Yours For The Taking Part 7

"Were you just talking to that wife of yours?"

Ben looked up from the sandwich he'd been throwing together to find his grandfather pouring himself a Jim Beam.

"Her name is Gina and didn't your doctor tell you to knock off the booze?"

Big Joe slicked back what was left of his white hair and scowled. "I'm eighty years old. When you get as old as me, you have the right to tell your doctors where to stuff their advice. I have one or two a night. It's medicinal. How do you think I've survived this long?"

"I figured it was sheer orneriness."

Gramps shrugged. "Yeah, I'm sure it's that too. So, tell me about the little missus. You got any pictures of the wedding? You know, the one I didn't get an invitation to?"

Ben bit the corner off the sandwich and chewed. d.a.m.n, he'd never even thought of getting wedding pictures. At the time, the only thing he could think of was getting through it. He did remember Rosalie snapping a picture or two with her camera phone. Hardly a wedding alb.u.m. "I don't have any pictures with me. I'll get some though."

His grandfather didn't look as if he believed the marriage ever took place. He should have thought about bringing proof. "Gina's a tiny little thing." He put his hand out to show how short she was. "She has jet-black, short hair and the most amazing honey-colored eyes. She's well-built but man is she tiny."

"You sound like you're talking about a car. I thought since I sent the jet over for you, you'd bring her along. You've been married all of what, two weeks? Is the honeymoon over already? That doesn't bode well for the marriage."

"Gina doesn't like flying. As a matter-of-fact, she's never been on a plane."

Big Joe sat on a stool at the breakfast bar across from Ben. "Women are like horses. You have to break them early. It's about time you started. You need to bring her out here, show the little lady her new home, and introduce her around to the family."

Right, like that'll ever happen. Ben couldn't imagine Gina in Boise. He shook his head. "Gramps, Gina's a New Yorker. She's not the Idaho type. She has her own career in Manhattan and she's not interested in giving all that up to live here."

"Then why in the h.e.l.l did you marry her?"

"You wanted me married, I got married. Besides, I spend a lot of time in the city. We'll have plenty of time together and plenty of time apart."

"Boy, what you don't know about marriage could fill h.e.l.l's Canyon. You have to build a marriage the way you build a log cabin; you gotta start with a good strong foundation. It sounds to me like you're building your marriage on a pile of sand. Come the first windstorm, it's going to fall apart. You mark my words. I was married to the same woman for almost forty years. We didn't stay together that long by flying away from each other two weeks after our weddin' day."

Ben took a pull off his beer. "Gina's a modern, independent woman. Things are different now, Gramps. She has her life and I have mine. It works for us."

"Yeah, then who was she talkin' to when you were on the phone with her? It's a little late on the East Coast to be keepin' comp'ny."

Ben set his beer down on the counter. "She invited her little sister over for dinner to show her our new house and since Tina's husband works nights, she stayed over."

"In the same bed?"

"Gina's a little intimidated by the size of our house-we bought a five-story brownstone in a really nice section of Brooklyn and she's never lived in such a big place. She told me our bed is bigger than her first apartment. It's good Tina stayed over. She and Gina are very close. I felt bad leaving her there alone the first night in our new home."

Grandpa Joe took a sip of his drink. "She wouldn't be alone if she was where she should be, here with you."

Ben looked up from his sandwich. "Give her a break, Gramps. You'll meet her eventually, and when you do, I know you'll love her. She's a real spitfire."

Gramps grumbled. "I don't know about you, but it's about time I got these old bones of mine into a nice soft bed." He drained the last of his whiskey. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Night, Gramps. Sleep well."

"The board meeting is at nine. Don't be late."

"Don't worry, I'll be there." Not that he had much of a choice. Ben watched as his grandfather shuffled out of the kitchen. He would swear the old guy was beginning to shrink. He took a sip of his beer and wondered when his life had gotten so out of control. Okay, scratch that, he knew when. His grandfather's eightieth birthday.

Ben checked his watch and smiled. He took the last bite of his sandwich, rinsed his dish, and put it in the dishwasher before he chugged the last of the beer and tossed it in the recycling bin. He knew if he left a mess, Kate would box his ears. It was a good time to go over to Humpin' Hannah's and see Karma. He shrugged on his shearling-lined denim jacket and grabbed his keys. The metal keychain smacked against his new wedding ring. That was something else he'd have to get used to.

Ben pulled the door of Humpin' Hannah's open and the sounds and smells of his home away from home hit him. The band played a cover of "Walk this Way." Karma worked the crowded bar, her wild blonde hair shining under the overhead lights. He pocketed his keys and pulled out his billfold before slapping a twenty on the bar to get Karma's attention.

