Page 91 of Dearest Protector

Since I had time, I also tamed my wayward curls and slipped on a colorful bracelet that matched my outfit.

“Ready,” I said as I nodded to my reflection in the mirror like I was giving myself a pep talk.

I hesitated as I really took in my image in the mirror, realizing that I no longer disliked the woman I saw there anymore.

I actually liked being me.

I put a finger to the place at my hairline that would forever be scarred from my accident.

It was barely visible anymore, especially when I had on makeup, but I hardly noticed it, even when I wasn’t wearing foundation.

I really was okay with the woman looking back at me, even if she wasn’t perfect.

I was smiling as I left the bedroom.

I forced myself to sit on the couch and get distracted with a project on the computer until the doorbell rang.

“That was fast,” I said under my breath as I went to the door.

My heart was racing at about a million beats per minute as I pulled the door open.

It was stupid.

It wasn’t like I didn’t know Ben…intimately.

Still, when I pulled the door open, I felt like I was seeing him for the first time in a very long time.

And God, he looked good.

I swallowed hard as I took in his hard body and his gloriously handsome face. He was dressed in tan chinos and a casual navy shirt.

“Hi,” I said breathlessly as I waved him inside. “Let me grab my stuff and we can go.”

His heated gaze was almost predatory as it roamed over my entire body.

“No hurry,” he said in that fuck-me baritone I loved. “We have plenty of time. You look absolutely stunning, Ariel. How have you been?”

“I’m good,” I told him as he entered and I closed the door behind him. “I’ve been busy. I have more work offers than I can handle at the moment.”

God, I’d forgotten how Ben towered over me in height, and just how much space he seemed to consume in a smallish apartment.

“Are you going to show me around your new place?” he asked, his eyes glued to my face like he was trying to figure out what I was thinking.

I laughed nervously. “There’s not much to show. It’s just a tiny one bedroom, but it has a nice balcony.”

“I like it,” he commented as he finally stopped checking me out and looked around the space. “It looks like you.”

It did, which was why I liked it.

I showed Ben around the inside, which took all of two minutes.

The tour ended on the outdoor balcony I’d liked so much that I’d jumped at the chance to rent the apartment.

It was warm outside, and humid, but I normally spent my time out here later at night.

Just like Ben and I did so often at his place.

I turned and leaned against the railing, the breeze ruffling my curly hair.

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