The true seriousness of his situation hit home to her in that moment. She'd known, of course, that he'd moved back to take care of his grandfather, but she hadn't truly put it into perspective-his-and realized all he'd given up in order to make that happen. He'd uprooted himself from a successful life in a place where he was accepted without ridicule or censure...and relocated back in h.e.l.l.

To repay a debt and care for the aging grandparent who'd taken care of him when the chips were down. The citizens of h.e.l.l could say what they wanted about Bennett-and, sadly, most of it was true-but deep down, where it counted, he was a good man.

"I'm not blowing you off, Eden," Bennett hastened to a.s.sure her when she failed to respond quickly enough.

Eden gave her head a small shake. "No, I didn't think you were. I was just thinking about how hard it had to be for you to give up your life in Savannah and move back here."

Bennett carefully disentangled himself from her, then leaned forward and brushed a warm, slow kiss over her lips. "It's been h.e.l.l," he admitted. His s.e.xy gaze tangled with hers, then drifted almost lovingly over her face. "But it just got better."

Her stupid heart absorbed the comment and pulled her mouth into a dawning smile. "We should get going," Eden said.

Bennett's gaze drifted to the wall, getting a careful read on Cerberus. "Can she get in the bathroom?"

Eden rolled her eyes. "No. It's right through there," she said, pointing him in the appropriate direction.

After a quick trip to take care of necessary business herself, Eden dressed and drove Bennett back down to his car. They'd no more than turned onto Main Street when Grady called and put in an order for a dipped cone from the Dairy Cow.

Bennett smiled fondly and closed the cell. "He's like a little kid, but with more att.i.tude."

Eden chuckled. "A dipped cone, eh?"

"With nuts."

"Ah," Eden said, pulling in next to Bennett's car. "That's always better." She shifted into Park, suddenly unsure of what to say or do next. This was the part where things had always fallen apart for them. She got her hopes up, he dashed them, she was brokenhearted, etc....

Bennett leaned over and traced a gentle half-moon on her cheek, then kissed her with enough heat to let her know that he definitely wasn't sick of her just yet. "Thank you, Eden," he said, his voice thick with sincerity.

"For what?"

"For...everything," he said, heaving a grateful sigh. "Giving me a break I didn't deserve. Being with me tonight. Taking care of this whole stalker thing," he said, smiling. "I've, uh...I've missed you."

And there it went, Eden thought, mentally watching her heart land right back in the palm of Bennett's hand. As if he hadn't always had it...because he had. Eden released a slow, stuttering breath. She'd been in love with Bennett Wilder since she was eighteen, and no amount of heartache, time or distance had ever changed that. And on some level she'd always know that it never would. He was her Ben, her greatest weakness, biggest comfort and soft place to land. Until he pulled another vanishing act, Until he pulled another vanishing act, a sly little voice needled. Until he decided she was disposable again. a sly little voice needled. Until he decided she was disposable again.

Eden looked away, over his shoulder, making a futile effort to find some much-needed perspective-then something odd caught her eye.

She frowned. "Bennett...what's that on your car?"

A line emerged between his dark brows. "On my-" He turned and peered out her pa.s.senger-side window. "Oh, s.h.i.t," Bennett said, opening the car door. "Something that doesn't belong there," he said, his face blackening with anger.

Dread landing a blow to her midsection, Eden exited the car as well, and joined Bennett next to his BMW.

"Son of a-What the h.e.l.l is up with this chick and meat?" he asked, his voice climbing.

Someone-Artemis525, no doubt-had smeared hamburger all over the driver's-side window of his car. It had puddled into a coagulated mess in the crease of his window and dripped down the side of his car.

"If she left the meat, she left the note," Eden told him. She peered around him and found it tucked beneath the wiper blade. Eden carefully opened the envelope and inspected the message. "Maybe I'll run your heart through a meat grinder after I'm finished with it. You're between the crosshairs now." "Maybe I'll run your heart through a meat grinder after I'm finished with it. You're between the crosshairs now."

