,” he repeated with a very unamused voice.
“We’re friends too,” I blurted. “We’ve become friends. Good friends. The kids love him.” Oh, god, I needed to stop.
“Then I should thank you for that too,” my mom offered. “Liz’s father and I have been so frustrated by how far away we live. It eases my mind that there’s someone close by she can count on.”
“Liz can definitely count on me,” Ben told her. “Like she said, I’m the best neighbor.”
Oh, good grief.
The kids started screaming in the background, fighting over something or other, probably my dad. My mom excused herself to go check on them.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered as soon as she disappeared. I didn’t even know what I was apologizing for; I just knew I owed Ben some kind of explanation.
“What’s there to be sorry for, neighbor?” He handed me back my cup that had cooled considerably from the winter wind.
I shivered on the door step, unsure how to proceed with Ben. “I’m an idiot. You’re obviously more than my neighbor.”
“A friend, right?” But his words tasted bitter.
“Ben, I’m not sure what-”
His fierce expression softened and his shoulders relaxed. “I am your friend, Liz. We’re good friends.”
“Right,” I whispered against the clenching feeling in my chest. “Good friends.”
My dad appeared behind me suddenly. “Matthew Ferris,” he all but shouted. He stuck his hand in Ben’s face and exerted his lifetime of distinguished authority figure. “I hear you’re the one we have to thank for the driveway.”
Ben graciously shook my dad’s hand. “Ben Tyler. It’s nice to meet you, Matthew.”
“And what do you do for a living, Ben?”
“Really, dad?” Ben was never going to talk to me again after this morning. If he hadn’t thought of me as a head case before this moment, then he would have no choice but to now.
But Ben was apparently used to crazy people. He gave my dad a charming smile and said, “I’m a lawyer.”
That settled dad down some. But I still felt the need to explain, “Ben’s dad is going to retire in a few years, so Ben is transitioning to take over their firm.”
“Oh,” my dad muttered, unable to come up with a legitimate reason to hate Ben based on his occupation. “Well, that’s… good for you, son. I’ll just go find your mother now, Elizabeth, and see what she’s up to.”
“Good idea, Dad.”
“Nice to meet you, Ben.” My dad practically ran into the kitchen.
“Are your parents scouting me?” His earlier irritation had disappeared and been replaced with his usual amusement.
I shivered and looked toward the kitchen. “Something like that. I haven’t mentioned you before; I think they’re beyond curious.”
He let out a frustrated sigh that made me turn to meet his dark gaze. “Have I told you before that you can be aggravating?”
“Once or twice.”
“Will I see you at all this week?”
I shook my head and stared into my coffee, ignoring the sinking feeling in my stomach. “My parents are staying with me through New Years.”
“Mmm,” he acknowledged. “I’d better get back to shoveling. And you should get out of this cold.”
I looked up and braved his warm gaze. “I’m going to miss wine night,” I whispered.