When She's Bad (19 page)
“You’d rather have a take-out chili dog than go to a nice restaurant?”
She nodded. “I’ve been good all day. Now I want something bad and messy.”
I could give her something bad and messy that would last all night
, he thought, feeling himself grow hard at the prospect. Lately he felt like he spent half his waking and non-waking hours hard. Now he could add heartburn to the mix, but he was determined to prove to Delilah that his interest in her was legitimate. He knew she was trying to hide her sadness over Willy’s absence. He also knew she needed to get out of her condo.
“Okay, grab your jacket and let’s go,” he said.
“You’d rather have a take-out chili dog with me than go to a restaurant with someone else?”
“I’d like to do both, but since you have a prejudice against my family name, we’ll take the low-profile route.” He helped her put on her leather jacket.
She frowned at him. “I’m not prejudiced.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Am not.”
“Are too until infinity,” he said.
She shot him a double-take, her lips twitching. “Am not.”
He opened the door and motioned for her to proceed. “What kind of work were you doing today?”
“Crunching numbers,” she said as they walked to the elevator and got on. “I want to add self-tanning showers. They’re showers that spit out a fine mist of self-tanner solution so you don’t end up with an uneven tan. We have tanning beds, but there’s no way around the fact that they’re bad for you. Our chief esthetician is always hanging an
OUT OF ORDER
sign on the doors for the tanning beds. I think these new showers will go over like gang-busters. They’re just not cheap.”
“You want the spa to be state-of-the-art,” he said.
She nodded. “And still keep some of the older services too.”
“Sounds like Howard left the spa management in good hands.”
She shrugged and they walked out of the elevator. “He taught me a lot.”
“Oh, you’re not going to go humble on me, now, are you?” he teased. “Who would you say is honestly the best person for your job?”
She shoved her hands into the pockets of her black leather jacket and made a face. “Me, me and me. Satisfied?”
They turned a corner and strolled toward the tiny restaurant. “Not by a long shot,” he muttered more to himself than to her.
“What about you? What did you do today?”
“Played golf with my brother, father and the state attorney general.”
“Power golf.”
“Not exactly. My father wasn’t speaking to me for half the round. He’s still upset that I’m not joining his firm.”
“Nothing personal, but your father sounds like a prick,” Delilah said as they entered the restaurant.
Benjamin chuckled. “You’re not the first to say so.”
“I don’t understand his problem. You graduated in law with honors. You’re gainfully employed and getting ready to start your own practice. What’s not to like?”
“Control. He likes to have control.”
She made a face. “That would drive me nuts. How does your mother handle it?”
“She takes anti-anxiety medication and is in ten bridge clubs.”
“But you want a different life,” she said, studying him.
He nodded. “I always have. It just took me awhile to figure out exactly what that was.”
“And exactly what is that?”
“Aren’t you the curious girl. Let’s order,” he said and they did. Two hot dogs loaded, chips on the side and sodas. The restaurant provided complimentary mints.
After they got their dogs and Delilah grabbed a stack of extra napkins, they sat at a corner table. “I’m not letting you out of it that easily. What exactly do you want?” She took a bite of her hot dog and gave a moan of approval.
Benjamin couldn’t help remembering how she’d moaned when they’d made love, but he dragged his mind away from the images. “My own practice where I can negotiate the ground rules with a reasonable partner. I want to be with people who aren’t with me just because of my name.”
“Interesting,” she said. “It’s sorta the reverse of my situation.” She ran her tongue along the edge of the bun. “So that’s part of the reason you spend so much time with me? Because I’m not bowled over by the Huntington name.”
“Partly,” he admitted. “I’m waiting for you to admit that you’re bowled over by me.”
She widened her eyes in surprise then made a
tsk
ing sound. “Careful. Your family arrogance is showing.”
“It’s not arrogance,” he said, taking a bite of his own hot dog. “You like having me around, but you’re afraid that all I want is sex with you.”
“And you don’t want sex with me?” she asked, her voice full of skepticism.
“I want that and more,” he said.
Silence fell between them and she concentrated on consuming her hot dog. “Why?” she finally asked in frustration, breaking the silence. “Why? Why? Why?”
“Because you’re an original. You’ll go to the wall to keep your promises and protect those you love. I’ve been around enough to know that’s rare.”
She sighed, setting down the tiny corner of her bun. She looked as if he had discovered her secret and she wasn’t sure she was pleased about it. “I don’t love easily.”
“I know,” he said, but he suspected she’d never come up against his brand of determination.
She threw down her napkin. “I don’t know why we’re talking about this. You’ll change your mind.”
The accusation irritated him, but he let it pass. “What are you going to do to entertain me now?”
She blinked. “Me entertain you? Why?”
“Because I bought you this scrumptious meal that is guaranteed to give me heartburn.”
