Page 42 of Ace My Heart

“It’s a pity we’re not on the same flight. It would have been good to spend some more time together. But I’ll see you both once you arrive anyway.”

“You will?” I asked, confused. Ben nodded.

“You and Joel are staying with me in my home. I had organised it with Steve before … but Joel knows all about it now, anyway. It’s far too big for one bachelor, it’ll be nice to see your lovely face over the breakfast table for a bit.”

I found myself blushing. This man I’d barely met was going a long way towards sweeping me off my feet – in the romance novel sense.

“Yeah, that sounds really nice, thanks, Ben,” I said. He beamed at me.

“What sounds really nice?” Joel asked, sauntering out in his pyjamas.

When I say pyjamas, I really mean a teeny pair of boxer shorts. And nothing else. I kept my eyes fixed firmly on the city lights twinkling across the harbour.

“Ben just told me we’ll be staying at his place while we’re in Dubai.”

Joel took a seat opposite me, effectively ensuring that I had to look at him.

“Oh, it will be lovely, Uncle Ben!” Joel remarked, putting one of his feet up on the table. I could see up the leg of his boxers. I was only able to establish that I couldn’t seeeverythingbecause I was staring so intently. I dragged my eyes away with an effort, turning back to Ben.

“I’m looking forward to it,” I said.

Ben grinned back at me. “Me too,” he replied, standing up and touching me once on the shoulder. “I’m turning in – damned early flight. I’ll see you over there.” I looked up at him, and he leaned forwards, eyes intent on my lips.

Joel cleared his throat and Ben straightened. He patted my shoulder again and walked into the house.

I glared at Joel. “What wasthatall about?” I demanded.

He shrugged, a silly grin on his face. “Come on, Mel, let a man have some fun.”

I rolled my eyes. “You never seem to doanythingbut have fun. At other people’s expense.”

Joel laughed and unfolded himself from the chair, crouching down to take the ice pack off my ankle. His long fingers were gentle and warm on my skin as he inspected the swelling. I shouldn’t enjoy it so much when he fussed over me like this. But without my permission, my skin heated, a flush creeping up from where he touched me until I felt it all over. I sucked in a little breath.

“It looks great, Stink. Now go have a shower. The car’s picking us up at seven thirty.”

I stood, stretching. Joel, still crouched on the floor, looked up at me with an odd expression on his face.

“What?” I asked. He straightened, his body suddenly very close to mine. Close enough that I could feel the heat emanating from his bare chest. Close enough that my nipples puckered and an ache throbbed between my legs. I pressed my thighs together, biting my lip to try and distract myself from my inexplicable arousal.

Oh God, why did you have to wrap Joel Herbert in such pretty paper?

“Goodnight, Stinky,” Joel whispered against the skin of my cheekbone. He stepped back from me and walked inside. I let out a shaky breath.

As I hopped into the shower, it seemed that every nerve ending in my body was tingling. That tingling became a jangling as I ran the soap over my skin.

It’s Ben who’s making me feel this way,I told myself firmly.He’s as hot as Joel, he’s successful, and seems really nice. He obviously likes me.

And the jangling kicked up a notch when I thought about staying in his house with him for the ten days we would be in Dubai.

Yep. It was Ben. Itdefinitelywasn’t Joel.

CHAPTER TEN

Judging A Book By Its Cover

“Ican’t wait to get to Ben’s house and have a nice long shower,” I said as Joel helped the driver pile our suitcases and my tennis gear into the boot of his car.

“Don’t get your knickers in a knot, Stink. We’ll be there in no time.”