CHAPTER SIX
Ben
Just like I checked my watch to see how long I could get Dalton to listen to me ramble, I’m doing the same to Kylie. She’s made it through dinner without flinching. I’m impressed. Now as we step outside I wonder how much longer she’ll allow this good time to go on. I get that she likes me, but it’s clear she doesn’t want to.
“The rain stopped.” I turn my palm toward the sky and smile. Her hair got wet when we walked to the café and now it has a little curl to it. Not her normal polished look, but sweet, and it suits her. “You can stop glaring at the clouds.”
We stroll back toward Bachelor Tower, and she’s tighter to my side than before. Her earthy perfume wafts through the night breeze. I’m not running for the hills; I’m thinking about how we can run to my bed.
“I wasn’t upset with the clouds; I was disappointed in the weatherman. You’d think he’d at least try to keep us well informed. No umbrella. No raincoat. I should charge him for making my hair frizzy.”
“I like your hair like that. The curls are fun.”
“Fun? I had it blown out this morning. That was a waste of time and money.”
He whistles. “That’s a lot of emotion for a little rain. You don’t have a list of weathermen you’re out to get, do you?”
Kylie slams on the brakes, spins to me, and plants a hand on my chest. If she didn’t look so pissed, I’d find this very sexy. Actually it’s still very sexy. “Why would you ask that?”
“No reason,” I reply, tossing my hands up. “It’s a joke. You know what those are? They make people laugh.”
“I forgot I’m out with Funny Man.” She waves her hand dismissively and shakes her head. “Forget I said anything.”
“I can’t.” Some men might be put off by her attitude, but I see her attitude as a challenge—and I always enjoy a challenge. I’m fully capable of rocking Debbie Downer’s world. “Everything you say stays with me. I know you feel the same but aren’t ready to admit it yet.”
“It’s a real burden for me.” She quickens her pace. “I’ll find a way to make it through.”
I lengthen my stride to keep up. “You must have been an absolute peach as a child.”
She comes to a halt. “Am I some kind of joke to you? Did you ask me out to fuck with me? You think you’re so funny, but guess what? I’m not laughing with you.”
“No, you’re not.” There’s a vulnerability in her eyes that tightens my chest with regret. I glide up to catch her pace and put a hand on her back. “But you could be if you let yourself. I’m here because I want to be here.”
She tenses beneath my hand. Her eyes fix on my face for a moment, and I wonder why I shouldn’t press her against the closest wall and kiss her. She wants me, it’s written all over her face. “Please don’t touch me.”
Yeow. I let my hand fall. I smile. I know I shouldn’t but I can’t help it. She’s so prickly it’s cute. “This is going to make the goodnight kiss I plan to give you pretty awkward.”
Her eyes widen then narrow. “Not awkward because there is no chance in hell it’ll happen.”
See, that’s what makes her fun. I crack my knuckles. “You’re right. You should kiss me first.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re delusional.”
“I prefer to call it confident. Let me walk you to your door, and we’ll see what happens.”
Her eyes light with interest. She likes a challenge as much as I do. “Fine. Give it your best shot.” She’s sure I can’t sway her. That smug smile will be my downfall.
“I’ll tell you a story.” I begin in a hushed voice and bend my arm so she can loop hers in. When she does I know I’ve got a shot. “When I was thirteen I was in love with this girl, Tanya Witterham. She was my oldest sister’s best friend. For years I would follow them around like a puppy. If she looked thirsty, I’d bring her a drink. If she needed help with her college math, I’d help her.” I give her a sideways glance. “I was very smart.”
“How is this supposed to—?”
I squeeze her arm with mine. “One afternoon I came home to find Tanya sitting on my porch. No one else was home. She was crying. Sitting there waiting for my sister. At first I wanted to get out of there as quick as possible. My sisters did their share of crying over the years, and I wasn’t always good at making them feel better. When I finally plucked up the courage, I asked her what was wrong and reluctantly she told me. Apparently her boyfriend had gotten drunk and they fought. He pushed her around and grabbed her arm really tight, and it scared her. She had a bruise. I remember looking at that bruise and wondering how a guy could ever treat a girl like Tanya that way.”
“Bastard.”
“Yeah. Well, I gathered my thirteen-year-old guts up and marched down to campus.” We’re at the front door of Bachelor Tower now and I can see she’s fully engaged. “I tracked that jerk down and took two good swings at him before he kicked my ass. He gave me a black eye and a fat lip.” I point to a tiny scar over my eyebrow. “Three stitches right here.”
Her face shows shock, but I can see her expression softening. “Oh my God. Why would you fight a grown man for some girl who probably barely paid attention to you?”
“Because it was the right thing to do. I’d do it again tomorrow if I had to. I loved her. Maybe I was too young to know what that meant. But I’d do it again.”
We’re at the elevator, and I can feel her eyes fixed on me.
“What happened when you went home?”
“Tanya was still there. My four sisters were home. They saw me dragging my butt up the walkway and when they heard what happened, they were so angry. They told me I was crazy and stupid. But Tonya noticed me then. My sisters grabbed their softball bats and smashed the hell out of that guy’s car. Tanya stayed with me and cleaned up my cuts. Gave me some ice.”