“So I owe you?”
“We can go back to your place and dance again.”
Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “Okay, I’ll take you to my favorite tourist site in Houston. You drive.”
Several minutes later, Benjamin illegally parked near the famous water wall. Delilah grabbed his hand and dragged him into the center of the sixty-plus-foot waterfall. The roar of thousands of gallons of water surrounded them.
“I haven’t been here in a long time,” he said.
“I go at least once a month.” She stepped closer to the falls and closed her eyes.
He’d never seen her look so peaceful. He’d never seen any woman he’d been involved with so delighted by something so inexpensive. He stepped closer to her.
She opened her eyes and leaned against him. “The world fades away in here.” Her eyes turned sad. “I was planning to bring Willy here when he started to walk.”
“You still can,” he said. “Nicky will let you, won’t she?”
“I think so,” she said. “I just thought things would turn out differently. I miss him like the dickens.”
“He got into your heart,” Benjamin said. Like
he
planned to.
“Yep, he did.”
He slid his arm around her and stood there with her for several moments. The pounding water seemed to wash away his frustration.
“I read something about this place in the paper recently,” he said.
“What?” she asked, curiosity lighting her eyes.
“It was voted the number-one most romantic place to kiss.”
“That isn’t why I came here,” she told him, returning her gaze to the wall.
“You sure?” he taunted. “You’ve been determined to have your wicked way with me since that night we spent together.”
“My wicked way,” she protested. “You’re the one who was such a stickler for that three for me and one for you rule. Control freak.”
“You didn’t like it,” he said, pulling her closer to the wall so that they felt the mist on their faces, and the force of the water sounded like thunder.
“I didn’t say that,” she said, stretching her hand out to touch the shimmering wall. “How many women have you kissed here?”
“None. How many men have you kissed here?”
She shook her head and met his gaze. “None, but you’ll do,” she said and lifted her mouth to his.
Benjamin took her lips and felt the magic swim around them. Her lips and face were damp and cool from the mist, but they quickly warmed. She pressed herself flush against him, as if she couldn’t get close enough. He sensed her release a fraction of her reserve toward him. He could feel she trusted him a little more today than she had yesterday.
She pulled back, breathless, and her eyes were filled with wary wonder, as if she was finally feeling the power that flowed between them. Maybe she was finally getting the message.
The right man is like WD-40: He keeps his woman … well, you figure it out.
—D
ELILAH’S
D
ICTUM
O
n Monday morning, Delilah peeked out of her office to ask Sara for a file and spotted flowers on her assistant’s desk. Paul stood in the doorway chatting.
“Lovely flowers, Sara. Who are they from?”
Sara colored prettily and shot Paul a furtive glance. “I, uh—”
“They’re from me,” Paul said.
Surprise raced through her. “You?” She looked at Sara in amazement. “When did this happen? I must express my complete approval. Is he as good in bed as he looks?”
Sara opened her mouth then closed it and cleared her throat. “As a matter of fact, he is.”
Delilah chuckled. “Is this serious?”
“I’m trying,” Paul said. “Trying to get her pregnant.”
“Paul!” Sara said. Their feelings for each other were obvious. Delilah was flabbergasted. And envious.
Now, that’s stupid
, she told herself. The last thing she needed was romance or a baby. She thought of Willy and felt a twinge of pain. Delilah gave herself a hard mental shake. What she needed was to get Guy Crandall neutered and to purchase a self-tanner shower.
Lilly Bradford burst into the office suite with a desperate expression on her face. “I need to talk to you,” she said to Delilah.
Sara shot Delilah a questioning glance. Delilah just nodded. “It’s okay. Come into my office. Sara, please hold my calls.” She glanced at Sara and Paul and smiled. “Congrats.”
Lilly looked at the flowers. “Oh, they’re pretty. It must be in the air. I got some yesterday,” she said as she followed Delilah into her office. As soon as Delilah closed the door, Lilly’s composure slipped. “Guy Crandall left a note on my front porch yesterday!”
Delilah scowled. “He called me the other day, but I was sick so I had to hang up on him.”
“We’ve got to do something or he’s going to destroy my chances of marrying Robert,” Lilly said, her eyes filling with tears.
Delilah sighed. “I’m working on it. I really am. Next Monday I’m getting some help and—”
Lilly gasped. “You’re hiring a hit man?”
“No,” she said. “Although I’ve fantasized his demise using several horrible, painful methods.” She studied Lilly. “Any progress with Robert? Any chance you can move up the wedding date?”
Lilly sighed in disgust. “We haven’t even set a wedding date. His father wants it to be the social event of the year.”
“Yeah, Benjamin told me he’s a prick.”
“Benjamin said that?”
“No. He just described him and I sorta filled in the blanks.” Delilah thought of possible solutions. “Maybe you could get pregnant.”
