Page 25 of Dearest Protector

I pushed the wine glass away. “I’m notthatimpaired. I’ll take all of the advice I can get whenever I can get it.”

Hell, if Ben Blackwood wanted to talk about a business plan, I’d always be ready to listen.

Truth was, I reallywantedto believe that I could make my own business fly someday.

Ben made that fantasy seem like a real possibility.

Maybe…I could.

Maybe…I could still do something meaningful and creative, even though I’d never dance again.

Part of me was afraid to hope because I wasn’t sure if I could take the disappointment of failing after all that had happened with my dancing career.

But who was I kidding?

Yeah, I wanted to be successful, even though the ballet career I’d worked for since I was child was no longer achievable.

It wasn’t like I didn’t appreciate this job with Ben, and I felt useful for the first time in a long time, but it wasn’t exactly a lifelong career goal.

Once I’d organized Ben’s home, what would be left outside of running errands for him and doing some tasks around the house? I’d never be able to justify this cushy position he’d given me.

Besides, someday I wanted…more.

Katie was right.

I’d never be totally happy working in an office somewhere.

My drive to create would always leave me restless if I couldn’t express it in some way.

“All you’ll ever need to do is ask if you need anything, Ariel,” Ben said in a more serious tone. “I’d like to think we’re becoming…friends. I’d be disappointed if you didn’t want that, too.”

My eyes shot to his face.

Oh God, could I really be a friend to this Adonis who made every female hormone in my body stand up and take notice?

Ben Blackwood was every woman’s fantasy, yet he washuman, too.

Quite honestly, he could probably use a friend who wanted nothing but his health and happiness.

Someone with no ulterior motives.

Especially since his older brother had been personally unreachable for years. Katie had come along and pulled Ian out of his isolation, but who had Ben had to talk to before that?

Ben was close to his mom, but I could tell from a few of his phone calls to her that he was careful about not telling her anything that would upset her.

Honestly, I yearned to be closer to this enigmatic man who had stepped in to help me reclaim my life without a second thought.

I just wasn’t sure if I could offerhimas much as he was givingme.

I was still pretty broken, but Ben Blackwood made me want to try to be that person who really knew him and cared about him.

“Is that what you want? To be friends?” I asked hesitantly. “I’d be kind of a messed up friend to you right now, Ben. I don’t have my own shit together.”

He lifted a brow. “I doubt we’d need friends if we had our shit straight all the time. You’re helping me out right now, Ariel.”

I shook my head. “You’re paying me very well for that.”

He shrugged. “Not for all of the thoughtful things you’ve done. Come on, Ariel. Everyone can use another friend who cares that they can really trust. I want you to feel like you can come to me when you need something, and vice-versa. Talk to me.”

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