Bennett swore again and looked around, evidently wondering if she was out there now, watching them. He pushed a hand through his hair and swore again. "Dammit, I hate this," Bennett told her. "I feel so d.a.m.ned helpless. I feel like she's toying with me, like she's getting a charge out of making me crazy." His cell rang again. He checked the display, closed his eyes tightly shut and sighed deeply. "What, Gramps? Yes, a dipped cone. With nuts," Bennett said through gritted teeth. "Yes, I know. No, nothing's wrong. No, it's not. No. It's not, No. It's not," Bennett growled, shooting her an embarra.s.sed look. "I'll be home soon."

Eden waited until he ended the call. "You aren't going to tell him?"

"Nah," Bennett said, shaking his head. "No sense in him worrying. We know when she's going to strike. We've just got to be ready for her." He said the last with a chilling determination that made Eden's pulse trip.

"We will be," Eden told him, letting go a shaky breath. She'd been spooked from the start, but this was getting decidedly worse. "Are you sure you don't want me to talk to the chief? Because I can ask him to keep it on the q.t. and-"

Bennett shook his head. "No, Eden. Please," he added. "I've got you. We can handle it."

She hesitated. Something about this felt wrong, but she couldn't exactly put her finger on it. "If you're sure?"

"I'm sure." Bennett pressed another vein-singeing kiss to her lips, then pulled away and clicked the keyless remote, unlocking his doors. "I'll call you tomorrow," he said.

Time to throw down the gauntlet, Eden thought. "For what?"

He paused, shot her a guarded look. "What do you mean, 'For what?'"

Her stomach knotted with uncertainty, Eden c.o.c.ked her head and felt a shaky smile curl her lips. She just wanted to know where she stood this time, that's all. If this was going nowhere-if she'd been an itch he needed to scratch-then she wanted to know that right now, right now, before things went any further. Considering their history, she didn't think it was too much to ask. before things went any further. Considering their history, she didn't think it was too much to ask.

"For business or for personal reasons?" Eden asked, lifting her chin.

Something shifted in Bennett's gaze, a resolve that she'd never seen before. It was as if he'd come to some sort of decision, one he didn't verbally share but that sent a thrill of hope winging through her chest all the same.

Bennett took two quick, determined strides forward, kissed her so hard it drove her head back, and she melted against her car. Hot, deep, drugging and wicked, he made a promise with his mouth, one she could taste, one she could feel as if he was channeling it into her. It seeped through her skin and into her blood, pounding out a rhythm that matched her dreams and made her wish for things she'd never spoken of aloud.

A life with him, a future with him, dark-haired children and sleeping late on rainy days.

"Oh, it'll be personal," Bennett a.s.sured her when, breathing heavily, he finally pulled back. "Does that answer your question?"

Eden struggled to catch her breath, pressed a trembling hand to her still-tingling lips and cleared her throat. "Er...yes," she said in a voice she barely recognized, it was so small. "Yes, it does."

Bennett nodded succinctly, seemingly pleased with himself. "Good. I'm glad we understand each other."

Her, too, Eden thought faintly. In fact, if they'd understood each other any better at the moment, she would have undoubtedly had her third o.r.g.a.s.m of the night. She smiled. One for each year he'd been gone.

But they still had a lot of making up to do...provided Artemis525 didn't kill him first.

15.

DESPITE THE SMEARS OF hamburger on his car and a lunatic woman threatening to rip his heart from his chest and run it through a meat grinder, Bennett found himself curiously upbeat and energized. hamburger on his car and a lunatic woman threatening to rip his heart from his chest and run it through a meat grinder, Bennett found himself curiously upbeat and energized.

Because of Eden.

He watched her pull away, her long blond hair shimmering in the moonlight, and felt a tug of emotion so intense it s.n.a.t.c.hed the air from his lungs. Tonight had been...perfect. Being with Eden again was like the first breath after a near drowning-fulfilling on so many levels he'd actually ached with the happiness of holding her again, feeling her sweet little body clutching his. Those small capable hands kneading his scalp, tunneling through his hair, wrapped around his rod. And that first thrust into her body, being baptized in her heat...

