Page 11 of Dearest Protector

I’d just finished putting the empty grocery bags away when someone knocked at the door.

Katie?

It wasn’t like there was anyone else who would be coming to visit on a Sunday afternoon.

I looked around to see if she’d forgotten anything as I went to answer the door.

I inhaled sharply as I saw exactly who was standing on the other side.

Crap!

My visitordefinitelywasn’t Katie.

“Hello, Ariel,” Ben Blackwood said in a deep, fuck-me baritone as he looked me up and down, his attractive, hazel-eyed gaze finally landing and lingering on my face.

A sense of dread snaked down my spine as I stood there without saying a word.

Oh, God. Nothim. Why couldn’t it be anyoneexcepthim?

I wasn’t ready to see Ben.

Not this soon.

Maybe not…ever.

I swallowed hard and tried to pull my head together. I was still exhausted from my lack of sleep the night before.

Okay, maybe my sleepless night was just an excuse. How could any female be ready to see a guy likehimor to hear that damn sexy voice of his?

He might as well have said “take off all of your clothes and get ready for me to rock your world.”

His voice was just that low, predatory, and sensual.Anythinghe said in that mesmerizing voice sounded highly…sexual, even though I knew damn well it wasn’t meant to be.

Ben was no longer in a tuxedo like he had been the night before, but he was just as smoking hot in a lightweight, forest green, cashmere sweater that brought out the green in his hazel eyes and a pair of dark jeans.

Seriously?How could the man possibly be even more attractive than he had been last night in formalwear?

Did he always look immaculately put together, no matter what he’s wearing?

There wasn’t a single lock of his dark brown hair that was out of place.

The only thing that made him look a little more approachable was a hint of a five o’clock shadow on his jawline, but unfortunately for me,thatwas also kind of provocative.

He was tall with a very muscular, bulky physique that would make most single women drool or weep, or possibly both.

The guy was so stunningly handsome and had such an overwhelming presence in general that I was momentarily speechless.

I nearly squirmed as I remembered that I was dressed in a ratty pair of yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt that bore the logo of my old ballet company.

I hadn’t bothered to slap on any makeup, and I’d done absolutely nothing with my hair after my shower. The curly mass of light blonde locks on my head was probably a hot mess.

It doesn’t matter. It’s not like he’s here to take me out on a date for God’s sake! Pull it together, Ariel.

In fact, whatever the reason for his visit to my crappy neighborhood, he appeared to be deadly serious and all business.

I had to wonder if the guyeversmiled. I certainly hadn’t seen those gorgeous lips of his curve upward the night before, either.

“Ben?” I said, hating the fact that I sounded breathless. “What are you doing here?”

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