"Benji!" She ran around the bar and jumped up on him, wrapping her legs around his waist the way she had ever since she was big enough to jump.

Ben gave her a hug and set her down.

"I wasn't expecting you! What are you doing here?"

Ben sat on a stool. "I just flew in a few hours ago. I have a board meeting in the morning."

Karma turned, worked her way back behind the bar, and looked around before filling a mug with Pale Ale. "Is the little woman with you?" She slid the beer toward him.

"Are you kidding? Gina in Boise? Not likely."

Karma scrunched up her nose. "Too high-brow for us rednecks?"

Ben laughed. "Definitely not. She's just a city girl who's never set foot west of New Jersey and apparently never wants to-a definite plus." He took a sip of beer.

Karma gave him another crinkled-nose look.

"I got married to get my ranch, not for companionship. The last thing I need is to spend any more time with my wife." He brushed his hair from his forehead and took off his jacket. Just the thought of Gina was enough to raise his body temperature twenty degrees. Not a good idea. The further away he stayed from her, the better.

Karma turned to the other bartender. "Kevin, watch the bar. I'm taking a break. You," she pointed at Ben, "come with me."

Ben followed her through the tables to the office on the other side of the room. She unlocked the door and turned on the lights. "Shut the door behind you. We need to talk."

"That sounds ominous." He took a seat and set his beer on the desk. "I guess this is my night for the third degree."

Karma sat at the desk and poured herself a shot of tequila. "I still can't believe you actually went through with it. You married a total stranger."

"It's a business agreement, Karma. Nothing more."

She tossed back the shot and poured another. When she came up for air, her angry eyes met his. "Is that what you're going to tell your next wife?"

Next wife? He'd never planned to have one wife, no less two.

"You hadn't thought of that, have you, Ben? What happens when you fall head over heels and have to explain to your true love that you were married before? Or worse yet, that you are are married. That'll go over real well." married. That'll go over real well."

Him in love? "Not likely."

Karma slammed her gla.s.s down on the desk. He was pretty sure she left a dent.

He sat a little straighter. "What is your problem?"

"You really don't get it, do you?" Karma walked around the desk, leaned against it, and kicked his boot with hers. "I love you, Ben, like a brother. I always have. You, Trapper, Hunter, and Fisher have always been my heroes-I've looked up to you all my life. Every guy I've ever dated is compared to the four of you. Marrying a woman you hardly know in order to trick your grandfather and get a piece of land is the first decision you've made I don't respect. I'm disappointed in you, Ben. I thought you'd man up and tell Grampa Joe where to stick it. But you didn't."

"That ranch means everything to me. You know that."

"I didn't think it meant more than your honor. And what does it say about Gina? What kind of person is she that she'd marry you for money? Is Gina the person you want to be tied to, at least legally, for the duration of this fiasco?"

Ben had had enough. He stood nose to nose with her. "Grow up, Karma. I'm sorry I disappointed you but I'm not going to apologize for being human. You can stand here, looking down your nose at me for not living up to your very high expectations, but leave my wife the h.e.l.l out of this. You know nothing about Gina and I'll be d.a.m.ned if I'll allow you to say one more word about her. She doesn't deserve it."

Karma's head shot back like he'd hit her. They had a stare down, and Karma looked away first. "I'm sorry. I was out of line."

"Yeah, well, I guess now we're even."

Ben shook his head and walked out. Leave it to Karma to hold a mirror up to his face, and as much as he thought she was wrong about so many things, she was right about him trading his honor for his home. He lied to the only people he loved or put them in the position to lie for him. But the thing that was even harder to swallow was that he tainted Gina by doing it.

He sat back at the bar and watched as Karma returned to work, not sure what could be done to smooth things over between them. She moved around the bar like a dancer, swaying to the music and pouring drinks wearing a forced smile. When she moved back around toward him, he caught her eye. "When are you off?"

"I close." She scrubbed the bar that was already well scrubbed and met his eye. "Look, Ben, I'm sorry. I guess your wife, even if it's just a marriage contract, is off-limits. I get it. I was wrong."

"Yeah, I'm sorry too."

She cracked a smile and shook her head. "No, you have every right to be fallible. I just wish you'd stand up for yourself as well as you stood up for Gina. She's a lucky lady."

Just then, a hand smacked the back of Ben's head. He stood before Trapper could put him in a chokehold.

Karma pointed one finger. "Trap, you cut that s.h.i.t out or I'll have Danny toss you like week-old garbage. How would the prisoners treat a sitting judge if you were to get your a.s.s thrown in jail?"

Trapper stopped mid-move. "You always loved him more."

"Oh yeah, probably because Ben never once put a snake in my bed."

Trap shrugged and pulled out a stool next to Ben's. "I heard you were back in town."

