The Ex-Girlfriends' Club Part 2

Eden swallowed, forcing the memory away. The breakup had been bitter enough without having to endure her mother's smug I-told-you-so expression.

While Eden knew her mother enjoyed her position as the mayor's wife, she'd nevertheless always gotten the impression that it had never been quite good enough. It angered her on behalf of her father because, in her opinion, he deserved so much better. Eden had always had an exaggerated sense of fairness-of right and wrong and people being treated accordingly. It was no small part of the reason she'd gone into law enforcement. Her lips twisted with bitter humor.

Unfortunately there was nothing fair or even about her parents' marriage-her father did all of the work and her mother reaped the benefits.

In the end, though she might moan and groan about some of her less interesting calls on the force, Eden was quite happy with her career. h.e.l.l had always been good to her, and while she might miss the occasional trip to the museums and her season tickets to the Braves games, Atlanta had never truly felt like home. h.e.l.l, with its slow pace, perfectly manicured square and eccentric personality, was home. She enjoyed being a cop, being out in her community. Leveling the playing field. Serving. Protecting.

Eden's eyes narrowed as a black BMW flew past. Like protecting people from that idiot, she thought as she darted out behind the driver and hit the blue lights. Good grief. At the rate she was going, she was never going to get that beer. Or the hot wings. Annoyed, she hit the siren, as well, and felt a perverse jolt of pleasure when the driver pulled off to the shoulder of the road.

She eased in behind the car, radioed dispatch to let them know she'd made the stop and calmly snagged her ticket pad. Georgia tag, she noted as she made her way to the driver's-side window, but she didn't think it was a local. She didn't recognize the car, at any rate.

The fine hairs on Eden's neck p.r.i.c.kled as an achingly familiar profile suddenly registered in her rapidly numbing brain. Sound receded. She looked down and her gaze tangled with a pair of dark, s.e.xy-equally shocked-eyes. The air suddenly thinned in her lungs, and her palms and feet tingled with an electrical current that, by all accounts, should have made the ground quake.

After all, it made everything inside her vibrate.

Eden swallowed, felt her blood pressure rocket toward stroke level, her mouth parch, her empty belly roll. Oh, dear G.o.d.

Bennett Wilder was back. Her lips slid haltingly into a bitter smile.

Evidently h.e.l.l had had frozen over. frozen over.

4.

PULLED OVER. FABULOUS. Just freakin' fabulous. Less than five minutes back in town and he was already in trouble with the law.

Swearing under his breath, Bennett pushed a difficult smile into place and turned as the sound of crunching gravel grew ever closer. "Good afternoon, Offi-"

The rest of the sentence died in his mouth as recognition broadsided him. If he hadn't been sitting down, he would have staggered under the weight of emotion that suddenly slammed into him.

Though her cap hid her hair-her most remarkable feature-there was no mistaking those wide green eyes, that pert nose and lush mouth. Nor the faint half-moon scar on her chin, a product of an early encounter with the edge of a coffee table as a toddler, if he remembered correctly.

And he knew he did, because everything about Eden Rutherford was memorable.

And just to make absolutely certain he recognized her, a firestorm of heat blazed behind his zipper, the same blistering, thought-singeing wave that had always let him know he'd gotten too d.a.m.ned close to her. Need ripped through him so fast it tore the breath from his lungs, making him momentarily unable to speak. So much for keeping a low profile and keeping a distance, Bennett thought, feeling himself inexplicably lean toward her.

Eden.

"Hi," he said for lack of anything better.

"Bennett," she replied coolly, despite being obviously jolted at seeing him again. Her pulse fluttered wildly at the base of her delicate throat, and he discerned the slightest tremble in her smoky voice. G.o.d, how he'd missed her. "This is a fifty-five-mile-an-hour zone. You were traveling ten miles per hour over the limit."

"I know," Bennett admitted, considering her with equal parts joy and trepidation. Unable to help himself, he offered a smile. "Sorry about that."

Rather than return his grin-much less acknowledge that they'd been infinitely more than mere pa.s.sing acquaintances-she looked away and consulted her ticket pad. "Is there any particular reason you're in such a rush?"

