Soon, we’re all saying our good-byes, and Julia tells me she hopes to see me again. Is that a message for Ben? I’m not sure, but it sounds as though there’s an undercurrent to her words. Maybe it’s my exhaustion.
Ben leans over and whispers to me, “Will you excuse me for a minute? I need to have a word with my mother before we leave.”
“Sure.” I watch him usher his mother aside, and realize what he’s going to do. I don’t have to hear him to know that angry words spill from his mouth. It’s obvious from the way his finger jabs the air and his mouth is punctuated by a scowl. Julia’s head bobs and then her eyes droop in what I imagine to be remorse. Ben turns away, his lips pressed into a thin line.
When he reaches me, I ask, “Is everything okay?”
“It will be. Are you ready to go?”
“Whenever you are.”
We walk to his car, holding hands. “I’m sorry about the Karen thing. I had a chat with my mom about it.” He blows out a breath.
I nod. “It’s fine. Who is she by the way?”
He looks uncomfortable, so I know there’s a story there.
“She’s someone I made the bad choice of introducing to my mother. And Mom thought she would be planning a wedding.”
“Oh.”
I want to ask more, but decide against it.
“I can’t thank you enough for this. I owe you. Huge. And I noticed that investments really pique your interest.”
“Oh, you did, huh?”
“Yeah. The little head bob you did was the dead giveaway.” His deep laugh makes me shiver.
“Jeez, I’m so sorry.” I shake my head in embarrassment.
“Hey, I’m the one who’s sorry for making you sit through that. But you were awesome. And don’t worry. Mrs. Sadler let out a snore or two,” he says with a chuckle.
A gurgle of laugher bubbles out of me. “She did not.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure she did. She was just as into it as you were. Thank you for not snoring.”
When we arrive at my place, he opens my door, and helps me out. As we walk to my front door, he asks, “So, I hope this dinner didn’t scare you off any future dates with me.”
“Well, now that you mention it…”
His brows hit his hairline and I can’t hold my serious expression any longer.
“I’m only kidding.”
“Thank God.” He exaggerates relief. “How about dinner on Friday, then?”
Ugh. Friday! I’m supposed to go out with Trevor. Damn it!
“I can’t do Friday, but Saturday works.”
His lips purse. “You are the busy one, aren’t you?”
I add with a smirk, “I won’t deny it.”
Suddenly he pulls me into his arms and says, “Thank you for tonight. I owe you and I always pay my debts, Samantha.” Then he kisses my cheek and as if he can sense my disappointment his lips land on mine. They are the perfect mix of firm and gentle, and just when I think he’s going to push through the seam and deepen the kiss, he does the exact opposite. He releases me, steps back, and says, “Sweet dreams. I’ll call you during the week.” I watch as he walks back to the car, greatly disappointed that’s all he left me with.
Kissing Samantha should have been a prelude to asking her to come home with me. Thanks to Mom and the Sadlers, I couldn’t ask without looking like a complete douche. They’d brought up Karen. And Mom and I will have another talk later about boundaries and sharing her wedding dreams with potential clients.
The four walls close in on me as I realize I can’t call Drew and complain about my parents. I can’t tell him about the woman I met that could be what Cate was to him. That thought stops me. No fucking way. I don’t want a woman in that way. I like my space. Still, shucking off thoughts of Drew, I’m left with images of Samantha. I end up jerking one off in the shower as visions of soft curves and honey brown waves that fall halfway down her back flood my mind. She has one hell of a rack too. When I’d pulled her in for a kiss, they pressed against my chest waking my cock to life.
The next several days at work are brutal. One of the admins has a vicious cough that scares the shit out of me. It’s June and there is no reason for her to have a cold.
“You should get that checked out,” I complain.
“It’s just allergies. I swear they get worse every year.”
She coughs again and I hear something rattle in her chest. I stand. “I’m ordering you to take the rest of the day off. Go see your doctor. Better safe than sorry.”
My growling tone sends her out of my tiny office with wide eyes. Fuck, it’s just allergies like she said, not lung cancer, you douche.
Jeff comes in my open door and I wished I’d closed it.
“What the hell did you say to her?”