Page 35 of Two Hearts' Subterfuge

“Aylin Broussard.”

Ben stilled, trying to remain casual. But then he dropped the menu as he tried to hand it over to the server.

When Ben became sheepish, he noticed that for some strange reason, Mom was looking at Dad with an impish grin.

“How’s she doing?” he asked, trying to pretend like he didn’t really care.

“Very well, as far as business is concerned. She’s tired of all the security people that have had to tag along with her for the past ten years,” Mom admitted.

“I always got the impression that you were really attracted to her,” Dad said, appearing to study him intently. “I remember the look on your face after you found out she’d left town.”

“Well, it’s been ten years. Besides, why would anyone as famous as she is be interested in someone like me? She’s got dozens of guys coming onto her all the time.”

“That’s sounds kind of crazy, Danny, doesn’t it?” Dad asked, gazing at Mom. “Who does Ben remind you of when he talks like that?”

Mom snorted. “Whyyou,of course, Jake. You were a tough one to crack. All noble and sweet when all I wanted was you.”

Ben studied them both suspiciously. “Is something going on that I’m not aware of?”

Mom shrugged.

“We’ll see,” she answered, sounding cryptic.

Ben wondered what the heck the two of them were up to but didn’t give it another thought as lunch arrived. They’d been pulling this kind of stuff on him ever since he’d been a kid.

Chapter Twenty-One

Callie, the receptionist, had mentioned that Ben took the elevator down from his second-floor office at three o’clock sharp every afternoon to check the evening schedule. Even during the week, the banquet rooms were rented out, and Ben always doublechecked to make sure that the events were fully staffed and there were no issues with the menu.

So, wearing a sexy blouse paired with a short leather skirt and high heel boots, Aylin planted herself in the back of the employee elevator at five minutes before three.

She wore dark glasses and pretended to be on the phone when he stepped onto the elevator, distracted once again by something he was viewing on his tablet.

Sometime during the day, he’d removed his suit jacket and had his shirt sleeves rolled up.

As they approached the ground floor, she suddenly stepped behind him, running her hand across the length of his incredibly muscular arm, pressing her body against his.

“I had to see if you were for real,” she whispered into his ear.

He cleared his throat, most obviously uncomfortable. “Uh, ma’am. I’m sorry I’m not uhhh…”

When the elevator door sprang open, he rushed out from inside, spinning on his heels to check her out.

She thought his eyes were going to pop right out of his head when she slipped her sunglasses down on her nose, winking at him before pressing the button for the fourth floor.

As he tried to jump back onto the elevator, the doors finished closing tightly and she was on her way up.

By the time she reached the fourth floor, Aylin had finally been able to control her laughter. Yes, she was pretty sure that Ben might still be interested in her—even ten years later. Since she wasn’t staying at the Inn under her real name, Ben wasn’t going to be able to find her.

But tomorrow, she would find him.

* * *

He was going crazy. Ben had tried to call Mom first and then Dad to see what the heck might be going on, but for some strange reason he wasn’t able to get a hold of either one of them.

Running his hand through his hair in frustration after checking the names on all the room reservations, he finally started thinking about what had happened.

And started laughing uncontrollably. It was deliberate, of course. It had been no coincidence when Mom had told him she’d talked to Aylin.

---