Was this an official question or was she fishing for information? Bennett wondered, foolishly hoping for the latter. Given the tone of her voice, there was really no way to tell. Odd, that, when he used to be able to read her so well. "Actually, I'm heading out to Golden Gate to pick up Grady."

A concerned frown emerged between her brows, and the first hint of the real Eden appeared behind her official cop demeanor. "Oh? Is something wrong?"

"Physically? No," he quickly a.s.sured her, then he checked his watch and winced. "At the moment, he's probably packed up, sitting curbside on his luggage and p.i.s.sed that I'm not there yet."

"Packed up? Where's he going?"

"Home," Bennett told her. "He's, er..." He paused, felt an uncomfortable smile tug at the corner of his mouth. "Let's just say he's no longer a welcome resident at the retirement home."

Eden gasped, reluctantly intrigued, he could tell. "Eva kicked him out? I knew she'd threatened to in the past, but I can't believe she actually went through with it."

Bennett nodded grimly. "Believe it."

"Why?"

"Oh, a combination of things," Bennett said lightly, hoping to thaw her a little with humor. It had always worked in the past, after all, he thought, his gaze inexplicably drifting over the smooth line of her cheek. "Inciting revolts over the menu, gambling, not respecting the curfew." He sighed, tapped his fingers against the steering wheel and stifled a grin. "But ultimately it was the womanizing that Eva couldn't tolerate. She said it was unseemly."

Eden didn't smile, but her eyes twinkled. "I'd heard about that."

From Kate, Bennett thought, remembering that Eden's best friend was a nurse on staff at the retirement home. On the rare occasions their paths crossed, she never failed to send him a death-ray glare.

Eden frowned thoughtfully. "I didn't think Grady was able to live alone anymore."

"He's not," Bennett confirmed. His gaze tangled with hers and he shot her a distinctly uncomfortable smile. "I'll be living with him."

Blind panic-which made him feel like the biggest d.i.c.k in the world-surfaced in that too-green gaze before she managed to blink it away. "O-oh?" she asked, clearing her throat. "What about your work? I'd heard you were doing quite well in Savannah."

"I can work from here as easily as I can in Savannah," Bennett said, pleased that she'd been keeping up with him. The only fly in the ointment of his recent success was that he hadn't been able to share it with her. When it came to his woodworking, Eden had always been his biggest fan. "I'm keeping the store open there but will do the physical end of the job here."

"From your grandfather's?"

"Yeah," Bennett confirmed. "I'm renovating the house and barn. The barn will be my shop."

Eden waited for a line of cars to pa.s.s before speaking again. The blast of hot air tugged at a loose strand of hair hovering distractingly around her mouth. "Aunt Devi bought one of your rockers the last time she was in Savannah."

He actually remembered Eden's eccentric aunt coming in. Devi Darlaston, Devi Darlaston, he thought. G.o.d, what a character. While Eden's mom had always been cold and calculating, Devi had been a sweetheart, a grounding support for Eden. For whatever reason, she'd always reminded him of his grandfather. She'd chosen one of his favorite pieces, too-a rocker he'd crafted from oak, its back an intricate design of corkscrew willow branches. he thought. G.o.d, what a character. While Eden's mom had always been cold and calculating, Devi had been a sweetheart, a grounding support for Eden. For whatever reason, she'd always reminded him of his grandfather. She'd chosen one of his favorite pieces, too-a rocker he'd crafted from oak, its back an intricate design of corkscrew willow branches.

"I hope she liked it," Bennett said, hating himself for fishing for the compliment.

"She did." Eden considered him for a moment, seemed to thaw just a bit. "It's beautiful work, Bennett."

The remark made a warm dart land in his chest and expand. He'd received countless praise for his work, and yet, for whatever reason, her opinion counted more than any other. Then again, it always had. "Thanks," Bennett murmured, swallowing.

Eden released a small breath, inadvertently forcing his gaze back to her ripe mouth. Just looking at it brought back snapshots of kissing her, stuck on fast-forward.

