Page 99 of Dearest Protector

I was panting by the time he released my lips.

“Dance with me,” I said in what I hoped was a persuasive tone.

His eyes ran lovingly over my face as he replied, “I thought you didn’t dance anymore.”

I didn’t.

Not really.

But…

“Your mother said you’re a great dancer. I have yet to see you prove that. I think I can probably keep up with you,” I teased.

He shot me a questioning glance. “Your foot—”

“Is just fine,” I interrupted. “Definitely well enough for a slow dance.”

Two seconds later, he was pulling me through the crowd until we got to the dance floor.

I noted that it was much easier to navigate through the people with Ben acting as a bulldozer in front of me.

Once we were on the dance floor, Ben wrapped a strong arm around my waist and took my hand. He entwined our fingers and started to move.

I put my other hand on his shoulder with a sigh.

Ben’s mother had been right.

This man was smooth, and easy to follow.

“Anything that allows me to keep my hands on you for an extended period of time right now works for me,” Ben grumbled next to my ear.

I giggled. “So you’re only dancing with me so you can feel me up, Mr. Blackwood?” I asked teasingly.

It felt good to be dancing again, especially with my current partner.

“Pretty much.”

Ben moved me effortlessly around the dance floor as I answered, “Then this basically works for me, too.”

Chapter 26

Ben

Iwoke up the next night fighting with my own fucking pillow.

I sat up and rubbed my hands down my face, exhausted, but knowing I wouldn’t go back to sleep immediately.

I wasn’t sleeping much these days, and now, instead of having nightmares about Ariel’s accident, I was dreaming about her being assaulted by Leland Brock.

“Bastard,” I said out loud, pissed off because the asshole still hadn’t been arrested.

Soon after Ariel had come to work for me, I’d put a private investigator on a case to find out all of Leland Brock’s business practices.

Ariel had shared that she’d very rarely seen any of Leland’s business paperwork, and that he had a lot of things locked up.

What legit small business needed to be that anal?

And why had he hired Ariel if he never had her in his office?

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