Mercy.

Bennett didn't know when anything-other than being with her before-had ever felt more right. He loved the way he felt when he was with Eden. He felt taller, bigger, better somehow. She made him want to be his very best, to rise above his humble beginnings and let go of the pain of his past.

She made him want to love love her, not just her, not just make love make love to her. to her.

Dangerous territory, he knew. He'd come to the same conclusion three years ago and, to his eternal regret, he'd walked away from her.

But not this time. This time he was going for the bra.s.s ring, and to h.e.l.l with anyone-including her mother-who thought he wasn't good enough.

She thought he was good enough, dammit, and ultimately hers was the only opinion that mattered. He would not run scared this time. He would not let her down. He was offering his heart up to her this go-round and, though it might only be wishful thinking on his part, he thought Eden wanted it. Why else would she have sought rea.s.surance of his motives? He'd known when she'd asked him why he planned to call her tomorrow what she'd wanted to know. She'd wanted to know if this was just s.e.x. Just another quick fix like the last time when he hadn't been able to keep his hands off her. thought he was good enough, dammit, and ultimately hers was the only opinion that mattered. He would not run scared this time. He would not let her down. He was offering his heart up to her this go-round and, though it might only be wishful thinking on his part, he thought Eden wanted it. Why else would she have sought rea.s.surance of his motives? He'd known when she'd asked him why he planned to call her tomorrow what she'd wanted to know. She'd wanted to know if this was just s.e.x. Just another quick fix like the last time when he hadn't been able to keep his hands off her.

And it wasn't. Sometime between the minute he'd sat down to dinner with her tonight and the moment he'd stepped out of her car he'd realized that he wasn't settling for a mere portion of Eden-he wanted all of her. Did he deserve a third chance? No. Did he deserve her? Bennett shrugged. Probably not. But he wanted her anyway, and if that made him a selfish b.a.s.t.a.r.d, then so be it.

But better a selfish b.a.s.t.a.r.d with her than a lonely one without.

Bennett pulled through the Dairy Cow drive-through and picked up Grady's dipped cone, then made his way back out to the farm.

Surprisingly, Devi's car was still in the drive. Why the h.e.l.l had Grady rushed him home if Eden's aunt was still here? Bennett wondered, slightly annoyed. Bennett let himself in the back door and found the two of them in the living room watching Jeopardy! Jeopardy! "Take Ancient History for two hundred, stupid," Grady barked at the screen. "Take Ancient History for two hundred, stupid," Grady barked at the screen.

"Now that's why you always lose," Devi told him. "You should go for the big money. Go for a thousand. Sure, the answers are tougher, but if you're not smart enough to answer them, then you don't have any business being on the show."

"You're such a know-it-all," Grady told her, scowling. "It must be hard carrying around all that knowledge."

Devi harrumphed. "Since your old k.n.o.bby head is filled with air, it must be considerably easier to haul around yours."

"My k.n.o.bby head?" Grady repeated angrily. "I'll show you a-"

Bennett cleared his throat loudly.

Both Devi and his grandfather turned to face him, the picture of innocence. "Bennett," Devi said. "We didn't hear you come in."

That much was obvious, he thought, flattening a smile. He sidled over to his grandfather and handed him the ice cream.

"Nuts?" Grady bleated, outraged. "Did I ask you for nuts?"

Bennett felt his blood pressure ease up a notch. "As a matter of fact, you did."

Grady frowned skeptically, as though he doubted the credibility of that claim. "Whatever. I'm just glad that you're finally home." He sent him a shrewd glance. "You know, if you're gonna start dating, we're gonna have to have some rules."

Bennett didn't know what to address first-the fact that his grandfather thought he could mandate his dating habits or the fact that technically he and Eden hadn't been on a date. It had turned into one, of course, but considering her aunt was sitting in his living room watching him with curiously sharp eyes, Bennett didn't feel like discussing it.