The first time, at her locker, and she'd tasted like b.u.t.terscotch candy.

At her back door-they'd broken apart guiltily when her mother had turned the porch light on.

Fire Lake, their first time, and he'd softly pressed his lips to hers-an apology for that brief flash of pain he'd seen in her gorgeous eyes as he'd carefully slid into her.

Heaven, Bennett thought now. The only time he'd ever felt Bennett thought now. The only time he'd ever felt right. right.

With his eyes Bennett traced the woefully familiar lines of her face-that hot mouth-and felt both his heart and his loins catch fire. Like a match to dry tinder, his entire body went up in flames, scorching him from the inside out. His fingers involuntarily tightened on the steering wheel, and he swore inwardly, praying for an instant downpour to put out the blaze. He watched Eden's suddenly heavy gaze drop to his mouth and felt himself harden to the point of pain.

Motherfu- He couldn't do this, Bennett thought, setting his teeth against the tide of longing rising up inside him. Hadn't he promised himself that he wouldn't do this? He didn't deserve her, and more importantly, he couldn't hurt her again.

For both of their sakes he had to stay away from her. There was too much at stake. Grady needed him...and Eden needed him to leave her alone.

As if coming out of a trance, Eden blinked and an awkward smile caught the corner of her mouth. "Well, I don't suppose I should write you a welcome-home ticket, so this time I'll just give you a warning."

Bennett's lips edged into a grateful smile. "I appreciate it. Thanks."

"See you around," Eden said. Then, after a slight unsure pause, she turned and walked away.

That was exactly what he was afraid of, Bennett thought. He couldn't afford to see her around. Because he'd do something stupid they'd both ultimately regret.

EVERY CELL IN HER BODY vibrating with nervous adrenaline, Eden slid back behind the wheel of her car and waited for her racing heart to slow. Her mouth was so dry it felt as if she'd eaten a pack of chalk. Her palms were numb, her fingers tingled...and yet her nipples were hard. She looked down, snorted miserably and shook her head. vibrating with nervous adrenaline, Eden slid back behind the wheel of her car and waited for her racing heart to slow. Her mouth was so dry it felt as if she'd eaten a pack of chalk. Her palms were numb, her fingers tingled...and yet her nipples were hard. She looked down, snorted miserably and shook her head.

This was what Bennett Wilder did to her. What he'd always been able to do to her. was what Bennett Wilder did to her. What he'd always been able to do to her.

Barely three minutes in his company and she was a wreck. wreck.

Jeez, G.o.d, did he have to be so d.a.m.ned handsome? Eden silently lamented. Was it too much to ask that he develop some sort of deformity or at the very least a serious skin problem since the last time she'd seen him? She let go a stuttering breath.

Evidently so, because he looked better than ever.

His dark, wavy hair was shorter than he'd worn it previously, and rather than keeping traditional sideburns, he'd trimmed his into the trendy edgy look she'd seen favored by hip urban professionals. If possible, they made him look even s.e.xier. More dangerous. h.e.l.l, Eden thought with a miserable chuckle, he could have trimmed them into a fleur-de-lis pattern and he still would have looked like a bada.s.s.

Because that, in essence, was was Bennett Wilder. Bennett Wilder.

Eden sighed. And therein lay the attraction. Or at least some of it. Frankly, for her, there'd always been more to Bennett than his s.e.x appeal. He was smart and interesting and talented and vulnerable. He had fix me fix me written all over him and she'd tried to do just that three years ago and had gotten her heart filleted for her trouble. written all over him and she'd tried to do just that three years ago and had gotten her heart filleted for her trouble.

Now that was not a mistake she'd be making again, Eden thought, glad that-other than that one little please-get-out-of-the-car-and-kiss-me moment when she'd been mesmerized by his mouth once again-she'd mostly kept her wits about her.

She waited for him to pull out into traffic, then dropped her head against the steering wheel and moaned with a combined c.o.c.ktail of mortification, misery and self-disgust.

This was not good.