“Did she kiss you?” Kylie asked. I can practically see the wheels turning in her head.
“No. She was nice. Thanked me. Told me I was brave. But she didn’t kiss me.”
We’re at her door now; she hasn’t taken her key card out or even made a move for it. She’s just looking at me like she’s trying to sort out a hard clue on a crossword puzzle. The way her brow creases and one side of her mouth twists up has me half hard for her. I can’t imagine what the jungle of her mind entails, but I have no problem conjuring up what that beautiful body looks like.
“She should have kissed you. Even just on the cheek. You earned it.”
“She said as much to me several years later, but it was too late. Some opportunities only come once.” I place my arm on the wall and lean over Kylie.
She licks her bottom lip. “Well, goodnight, Ben.”
But she doesn’t open the door behind her. I lean a little closer. “I don’t know what held her back that day.”
Kylie opens her mouth, and I expect a snarky retort, but when she answers her voice is husky. “She was probably smart enough to know just because something might feel good, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.”
“Is that why you won’t kiss me, Kylie? How could one kiss be that bad?” I smirk because I know what it’ll do to her. “Unless you’re afraid you might forget you don’t like me.”
She slides a hand up my chest and cups the back of my neck. It’s not necessary to tug my face down to hers, I bring my lips straight to hers. Her breath is hot on my mouth. “I’m too smart to forget that.”
Our lips collide with force and passion. She’s out to prove something, but as all of my blood heads south to my cock, I really don’t care what her motivation is. I pull her against me, not caring if she feels what she does to me.
There’s a change in her kiss, a shift in her touch. Passion replaces intention, and I feel her lose control. Every inch of me craves every inch of her. We could push this door open and fuck until the sun comes up. That’s the promise in her kiss.
Who knows, if I’m good enough I could be her next thing. The guy she fucks but doesn’t really care about. I
f that was all I wanted I would open that door. I want all the passion she’s giving me but wrapped up in something that matters. I refuse to share her with some fucking pilot. I decide right then and there that she will be mine.
I raise my head and release her.
For a moment the only sound in the hallway is our ragged breathing. She’s confused, and I want to hug her, but she’s not ready for that yet either. Somehow that kind of support would be more intimate to her than what we just did. “I don’t want to say I told you so, but I told you so. I’m essentially irresistible.”
She whips open the door behind her. “Fuck you.”
I smile right through having the door slammed in my face. What did Jonny say? I rattle her?
Yep, she’s rattled all right.
I whistle as I make my way back to my apartment.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Kylie
Owing to the total value of the assets and liabilities listed in Section One.
I’ve read that line in this acquisition agreement six times. Every time I try to read any farther an image of Ben last night and the memory of our kiss flashes through my mind. I tell myself I hate him, but the heat pulsing through me isn’t anger.
As far as our non-date went: Ben: 2 Me: 0
That score can’t stand. I don’t lose.
I still can’t believe I kissed him. I should have a CAT scan done on my brain, but I’m afraid of what it would show. Every woman eventually experiences a Ben—a mistake that feels worth making.
But they never are. I’ve learned that the hard way. Sometimes the better it seems the worse it will end.
Maybe I should let myself off the hook. It was one kiss. It’s not like I slept with him or I have any intention of spending more time with him.
I think about the story he shared with me about tracking down that boy at his college and defending the girl he thought he loved. It’s easy to imagine him in that scenario. Just as easy to imagine him smiling with a bloodied lip, saying it was worth it. But was it? He didn’t actually love her. Isn’t that the point I should walk away with? Nothing, not even something as noble as a young man’s infatuation, holds up over time.
I kissed him because I wanted to prove I could and walk away. The problem is I almost didn’t. Had it not been for my wall of push pins and targets, I might have yanked him inside and ridden him all night. That’s a part of my life I will keep to myself. Penny’s reaction solidified that.
Our kiss was that good. His tongue that tantalizing. His grip on me that fierce. Dominating. For a man who takes a softer and calculated approach to life he is strong in all the right ways.
I read the line in the contract again and scold myself. Get your shit together Kylie. Distraction is the death of productivity. Relationships only work when they are kept under control. Clint doesn’t stop me from getting work done. He barely stops me from getting work done while we’re at dinner or in bed. I’m usually making a to-do list or mentally answering emails. But last night with Ben I hardly thought about work or the plans I have for the men in Bachelor Tower.
That realization rocks me. That’s it. I can’t kiss Ben again. Unlike Clint, he won’t go away. He’ll be right there—everyday—distracting me from what’s important.
I screwed up, but I need to get my head straight. I cover my face with my hands and lay it down on my laptop. Too bad people don’t have a reboot button.
“I did it!” My assistant, Tabby, bursts through my door waving a small piece of paper. “Can you believe it?”
“What?” I say, jumping as she startles me.
“Are you okay?” She cocks her head to one side, looking concerned.
“Yeah. Just a headache.” I wonder if there are impressions from the keyboard on my forehead. A lie is a hell of a lot safer than the truth.
“Need some ibuprofen?”
“No. No. I took something. I’ll be fine in a minute. What’s up?”
