Twisted Love (Modern Romance #3) - Piper Lawson Page 0,3

has me smirking. “You just like the excuse to play Fortnite as a grown man.”

“Don’t question my masculinity,” he drawls. “This is two-thousand-dollar tequila.”

I cut him a look. “I didn’t realize spending some people’s mortgage payment on a bottle of alcohol made you legit.”

Ben has steady brown eyes that see far too much, a sharp jaw, strong nose, and carved lips that make you want to trace them with a finger to see if there's any give at all.

Now, those lips curve in a wry grin as he clinks his glass to mine. I drain mine and set it on the table.

“That was meant to be enjoyed,” he says.

“Trust me, I enjoyed it. I lost a big client, but it’s fine.” I take a deep breath, lifting the controller and navigating through menus as I get us set to play. “Ready?” I ask, and he nods.

We spend a few minutes getting into the gameplay. We’ve done the opening enough before that we don’t even need to talk, our cooperative strategy is so synced.

Eventually I say, “I’m pitching Richard Vane Monday. His new chain of couples-only retreats.”

Ben chuckles. “You’ll size up his business, find all the details no one—even him—sees, and show him exactly why he’s been lost without you.”

I warm at the praise.

I’m good at what I do, and my staff is, too. But sometimes when I’m trying something outside my comfort zone, like landing a huge client, it helps to hear it from another person I admire.

“Watch out. I’ve got your wing.”

“On it.” I focus on the game for a few minutes before things settle in and my awareness returns to the room. “I liked the picture of Jet. Was that at LAX?”

“On the BMW sailboat at the Oracle campus. You have no idea what I had to do to get him there.”

He’s been sending me pics of the ceramic dog on every trip since I got it for him.

“See how he’s grown on you? When I presented him to you as your MBA graduation gift, you weren’t impressed,” I say.

“You got him at a yard sale.”

“The best things come from yard sales. Besides, you said you wanted a private jet one day.”

“Uh-huh. And do you remember what you told me?” I bite my cheek and he continues. “You said, and I quote, ‘You don’t need a hunk of flying steel, you need something to teach you how to love. But it would be irresponsible of me to get you a real dog, so I got you this.’”

Ben curses at the screen as sudden fire comes in from an enemy. “I got hit. Keep going.”

His avatar falls to the ground, wounded. I know it’s not really Ben, but I hate the sight of him lying there. “I’ll heal you. Don’t move.”

“That’s not the plan. Just go.”

I take a hit on the screen. More fire comes in.

“D, just go.”

The exasperation in his tone doesn’t stop me. I’m determined to heal him, until...

I die, then we’re both toast.

“Why can’t you leave me?”

I set down the controller and turn toward him, leaning an elbow on the seat of the couch. “Because I can’t,” I say simply.

Ben sets down his controller and reaches for his glass, his strong arms flexing. He narrows his dark eyes at me over the rim as he takes a sip. “You’re too good for me,” he says when he’s done.

That’s not true. Not even close.

“Why did you miss your flight?” I ask, propping my head in my hand.

“There was a surprise call notifying me that I’m a finalist for a big venture award next month. It hasn’t been announced publicly, but Xavier’s on the awards committee. He wants to talk tomorrow morning.”

“It’s a big deal,” I say, reading between the lines. The senior partner at the prominent venture firm calls the big shots, but my friend is a rising star. His first few years at the company, the investments he backed had more than twice the returns of anyone else's.

“Rumor is Xavier is retiring in a couple of years. This award would be a big step toward being named his successor. Not only would I decide on deals, I’d get to influence the venture landscape in a whole new way.”

“That’s great, Benji.”

His eyes crinkle at the corners, a glint of satisfaction in them as he tugs on his hair. “It is.”

There’s no cockiness in it, though he’s more than capable of it. But when it’s the two of us, his walls come down. He’s worked hard to get