"Here's a rule," he said tiredly. "Mind your own business."

"All I'm saying is that you can't be dallying with Eden." His grandfather scowled. "She's a good girl, and according to Devi here, you haven't treated her with the respect she's deserved."

Bennett shifted uncomfortably, unable to refute that claim. His uneasy gaze slid to her aunt's. "I'm not dallying," Bennett told her. He cleared his throat. "And I've apologized for my past mistakes."

Devi peered at him consideringly, then finally nodded. "I should get going," she said, rising gracefully from her chair. Until that moment Bennett had never noted the similarities between her and Eden. There was a certain peace about the two of them, a knowing sort of glow and mischief that twinkled from their eyes. A similar carriage and charm.

She paused. "Is something wrong, dear?"

Bennett gave his head a small shake and rubbed the back of his neck. "No." He shot her a look. "I just realized how much Eden favors you, that's all."

Devi smiled. "Much to her mother's resentment, I can tell you."

That was hardly surprising, Bennett thought, barely suppressing a derisive snort. What did Eden's mother not resent?

"You know Giselle once had a thing for your grandfather, don't you?" Devi asked him, her eyes twinkling with humor and something else, something he couldn't quite define.

Grady snorted. "She's a witch. I never had anything to do with her."

Thank G.o.d, Bennett thought, astounded. Giselle? Chasing his grandfather? A Wilder?

"Eden's mother and I are nothing alike," she said, smiling mysteriously. "For instance, she's really good at holding a grudge. Funny how families are like that sometimes, though." She picked up her purse and sighed softly. "Oh, well. You know what I'm talking about," she said as if she and Bennett understood each other. "I knew both of your parents and yet I don't see either of them in you."

Bennett stilled, absorbing the offhand comment.

It was true, he realized. Parents or not, he was nothing like them. Granted, one could argue that he'd inherited his mother's whoring tendencies. But, in all fairness, he was a man, and men typically tried to get laid with as much frequency and furor as possible. His lips quirked of their own volition. He'd just been more successful at it than most. And in recent years, even that had grown old.

As for his father, Bennett had never had a problem with alcohol. He knew his limits and he respected them. Frankly, while he enjoyed a good buzz, getting hammered had never really appealed to him. He liked being in control of his actions, didn't like dulling his senses beneath a haze of alcohol. Furthermore, he'd always-even at his worst-had a good work ethic. Kirk Wilder had held a job long enough to drum up liquor money, and that had been it.

He wasn't wasn't like them, Bennett realized with the sort of like them, Bennett realized with the sort of aha aha clarity that made him rock back on the b.a.l.l.s of his feet. clarity that made him rock back on the b.a.l.l.s of his feet.

He was his own man, responsible for his own actions and destiny...and, thanks to Eden, he felt as though his destiny had just taken a turn for the better.

Maybe living in h.e.l.l wasn't going to be h.e.l.l after all.

"I FORBID IT FORBID IT."

In the process of fastening her belt around her waist, Eden paused and looked at her mother as though she'd lost her mind.

And clearly she had, or she wouldn't have arrived on Eden's doorstep this morning tossing around mandates and laws to which she had no authority.

"You don't have the right to forbid it," Eden told her. "Because it's none of your d.a.m.ned business."

"None of my business?" her mother countered shrilly. "My daughter has been seen in public with a low-life heathen-"

"Bennett is neither a lowlife nor a heathen." Eden paused. She really didn't have time to get into this right now-she was running late for work as it was-but since her mother was here..."He told me what you did," Eden told her, barely keeping her voice even.

Giselle wrinkled her nose and picked a cat hair off her pant leg. "Told you what?"

"That you made him stop seeing me. That you told him if he didn't, you you would hurt me and it would be would hurt me and it would be his his fault. How dare you?" Eden asked, her voice cracking with anger. fault. How dare you?" Eden asked, her voice cracking with anger.

Her mother smirked. "It was for your own good. He would have ruined you."