She smiles. “I got his number. It took me three weeks and a ridiculous amount of strategizing, but I got Pierre Mondale’s phone number. You want me to get him on the line so you can set up the meeting?”
“No.” I take the paper she’s waving at me, but my head is still spinning. “I’ll wait and call him tomorrow.” I need to be sharp when I have that conversation.
Tabby looks at me with concern again as she pushes her long dark hair off her shoulders with her bright red fingernails. She’s all color. Pops of eye shadow and gold jewelry but it’s tasteful.
Before Tabby, I went through a lot of assistants. A lot. I have no patience for lazy, late, or incompetence in general. She’s still here because she’s good. She’s whip smart and her potential is high. She actually reminds me of myself when I was younger. Hopefully she won’t have to learn lessons the hard way like I did.
The major difference between us now is Tabby has that one thing I had to leave behind: likability. People gravitate toward her. She’s fun and funny. I had to slice those parts of myself away years ago because they’re too easily mistaken for weakness. That was the cost of getting to where I am today.
Someday she’ll see trying to please others is holding her back and she’ll wise up. The thought makes me a little sad. I wish nice people weren’t always the first to be shoved aside.
Of course, I also wish I didn’t have to pay taxes but there’s nothing I can fucking do about that either.
“Are you sure?” Tabby narrows her eyes. “You never wait on anything. It’s always go go go. I thought this meeting with Pierre was a top priority. You don’t want to know what I had to do for that phone number.”
“Just leave the number.” It’s none of her business when or who I call.
“Of course.” She looks hurt.
I tap my pen on the desk and sigh. “I don’t mean to sound short.”
Instead of leaving as I expect her to, she steps farther into my office and closes the door behind her. “I get it. You don’t feel good. Did something happen?”
“No.” Ben happened. “Nothing important anyway.”
“Ben?” Tabby whispers through her smile. “Did you meet someone?”
Shit. Did I say his name out loud? I lie and shake my head. “I would never let a man distract me.”
“Not even Ben?”
I flush. Dammit. She’s smarter than I give her credit for. “Can I ask you a question?” My request surprises even me. I don’t open up to people, and if I did I certainly would not to someone who works for me.
“Of course.” Tabby takes a seat across from my desk and crosses her legs. It’s like looking in a mirror at a much, much younger me. What would I say to myself if I had that opportunity? What would I ask?
“What do you think is my most likable quality?” I lower my voice. “If I have one.”
“Kylie.” Tabby leans in and purses her lips. “Is this about the acquisition meeting this morning? Did one of those jerks say something about you? Don’t listen to them. Men don’t know what to do with a woman like you. It fries their tiny brains. They’re turned on and impressed but also intimidated and scared. It’s overload.”
“This isn’t about them.”
She gives me a long look. I can’t explain my question if she asks because I’m still figuring it out myself.
She knows me well enough to understand she’s not leaving here without answering. Folding her hands together she lays them in her lap. “Most likeable? That’s tough.”
I rub a hand over my forehead. Some things are better not asked.
In a lighter tone, she says, “I like a lot of things about you. You’re fair and you’re tough. Things around here are never dull. The best part of my day is when you put some smug jackass in his place, and I get to watch. When you walk out of a meeting first, I’m left in there to see the looks on everyone’s faces; it’s epic. You are powerful, brave, and cunning. I wish I were more like you.”
“You don’t,” I say, waving her off. “Trust me on that.”
“You’re a woman
at the top.” Tabby looks at me with empathy. “I don’t know what you had to do to get where you are, but I respect it. For the rest of us, the ones still trying to get out from under the nonsense, it means everything to see you up there. It inspires me.”
“Okay.” I stand up. I shouldn’t have asked someone whose income relies on my generosity. “That’s all for now.”
She stands as well. “I mean it. You took a pick to the glass ceiling and shattered it. People who judge you for that are jealous that they haven’t done the same.”
“I appreciate that.”
“You know what I appreciate? You give back as much as you ask for. I haven’t forgotten when my father had a heart attack last year and I needed to take more time than I had sick days. You made sure I had Family Medical Leave. You made sure I got paid.”
“I didn’t want to lose you. You’re my first assistant who’s worth keeping.”
“I’ll take that compliment.” Tabby smiles. “I’m not sure what you’re looking for, but you’re a good boss. Not an easy person to get to know, but you didn’t hire me to be your friend.”
I sit on that for a moment. I draw hard lines between my business and my personal life—hell, even within my personal life. It’s neater that way. If I’m honest with myself—safer too.
I like Tabby. She’s not only smart, but she’s honest as well. It might be time to start giving her more responsibilities. I see a promotion in her future on the condition that she finds me an equally qualified assistant.
I’d tell her, but she’d get all emotional, and I don’t do well in situations like that. “Thanks Tabby. You can go. Email me the contact information.”
Tabby stands but hesitates. “Can I say one more thing?”
Oh, boy. “Sure.”
“I know it’s none of my business, but I’ve never seen you doubt yourself. My mother always told me the right man would love me the way I am. If this guy doesn’t see you for the inspirational powerhouse you are—he’s not worth it.”