Page 4 of Hot n Bothered

“ W ait, there’s a queue.” Isobelle said as Ben pulled her past it. He’d insisted on them holding hands as soon as they stepped out of the car.

“I have a reservation.” He shot her a look. “I’m not doing that I’m a celebrity crap you know.”

“I know. I know you, you’d never do that.”

His smile was blinding, she could hear sighs from the queue, along with excited whispers about whether he was the Hot n Bothered man or not.

He didn’t even need to give his name to the greeter, she took one look at him and clicked her radio twice.

What looked like the owner immediately came up to them.

“Mr Wallace, what a delight. I am so glad you decided to dine with us tonight. If you will follow me, we have reserved our best table for you. We have a bottle of our finest champagne, curtesy of the house of course…”

“Oh no thank you.” Ben said. “I’m driving and Belle doesn’t like champagne. You really don’t have to go to any trouble. We just want a quiet date, nothing special please.”

He looked at Isobelle as though finally seeing her for the first time. Eyes raking over her then taking in their held hands. Surprise flickered across his face, before it smoothed over to pure professionalism.

“Of course. Becky will be your server. Remove that and get a drinks menu.” He said to a slim and very pretty woman stood by the table.

She grabbed the bucket and glasses from the table and scurried away. He smiled widely to them and gestured for them to sit. “If you need anything just ask Becky. I’m Ian if there are any issues.” He nodded his head and left.

“Why didn’t you take the free champagne?” Isobelle asked.

“Like I said, driving and you’ve always said you don’t like it. Why do you want it back?”

“I don’t, because you’re right I don’t. But what happened to a couple of glasses with a meal should be fine?”

“You happened.” He wasn’t looking at her, instead he was reading the menu.

“What do you mean by that?”

He finally lifted his eyes to hers. “I mean you with your arguments about how the limit should be zero because alcohol affects everyone differently and it also depends on how much you’ve had to eat, when you last had water and a million other factors.

That’s why I’m not drinking tonight, because you'll be in the car.”

“Oh.” She hadn’t realised he was listening when she was having a go at Joey because he claimed he could easily have three pints and be safe to drive.

She could feel her face flush under his scrutiny, now she felt guilty that he wasn't drinking because he thought she'd nag him. So she avoided it by looked down at her menu. She flicked through the pages, then flicked back frowning. Was this right? They all looked like starters.

“Hello I’m Becky. I’ll be serving you tonight.” Blonde Becky was back and only had eyes for Ben. “Here is our drinks menu.” Both were placed in front of him. “Just let me know if you need anything.” Oh she was definitely flirting with him.

Isobelle was watching all this with amusement. This was a prime example of why she said this wouldn’t work. No one in their right mind would believe the two of them were together.

“Have you dined with us before?” Becky’s voice had dropped slightly, her hip tilted towards him.

Isobelle pulled out her phone.

Looks like Becky is on the menu

She texted him.

She’s going to do a hair flip

Ben glanced down at his smart watch to read the messages and shot her a look.

“No we haven’t”

Becky gave a giggle. “Well as the name suggests we only serve starters. Depending on how hungry you are we suggest two to three dishes per person.” She flipped her hair, with a coy smile.

Called it

Ben coughed to hide his laugh.

“Although some.” She finally shot a glance at Isobelle. “May find they’d prefer more.” She looked back to Ben. “Would you like me to recommend anything?”

Nicely done insult without saying it outright. She’s a pro

“No thank you. We’d like a few minutes please.”

“Alright. I’ll be back.”

Isobelle was chuckling before she’d even left the table, that was an impressive display of flirting.

“What do you mean insult? What insult?” Poor man looked so confused.

“Oh come on, the whole eat more whilst throwing side eye to the fatty?”

He scowled. “You’re not a fatty.”

She narrowed her eyes. “If you dare say I’m cuddly I swear I will slap you.”

“What’s wrong with being cuddly?”

“Because it still means fat, but also implies that I’m too stupid to realise you’re still calling me fat.”