Lilly’s eyes popped wide open in horror. “How?”
“The usual way,” Delilah said.
“I’m on the pill.”
“Damn, so you’ve finally done the deed. Was he any good?”
Lilly opened her mouth and worked her jaw, but made no sound.
“That either means it was really good or really bad,” Delilah concluded.
Lilly pushed her blonde hair behind one of her ears, a sure sign she was flustered because Lilly
always
covered her Dumbo ears. “I suppose it’s a matter of perspective,” she said with a sniff. “Robert left roses on my front porch before he went golfing yesterday.”
“Hmm,” Delilah said, studying Howard’s daughter. “But how was it for you?”
“It was fine,” Lilly said a little too quickly. “Fast, but fine.”
“It’s none of my business—”
“Exactly,” Lilly said, getting a snippy tone in her voice.
“A quickie may be fine every now and then. Exciting, forbidden. But it’s better not to make a habit of it. It’s better to make them work for it, to put some time into it. That way, you get what you want and he gets that juvenile rush of making a touchdown.”
A knock sounded on the door and Sara looked inside. “No telephone call, but I didn’t think you would mind these,” she said, bringing in a beautiful bouquet of red-tipped ivory roses. She set the vase on the desk and waited expectantly.
Lilly made an
oooh
sound. “They’re gorgeous. They remind me of those rare roses named after a celebrity. Who sent them?”
Surprised and self-conscious, Delilah pulled the card from the bouquet. No one had sent her flowers since Cash. She opened the note and quickly scanned it.
These are a rare hybrid of roses. Beautiful, original, rare, like you. Benjamin
Oh, wow. Her heart turned over at the message. Feeling Sara and Lilly’s curious gazes, she cleared her suddenly tight throat. “Thank you so much for fitting me in to the Botox party,” she invented. “You saved the day. Ciao, Iris.”
Sara’s face fell. So did Lilly’s.
“Botox. How unromantic,” Lilly said. “What a waste.”
Sara sighed. “I had hoped that you were finally—”
Delilah shook her head. “There’s enough of that going around between you two and your boy toys.”
“Boy toy,” Lilly echoed. “I can just imagine what Robert would think of being called that.”
“He can be taught,” Delilah said slyly.
Lilly stiffened and glanced at Sara.
Sara, ever gracious and intuitive, took the hint. “I’ll leave you to your meeting. If you need anything, call me.”
As soon as Sara closed the door, Lilly turned to Delilah. “How are we going to handle Guy?”
“Well, I have personally decided not to answer my phone or be alone here at work until after next Monday.”
“What’s happening on Monday?” Lilly asked impatiently.
My big sister and her husband are coming and they’re gonna beat him up
. “A securities specialist that I trust is coming to town.”
“Are you sure you can trust him?”
“Totally.”
Delilah listened for Benjamin to walk through her door that evening. As she paced her living room, it occurred to her that this had become a routine without her realizing it. Somehow in the middle of caring for Willy they’d begun sharing their evenings together and never stopped. She should probably put a stop to it now.
Yeah, right. Stop the flowers, stop the kisses, stop the good feelings. Maybe next week, she thought, glancing at her nails. At that moment, her door opened and Benjamin appeared. Her silly heart hiccupped.
“Hi,” he said.
Her heart sped up. Oh, this was silly. Just the sight of him and all he had to do was say hi and he was the sexiest man on earth?
“Hi,” she said, resisting the urge to kiss him. Instead she inhaled his scent and allowed herself to feel a little dizzy. He had the same effect on her as drinking two champagne cocktails on an empty stomach. “You were a bad boy today.”
“Me?” He shot her his innocent, but sexy look. “What did I do?” He headed for her kitchen and she heard him open the refrigerator, probably intending to drink one of the Coronas she’d bought yesterday.
“You sent me beautiful roses and they arrived when Lilly Bradford was there.”
He returned with beer in hand. “Bet she was envious.”
She chuckled. “A little. Both she and my assistant were very curious about who sent them.”
He nodded. “So was I a massage therapist trying to get in your pants or a customer you rescued from hair emergency?”
He knew her a little too well. “A customer thanking me for fitting her in to a Botox party.”
“Botox,” he said, grinning. He leaned against the back of the couch. “That was pretty good.”
“You really shouldn’t do things like that. If it got out, people might get the wrong—”
“Or right idea,” he said, snagging her hand and pulling her against him. He nuzzled her nose then drew back. “Did you like them?”
Her heart tightened. “Of course I did. They were beautiful. I’ve never received such beautiful flowers, but you need to be—”
The phone rang and she broke off. She tensed and walked over to check the caller ID. The number was blocked. She held her breath for four more rings.
“Why didn’t you pick up?”
