Heartlines

22: Won't Stop

Maggie is in the middle of telling me how proud my parents would be of me when the entire room goes quiet. I don't need to turn around, I feel Ben's pull deep in my stomach and I know he is here. My body is shaking as I turn to face the entrance. Amy's look of utter shock is enough to confirm my gut feeling.

He's here.

Alex's laughter fills the room and I hear him joke about knowing how to make an entrance. All my girlfriends have their mouths gaping open, and drool is forming in the corners. Slowly, my eyes find him.

His beautiful blue eyes are staring at me. My hand shoots to my mouth to cover my surprise gasp. Ben is standing in the doorway in a fitted designer suit. His chin length hair has been cut short, nearly buzzed on the sides and fingertip length up top. Ben's facial hair covered his chin in a very sexy stubble.

He looks like a damn model straight off Tom Ford's runway.

Pushing my chair from the table, I hurry to him. Without a single word, I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him. I wanted to make sure this was real and not a dream.

Ben's arms wrap around my waist and pulls me to him tighter than ever. I close my eyes when his scent envelopes around us. I didn't want to let him go.

Nothing else mattered after this moment.

"Who is that handsome man?" CeCe asks from the back of the room.

"Allyson's boyfriend from Boston." Maggie announces to the room.

I pull back from him a bit to look at him. "Hi." I whisper.

"Hi." He smiles back.

The room starts to fill with chatter, and I take that time to study Ben from head to toe. His designer shoes shine under the twinkle lights strung around the room. I adore the way he looks in his dark gray wool suit with a black dress shirt unbuttoned at the neck.

But it was really the face and hair that got my blood boiling. The stubble is sexy, and the hair screams that it needs to be touched.

"Please don't take this the wrong way, you look absolutely handsome this evening. Ben, you are born to wear Tom Ford." I smile.

He laughs. "I shouldn't be surprised that you know that I'm wearing him. You look stunning tonight." He bends down to kiss me.

"You never left?" I ask when our lips break apart.

"I was going to get on that plane, but then Alex made some good points. He told me to not be another person that runs from you when the going gets tough. I was an ass and I'm sorry."

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I look at him. "I don't need you to save me. That is the one thing I love about you."

Laughing, he runs a thumb over my lips. "I'm well aware that you don't need saving."

"You treat me like a person instead of a child. I love that you always joke with me, and you are never worried about offending me. You kiss me like it's the most important part of your day."

He smiles and nods at me. "It is and if I'm being honest, I probably won't stop."

"Please don't." I plea.

"Ally, I'm trying to be strong, but it's a hard job when it comes to you. I don't think you realize how much power you have over me. I would do just about anything you asked me."

"Anything?" I giggle. "Kiss me again. Promise that you'll never do a douche move like that again. I need you."

"I will try my best." He leans down with a smile and kisses me with a purpose.

Clapping and whistling erupt behind us, and I start giggling on Ben's lips. Joking, I welcome him to the family of craziness. Alex comes next to the both of us with two glasses of champagne.

Alex looks at me, "I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you the truth. Your boy was at my condo working things through and it was a rough time. However, we've gotten to know each other very well and I might have told him a few embarrassing stories about you."

"I'll get you back." I promise him.

It takes roughly five minutes before Ben is taken away from me. Maggie walks up and grabs his arm, she wants to introduce him to everyone he missed. I watch him walk away and get even more excited just watching the way the suit moved on him. Ben is gorgeous in his t-shirt and jeans, but tonight in his suit, he was phenomenal.

"Thank you." I say out of the corner of my mouth to Alex.

I was still watching my boyfriend get shoved around from person to person.

"I've never seen you this happy or miserable. Ben was pretty broken up too. He would sit in front of the window and just people watch. He's fascinated with the sea walk. When he asked questions, I gave him answers. I not going to lie to you Ally....Ben and I have something pretty special going on. He's a great guy." Alex shares.

"He is. Magnificent. Wonderful. Breathtakingly amazing. He treats me so good, and he hasn't come from the best of places either." I hint.

"He told me. I don't know what I should or shouldn't be telling you. Ally, he's terrified that his family is going to ruin everything the two of you have been building together. His mom and brother sound diabolical. I begged him to keep you safe, he promised he would."

I look at Ben across the room he is staring at me while he talks to my parent's friends. It is obvious that Maggie adores him.

"Ben is going to make you pick Columbia." Alex leans closer to me and whispers. I look at him. "He thinks that getting you out of Boston will be safer...I'm not sure from what."

"HE WHAT?" I shout at Alex.

Those within listening distance turn in their chairs to look at us. My anger is hard to hide. I shake my head at Alex and turn my back to the room. He did the same and we start whispering to each other.

"When was this brought up? Do I even get a say where I want to go?" I snap at him.

"Ally, take a deep breath. I shouldn't have said anything, and I should have kept my mouth shut and stayed out of it. He's protecting you and I think that's very romantic." Alex breaths quickly.

"Who are you? You've been drinking the Beneventi Kool-Aid too." I snarl.

Clinking of glassware makes us turn around. Amy is standing and looking right in our direction. Ben and Maggie look at me and then turn their attention to Amy.

"I would just like to make a toast. Thank you all for coming this year. I know our lives are getting more and more crazy, but I feel truly blessed that we can all make time for each another. To Alex and Allyson for their entertainment this evening. I haven't made it a secret how much I would love to see the two of them together, creating a family and memories with each other. Mothers want the best for their sons, I'm sorry." She laughs playful in the direction of Ben.

Steve stands up and tells her to sit down. "We'd also like to welcome Allyson's boyfriend, Ben this year. I've had the pleasure of getting to know him this week and he's a brilliant young man that is going places. Welcome Ben and we hope to see you next year."

"This is certainly awkward." I mumble to Alex.

He nods to me and takes the hint. Picking up a glass, he holds it in the air. "I think my mother is enjoying her champagne too much tonight. Ben, I love you man. I'm very happy that Ally brought you to us and I hope this is the first of many years we get to ring in the New Year with you."

Ben makes his way over to us and I pulled him close to me. I was done with Amy trying to put a wedge between us. "I love you." I remind him.

"I know." He kisses my nose.