The Ex-Girlfriends' Club Part 4

Eden shoved a lock of hair away from her face. "Look, in light of the fact that Bennett is moving back here permanently, I really think that we should give him a small small break. He's going to have a hard enough-" break. He's going to have a hard enough-"

"He doesn't deserve one," Kelly insisted, setting her drink aside. "Personally I think that this could be a lot of fun. Instead of figuring out ways to cut Bennett some slack, I say we figure out a few ways to give him h.e.l.l." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked around the room, trying to rally some support. "He certainly didn't mind putting us through it."

"Oh, for pity's sake," Kate snapped. "I'm the first one to say that he's a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, but it was years ago. It's water under the bridge."

"That's easy for you to say," Kelly countered. "You're the only one here who never got burned."

"That only means she was smarter than the rest of us," Eden replied, shooting Kelly a quelling look. She didn't like the way this was going at all. "Look, I'm not saying to give Bennett a full pardon-I'm not talking about changing the way we run the site. But it was was years ago. And if he had any other choice than moving back here, we all know he would have taken it." She paused, letting that little detail absorb. "He's here to take care of an aging grandparent, which is going to be hard enough as it is." years ago. And if he had any other choice than moving back here, we all know he would have taken it." She paused, letting that little detail absorb. "He's here to take care of an aging grandparent, which is going to be hard enough as it is."

"Particularly considering who that aging grandparent is," Sheila said with a significant chuckle. "Mom said things got pretty rowdy today before Grady left." Sheila's mother worked at Golden Gate, as well.

Kate's lips rolled into a droll smile. "Eva took the confiscated liquor into her office after Bennett drove away with Grady and didn't come out until her s.h.i.+ft was over at five."

Marcy gasped. "Eva Kilgore got drunk?"

"I don't know about that," Kate said, eyes twinkling. "But let's just say she wasn't entirely steady on her feet when she came out. And she was smiling."

"Taking care of Grady isn't going to be easy," Marcy conceded, her brow furrowed thoughtfully.

"No, it's not," Kate agreed. "Aside from being a cantankerous, rowdy perpetual hemorrhoid, he's going to need more help than what I suspect Bennett is aware of. Frankly, I don't know whether Eva talked to him about it or not, but Grady probably needs a sitter." She looked at Eden. "Did he seem aware of that at all when you talked to him?"

Kelly's eyes widened and her accusing gaze swung to Eden. "You've talked to him? When did you talk to him?"

Eden's face heated and her insides twisted with mild dread. She'd hoped to avoid this conversation. "I pulled him over this afternoon."

A chorus of gleeful tell-all oohs sounded in the room. Several of the women shared significant smiles and s.h.i.+fted expectantly in their seats.

"We've been talking about Bennett for the past hour and you're just now telling us this!" Marcy gaped at her. "Fess up!"

"Did you pull him over before or after he'd gotten Grady?" Sheila wanted to know.

"Was he speeding? Ooh, did you give him a ticket?"

"Before. Yes. And no."

Marcy blinked, seemingly confused. "What?"

Eden let go a small breath. "I pulled him over before he'd gone to pick up Grady. He was speeding...but I didn't give him a ticket. I gave him a warning."

Kelly's nostrils flared. "Then I think that's the only break he should get. If it'd been anybody else, you would have given them a ticket."

"You know better than that, Kelly," Sheila admonished with a reproachful look. "Eden pulled Nick over last week and she didn't give him a ticket." She glanced at Eden. "Thank you for that, by the way. Our insurance is high enough as it is. Another ticket and we'd probably get canceled."

She'd known that, which was exactly why she hadn't given Sheila's husband a ticket. Eden nodded. "No problem." As for why she didn't give Bennett a ticket, it would have smacked of sour grapes. You dumped me like yesterday's garbage. So here, have a ticket. You dumped me like yesterday's garbage. So here, have a ticket.

She didn't think so.

"How did he look?" Marcy asked, and from the hopeful expression on her face Eden knew she wished that she'd report significant weight gain or a balding pate.

Neither of which described Bennett Wilder. More like...

Hot. Wicked. Perfect. Dangerous.

A rebellious thrill whipped through her middle, causing her belly to clench against a tide of s.e.xual longing that made the Atlantic Ocean look like a kiddie pool. That wicked smile and those sleepy eyes materialized all too readily in her mind's eye, making her breath momentarily interrupt its normal rhythm. Longing rose like a charmed serpent beneath her breast, curling sinuously around neglected hot spots Bennett's mere presence had managed to inflame after three years without so much as a spark of heat.

With effort, Eden cleared her throat. "He looked the same." Translation: just as gorgeous as ever. Translation: just as gorgeous as ever.

Marcy's face fell. "Oh."

"So," Kate said briskly. "Back to the Web site. Do we have any suggestions for a new name?"

"Yeah," Kelly said. "BennettWilderSucks.com."

Clearly nearing the end of her rope, Kate closed her eyes tightly and tossed back the last of her drink. "Let's put it to a vote, shall we? All in favor of renaming the site raise your hand."

