Twisted Love (Modern Romance #3) - Piper Lawson Page 0,36

because you eat out for work every night."

"Well, this one's on me."

Her lips curve and she looks pointedly at my pocket.

“Again,” I grunt as I reach for the AmEx in my wallet and hand it over. “On me again.”

11

“The Connexion account is coming up for renewal in a few weeks,” Rena says from across the table. “They seemed pleased with our work the last quarter, and their new genealogy product is doing well.”

Despite her words, I’m not convinced. They’re my client, but Rena’s been handling them since the Vane work started.

“Let’s meet with them. They had a rough quarter this time last year, and I want to head off any chance of repeating.”

I look up to see Rena and Kendall staring past me. I turn to follow their gazes.

Ben strides across our lobby from the elevator. He's dominance, elegance, a combination of ease and strength that's endlessly attractive. His suit fits him to perfection, blue with a tie a few shades lighter that sets off his dark, wavy hair, clinging to the hard planes and strong lines of his body.

I take the excuse to devour him with my gaze. He’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. Ben might have traded his jeans in college for Hugo Boss, but I'm not complaining.

Or if I am, it’s because he’s far too appealing for his own good, or for mine.

He leans in the open conference room door. “Hey, Rena. Kendall.”

Since the climbing gym, he seems different. As if he's present with me, but running some private game behind those dark eyes.

“You ready for dinner?” he asks, catching me staring.

“Hmm? Yes. I lost track of time.” I make a note on my computer before shutting my notebook. “Rena, I’ll find us a time to meet Connexion in person. I don’t want any surprises.”

She shifts out of her chair, adjusting her sleek blond ponytail. “I’ll do it. You guys go out on your date.”

“Thank you,” Ben says dryly. “She owes me.”

“I tricked him out of dinner the other night,” I explain.

“You’re conniving.”

“You say that like it’s a compliment,” I reply as Kendall and Rena leave and I head for my office, Ben on my heels.

“It is.”

I set my computer on my desk and grab lipstick out of my drawer. It’s my turn to catch him staring as I reapply it.

“I’ve never seen a woman put on lipstick. It’s sexy."

He’s leaning near the door, a relaxed animal that could spring into action at any moment.

“Really?” I ask.

“Yes. It makes me imagine how you’d wear it off.”

Heat floods my body at his husky voice. I gather my things and he meets me in the middle of the small office.

"Ben...why are you doing this?”

He frowns. "I want to be a good boyfriend. Does there have to be a reason?"

Yes. Because if there's not, I'm going to start imagining you just want to. I was concerned it might be hard to pull off this charade, but the only hard part is remembering this is supposed to be for show.

As he leads me out of the office, I can’t help turning over how the last couple of days I’ve been slammed with work, but when I’m not, I think of him. As much as I care for him, I’ve always tried to confine him to part of my mind, and my heart. He’s bleeding into the rest of my consciousness.

The desire on his face feels real. The warmth in his eyes can’t possibly stop at friendship. Can it?

We reach street level and he holds the door, his hand on my back as I pass through. He falls into step next to me.

“You going to tell me where we’re eating?” I ask.

“It’s a surprise.”

“I guess I am hungry. I’ve been trying to troubleshoot some clients and missed lunch today.”

“Then it’s a good thing I came to collect you. Can’t have my girlfriend starving.”

We take the subway a handful of stops, and when we emerge, it’s another block to the side door of a walk-up. The restaurant is on an open rooftop, strung with fairy lights. It’s simple and elegant, not to mention romantic.

I smile at the setup. “This is beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it.” His boyish grin looks pleased. “I’ve never brought anyone here.”

We take our seats at a reserved table, one of only half a dozen on the rooftop, and I tilt my face up to take in the waning fall sky.

The woman who comes out to greet us looks to be midforties and strong, her hair tugged back