At least she hadn't cried or ranted like a mad-woman, like the proverbial scorned lover. She'd kept her cool, kept it relatively professional-she hadn't been able to resist asking about Grady or telling him that the rocker was beautiful. But ultimately she'd kept her head, which was nice considering it felt as if it had momentarily left her shoulders the instant she'd looked into those dark, brooding eyes. Eden knew he'd expected her to go off on him like a Roman candle, and there was something quite gratifying about the fact that she'd managed to surprise him.

Furthermore, the minute she'd found out that he was moving back here permanently, she really should have given him a heads-up on Artemis525. She'd started to but then had ultimately chickened out. How did one begin that conversation, anyway?

By the way, Bennett, after you broke my heart, me and some of your other exes started a Web site designed with the express purpose of maligning your character. One woman in particular seems to really hate you and wish you harm. Frankly she gives me the creeps, so you might want to watch your back. (Insert uneasy laugh.) Welcome home.

Ha. She didn't think so.

Kate had volunteered to be the bearer of that news, not her. And as luck would have it, Kate was on duty and Bennett was on his way out to the retirement home. Talk about karma. Eden picked up her cell and dialed her friend, hoping that she'd be sitting at the nurses' desk.

"Golden Gate, your home away from heaven," Kate's weary voice came across the line.

"Thank G.o.d," Eden replied, relieved.

"Eden? What's wrong?"

"You're never going to believe who I just stopped."

"Bennett?"

Eden gaped and felt her eyes widen. "How did you know?"

"Because Grady has been going around all day telling everyone that he's moving out, that Bennett's moving back and that Eva is a disciple of Satan." She blew out a tired breath. "And not necessarily in that order. I had planned to call you, but as you can imagine, things have been crazy here. Grady's friends threw him an impromptu going-home party, and somehow or other, several bottles of Southern Comfort were smuggled in. Drunk senior citizens, walkers and electric wheelchairs don't mix, Eden," she said darkly. "Believe me, it's bad. Bad, bad, bad."

Eden chuckled, imagining. "I'm sorry."

"Let me guess. You're calling me to give me the four-one-one on Bennett so that I can relay the four-one-one to him on Artemis525?"

Eden surveyed traffic, then aimed her car back onto the road. "You know me too well."

"Coward," Kate teased, rightly pegging her.

Yes, she was. And an ultimate fool, because seeing him again had energized her in a way that she hadn't felt in a long, long time. One look into those old-soul eyes had knocked her so far into the hot zone again that she hadn't been able to think straight, much less think cattily. She'd just been proud of herself for not completely losing it.

"We'll need to call a meeting," Eden told her, trying with difficulty to focus. And the first order of business would be what to do about the Web site. She didn't want to shut it down, of course-and didn't intend to-but keeping it up and running under BennettWilderSucks.com with him moving back to town felt...off to her. Had he softened her that much already? Eden wondered, a.n.a.lyzing her motives. Or, all things considered, was it the prudent move?

"How are we going to do that without tipping off the crazy chick?"

Good question, Eden thought. "I don't know. Maybe call everyone?"

"That's a.s.suming this isn't someone we see every day."

Right again, but she simply couldn't imagine that being the case. Then again, stranger things had happened. Many a murdering freak had appeared normal, right? "I guess that's a chance we'll just have to take. I'd still rather call than post it."

"You aren't afraid he'll see it, are you?"

"No," Eden told her with more force than was actually required. "I hope that he does." And she did. He'd hurt her-hurt them all. If seeing their embittered musings and uncharitable thoughts made him a bit uncomfortable, then so be it. It was nothing less than he deserved. This would be a sentiment which would undoubtedly require many reminders, Eden thought grimly. She'd just seen him and already she could feel her grudge withering away. G.o.d help her if he apologized. Instead of game on it would be game over, and she knew it.

Kate chuckled with gleeful relish. "Oh, to be a fly on the wall."

She wouldn't mind finding a little wall for that one as well, Eden thought, her lips curling at the idea.

"You take care of getting everyone together and I'll take care of bringing Bennett up to speed," Kate said, practical as ever.