One day earlier...

Mallory

Ben yells up to me from downstairs, "Babe! Are you about ready?"

"Keep your pants on! I'll be down in a minute," I call back.

"Hmmm... If I remember correctly, you were pleased that my pants were not on twenty minutes ago," he says proudly.

I retort, smiling at his cockiness, "Nobody likes a smart ass, Ben."

"I beg to differ, and I love your smart ass. Every damn curve."

Ben is downstairs, but I know what the look on his handsome face is right now as he speaks. He's smirking and wiggling his eyebrows most adorably. God, I love that man!

I didn't hear him sneak up the stairs. He startled me when he wrapped his strong arms around my waist, and I leaned back into him.

"Seriously, Babe, we'll be late for our appointment." He kisses my neck, and my body immediately reacts to his soft, gentle lips.

I let out a small moan. "Ben, if you don't stop that... mmmm... right now, I guarantee we will be exponentially late. We might even have to reschedule."

He gives me a sweet peck on the cheek and releases me from his grasp, then smacks my ass. "As tempting as that sounds, you know that with my schedule, we would have a hell of a time rescheduling."

"I hear you." I put on my earrings and slip back on my engagement ring.

"Ready," I announce, and Ben reaches for my hand, and we make our way out to the car.

"Are Scott and Kendall still joining us for drinks and dinner after we meet with the wedding planner?" Ben asks after getting into the car.

I respond with a smile. "Yep. Whoever gets there first is to put our names in, and we'll meet at the bar."

"Great." He returns my smile and holds my hand.

Our meeting with the wedding planner lasted about an hour. Ben and I emailed her a document with our must-haves and wants for our wedding. Today, we went over the paperwork and signed a contract. Ben paid the deposit before we left to meet our friends.

Kendall and I have been friends since high school. I had just moved to Lady Lake, Florida, with my parents after my father lost his job. They wanted a fresh start, and I didn't blame them. I was just as happy to leave my childhood house, which had fond and sad memories. Unfortunately, the bad overshadowed the good, and we left it all behind.

I met Kendall at first-year orientation, and we have been inseparable since. We both attended the University of Florida. I was a nursing major, and Kendall majored in finance. We met Ben and Scott there, and I'll never forget the beautiful sunny spring morning. Spring break was getting ready to start, and we were hitting the books hard for our finals. Since it was such a gorgeous day, Kendall and I were studying out on the lawn. Two handsome Fire Science majors stopped and hit on us, and we've been burning hot ever since.

Kendall and Scott got engaged over a year ago. They want everything perfect in their lives before they get married. Loans paid off, a house bought, and every other excuse they can devise not to plan their wedding. Ben asked me over our Christmas break in front of my parents. He wanted them to be part of it. He's the most thoughtful, caring, loving man I have ever met.

However, we had no intention of waiting to get married. Six months was all we needed. Ben said, "If it's right, it's right. Why wait?"

"What's on your mind? I can smell the smoke from here," Ben jokes.

"Ha! Ha!" I fake laugh at his poor attempt at trying to be funny. "If you have to know, I was just thinking about the day you proposed."

He squeezed my hand that he had been holding, then lifted it to his perfect lips to tenderly kiss it. Even his slightest touches ignite a heat that goes directly to my core. I find myself wishing we had no plans with Kendall and Scott.

A moment later, we're pulling into the Spanish Springs Town Square. It's always so hard to find parking. We give up trying to find one on the square, so Ben turns into one of the parking lots nearby and finally finds a spot; as he pulls in, my phone signals that I have a text. It's Kendall.

We're here! We scored some great seats on the patio. How close are you?

I type out my response. We just parked. Be there in a few. Order us a round of drinks, please, and thank you.

She quickly replies. Consider it done.

I realize that Ben is patiently waiting for me.

I give him a sly smile and shrug my shoulders. "Kendall and Scott are already here. They got seats on the porch and are ordering drinks for us."

"Awesome, Babe. Let's go; I'm thirsty." He puts his arm around me, and we walk to McCall's Tavern.

We laugh when we see Kendall waving at us like some lunatic. She finally settles her ass down when we approach the table. Scott is sitting there watching in admiration as Kendall jumps out of her seat to hug me. As we sit, the waitress comes with our drinks and some appetizers.

"I hope you don't mind that we ordered some food. Some little lady, not mentioning any names, Kendall, couldn't wait. Apparently, she's starving," Scott explains.

"Guilty," Kendall admits without a hint of regret.

"No, it's fine. Right, Babe," I ask Ben.

"Yeah, of course. I'm with Kendall; I'm starving." Ben sits down and immediately grabs a plate.

Kendall gives Ben an appreciative smile as she hands us each a menu. "We already know what we want."

Ben and I peruse the menu. When the waitress returns, we're all ready to order. We enjoyed each other's company and the band playing in the square for the rest of the night. It's fun to watch the retired older people get up and dance. I lean on Ben's shoulder and imagine us together at that age.

At the night's end, we give each other hugs, making promises to do it again soon. On the way home, we travel in comfortable silence. When we pull into our driveway, I lean my head back and take a deep breath.

Ben looks towards me with concern. "What's wrong."

I open my door, get out, and Ben follows me.

"Nothing is wrong, Ben. I'm just tired," I respond, yawning.

He lovingly puts his arm around me and kisses my head. "Well, by all means, let's get your cute ass to bed."

"You don't have to ask me twice. Race you." I took off as soon as Ben opened the door.

"You little cheater!" he laughed while quickly catching me and throwing me over his shoulder. "I thought you were so tired," he said with sarcasm.

I playfully beat on his back. "I'm a cheater? Seriously?"

He throws me on the bed, and his mouth takes possession of mine. The spark of fire he started in me earlier in the day is now a full-blown inferno, and I desperately need him to quench it.

If only I knew what devastation tomorrow would bring. Would I have held Ben tighter and stayed up all night making love to him? Never allow him to leave our warm bed that next morning? Did I even tell him that I loved him before he left? If only...

*****