Bubbles? I find them on the shelf beside the tub.
Candles? Check. I line them on the window sill behind the tub and light them. The glass is frosted, but I doubt it would have mattered if it weren’t. Hell, whoever was interested in watching already got a show. Tonight is about letting go and enjoying.
I plug the tub, run the water, and pour the scented bubble bath in. My hair has mostly come loose. I go to the mirror to fix it and gasp. I look—I look like someone who just rolled around in the grass. I pick grass and leaves out of my hair while studying my expression. I’m smiling—right up to my eyes. I barely recognize myself. Happy looks good on me.
I strip before the mirror, wondering as I do if my body will look as different as it feels. Everywhere Ben kissed, each inch he caressed, feels more alive than it has in a very long time.
Still dressed, he appears behind me. “A bath? I like the way you think.”
I turn in his arms and wrap my arms around his neck. “Who said you’re invited?”
He smiles as he kisses me then lifts me in his arms again. He walks to the tub and holds me over it. “What a kick to my ego. Now I’m not sure I’m strong enough to hold you.”
I cling tighter to him. “Don’t you dare drop me.”
He gives me a bullshit sad puppy look. “I’ll try.” He pretends to almost let me go. “If only there was some way to restore my confidence.”
“Enjoy this moment,” I warn playfully, “because when I’m back on my feet you’ll pay.”
He lowers me so my ass grazes the mountain of bubbles. “Feet? I was hoping knees.”
I lean back, scoop up some bubbles, and toss them at him. The clump slides down his arm. He lowers me to my feet in the water. “So, that’s how you want it?” He scoops up a huge pile of bubbles.
I raise my hands. “Ben—”
He makes a show of looking as if he’s trying to decide whether to put the bubbles on my head or throw them in my face. He sighs, the sides of his mouth twitching as he holds back a grin. Bastard. “It could have gone so differently.”
“Would you like to take a bath with me?” I ask with a laugh. He’s right, losing doesn’t feel bad at all with him.
I don’t have to ask twice. He’s out of his shoes and clothes in a flash and standing in the tub with me. I love that he takes a moment to study the situation before saying, “Come here.”
Normally, I’d say I don’t like being told what to do—by a man or anyone else, but this is Ben. I don’t feel like he wants power over me or to manipulate the situation. He wants more of what we had outside and so do I.
I sink to my knees and turn off the water. His huge cock is already hard and ready. I cup his balls in one hand and draw him toward my mouth.
“You’re important to me, Kylie. I want you to know—”
I take him deep into my mouth then pull back enough to swirl my tongue around the tip of his cock.
He buries his hands in my hair and fists them. It’s pleasantly harsh. He groans and says, “We can talk later.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Kylie
“I hate to say it, but it’s time to go back,” Ben says the next morning. His chest is warm and his words reverberate through me. “That is if you’re still sure you need to work today.”
I don’t want to. God, I don’t want to, but this is where the daughter proves she learned from her mother’s mistakes. “I have to.”
“I need time to recuperate anyway.” He reaches down and squeezes my ass affectionately, and despite myself I laugh. It’s so easy with him. Now. Nothing stays that way.
“How do you feel?” He gently brushes my hair off my cheek so he can see my face.
“Good.”
“No regrets?”
“None. You?”
“Would you tell me if you did?”
“Probably not.”
“You don’t have to protect yourself from me, Kylie.”
I stiffen against him. “Do you know what happens in the ring when you lower your hands? Someone takes a shot. Someone always does. I choose to keep my arms up. Bob and weave. Relax and you get pummeled.”
“Who punched you?”
“It’s a metaphor.”
“So who did the damage?”
“No one has for a long time.”
“Because . . .”
“Because I learned the hard way that someone you trust the most can hit you the hardest.”
“Tell me.”
His arms are so warm. The scent of him is intoxicating. I don’t stand a chance against him right now. I’ve let him in and I can’t shove him out now. I don’t want to.
“Michael William Romans. He grew up a few doors down from us. He and I were a lot alike. Instead of going to the pool and lying around, we ran a lemonade stand. We bought candy at the store in bulk and sold it on the playground at a profit. Then in high school we got serious about our futures. We had our sights set on Ivy League schools.”
“I’m sure your mom had a big network for you to make inroads.”
“My mother didn’t believe in handouts, even to her children. She was going to pay for school but my opportunities from there were up to me to find. So I set out to. And Michael Romans was going to be my partner in it all.”
“Were you an item?”
“I foolishly thought he was my first love. I wasn’t his. I wasn’t really anything to him. The signs were there, but I was blind to them. People see what they want, and I saw a good guy.”
“He was a dog?”
“More like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. We designed a learning program together. It was designed to help kids with dyslexia. Michael’s brother was dyslexic, and we partnered with a specialist for the curriculum. We combined multiple strategies and techniques so our program was more comprehensive and effective than anything on the market. It was meant to be a passion project that we’d eventually monetize.”
“That’s a lot of programing work.”
