Page 9 of Night's Reckoning
“Nena—”
“You could stay here if you wanted. Human or vampire. You’re always welcome in Naples, Benjamin. I could use a man with your skills and your confidence.”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “You scaring your employees again?”
She shrugged. “Half of them are mice. Useful mice, but still. I need people I can trust. People who will tell me I’m taking the wrong step. If you worked for me—if you were sharing my bed—I would trust you.”
“Do you want an employee or a lover?”
She frowned. “Why should I have to choose?”
Ben laughed and knit her fingers with his. “The food here takes a long time.”
“It does. I wanted you to myself for a while.” She squeezed his fingers. “Have you heard from her?”
He opened his mouth. Closed it. “I can’t say.”
“You won’t say.”
He rubbed his hand over the scars on his neck. “It’s complicated.”
“Of course it is. For you. Is it complicated for her?”
His smile was rueful. “That’s an excellent question.”
“I am not being harsh. I am acknowledging her years.”
Ben knew Filomena wasn’t criticizing. She would never judge Tenzin. From what Ben could tell, Filomena wanted tobeTenzin when she grew up.
“You mean am I really all that important to someone who’s been around for…” Tenzin’s age was a secret, and Ben wasn’t going to change that. “… for as long as Tenzin has lived? I can’t tell you that. We’re partners. We’re taking a break right now for our own reasons, and I don’t make a habit of predicting the future. Or talking out of turn.”
“Understood.” She smiled. “But you’re not free to take other jobs?”
“I took a job for you, didn’t I?”
“I’d hire you on a far more permanent basis, Benjamin. Just keep that in mind as you bounce around the world.” She leaned forward. “As long as I’m the governor of Naples, you will always be welcome here.”
“Thank you. I don’t take that lightly.”
“And you are sure you don’t want to come work for me?” She ran the point of her shoe up the back of his leg. “I can promise a very generous benefits package.”
Ben smiled as he looked at the curve of her leg. “I have no doubt.”
“Don’t say no,” she said. “Say ‘Not now, Nena.’”
“Okay.” He looked up slowly. “Not now, Nena.”
She nodded. “Fine.”
His food finally came, a small mountain of delicate pasta heaped with seafood of all kinds. Fish, shrimp, clams, and calamari. “Grazie.” He pushed the bowl toward the center of the table. “You’re going to help me eat this, aren’t you?”
“Of course.” She picked up her fork and spoon. “Are you hungry?”
“Always.”
“Then I’ll have the chef make you a dessert as well. After all, I still owe you one.”
He shook his head. “You don’t owe me anything.”