Ben sat back and hooked the heels of his cowboy boots on the stool-rung. "Yeah, work, you know how it is. How are things on the bench?"

"Same old, same old. You know, drugs suck, breaking and entering usually involving drugs, which sucks worse, and then there's always a juicy murder every now and then. I'd rather talk about skiing. The Rock got another six inches of powder yesterday. You up for playing hooky?"

"Is Hunter going to give me h.e.l.l again? s.h.i.t, last time I skied Castle Rock he sent the d.a.m.n ski patrol after me for going off trail."

Trapper smiled. "He was just p.i.s.sed because you didn't ask him to come along."

"Yeah, that's what I figured."

Trapper took a sip of his beer as he pulled out his phone and sent a text. Ben didn't bother asking to whom. He figured the rest of the crew would be here in about twenty minutes if neither of them had any female company, and then maybe even if they did.

Trapper turned back to Ben. "So, how's married life treating you?"

"Not bad. I just bought Gina a place in Park Slope, which is Brooklyn in case you're interested. I moved her in today before I flew out here. She's all set up and happy as far as I know." Though she didn't sound very happy to hear from him earlier.

"I still think you could have gotten away with less in the prenup."

"Oh no. I wanted to make sure Grandpa Joe had nothing to come back at me with. He wanted me married. I'm married. Everything is official."

Trapper raised one of his brows. "Everything? You know, a marriage isn't official unless it's consummated." He took a drag off his beer and studied Ben over the rim. "So Benji, did you have yourself a good time on your wedding night?"

"h.e.l.l no. This is a business deal, pure and simple. s.e.x complicates matters." He took a long drink of his beer. Just kissing Gina complicated everything. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to actually have s.e.x with her. Okay, he could imagine, which was why he was better off 2,500 miles away from Gina Reyez-Walsh. Ben never thought he went for mouthy, Latin bombsh.e.l.ls. Live and learn. Ben's attempt at shutting down this conversation wasn't working. He still had Trapper's rapt attention. "It's a marriage of necessity."

Trapper leaned against the back of his stool and smiled. "Most marriages of necessity involve a pregnancy and a shotgun."

"Yeah, well, the times they are a'changin'. Gina and I won't be sharing anything more than a marriage and a quickie divorce as soon as humanly possible."

"Is Gina a dog?"

"No, she's hot as h.e.l.l if you're into small, Latin, black-haired minxes. She's pretty amazing and it's more than just her looks." If that was all there was to Gina, Ben would have no problem sleeping with her. "Gina's complicated."

"All the good ones are."

Trapper sat back, and Ben felt as if he were on the witness stand-one of the downsides of being best friends with a judge. "Gina's brash, mouthy, driven, and smart. She has a mind that works faster than a d.a.m.n computer. It took her less than a minute to calculate the dollar amount she'd ama.s.s by marrying me."

"So what's the problem?"

"There isn't one."

"If she's so great, why not take the ride?"

Ben would never live down the fact Gina a.s.sumed he was gay. No, he'd take that to his grave. "Gina's not interested in relationships, which is why I married her in the first place. I'm in it to get my ranch, not to get laid. And even if she were interested in the bennies, you know me, I'm not looking to get tied down."

Trapper let out a laugh. "Well, not for more than an hour or so." Ben shot Trapper a warning glance that Trapper chose to ignore. "But if you're talking about a ball and chain as opposed to fuzzy handcuffs and silk ties, it doesn't sound as if she's the needy type. There's no reason you can't have the marriage of necessity along with all the bennies of a real marriage, at least temporarily."

"Hey, Benji! When did you fly in? You look like s.h.i.t, by the way."

Leave it to Dr. Fisher Kincaid, MD to notice Ben had more than a few sleepless nights since his wedding day. He smiled at Fisher and gave him what Karma called a guy hug, slapping him on the back a bit harder than necessary. "Not enough sleep, but you're looking good. Nice tan."

Fisher grinned. "I just got back from Sun Valley, one of the partners in the practice lent me his house for a week. It was great, sun, snow, and women-a perfect combination."

"So you're glad to be out of Chicago then, huh?"

Fish grabbed the stool on the other side of Ben and flagged down Karma before turning to Ben and Trapper. "You guys want a pitcher?"

They nodded and Karma started filling it.

"Chicago was fun, but it's nice to set bones which were broken in skiing accidents or football instead of shattered by a bullet." He made a face. "Those are way too gory for my taste. Did I beat Hunter here?"

Ben looked up from his beer. "He's coming too?"

Fisher smiled. "Yeah, and since I won, he owes me a ten-spot."

Trapper high fived Ben before turning to his brother. "Sweet, then you're buying the pitcher."

Fisher shrugged and put money on the bar.