“He was the whiz with that stuff. A lot like you.”
“I’m sure that’s where our commonalities end.”
“We launched, and it was a huge hit. I was running business strategy, marketing, and finding advertisers to invest. But he designed it. He put his fingerprints all over the technology side and in the end, without me knowing, he cut me out.”
“You’re telling me you didn’t have an iron-clad contract? I don’t believe it.”
“I was nineteen. I’d known him since we were children. I loved him. Like I said the right hook that knocks you out can come from where you least expect it.”
“What did you do? Did you fight it?”
“I dropped out of college, went back home to live and basically did the equivalent of hiding under my bedroom covers for the next month. It wasn’t until my mother kicked me the hell out that I had to face reality. That moment changed me. It wrecked me.”
“You’re the furthest thing from wrecked.”
“I never saw it coming. He went on to make a million off that program and the ones that followed. I had helped him come up with the idea, network it, and build interested clients. Without hesitation when the money started coming in, he dropped me.”
“Where is he now?”
“How should I know?”
“Because I don’t’ believe for a second you don’t keep him on your radar.”
Ben is right. Michael is someone I’ve kept in my peripheral vision at all times. I need to know what he is doing and how well he’s doing it. How else can I be sure I’m doing better than he is? And I’m certainly doing that.
“He’s living in Boca, divorced. A couple kids to a couple different women he doesn’t get along with. Burning bridges is still his specialty.”
“He sounds like an absolute shithead. You’re lucky you figured that out when you did.”
I prop myself up on my elbow so I can see him full on. “I am lucky. I learned to defend myself early.”
“You can trust me, Kylie.”
“That’s what he said.”
Ben looks tentative to speak and I know I’m putting him through the ringer. He’s done nothing to deserve this scrutiny. Every move he’s made has been the right one, yet he’s being punished for the crimes of those who came before him. Knowing it’s wrong isn’t enough to stop me, though.
“Kylie, you’re going to be all right. At some point you’re going to see that not everyone will take a shot at you—not even if you leave yourself wide open for it.”
“I’m not going to change, Ben.” It’s not that I don’t believe him. I hope he’s right. I wish that’s how the world works.
“I was raised by four strong women. You don’t have to change. The right person never requires that.”
I rest my head back on his chest and wish I could stay there forever. No business waiting for me. No history taunting me about falling down the same hole my mother did. In his arms I feel like I can be more than my accomplishments.
Love almost seems possible.
I force myself to slide away from him and stand beside the bed. “I need to get back.”
He nods but looks disappointed.
I totally get it—I hate this side of me too.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ben
The hour ride home feels too short. I wish we were crossing the country road-trip style. When we pull away from the cabin and onto the main road, Kylie spins the radio dial to a station she claims to love. She puts it loud enough that talking will be difficult. She’s not fooling me. I love her the way she was in the cabin—no make-up, no barriers.
The closer we are to town the farther she pulls away. Her phone starts beeping with text messages and emails. Her expression turns guarded. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but it can’t be good.
She lowers the volume on the radio and clears her throat. “We should talk about what happened last night.”
“Kinky. I like it.”
“I mean how we are going to act going forward. I’ve given it some thought. With a few rules I think we can manage this and ensure it is mutually beneficial. I still have reservations about living in the same building, but I’m hopeful we can navigate that.”
“Okay.” I don’t interject. I want to hear what she thinks will work.
“We should make this a weekend only thing. I can’t lose focus at work right now. I need to be at the top of my game. I can’t be watching my phone, wondering if you’re going to text me.”
“You won’t have to wonder. I’m going to text you. I don’t play games.”
“Also—”
“There’s more?”
“We don’t invade each other’s space. I don’t go to your place. You don’t come to mine. I don’t want this playing out at the Tower. We can make a hotel reservation if we want to spend time alone together.”
“Are you turning me into a booty call?”
“Would you object?”
“I like the perks of the job. I don’t care for the restrictions.”
“Another thing. We don’t need to get all cutesy around everyone. Penny is going to make a huge deal out of this as it is. No double dates. We don’t want them to think this is more than it is.”
“I’ll be honest; I’m feeling very special right now.”
She rolls her bracelet on her wrist. “I’m trying here.”
“I know you are. It’s adorable, but pointless.” I probably could have said that better.
She sucks in an angry breath. “Don’t you dare call me adorable.”
I can apologize, but that never works in this type of situation. A smart man doubles down. “The only rule I’ll agree to is that you can always say no. I’m going to ask you to do things, and you’re going to say yes or no. That’s all.” I pull the car into the parking garage of the Tower and into my reserved spot.
“My answer will depend on what you ask me.” She reaches to the back seat and grabs her bag. Business Kylie is back.
“Tomorrow night Dalton and Penny asked us to join them for dinner. Seven o’clock at Casa De Laurent’s.” I’m out of the car, rounding to her side and opening the door before she can get her bearings.
“I just said no double dates.”
“Then I’ll eat with them. You’re free to say no and stay home.” I lean in, kiss her with a brief flash of passion, and then pull away. “See you tomorrow, Kylie.”
