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Chapter Twenty-Four

Rebecca

For months, I became accustomed to Bennett’s angry scowls and perturbed glares whenever I walked into his office or he walked out of mine. I figured I’d become too used to them eventually, regardless of how much they bugged me.

As certain as I was I’d become used to his scowls and grunts and glares and cocky demeanor, I was even more certain I would never get used to the way his gaze softened when he saw me walk into a room like now.

I was further certain I never wanted to get used to it.

His look heated my stomach, made it flip and soothed me at the same time. That, too, was a contradiction I never wanted to get used to.

I liked it too much.

After I recovered from the shock of the folder and the job offer he’d left me on my pillow today, I spent the rest of the morning and day scouring both proposals.

It was futile.

I was in love with Bennett. I would take anything he offered. I didn’t even know when it had happened, when I’d fallen so head over heels for him, or how I became a woman who could fall so quickly, but I was still uncertain us working together, side by side in the partnership he was offering was the best thing for us, our relationship, or his company.

Yet seeing that look on his face now, after I called Miranda to have her come over and keep me company while I got ready and keep me sane so I didn’t end up buying a plane ticket and running off to Bora Bora in a crazed freakout I wouldn’t put past myself, made all of our efforts worth it.

“Hello,” I said. “How was your day?”

He raised a hand, lips pressed into a thin line and his gaze dropped. His eyes trailed my body, from my hair that I’d curled so it bounced and bobbed on my shoulders every time I moved, all the way to my heels. He soaked in the black dress I wore. A halter top with thick straps around the neck, it had a deep slit down the front that went almost to my navel, baring cleavage I wasn’t accustomed to but with the way his eyes burned as he lingered there a moment, I loved I’d gone for something so daring. Finally, his gaze fell and he licked his lips as he reached the hem of my short dress at mid-thigh and then to my silver, strapped heels. Ribbons tied and twisted and wrapped around my ankle halfway up my calves. Borrowed from Miranda. I wasn’t sure I’d return them.

Besides, regardless of which job offer I took, I could afford to buy them from her.

“You’re stunning. More stunning that I imagined you being tonight, more beautiful than I thought you’d be when you dressed for our dinner tonight.”

I brushed my hands down my sides. “You say such pretty things, I’m not sure how to respond to them.”

He nodded toward the folders I’d left on the kitchen table. “Say yes. To me, not Jakobs.”

“I have some questions I want to ask first.”

“Very well.” He reached for my black, knee-length wool pea and lifted it off the back of the kitchen chair. “Shall we go then?”

“You’re not going to let me ask them?”

“Yes. But if you don’t come to me right now and get covered, I’m going to bend you over the table and then we’ll miss our reservation. And trust me—” He winked, warm eyes darkening in a delicious invite. “You’ll want to see what I have planned for dinner.”

The floor rocked beneath my feet as I stepped toward him. He always managed to keep me off balance, but like so many other things about him, I was learning his game.

He kept me topsy-turvy to keep me on edge, wanting him and craving more of him.

Well, he got it. He drove me mad with need and desire and as I turned my back to him, he helped me with my coat, lifting my hair and draping it over the top, fixing the collar.

“You’re being very amenable,” he murmured, pressing his lips to my ear. I shivered from the soft sensations, the hint of teasing in his tone. “I’m not sure which I like more, the obedient woman or the woman who challenges me at every turn.”

I clasped my clutch into my hand and turned to him, tilting my head up and grinning at him. “I can’t have you getting bored with me.”

A hint of uncertainty rang in my ears as I said the words but that immediately evaporated when his scalding eyes seared me in place.

“Never. Whatever you’re currently worried about, that should never be one of them.”

“God,” I breathed. “Just when I think I get your game, you change the rules.”

His hands curled around my shoulders and he bent his head. All hint of teasing was gone as he held me tightly. “Make no mistake, we might play games, Rebecca. We’ll play a lot of them. But none of them will ever be about how I feel about you.”