Page 21 of Dearest Protector

I turned and folded my arms across my chest. People probably thought he was invincible, but I…didn’t. A person could only run on empty for so long without paying the price physically. “Get used to it,” I advised. “That’s what I’m here to do. If you need something, I’m your go-to woman. I’d like to think that I’m earning my money and the fantastic benefits.”

He grinned and my heart completely melted.

God, why did he have to be so damn magnetic and gorgeous, even after working all damn day with no food?

“Just that dinner smells like it’s worth every penny I pay you,” he teased as he finished pulling off his tie and jacket and then draped them over the chair at the breakfast bar.

“Eventually, the work you’re giving me isn’t going to fill an eight-hour day, Ben,” I said, blowing off the compliment. “Tomorrow, call me if you need some lunch. You shouldn’t go all day without eating.”

Yeah, right now I was busy doing catchup work in his home, but I’d someday run out of extra tasks to do. He was going to have to start relying on me to do other things for him.

My breath caught as Ben did a thorough scrutiny of my body from head to toe before our gazes locked.

“How areyoudoing, Ariel?” he asked huskily. “How’s the condo? Your business? What are you doing for fun? Talk to me and tell me about something other than what you’re doing for me.”

I was stunned into silence.

Ben and I didn’t talk about much elseexceptmy business tasks.

Yeah, he helped me with business advice when I needed it, but we didn’t ever really get personal.

For me, it was easier that way.

If I let myself get close to him personally, I’d be screwed.

Right now, I could blow off my attraction to him as superficial because he was irresistibly handsome with a big, muscular, hard body thatno womancould ignore.

What female could lock eyes with this gorgeous man without a few palpitations, right?

If I let myself get attached to him on a personal basis, I knew the way that I wanted him would be even worse.

I already lust after him. He’s an incredible boss. I just absolutely cannot get to know him as a person and like him that way, too.

The problem was, I wasalreadystarting to like him as a person, even though we didn’t really know each other very well.

“Everything is great,” I said a little too brightly. “I couldn’t ask for a better job, a better boss, or a nicer place to live. I really should be going so you can get some dinner.”

“Stay,” he said hoarsely. “Have dinner with me. You have to eat and I know you made enough food for several people. You always do.”

What?

No!

My first knee-jerk reaction was to escape from here as quickly as my bad foot would take me.

But…there was a spark of something in his gaze that I couldn’t quite comprehend that made me pause.

Loneliness?

A deep craving of some kind that couldn’t be spoken out loud?

It wasn’t obvious, but Isensedthere was more to his invitation than politeness.

Was it possible that Ben Blackwood was as lonely as I was?

Ridiculous, yes, but there wassomethingelse there in his eyes, and whatever it was completely broke me.

For some unknown reason, hewantedme to stay.

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