Page 24 of Resisting the Temptation (Broken Shelves #3)

Ben

I hate parties. I hate that I’m expected to interact with people I don’t want to talk to and make small talk about their dogs, their kids, or their wives.

All while sipping expensive champagne and eating bland hors d'oeuvres.

My ex, Janessa, used to make me come with her to these events all the time because she was a reporter and needed to make connections.

It caused more than a few fights between us.

I can’t pretend to be nice to people I don’t know and don’t care about.

More often than not, she’d be bustling around talking to everyone while I stood in the corner alone, counting down the minutes until we could leave.

She was upset I didn’t try harder to be personable and make connections, I was upset she left me to fend for myself in a room full of strangers.

It’s been five years since we broke up, and I haven’t gone to a single party like this until now .

My father gets asked to come to these events quite often, but I never accept his invitation to join him. He loves showing off Mamà and making new friends.

Mamà loves supporting her husband and getting to dress up.

I don’t know how I’m the product of them because I’d rather be at home watching How It’s Made.

The only reason I agreed to come tonight was because of the promise of what’s to come afterwards with Emma.

Emma’s running late, but she hasn’t texted me to tell me why.

If we were at the club, I could punish her—

No, not the time.

She doesn’t need to tell me why she’s late. I’m not her boyfriend or even her date. We’re just fucking. All that matters is she’ll be here in time for us to go to the club together.

Still, it’d be polite to give a heads up.

“You look like you’re ready to get the hell out of here already,” Drew drawls from next to me.

“I am.”

“So why stick around? You haven’t bothered to come to these things before.”

I knew there’d be questions about why I’m suddenly making an appearance, so I have a valid answer at the ready. “I’ve never been invited to an event by Derek Allridge. I didn’t want to offend him by not showing up.”

Drew chuckles. “Since when do you care about offending anyone?”

“Since he finally offered a big job to Rossi. We need to present a united front. ”

Drew nods in agreement. “Makes sense. Personally, I can’t wait until it’s socially acceptable for me to leave. I finally got my membership request approved at The Temptation Lounge.”

One day at work a few months ago, Drew vented to me about how tough dating has been for him.

He asked me what my dating life was like and how I was meeting people.

I don’t know what compelled me to tell him about the club.

I don’t share my personal life, and I sure as hell don’t tell people about the kink club I go to.

I’ve never regretted it more than I do right now.

My glass of champagne freezes halfway to my mouth. “Oh?” I hope my voice comes out more calm than I feel. “You headed there tonight?”

“As soon as I can.”

Fuck.

I can’t take Emma to the club if Drew is going to be there. That would put us at risk of being caught, and I’m not ready for this thing to end yet.

I wonder if she would be willing to come to my place…

Before I fully finish forming a plan, the doors to the ballroom open, and I immediately know it’s her because it feels like all the oxygen is sucked out of my lungs. Time stands still as Emma enters the room looking like a fucking wet dream— my wet dream.

She’s wearing a floor length black dress with lace cap sleeves and a slit going almost all the way up to the top of her thigh, giving a peek at that damn garter tattoo that makes me feral.

That’s not even the worst part. The front of the dress dips down nearly to her navel, her ample breasts barely contained by the fabric hugging them.

It’s cinched at the waist, and the skirt flows over the curves of her hips like liquid.

Her heels are gold and wrap around her ankles, making her muscular calves look divine.

Her hair is styled in soft waves again, flowing behind her like a cape.

She’s got sharp wings of eyeliner accentuating her blue eyes, and her lips are painted a bold red.

My cock stirs at the thought of how good the color would look smeared all over my skin.

Drew whistles. “Damn. Emma looks amazing.”

I scowl. “That’s our coworker.”

Hypocrite.

Drew shrugs. “I’m just stating a fact. Everyone with eyes can see how good she looks. Besides, Derek’s already got her occupied with a guy from his team, I wouldn’t stand a chance anyway.”

I whip my head to where Drew is looking, and my blood simmers with something close to jealousy as Derek introduces Emma to whomever he’s with. Emma gives him a megawatt smile and shakes his hand, but I watch douchebro’s hand linger a little too long on Emma’s.

I can’t tell what they’re talking about, but Emma laughs at whatever he says, then nods enthusiastically before pulling out her phone and handing it to him.

You don’t own her. She can talk to anyone she wants. She can call this thing off at any time.

Why do I hate the thought so much?

Before I do something stupid like go over there and try to stake my claim, Mamà and Papà come over to greet me and Drew.

“Mrs. Rossi, you look dazzling as always,” Drew says as Mamà wraps him in a hug.

“ ?Basta! Drew, you charmer.” Mamà swats at his arm with a smile.

“The boy is right, vita mia, you are more dazzling than all the stars in the sky.” Papà places a gentle kiss on Mamà’s cheek, causing her to blush.

“ Gracias, mi amor. ” She returns his kiss, then turns her attention to me. “ Mi hijo, you look so handsome. Did you bring a date tonight?”

“ Gracias, Mamà. You look as beautiful as always.” I place a gentle kiss on her cheek, careful of her meticulously applied makeup. “No date for me.” Unless you count the appointment I have to fuck my coworker.

Mamà tsks and pushes her lips out in a disapproving pout.

Camila Rossi’s only wish for her children is to have a great love like she has with my dad, but so far, only my younger sister, Cecelia, has found her happily ever after, leaving my younger brother, Mateo, and I open for my mother’s scheming.

More than once, Mateo and I have gone over expecting a nice family dinner, only to be set up on a blind date with someone Mamà deemed the “right match.”

Papà leans in and whispers something in her ear, and Mamà’s face breaks out into a sly grin. A grin I know means she has something up her sleeve. Her brown eyes twinkle with mischief before she schools her expression.

“Ah, well, that’s okay. You are a busy man. Love will come along before you know it.” She pats me on the arm and gazes around the room.

My eyes immediately trail to Emma, and my heart does a weird kick .

Papà clears his throat. “Oh, look, vita mia, there’s Emma. Ben, will you introduce your Mamà to Emma? I must use the restroom.”

I don’t get a chance to respond before Mamà loops her arm through mine and tugs me in the direction Papà pointed, chattering away about how excited she is to finally meet the new project manager. How she’s heard such wonderful things about her.

Emma is in the middle of a conversation with an older couple I don’t recognize. When she sees us approaching, she politely ends the conversation and walks in our direction.

Mamà, disregarding the rules of society, immediately wraps Emma in her strong embrace. In her heels, Emma is about the same height as my mother, and I expect her to pull away or look uncomfortable, but to my surprise, she matches Mamà’s energy, wrapping her arms around her waist.

“Emma! It’s so nice to finally meet you. My husband has told me so much about you. But he and Benjamin failed to tell me how outrageously gorgeous you are,” Mamà gushes, brazenly looking Emma up and down before shooting me a knowing look.

Emma blushes but gives her a warm, genuine smile. “Hola, Senora Rossi . The pleasure is all mine. The picture in Enzo’s office doesn’t do your beauty justice. And thank you.”

“Thank you, bella. Call me Camila, please. And please excuse my son and his lack of manners.” She leans in and stage-whispers, “Sometimes pretty women make him a little tongue tied. ”

Emma’s blue eyes, alight with humor, meet mine as she replies, “That explains why he has such a hard time with words around me.”

I roll my eyes. The two of them meeting is already on my list of top five things I wish never happened, but there’s no stopping it now.

Mamá cackles, then abandons me to loop her arm with Emma, leaving me to my own devices.

Without anything else to do, I trail behind them like a lost puppy, trying not to stare at Emma’s ass and the way her hips sway as she walks.