Page 18 of All of You

“I appreciate that—both that you don’t want me to feel like you’re exploiting, and that you acknowledge you are using me.”

I blinked at his words, about to defend the proposition, but he continued.

“We should probably talk about how this would actually work. I work long hours, and I can only imagine what your schedule is like. I assume we need to be seen out and about in order for this to be worth the effort, so tell me what you’re thinking in that regard.”

Ben had a curious mix of easygoing calm and business-like practicality. It soothed just as it had me fighting the urge to fidget.

“I’d like us to try to get together once a weekend. There will be times I’m traveling, so that won’t happen, and times you will be, so the same. Then, if you can, I’d like you to come on the winter tour. At that point, we will have been seen together a few times over the months prior, and it’ll seem like we’re taking our relationship to the next level or whatever. From there, we’ll be in the serious phase, and if you can come to the big awards shows, that’d be great. Again, I’ll pay for?—”

“I’m not worried about the money portion of this, okay? I believe that I won’t be forced to fly myself around just to catch up with you.” His bright blue eyes pressed into mine to emphasize his veracity.

“Okay. Good.”

“Okay.”

I waited for him to say something more, but he just sat there, looking at me, all calm and self-assured and comfortable.

“Okay? What do you mean?”

“I mean, okay, I’ll do it. As long as you’re sure you want me for this job.”

His eyes narrowed just a bit, and I detected a flash of doubt.

“I’m sure.” My voice came out steady.

I was sure. I felt comfortable with him. He’d done nothing but be friendly and polite in every interaction we’d had. We had Reese in common, and my cousin was persnickety about people, to say the least, so I knew he couldn’t be a bad guy. So far, everything I’d learned about him proved appealing.

“You should know, I’ve had a rough couple of years. If the press goes digging, I’m sure they can find people who’d want to paint me in a bad light.” A muscle in his jaw jumped, and he leaned harder onto the counter top.

“No one’s perfect.”

“Least of all me. But I can promise you that going forward, you have nothing to worry about.” His face was as serious as I’d ever seen it.

Most of what Ben projected was that easy calm, the laid-back guy who could laugh with or chat with you and didn’t have a lot going on. It was one of the things that made me feel so comfortable with him. Not that he seemed shallow, but if a person bought him at face value, they could easily think he was simple. My very first interaction with him over a year ago had told me how wrong that assumption would be, though the two versions of Ben were hard to reconcile.

“Okay. Yes. And I can’t have you dating anyone else while we’re together, that would totally defeat the purpose.” I brushed an invisible something from the page of my planner.

“Of course. I understand.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Ben

At that moment, Nikki breezed into the room. “Have you come to a decision?

“I have. I’ll do it, and I’ll sign the forms as they are.” I took the pen that had been attached to the folder and signed each of them.

Nikki spoke again as she loaded her things into a black bag that must have been sitting at the foot of her chair. “You’ll want to discuss your next few dates, the tour and event dates, and then make sure you cover the physical boundaries and expectations.”

She was all business, but my breath quickened at the subject of any kind of physicality with Whit.

“Good. Thanks for the reminders. I’ll see you next week?” Whit asked, and stood.

“Yes. I’ll see myself out—you wrap up here and let me know anything I should know,” she told Whit, then turned to me. “I’m sure I’ll see you again soon, Ben.”

And off she went down the hall that led to the front door.

We both watched her go, and then I turned back to Whit, hoping she’d lead the way into this new portion of the negotiations.

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