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)
Instead of calling Ben, I called Ford and asked him to meet me for a drink. When I joined him at our favorite lesser-known bar, he studied me closely. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing you don’t already know about.”
“That’s bullshit. You don’t just ask to go out for midweek drinks when there’s not something to talk about.”
“Can’t I simply want to spend an evening with a friend?”
“Miles.”
The word held layers of meaning. “Dammit, I think you might be right.”
Ford snorted. “Those are words I always love to hear, but what am I right about in particular?”
“Benjamin.”
He grinned. “Of course I am.”
I drummed my fingers on the table feeling like I was going to come out of my skin. “This can’t be happening.”
“You honestly thought you could go the rest of your life and not feel anything for anyone.”
Had I thought that? “I feel things.”
“Not romantically.”
I hadn’t thought I needed that in my life. “I made a promise to myself—”
“You can’t stop yourself from getting hurt.”
Couldn’t I? “You seem to have done all right.”
Ford laughed, but it sounded bitter. “That’s because for some reason I’m only attracted to idiots.”
For as long as I’d known him, Ford had a series of relationships that seemed to go very well for a few months, then blow up in his face in a dramatic way. I had my thoughts as to why that was, but this wasn’t the time to talk about it.
“You really do care for Ben, don’t you?” Ford asked.
“Yes. I don’t know what it is. He just…. From the moment I saw him, I knew he was mine.”
Ford sighed. “You’re such a romantic. It’s time you stopped closing off that part of yourself.”
“I didn’t want to be a romantic, but now…I don’t think I have a choice.”
“How dangerous is this going to be for the company?”
“He’s innocent, Ford.”
He studied me closely. “Do you have evidence of that?”
“I’ve tested him, given him information no one else has but me. It’s never been leaked.”
“And when he finds this out?”
“There’s no reason for him to—”
“Miles, if you want to make something lasting with him, you can’t leave him in the dark about this. You have to tell him you know about his background.”
How was I supposed to tell him that and not have him hate me? But how could I not tell him when he would likely find out? “Surely he knows I would’ve done a thorough background check on him.”
“That’s one thing. Testing him is another.”
This wasn’t helping. I should have just gone home after work. “You’re supposed to be making me feel better, not worse.”
“The question is, what do you want to feel better about?”
“Damn, I should’ve just called Worth.”
“He would have suggested you go drinking and hook up with somebody else to see if it felt as good.”
I would never have agreed to that. “I don’t want anyone else.”
“Damn, this is serious.”
“I want to take Ben home for the weekend.”
Ford narrowed his eyes. “He’s not a pet you’re considering adopting.”
I wasn’t really thinking of him like that, was I? “I’m not sure Worth would agree with you.”
“Do you want to match your standards to his?”
I laughed. “Never.”
“So there’s not been anyone else since you met him?”
“No.”
“April didn’t track you down after the gala?”
I shuddered at the thought. “I would have sent her on her way, but I left the gala with Ben.”
“So he’s already been to your place?”
“We went to my office. He needed some time to recover after his encounter with Medford.”
“And you were very willing to help him with that?”
I ignored that jab. “I don’t know how I’m going to get any work done now. I think about him all the time. I just want to stay locked in my office with him.”
“Jesus, Miles.”
I grinned. “I can’t help it.”
“You? With your iron self-control? Really?”
I rolled my eyes. “You know you’re the one who’s all buttoned up and controlled.”
“Keep talking about fucking at the office, and I am going to be the one hanging out with Worth tonight.”
“You know you’d hate that.”
He shrugged. “The next day, yes, but not in the moment.”
“No one really hates it in the moment.”
His mouth turned up in a sly smiled. “Except you said you would now, unless you were with Ben.”
“There’s no reason for it to be anyone but Ben.”
“He’s that willing to follow you into depravity?”
Compared to Worth, I’d never even come near depravity. “I’m a rich man fucking his assistant. It’s hardly novel in terms of depravity.”
“True. It’s almost too cliché, and I bet he’s feeling that.”
“I’m not ready to talk to him about…more than what we’re doing right now.” I could barely get the words out.
“You don’t have to be, but make sure he knows the score, whatever that is. If he really is just your obsession of the week then—”
Hot anger burst through me. “He’s so much more than that.”