“It was exactly what I had tried so hard to avoid with the decisions I made years before. That fact alone helped cool Bennett's anger. It was hard to be mad at me when we were right back where we were from day one."
"You were right. Even with all you did to keep Ben from being put in that position, it still happened," replied Harvey. "What happened next?"
"Well, this is where it starts to get sticky. McNeil agreed to keep Ben for a long weekend. True to my promise, I flew back to Searcy with Bennett on his plane.”
Chapter 14
Capital Hotel
Little Rock, Arkansas
March 2012
The flight from New York to Little Rock was filled with hungry looks and unfulfilled desires. Poppy brought a book to read and a headset to listen to classical music, but neither was used.
Bennett and Poppy were the only passengers other than the pilots. Once airborne, Bennett softly took her hand and held it the way he had the first time they had flown together all those years ago when she had left for art school. It was too loud for conversation, so neither tried. Instead, they spent the whole time innocently touching each other's hands, arms, and faces. The looks they shared said more than a thousand-page book. Poppy nearly came out of her seatbelt when Bennett reached out, took her hand, lifted it to his lips, and licked her wrist before kissing it softly.
When they landed, Bennett and Poppy loaded up in his SUV and drove to the Capital Hotel.
Poppy knew it was a terrible idea for Bennett to follow her to her hotel room. God forgive her. She was too far gone to do anything other than follow his lead.
Bennett had held several lunch meetings and attended functions there for years. He knew he couldn't just walk in the front door unnoticed. Instead, he had Joules check in early and then meet them in the parking lot with the key. The look Joules gave him could have taken two years off his life, but if Bennett saw it, he did not respond to it.
Once they slipped inside Poppy's hotel suit without being seen, they fell into each other in a passionate embrace. Picking her up, Bennett carried her into the bedroom. Laying her on the bed without breaking the kiss, he reached for her zipper. It was then that Poppy pulled back.
"We can't do this," said Poppy breathlessly.
Leaning toward her to recapture her lips, Bennett responded, "Oh yes, we can, and we are going to, several times."
Rolling away from him and jumping off the other side of the bed, Poppy said, "I don't mean we can't, I mean we aren't. I am not going to be your piece on the side. You are still married, in case you have forgotten."
Groaning loudly, Bennett said, "Not this again. I told you. I am getting a divorce. It is you. It has always been you. We belong together. We are going to be together."
Poppy said, shaking her head, "That may be true, but we are not going to have sex. Not today. Not any day until you are free. It almost destroyed me when you cheated on me. I won't do that to Taylor."
"Hate to break it to you, but she is convinced we already have,” replied Bennett, sitting on the bed and putting his head in his hands. "And for the record, I have never cheated on you. Never. I don't know why you keep saying that."
"Because I saw you," replied Poppy, almost crying, thinking back on that day.
Bennett took a deep breath and said, "Okay, since this,” he pointed between himself and her and the bed, "isn't happening. Let's get a drink and go over what it is you think you saw when you say I cheated on you."
Thinking it over, Poppy nodded.
"Also, I know that it is 2:00 in the afternoon. However, if I have to spend my time with you in a hotel talking instead of doing what I want to be doing, then I will do it lying next to you in bed.”
Looking at her dress and heels, he added, "Change into something comfortable, and by that, I mean a whole lot fewer clothes. I promise to be good, but it has been a long time since I laid beside you in a soft bed. I am not waiting another minute to do that. I am going to fix us a drink. Wine okay?"
Poppy nodded and then went into the bathroom to change. She changed into an oversized T-shirt. She took off her bra but left on her panties. When she came out, Bennett was standing in his boxers with two glasses of wine in his hands. He handed one to her and kept the other.
"Did you forget about the part where I said no sex? I mean it, Bennett," declared Poppy as if she were repeating this as much for her sake as for his.
Frowning, Bennett replied, "If I had forgotten, you would already be naked, on your back, three seconds from screaming my name in ecstasy. So chill. We are just going to talk."
Seeing her T-shirt, he said, "I know it is wrong to ask, but it has been so long. Please take off the T-shirt and let me see them. I have missed them so much."
Poppy did not need to ask whom or, rather, what he was talking about. She hesitated for a moment, and then, seeing the almost begging look in his eyes, she shrugged and pulled off her T-shirt, giving him a full view of her luscious breasts.
He audibly gasped. He came toward to touch her.
