But it seriously bothered him, the way Maggie didn’t make any time for herself. He didn’t think the words ‘relax’ or ‘unwind’ were even in her vocabulary. And he was growing more and more distressed each time he found her asleep at the computer desk and had to carry her back to bed at four in the morning.
Not that he didn’t appreciate a solid work ethic, because he did. Despite what Maggie thought, he worked hard for the money sitting in his bank account, the money he’d earned before Gretchen had shocked him and the world by leaving him a part of her fortune. Acting wasn’t all fun and games, and when he was in the middle of an intense shoot, Ben didn’t even leave his house.
Still, he always took breaks, always made sure his work didn’t monopolize his life. He’d seen a fair amount of actors crash and burn, make six films back to back and get so lost in the work they didn’t even know who they were anymore.
Maggie might not be in the movie industry, but she was a workaholic through and through. She needed to slow down and unwind, and he’d officially dubbed himself the man who’d help her do that.
It was time to step in. He’d promised her he wouldn’t complicate her life, but this was just plain ridiculous. Sure, he loved having a quiet place to hide out, but how much longer could he really watch Maggie waste her life away?
At the moment, she was sitting on the other end of the couch, devouring a book about autism, and she hadn’t gotten up in three hours. He wanted to suggest they order a pizza or something, but he knew trying to get her to quit when she was still absorbed in her work would get him nowhere.
Instead, he flicked on the television, instantly groaning when he saw what was on.
For the first time all afternoon, Maggie glanced up from her book. Her gaze followed his and rested on the screen. She made a face when she saw the entertainment show. “Don’t these people have lives?” she grumbled.
He ignored her and turned up the volume.
“Ben Barrett’s newest flame must be keeping him very busy,” the host said with a mischievous grin. “The sexy bad boy has been off the radar for nearly a week now and everyone is wondering how he’s been spending his time…”
“Should we tell them?” Maggie said with a tiny grin.
“Was that an honest-to-God joke?” he returned with mock-amazement. “I didn’t think you were capable of anything but working.”
“Ha ha.”
“Early in the week, Barrett’s car was found vandalized in front of a New York City strip club,” the host continued. “It was later revealed he had spent the night in a hotel with an unidentified woman…”
“They make you sound like a sleazebag,” Maggie said, rolling her eyes.
“Although rumors are swirling that Barrett is out of sight due to an impromptu elopement with his mysterious new lady—”
Maggie burst out laughing.
“—a source close to the actor admits that Barrett is keeping a low profile because of the Gretchen Goodrich scandal. Goodrich, who was the wife of Oscar-winning director Alan Goodrich, recently left Barrett a sizable fortune after—”
Ben turned off the television with an angry frown. Damn vultures. Why the fuck couldn’t they just leave him alone? Why couldn’t they let Gretchen rest in peace?
“So…” Maggie’s quiet voice broke through his troubled thoughts. “Are you ever going to tell me about what happened with Gretchen Goodrich?”
“Sure.” He turned his head and stared her down. “If you agree to take a damn break for a couple of days.”
“I don’t take breaks.”
“Then start.”
Annoyance flickered in her emerald eyes. “We’ve been through this already.”
“And I still don’t think it’s healthy, the way you bury yourself in work and school.”
“It doesn’t matter what you think. It’s my life, Ben.”
“Yeah. Sure. It’s your life.” He rose to his feet, unable to stop the scowl from creasing his mouth. “I’m taking a shower. I’d ask you to join me but you’ve still got, what, three hundred more pages to read?” He stared pointedly at the textbook in her lap before walking out of the living room.
She didn’t follow him, and he hadn’t expected her to. The past three days had taught him that Maggie shut down the moment he criticized her lifestyle.
He strode into the bathroom and ripped off his T-shirt and jeans, then turned on the water and stepped into the shower stall. As the warm water slid down his body, he dunked his head under the spray and released a low groan. Why was he letting Maggie’s workaholic ways get to him anyway? The television segment he’d just seen confirmed that the media storm surrounding him was still going strong, which meant he definitely needed to stay out of sight for a while longer. That’s what he’d wanted, a place to hide out for a while, and he was getting that from Maggie. He was also getting some pretty incredible sex, which was just another perk.