Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“Go with you? No.” She waves a hand in dismissal. “You go on, and I’ll be safe and sound right here.” She pats the sofa for emphasis.
I shake my head and groan. “Sorry, but I can’t do that. Dan’s the boss. He said to bring you. You said you have no plans. Which means we’re going to a barbeque tomorrow at noon.”
Even if she isn’t any keener on getting up close and personal with my life than I am with letting her. We don’t have a choice.
* * *
Summer
I tap my foot nervously against the floorboard of the Uber we are taking to Ben’s boss’s house. He sits beside me in silence. I chose a floral casual dress for the occasion, and unlike my trips to the gym or the studio for work, I have no intention of documenting my day for social media. Ben’s friends and his day are off-limits to the prying public.
I am nervous about going to the birthday party for Ben because I don’t know his friends and am not sure I belong there. Until yesterday, I had no idea when Ben’s birthday even was. After he was fired from Star Power, I attempted to do the obligatory postmortem stalking of my ex only to discover he doesn’t have a social media presence. No photos to torture myself with and no birthdate mentioned online for me to see.
I do, however, have a photo of us stuck in my wallet, a selfie I coerced him into taking while we were sharing ice cream, and which I had printed so I could look and mourn what might have been. He doesn’t need to know that, though.
I was wrong in thinking he wanted to regroup and pull away the morning after. Instead, he seems to have come to terms with the fact that the desire between us is off the charts and ignoring it isn’t going to work. He has, however, put an emotional wall up between us, and I really can’t blame him. We might be in a good place when it comes to us, sex being a good icebreaker, but we aren’t a couple in the true sense of the word.
I glance out the window at the typical New York traffic on the highway and sigh.
Ben closes his hand over mine. “Relax. It’s just the people I work with. They’re nice, and you’ll feel comfortable.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, turning toward him. “And I promise I won’t do anything to let them know we … hooked up or whatever. I don’t want to get you into trouble again.” I glance away, knowing that despite apologies given, that is still a sore subject for him.
A wry smile pulls at his mouth, which on Ben becomes the equivalent of a sexy grin. “If I know Dan, he wouldn’t be surprised. Trust me when I tell you, there’s nothing traditional about this group. They mix family and business, but I don’t think we need to give them things to gossip about, either.”
I nod in understanding. “Agreed.” I’ll handle this however he wants to and take my cues from him.
“What else is on your mind?” he asks.
I don’t want to admit to my nerves. I handle large audiences. I’ll deal with his friends. “I couldn’t get you a gift,” I say instead.
And I really do feel bad. I found out about the event less than twenty-four hours before it was to take place, and I am house-bound as dictated by my bodyguard, the birthday boy himself.
He leans an arm on the back seat. “I don’t need presents. I don’t even want a party.”
“Well, it sounds like you were outvoted, so you might as well enjoy it.”
“I intend to. I hope you will, too. At least you’re getting out of your apartment and going to a place where you don’t have to worry about anyone getting near you. It’s a house full of bodyguards.”
I laugh. “Good point.”
The car pulls up to a modest house with white siding, a well-manicured green lawn, and SUVs parked along the street and in the driveway.
My stomach tumbles as we come to a stop, and not long after, Ben leads me to the front door, his strong hand firm and reassuring on my lower back.
He doesn’t bother ringing the bell, just pushes open the door and urges me to step in alongside him.
I glance around, taking in the family photos lining the wall in the entryway, giving the place a homey feel. The sound of voices and laughter coming from inside the house draws me in.
“Come this way.” Ben tips his head toward the center of the house, and I follow him to an obviously renovated, open-concept kitchen and family room crowded with people. Mostly large men, like Ben, strong and muscular guys, and one woman, who has to be Ava, laughing among them.