this over with so I can move on with my life. When we arrive at the hotel, I look at him and laugh. He thinks I’m going in there with him?
“Five minutes,” he says. “That’s all I ask. If you want to leave after that, I won’t stop you.”
“Fine,” I agree. “You have five minutes, but not in there. Right here.”
Ben’s eyes flicker to the cab driver, whose eyes dart back and forth like he’s watching a movie. I stifle a smile, because the only thing he’s missing is a bucket of popcorn.
“Okay.” Ben sighs, his shoulders rolling forward. He looks defeated. “I didn’t marry Tara.”
“Why not?” I gape at him. “You need to marry her so you can win the bet.”
“I don’t care about the bet,” he growls, his voice thick with emotion. He takes my hand and I don’t pull away. “What you heard me say to Jake was only half the story. If you’d kept listening, you would’ve heard me tell him that I didn’t care about the bet, that I was prepared to not go through with it if it meant I had a chance with you.”
I stare at him in wonder. I’d run off so quickly after hearing what he said. It’s possible he’s telling me the truth. I stare into his eyes and see nothing but sincerity. I believe him.
“That’s why I invited you to dinner,” he continues. “To tell you how much you mean to me. I never intended to go through with the marriage. I couldn’t do that to you.” He takes a deep breath and continues. “I couldn’t do it because I’m falling for you, Liv. All I can think about was how much I want a future with you. I want it all. Marriage, kids, the picket fence and you’re the only person I’ve ever seen myself wanting that all with.”
He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it, his dark eyes peering at me anxiously. There’s so much I want to say back to him, but I don’t trust myself to speak without bursting into tears.
“Now will you come up with me?” he teases.
I nod as I not so discreetly reach up to wipe the tears from my eyes.
“Finally.” We both look up to see the cab driver throwing his arms up in frustration. “Get out of here already.” Ben nods and pulls out his wallet, but the cab driver shakes his head. “No, no, this one’s on me. My wife would kill me if I charged you guys. She’s a romantic at heart.”
“Thanks,” Ben says earnestly.
I slide out of the car, Ben right behind me. He takes my hand as I gaze up at The Waldorf Astoria, one of the fanciest hotels in the country. Ben leads me inside, leaving me near the elevators while he picks up the key card from the reception desk.
The whole ride up to the penthouse, I can’t keep my hands, or my lips, off Ben. He presses me against the wall, his fingers slipping under my shirt. I stop and look down. Shit. I’m dressed in my worst sweatpants and an oversized shirt in a place like this.
“You look beautiful,” Ben assures me, reading my expression.
“I don’t but thank you.”
Any guy who can see the beauty in me when I look like this is definitely a keeper.
The doors open and we walk out into our penthouse and I gasp, my eyes welling with tears. The suite itself is incredible with the most beautiful view of the city, but that’s not what captures my attention. It’s everything else, within the room. The dozens of red roses all over the room, rose petals scattered on and around the bed, fine French champagne chilling in an ice bucket, and a massive platter of fruit and chocolates in the middle of the table, right next to a huge pink-frosted cake that reads ‘Happy Birthday’.
I edge closer to the table, where two little boxes sit, perfectly wrapped in the prettiest pink and white paper, tied with white ribbon. Part of me wants to kill Tara for telling him about my birthday, but the rest of me is so appreciative.
“You did all this?” I ask when I finally find my words.
He nods. “With a little help from Mason.”
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper. I spin around, taking everything in.
“Happy birthday,” Ben says. “From today forward, you’re going to learn to love this day.”
“Technically it’s tomorrow,” I correct.
“You know what I mean,” he growls.
My eyes fill with tears as I