But then again, he had done that for money. Ben did this because he genuinely wanted to help us. There was a difference.
“Hungy!”Jacetugged on my jeans and grinned up at me with a dirt-smeared face.
I reached down to rub at his chubby cheeks. “You’re hungry?” He lifted his arms and jiggled his wrists. I swung him up into my hold and held him tightly against my chest. “Did you start snacking on the flower beds? You’re filthy.”
“He fell out of the stroller,” Lucy offered matter-of-factly.
“He fell out? Or he got pushed out?”
She tried not to smile. “It was an accident!”
“Sure it was.” But sinceJacewasn’t in tears, I didn’t give her too hard of a time. Four-year-olds probably shouldn’t be put in charge of strollers anyway.
“I’m hungry too!” Lucy tugged on my arm. “Starving actually!”
“Oh, boy. We can’t have that. Put your toys away and we’ll go inside for some peanut butter and jellies!”
Lucy ran off screaming her enthusiasm for peanut butter while I called to the other kids and threatened them until they finally started picking up.
I hadn’t noticed the mower shut off until Ben rounded the corner to the house, pushing the now silent machine. He didn’t look sweaty or fatigued, but I still hurried into the garage to grab a bottle of water for him. It was the least I could do.
When I turned around, he was standing right there and I nearly screamed again.
“You’ve got to stop that! You’re like a ninja!”Jacesquealed in my ear and tugged on my ponytail. That might have been the reason I didn’t hear Ben’s approach.
Ben grinned at me and eyed the water bottle, “Is that for me?”
I thrust it out to him. “I thought you might be thirsty.”
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you. Seriously. You saved me such a headache.”
He stared at me intently while he unscrewed the cap and took a healthy drink. I looked away, pretending to supervise the kids as they brought their toys into the garage. I could feel him watching me though and I wanted to squirm.
I didn’t know why it bothered me so much, but I was completely unnerved by him. Maybe it was because he was so completely male. He seemed to radiate with virility. His tanned legs were nothing but toned muscle behind athletic shorts and his forearms were just as cut and golden brown. His dark hair had been pushed back from his face and gave him this completely ruffled, reckless look. His cheeks had darkened from the sun and exertion and his full lips were now wet from the water.
He was unfairly gorgeous.
And that bothered me. I would have much preferred our new neighbor to be some stodgy old man that yelled at us to keep off his lawn.
Ben Tyler was the kind of beautiful that people openly stared at. And I didn’t want to be one of those people.
I didn’t think I was at risk of sending him the wrong signals, what with the dead husband and four children and all. But I didn’t want to act like a swooning teenager around him either.
I wasn’t usually intimidated by good looks. I didn’t know why I had to start now with him.
“Is there anything else I can do?” he asked after long moments of awkward silence.
My focus swung back to him. “What do you mean?”
“Around the house?”
“Around the house?” I repeated dumbly. “No, thanks. We’re, um, the mowing was great, thank you. But I can’t ask anymore of you.”
Dark eyebrows drew down over equally dark eyes and his usually-playful lips pressed into a frown. “You didn’t ask. I offered.”
“No, I know. I just… We’re headed in to eat some lunch. So, thanks anyway. Seriously, thank you. You saved me from a hectic day.”
