Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Fury consumed me, and I punched the bastard hard enough to send him sprawling. I drew back my fist to hit him again as he struggled to his knees, but a hand around my arm stopped me.
“Miles, don’t.” I turned toward Ben. The color was gone from his face, and instantly nothing mattered more than him.
Security guards arrived seconds later. I turned to them, and Ben keep his hold on me. “Get this scum out of here. If he returns, have him arrested.”
“Yes, sir.”
One on the men reached for Medford, but he shook them off, saying, “I’m leaving.”
They followed him toward the door. I ignored the interested crowd that had gathered on the patio and focused on Ben.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. You didn’t have to—”
“Yes, I did.”
He met my gaze. “You punched him.”
“I sure did. I might have killed him if you hadn’t stopped me.”
“Miles, I’m okay.”
“But he didn’t intend for you to be, and it’s my job to protect you.”
“Because I’m your employee?”
I chose not to answer, flexing my fingers instead. Damn they were going to be bruised.
“Do you need some ice?” Ben asked.
I could manage without it. I could stay here, circulate, and try to squash whatever rumors were flying about the incident. That would be the smart thing to do, but asking Ben to get me ice would give me a chance to be alone with him, and that was so much more attractive. I had PR people to handle the gossip.
“I would love for you to ice my hand.”
“I could just bring you—”
I shook my head. “Let’s go to my office.”
He gave me a confused look.
“My office is quiet, and I have an ice machine under my mini bar.”
“I’m not sure….”
“Come with me. I need some time away and it will give you a chance to recover after…” I waved a hand around. “All this.”
He looked down at my hand. “You do need ice.”
I nodded, happy to let him care for me.
“They’re keeping Mrs. Weeks’s dessert in the kitchen. I was going to get it for her when she was ready to go.”
I chuckled. “Knowing her, she won’t leave until they kick her out. She loves dancing.” I glanced inside and saw her twirling around with Robert. “Trust me. She’s fine.”
“Okay.”
“Let me call my PR director. This will only take a moment.” When I was done with the call, I held out the hand that wasn’t throbbing. He took it and the warmth of his skin made me smile. I led him to a different exit from the rooftop garden, one that wouldn’t require us to walk through the crowd of guests.
As we stepped inside, Ben hesitated, “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
I grinned. “No, but I want to do it anyway. What about you?”
“Yeah, I do.” He looked away, but he tightened his grip on my hand.
I let go of his hand before we exited the elevator. He didn’t deserve to be caught up even further in my latest scandal. As long as we looked professional, it was perfectly normal to bring my assistant back to my office. It might not be normal to punch a man on his behalf, but I had a damn good reason, and my PR director would spin it for me. Gossip couldn’t really touch me. I’d become immune to it by the time I was out of college, but I would do anything necessary to keep it from hurting Ben.
When we reached my office, Ben headed for the bathroom. He grabbed a washcloth and filled it with ice from the bar. Once he’d handed it to me, I dutifully placed it against my aching knuckles.
“This office really is equipped with everything,” he said.
I grinned. “Only the best for me.”
“Right.”
“Like you.”
His eyes widened. “W-what do you mean?”
“You’re the best.”
“I told you I was good at my job.” He tried to act sassy as he said it, but I could see the unease in his eyes.
“You are very good at your job, and you’re also….”
“Mr. Montgomery?”
I moved closer to him. “Benjamin, I’m used to getting what I want.”
He nodded. “I’m sure you are.”
“I didn’t like seeing Medford talking to you and when he touched you, I would have killed him if there hadn’t been so many witnesses.”
He tilted his head to the side, clearly trying to decide how serious I was. “I…um…I appreciate you rescuing me.”
“I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“That’s not your job.”
“What if I want it to be.”
“I’m not sure…. What do you….”
Was he really going to let me dance around it like that? Would he never ask what it was that I wanted? No, he wouldn’t. I was going to have to spell it out. I was going to have to cross that line myself, but I’d always been one to take risks. I sure as hell wouldn’t be where I was now if I hadn’t been.