“I’m not picking up if it’s a blocked number or if I can’t identify the number until Monday.”
“Does this have something to do with Guy Crandall?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said, turning away from him.
“I’ve done some checking on him.”
Delilah whipped back around to face him. “No! Don’t do that. That’s exactly what I don’t want. I need to keep this very low profile. You are very high profile.”
“I’m not high profile. I’m just—”
“A Houston Huntington,” she said, rolling her eyes. “With standing reservations in all the best restaurants in town, a membership at the best country clubs, and season tickets to the opera and every sports event.”
“Guy gambles.”
Realization instantly dawned. “So that’s why he’s upped the ante lately. Calling me, leaving notes for Lilly.”
Benjamin’s face turned deadly serious. “He’s been calling you?”
His expression was so fierce it almost frightened her. “Well, just once that I know of. But that was when I had a hangover, so I had to hang up on him.”
“You can’t keep paying him.”
“Well, if your brother wasn’t such a weenie, we might not be in this mess.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean if anyone was sure that Robert really loved Lilly, then we wouldn’t have to be so careful about keeping this quiet. But we don’t know for sure that he loves her enough to stand firm with her if there’s some controversy, do we?”
Benjamin sighed. “I don’t know. It’s hard to read him. My father’s got the screws so tight on him sometimes I’m not sure when I’m talking to Robert or my father’s mouthpiece.”
“That’s why I called my sister for help.”
Benjamin wrinkled his brow in confusion. “Your sister?”
“My sister is married to a securities specialist. They’re coming on Monday.”
“I could have handled this for you,” he said, his hurt expression pulling at her.
“Yes, except if you hired a private investigator, it would probably show up in the newspaper and the mess would be even worse. You may not realize it, but people watch you.”
“Not as much as you think.”
“Uh-huh,” she said in disbelief.
“Let’s go ice skating at the Galleria.”
She got whiplash from the change of subject. “I’m not a very good skater.”
“Good, that will give me an excuse to hold you. Up,” he added as an afterthought. “I’ll wear a stocking cap, so no one will recognize me. C’mon, don’t be a sissy.”
Nobody
called her sissy and got away with it.
Hours later, after they’d skated and she’d fallen too many times to count, they’d grabbed a bite at The Cheese-cake Factory and arrived back at the condo.
He followed her inside and toured all the rooms while he talked with her.
“What are you doing?” she asked when he opened her closet.
“Just checking to see which of your underwear will fit me,” he joked.
She couldn’t help laughing at the image of him in her red teddy. “Nice try. You’re making sure Guy Crandall isn’t hiding under my bed.”
“Hey, if I’m not getting any, then he’s not getting any.”
She lightly punched him. “Guy’s too chicken to show up at my condo.”
He shook his head and pulled her against him. “Not if he’s desperate.”
Disliking the thought of Guy Crandall invading her space, Delilah sank against Benjamin and savored his strength. “Does this mean you’d be willing to guard my body?” she asked, trying to pull back the lighter feeling she’d enjoyed with him all evening.
He pulled back slightly. “Your body, heart and soul,” he said. “You want me to sleep in the extra bedroom?”
No, I want you to sleep with me all night long and chase away all the boogey men
. Surprised at the power of her desire for him, she gave herself a hard mental shake.
Buck up, girlfriend. This isn’t like you
.
“That’s a very nice offer. Can I have a raincheck?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Bang on the wall if you need me.” He turned to leave and she grabbed his hand.
“You forgot something,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“You forgot to kiss me,” she told him.
“Oh, so you
want
me to kiss you?”
“As long as you’re not going to act all cocky a—”
He pulled her into his arms and stopped her words with his kiss, knocking the breath and sense out of her. Oh, wow, she was going to have to put a stop to this. Next week. Or the week after.
As Robert rubbed one hand over her breast and drew her hand to his crotch, Lilly arched against him and rubbed him intimately. He groaned with approval and she rubbed some more then drew back slightly and sucked in a deep breath.
“I think we’re steaming up the windows,” she murmured.
“You’re steaming up more than my car windows,” he said.
“I wish we had more time,” she said, rubbing her mouth against his jaw. “We could do more.” She slid her hand to his thigh, struggling with the desperate feelings that had plagued her all day. “I wish you could stay.”
“I do too.” He groaned, this time in frustration. “I’m going to have to do something so we have some more alone time together.”
“That would make me happy,” she said. When they were alone, she believed Robert would stand by her. When they were alone, she believed he almost needed her.
“You’ve been a little quiet, tonight. Anything wrong?”
Lilly tensed. She had been counting on Robert’s absentmindedness to cover her turmoil. “Of course not. What could possibly be wrong? I’m engaged to the man I love and steaming up his windows …”
He chuckled and hooked his thumb under her chin. “Are you sure you’re okay?”