“I’m not calling you fat. Fuck’s sake Belle, why would you think that? When have I ever said that?”

Why did he look so angry with her? After all she was the one that had just been insulted.

“Calm down. I never said you did. But you have eyes, as do I. We both know I’m overweight, so yes fat. Her flirting with you when you’re supposed to be on a date is just proof that this won’t work.”

“Are you jealous?” He had that mischievous look in his eyes. “Because you know I only have eyes for my one and only, my goddess divine, she who owns my heart and soul. My glorious Belle.”

She laughed at his dramatics. “So bloody ridiculous. No I’m not jealous.” Well maybe a little, but he wasn’t going to know that. “But no one will believe that you love someone like me.”

“I wish you would stop saying such bullshit. You…”

“Excuse me? But you’re Ben right? Hot n Bothered Ben?”

Isobelle smirked at Ben’s quickly hidden grimace. For someone who made his living being so seen, he hated being recognised when they were out. Obviously the group totally gave him grief for it each and every time.

“Yes he is.” She said pleasantly. “Would you like me to take a picture?”

“Oh my God that would be wonderful. Thank you.” The girl didn’t see the glare Ben shot her as she was too busy opening her phone and passing it to Isobelle.

Unfortunately that opened the floodgates for others to come up and ask. She could see how conflicted he was, he hated disappointing fans, but also hated this side of his success.

“Look I’m just trying to have a nice meal with my girlfriend.” He finally said, gesturing to her.

Why had he said that? Now everyone was staring at her and she could feel her face growing so red. Thankfully that seemed to work and they were left alone after Becky took their order.

“Whomever came up with the idea for this restaurant is a genius.” She said. “Best things on a menu are usually the starters.”

“Why do you think I chose it?” He grinned at her. “Oh hang on. Gimmie your hand.”

“Why?”

“Don’t argue with your man, do as you’re told.” He pulled his phone out and gestured for her hand.

“Bossy.”

“You love it.” He winked at her before taking pictures of their joined hands on the table.

“I tolerate it because I don’t have the energy to argue with you right now.”

“Work giving you grief?” He glanced up from his phone at her silence. “What’s happened Belle?”

She sighed. “Darren hasn’t told you?”

“Told me what?”

“Well, this stupid holiday. I’ve been stressing over it and Darren stupidly insisting I should send off my stories to agents and he paid for that website to find them and help me with honing my writing so my anxiety is through the roof over it all so my panic attacks started getting worse and I had one too many at work and they said it would be better for me, for my mental health if I found work elsewhere.

” She rushed out in one panicked breath.

“Ah Belle.” He said softly, retaking her hand that was tapping nervously on the table. “I can’t believe they said that to you. But let’s look on the positive side. You now have plenty of time to write.”

“What’s the point? They all suck anyway. I’m never going to hear back from them, they’re probably all laughing I… Ow!” She glared at him. “Why did you pinch me?” She tried to pull her hand back, but he wouldn’t let her.

“I’ve decided to practice negative reinforcement.” He shrugged. “Every time you’re too hard on yourself I’m going to pinch you.”

“That’s abuse and didn’t scientists prove that positive reinforcement works better?”

“I would do that, but in the eight years I’ve known you, the only nice thing you’ve ever said about yourself is your glasses are cute.” He rubbed his thumb gently over where he had pinched her.

“Well they are cute.” She muttered.

He gave that sexy half-smile of his. “Yes they are cute and they make you look cuter when wearing them. I swear if you roll your eyes I’ll pinch you again.”

She glared at him. “Pinch me and I’ll smack you. Actually no. I’ll let all your followers know you love to sing along to Disney hits. A thirty-three-year-old man with no kids who knows all the words to Moana.”

“And both Frozen films, and Encanto, and Coco, and Beauty and the Beast. Actually all of them.” He shrugged. “I don’t care if they know. Now back to you being nice about yourself. If you want treats then you have to say something positive about yourself. Think you can manage that?”

“Depends on the treat.”

He leaned forward, eyes never leaving hers. “I kiss you wherever you want.”