“But I said—”
“Only one rule. You decide.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ben
“You sure she’s coming?” Dalton asks, checking his watch for the tenth time. He’s doubtful, but I’m not worried.
“She’s coming.”
Penny squeezes Dalton’s hand. “I called her twice today, but she didn’t get back to me.”
“Guys, relax. It’s fine. I’m telling you, we had a great time. She’s going to come to dinner.”
Penny gestures for the waiter to pour another glass of wine. “We’ve never been on a double date. Can you believe that? Sisters who have never been out together with guys.”
“Because she’s never dated me.” My attempt at levity falls flat as she continues to nervously fidget with her now-full wine glass.
“I hope she’s not upset with me.”
Dalton takes her hand in his. “I’m sure she isn’t. She’ll arrive soon, and we’ll all have a nice dinner.”
“She’s coming,” I say.
“We get it, Ben.” Dalton begins to lose patience, but I understand it’s because he doesn’t want to see Penny upset.
“No, I mean there she is; she’s walking into the restaurant now.” I point toward the door.
“Holy shit,” Penny gasps. “I seriously did not think she’d come.”
“Thanks,” I say with a laugh.
Penny is on her feet and yanking Kylie in for a hug before I have a chance to greet her. It’s the kind of hug you give to your rescuers after a month on a deserted island, and it gives away how important Kylie is to Penny.
“Sorry I’m late.” Kylie looks stunning. Her black halter dress shows off her perfectly muscled arms and reveals just enough cleavage to make me wonder how I’ll pay attention to anything else. This double date suddenly feels crowded as I get half hard at the sight of her.
Dalton leans in and whispers, “Do you know how to play it cool?”
“I do, but I don’t have to. Women love me anyway.”
“Our first double date,” Penny says, her arm linked with Kylie’s.
“You do know you’re not on the date with each other though, right?” Dalton teases, and Penny smiles as she moves toward him instead. “Good to see you came out tonight, Kylie. Ben was certain you were coming. He never wavered.”
As we settle into our seats Kylie leans toward me. “How can you be so sweet and still sport such a big—” She leaves me hanging long enough to think we’re imagining the same endowment then adds, “ego?”
“I can’t help it if I’m irresistible.”
She opens her menu. “I’m here because I didn’t want to disappoint Penny.”
I take her hand in mine and squeeze it gently. Then I blast her with my sexy grin. “Tell yourself what you need to.”
She rolls her eyes, but beneath the sustained attention she reluctantly smiles. “I don’t know how to win with you.”
“Good.” I like that she’s off balance around me because I sure as hell am with her.
“Sooooo,” Penny says, folding her hands together and resting her chin on them. “How was ziplining?”
Kylie looks at her menu. “We had a good time.”
Dalton asks, looking impressed, “Better than yoga?”
“Much better.” Kylie looks at me, and every touch we shared afterward comes flooding back. I absolutely don’t want to be sporting a chubby around her family. Fuck.
Her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink, and I wonder if she’s also reliving last night. Oh man, double dates are torture.
After we order Penny pulls out h
er phone and pushes it toward us. “You have to see these pictures of Kylie. She was the absolute sweetest.”
“Don’t you dare.” She makes a grab for the phone, but she’s too late. I have my hand on the phone, and I can’t help but look at each one. They are little windows into who she is.
“These are out of context,” Kylie insists.
“This is you at twelve years old in a power suit, sitting behind a tiny desk. What kind of context could I possibly need?”
“I used to go to work with my mom. She had that desk custom built for me. I was her mini assistant.”
Penny sips her wine then expands the explanation. “They had matching business suits made. They would wear their hair the same and everything. My mother adored her. She was lucky.”
Dalton leans in so he can see the picture too. “Were you on the payroll?”
“On it? She probably determined everyone’s pay scale. It was scary.” Penny laughs.
I realize Kylie is the only one not getting a kick out of this. I pass the phone back to Penny and put a reassuring hand on Kylie’s shoulder. I’m on her team, and I want her to know that. I want everyone to know it.
Kylie
The pictures didn’t bother me as much as Penny’s assessment of me. I was lucky? I spent my entire childhood trying to get my mother to notice how damn hard I was working to impress her. I never succeeded. Nothing I ever did was enough, and Penny has no idea what that felt like. She never bothered trying with Mom. She didn’t need to. She had our father.
“I wasn’t lucky,” I blurt out with a bite in my voice that stops the chuckling instantly.
“You know what I mean.” Penny tries to dismiss this, but I can’t let it go. She didn’t understand back then. It feels important for her to understand now.
“It didn’t matter what I did. It wasn’t enough for Mom. I don’t know how you can think that’s lucky. The moment I figured out the only thing she would look up from her paperwork for was shop talk, I knew what I had to do. If I wanted her to pay attention, I had better say something worth listening to.”
Everyone draws in a deep breath and holds it. It’s Ben who makes the first move, and it’s a smart one.