Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

the deer had darted between a gathering of trees. But Ben was even closer now. His arm rested near mine, and his jeans grazed the skin on my leg. "Where did it go?"
    Inhaling in his intoxicating cologne, I felt my hands begin to tremble and sweat with the thought of embracing him and getting that kiss. Jesus, why did Jamie have to add that part in the bet? There was no way I could do it, especially since I could barely speak.
    "I-I don't..." I stuttered.
    His brilliant hazel eyes caught mine as I turned towards him, and that shy smile spread on his lips. This was the perfect chance, if only I could fight off my nerves. My hands went numb at my sides; my heart thundered in my chest. But it wasn't just me stumbling, Ben's cheeks went rosy, too, as we both stilled, taking each other in.
    "Do you..." his voice wavered and he let out a hesitant little laugh. "Do you have a, um, girlfriend?"
    The question, and his apparent nervousness, caught me off guard. "Um, no, actually."
    "Oh. Probably a weird question, huh?" He flicked his attention towards the sky.
    "Not really."
    With my answer, his attention closed on me. But before I could even have the chance to lean in and steal that kiss, Ben had done it for me. His warm, inviting lips brushed against mine, taking me for a loop, and when we both pulled away, it was as if the entire world was spinning.
    His eyes widened. "Too much?" he asked.
    I shook my head.
    No, that was just right.
    Ben tipped his head, eyes narrowed, before cupping my face in his rugged, broad hands and leaning in to steal my lips again. This time, I wrapped my arms around his sides, pulling us closer together. His heady scent filled my nose; my mouth opened and his tongue darted in, the embrace making me grasp his smooth flannel shirt in fear of melting away.
    A pithy moan escaped my lungs as his hands traveled down my neck, easing around my shoulders. A gentle tingle swept through my spine. Had he always want to kiss me, too?
    I could stay like this; high in the air with Ben pressed against me, and his warm touch and invigorating lips brushing mine. I couldn't imagine being back on the ground; back to face Jamie and Tim, to let them know: Hell, yeah, I got that kiss .
    As he pulled away, the heat of his breath wafted through my hair and I settled into the curve of his neck, enjoying his warm embrace.
    I peered out at the darkening sky. It seemed as if we had floated down, as the world in front of me came into better view, but I didn't care. Nothing could pull me away from Ben.
    "Shit," he said, and I unwrapped myself away in shock.
    "What is it?"
    His eyes were concentrated on the ground below, just feet from the bottom of the basket.
    "I missed the drop off," he answered as he swung the rope off of the side of the basket, letting it dangle and land on the ground below. Drop off? "We'll have to set 'er down here."
    The roaring of a car engine approached fast just as the balloon touched the rough, green grass. Ben hopped out of the basket, so I followed, still dazed by what had happened while we were still in the sky.
    Dust kicked up behind an old light blue pickup, the engine loud as it stopped next to us. "Damn, son, you missed the landing point by about a quarter mile." An older man, presumably Ben's father, hung his head out of the window, shooting Ben a puzzled look.
    "Sorry, pops, I got a little... distracted." Ben flicked his eyes towards me.
    I hung my head. God, how embarrassing.
    "Well, Jeremy is on his way, we'll take it down here. I can give him a ride back to the carnival," his father said as he jumped out of his truck and helped Ben secure the balloon.
    I stood quietly, waiting for Ben's answer. There was a roar of another truck barreling across the field, coming closer. Ben and his father held the rope tight, the balloon bobbing and gliding gently along the grass, when Ben gave me the most knowing look, and that modest smile spread on his lips.
    "If it's okay, I'll just go with you when we're done here," Ben answered, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if his reply was for his father or me, until his eyes glinted in the last rays of the evening sunset. "Is that cool, Chase?"
    "Sure." I met his smile with my own.
    "It won't take long," Ben said, then began to help his father secure the balloon.
    I stepped away and hung out by the side of the truck, watching as they disassembled the balloon. The beautiful yellow and blue balloon came down, and they stretched it across the grass. Then they rolled