Every hand but Kelly's went up.

Kate nodded. "Then that settles it, doesn't it?"

"Wait just a minute," Sheila said cautiously. "I agree that we need to rename the site, but I also think that letting Bennett off the hook without so much as a slap on the wrist isn't right, either."

Truth be told-even caring about him as much as she did-it didn't feel right to Eden, either, but she supposed him seeing the site would have to be revenge enough.

"Sheila's right," Marcy spoke up. "Water under the bridge or not, Bennett's drive-through dating broke almost every heart in here. That deserves some sort of retribution."

A dry chuckle erupted from Sheila's throat. "Short of one of us breaking his his heart, I don't see that happening." heart, I don't see that happening."

Sheila's comment drew a knowing laugh from everyone but Kelly, who'd gone oddly still and was gazing curiously at Eden. "That's it," she said a little breathlessly.

"What's it?"

She stared unnervingly-significantly-at Eden. "One of us needs to break his heart."

A tremulous smile curled Eden's lips and a whirlwind of dread spun through her middle. Surely to G.o.d Kelly wasn't insinuating what Eden thought she was. She couldn't- Seemingly catching on to Kelly's unspoken suggestion, all of the women in the room turned to look at her, as well, and an excited rumble of consent buzzed around her.

"You were always his favorite," Sheila said, nodding thoughtfully. "If anyone here could give Bennett a dose of his own medicine, then it's definitely you, Eden."

She sincerely doubted that. Furthermore, even if it were true, she had no intention of putting herself out there like that. Yes, she would agree that Bennett deserved a little brokenhearted retribution for his past mistakes, but she d.a.m.ned sure didn't intend to be the author of that misery. Were she to even attempt it, she grimly suspected she'd be the one who'd end up fractured and miserable.

Again.

Not no, but h.e.l.l h.e.l.l no. no.

She gave her head a small shake. "Er...I don't think so."

Kelly snorted with a knowing smirk. "I figured as much. You were all for starting the club and the Web site when Bennett wasn't here, but now that he's back you want to take them down and roll over and play dead." She threw her hands up in disgust. "Just what the h.e.l.l are you afraid of?"

Of falling for him all over again, Eden thought. Eden thought.

Of believing in those old-soul eyes.

Of wanting him more than wanting her self-respect.

Of waiting for his kiss with bated breath.

Of jumping every time her phone rang.

Of feeling her heart leap every time a knock sounded at her door.

"I'm not afraid of anything," Eden lied, tilting her chin up defiantly because it was not in her nature to show fear of any sort.

"Then do it," Kelly challenged. "Do it for all of us."

"I-"

"Do it for all of us and you won't hear another peep out of me on renaming the site or plotting further revenge," Kelly told her.

"Come on, Eden," Marcy cajoled, gazing beseechingly at her. "It's just a little dose of his own medicine. It's not like we're asking for a pound of flesh."

Maybe not of his, but what about hers? Eden thought wildly, feeling the atmosphere in the room swiftly change. They were all looking at her as though she alone held the power to break Bennett's heart. Did she believe that they'd had something special? Even that he'd cared for her?

Yes, despite everything that had happened, she did.

But that didn't mean that she could do what they were asking. It was too much. She glanced at Kate, certain that her friend would come to her rescue.

Kate merely wore a thoughtful expression and shrugged.

Eden glared at her. Kate knew how hard it had been on her when Bennett had left town. Eden had been a shattered, miserable, ice-cream-eating wreck and had grieved for months. Kate couldn't possibly think this was truly a good idea, but she didn't seem inclined to voice an objection. Did she hate Bennett that badly? Eden wondered, surprised at her friend. Furthermore, the duplicity didn't sit right with her, regardless of what Bennett had done. Purposely setting out to hurt someone wasn't her style. Balancing the scales of justice from time to time? Yes. But this?

"I know it's a lot to ask, Eden," Sheila finally said. "But I can't tell you how happy it would make me to finally see Bennett get his." She hesitated. "A little humility would go a long way, don't you think? Especially if he's back in town for good."

She did. But she still didn't want to be the instrument of this plan. Unfortunately, Eden thought as she glanced from face to hopeful face staring at her, she didn't see any way to refuse without looking like the ultimate coward.

And that was unacceptable.

The theme music of the doomed running through her head, Eden finally nodded. "I'll try," she lied, crossing her fingers behind her back.

The Ex-Girlfriends' Club collectively whooped with joy. Or, every member with the exception of herself. She was too sick with dread and trepidation to celebrate.

7.

BENNETT DROVE SLOWLY DOWN Eden's street and noted a line of cars snugged against the curb in front of a small steep-roofed church. Like most small Southern towns, h.e.l.l had always had a deeply religious presence, but attending church on Monday night was a little extreme even for them. Eden's street and noted a line of cars snugged against the curb in front of a small steep-roofed church. Like most small Southern towns, h.e.l.l had always had a deeply religious presence, but attending church on Monday night was a little extreme even for them.

