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Chapter 7

Ben

I promised myself I would do things the right way.

I had promised her brother I would take care of her. And I knew if I allowed anything physical to happen between us too early on, I’d end up ruining things, and in turn failing to follow through on my part of the deal.

But damn if it hadn’t taken everything in me to pull away from her.

I thought I knew what I was doing, but every inch of me yearned for her.

“Okay, remind me to tell Mols to thank her co-worker, because this place is fantastic,” Gemma said as she finished up the last bite of her spinach and mushroom ravioli. “It’s like an orgasm in my mouth.”

The couple next to us eyed her with a look of annoyance. We both broke out into laughter. “I can’t take you anywhere, can I? Always so inappropriate,” I teased.

“Did you happen to forget what took place outside? Because I could remind you, if you’d like.” She leaned back in her chair with a prideful smile wide on her lips, lips that were nearly impossible for me to tear my gaze from.

“You are determined to destroy me, aren’t you?”

She shrugged. “Maybe, though I doubt you’re actually opposed to me doing so.”

“You’re pushing it, Gem.”

“Is that so?” She smiled as she took a sip from her soda. “I’ve gotta say, I enjoy seeing you uneasy. It’s a nice change.”

“That makes one of us, then,” I countered.

Before Gemma, I had never been one to be undone by a girl. Not to say I was anywhere near as terrible as Nate was with women, either. I was a human being, and like everyone else, I still had needs. But I’d never been great at committing to relationships.

I liked to believe I wasn’t a complete dick when it came to dating—which I had no problem admitting I could be, at times—but I always told myself if I was going to commit to someone, I had to believe that there would be a future with that person, that the relationship would actually go somewhere. And then Gemma Michaels came along and I realized everything I’d been holding out for lay with her.

“So, what else do you have planned for tonight? Or is that a secret, too?” She leaned forward on the table and rested her head atop her hand. I tried to steer clear of staring at her chest, but the way she was positioned? It was rather difficult.

Keep your dick in your pants, Ben, I reminded myself.

“Well, I was going to tell you, but I’m thinking I’ll keep it a surprise.”

“Jackass,” she teased.

“Hey now, don’t get mad at me. You get to pick which surprise it is.”

“Oh?” She shot me an amused glance as she leaned back in her chair. “Well, what are my options, then?”

I laid my palms out on the table. “My right hand represents option number one, and my left hand represents option number two.”

“Way to be specific, Benjamin.” The grin on her face grew wider as she took note of the annoyance covering my face. “Don’t give me that look. Two can play this game, Benny Boy.”

“This is true.” I reached forward and wrapped my hands around hers, just to see how she would respond. All at once, her body seemed to tense, and I could have sworn I’d heard a slight hitch in her breathing. “So, I’ll ask you again. Option one or option two?”

“Two.” I could sense her nervousness as she struggled to speak. “I choose option two.”

“Excellent choice,” I assured her.

“You know, I’m beginning to question my choice,” she joked.

“Have a little faith in me, will you?”

“That’s the problem,” she mumbled, her voice barely audible over the chatter throughout the restaurant. “I do.”