No doubt they were having a meeting of sorts, planning a fund-raiser for the mission fund or some other G.o.dly pursuit, possibly even praying for him, him, he thought, and the idea drew a reluctant chuckle. Let 'em, Bennett decided. He could use all the help he could get at the moment, particularly of the divine sort. he thought, and the idea drew a reluctant chuckle. Let 'em, Bennett decided. He could use all the help he could get at the moment, particularly of the divine sort.

Bennett peered at the mailboxes, trying to discern which one of these houses belonged to Eden. He'd located her address using the same sorry dialup Internet connection he'd used to scope out the Web site. His dread escalating right along with the agonizingly slow loading time, when the page had finally surfaced, Bennett had found himself alternately amused and nauseated.

The welcome page featured a rather large picture of himself, which had been altered to resemble a mug shot. Rather than holding an inmate number, the little sign he supposedly carried said b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Phrases were pasted like warnings all over the page.

Caution: Avoid This Womanizing a.s.shole at All Costs!

Heartbreak Ahead!

Fast Talker, Faster Exit!

Player!

Guaranteed Misery!

And the mother of all insults: Premature Ejaculator!

While he wouldn't argue with the rest of them, that that warning was a total fabrication. He hadn't lost control of his launch sequence since he was a teenager, dammit, and a young one at that. warning was a total fabrication. He hadn't lost control of his launch sequence since he was a teenager, dammit, and a young one at that. Premature ejaculator, my a.s.s, Premature ejaculator, my a.s.s, Bennett thought now, irritated all over again. Bennett thought now, irritated all over again.

In addition to the home page, Bennett had a page dedicated solely to him, named simply the Perpetrator. All of his vital statistics, as well as a lengthy essay enumerating his many faults, accompanied multiple pictures the women evidently had donated.

Another page featured the Victims, better known as the women he'd dated and subsequently hurt. Each one had a picture of the two of them together-some where he'd simply been Photoshopped into the scene-and her own personal Bennett story. They accused him of "hit-and-run romance" and called themselves his casualties. Some were straight and to the point, chronicling their time together and how he eventually dumped them. Others were riddled with vitriol and expletives which called into question, most notably, the size of his brain in comparison with the size of his p.e.n.i.s.

He liked to think both were significantly above average, dammit.

Naturally, Grady had peered over his shoulder and cackled. "I'd heard about that," his grandfather had told him. "You sure know how to p.i.s.s the women off, boy, I'll give you that."

Exasperated, Bennett hadn't even bothered asking his grandfather why he hadn't relayed the information to him-anything that would have defeated Grady's purpose sure as h.e.l.l wasn't going to get brought to Bennett's attention, that was for d.a.m.ned sure.

But the more Bennett had read, the more convinced he'd become that his apology to Eden was no longer anything he could put off. He'd known when he'd left town that he'd hurt her. He wasn't proud of the fact that he'd been too cowardly to say goodbye. But he truly hadn't realized the extent of the pain he'd caused her-and the other women-until he'd scrolled through the initial archives on the blog a.s.sociated with the site.

Thankfully, Bennett had noted that the topic of conversation slowly turned away from him and onto other, more girlie things. Every once in a while, one of the members would go out on a bad date and make an offhand comment about how the guy had "pulled a Bennett," but otherwise things seemed to have moved into better territory.

Naturally, the posts from Artemis525 were a little disturbing, which was another reason he'd like to talk to Eden. It wasn't every day that one read about the possibility of having one's heart run over with a lawn mower or having his privates slashed off and crammed up an orifice he'd long ago deemed as "exit only."

The other ladies' rants and insults were the typical brokenhearted comments. Artemis525's rang with an unexpected, out-of-place-almost comical-menace that didn't jibe with the rest of the site. No wonder Kate had said Eden was concerned. He was mildly concerned, as well, inasmuch as he'd let a woman intimidate him, at any rate.

Which was very d.a.m.ned little, he thought with a grin.

Where on earth was her house? he wondered, backtracking around Arctic Circle once again. (The city of h.e.l.l had an interesting sense of humor, he'd give them that.) Bennett consulted the house numbers a second time and then did a double take when he realized that the little church he'd noticed had the same address he'd found for Eden online. Intrigued and bewildered, he pulled over and stared at it, certain that he had to be mistaken. "Well, I'll be d.a.m.ned," he murmured, stunned.

A church?

She'd been living in the apartment above her parents' garage the last time they'd been dating, and he knew she'd been anxious to move out-her mother, neurotic reigning queen of h.e.l.l, tended to smother her-but into a church?

He smiled and shook his head. Typical Eden, he thought. Why buy a little brick rancher when a church was so much more interesting? She'd always been interested in architecture, Bennett remembered. No doubt the arched lines, stained gla.s.s and cut stone had appealed to her. He scanned the line of cars in front of her house and felt another jolt of curiosity hit him.

Even more interesting...what were all those people doing there?