Page 75 of The Billionaire's Assistant

“And I….” I looked down at the book in my hand. “I actually read this shit.” Heat filled my cheeks as I realized how thoroughly I’d been had by Ford, and that pissed me off. I never blushed.

“It’s awful, isn’t it?” Ford said with a laugh. I wanted to punch him.

“Good for you,” Eudora said. “Everyone should read daily. Now, have a seat. Would you like a glass of wine?”

Everyone else in the room was pretending to focus on their knitting, though Robert hadn’t been able to keep from laughing.

When I chose a chair on the far side of the room from Ben, Ford cleared his throat. “You’re in my seat.”

“You have assigned seats for knitting?”

“That’s where I always sit.”

The only other place to sit was next to Ben. He glanced my way, but I looked down quickly.

Ford gestured for me to get up. “This seat has better lighting, and you’re not even knitting.”

“But you are?”

“He’s been here every week.” Ben looked surprised he’d spoken, like he hadn’t meant to jump into the conversation.

I glanced back at Ford. “You told me you had a book club on Thursdays.”

He huffed. “I don’t have to share everything.”

“Do you mean you’ve only been pretending to read pretentious shit like this, and you’ve actually been knitting?”

Ford nodded.

“Did you think I would make fun of you?”

“Maybe, more Worth and Carter than you, but….”

I glared at him. “Don’t do that again.”

“I won’t.”

“Good. Have your damn seat.”

I sat down next to Ben. I could feel him looking at me, but I had no idea what to do. I hadn’t been shy or unsure like this with anyone I’d been interested in since I was in college.

I’d seen him just a few hours ago at the office, but there, with him at his desk in the lobby, I couldn’t say much to him, certainly not anything vulnerable. This was different. I could easily ask him to step out of the room with me. Eudora would encourage it. I forced myself to turn his way, but the words I’d intended to say stuck in my throat.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Ben held up his knitting. “I’m making a scarf. It’s a little wonky, but I’m relearning how to do this.”

I nodded as I reached for the end of the scarf, holding it out to see it better. “I like the pattern, and the yarn is really soft.”

Ben smiled. “Thanks. It’s called a basketweave stitch.”

“It doesn’t look wonky to me. It’s beautiful.”

Ben frowned at the scarf. Sure, it was a little wiggly on the sides, but I would wear it without a second thought if he was making it for me.

After breaking the ice with each other, we joined in the general conversation. I realized after a while that I’d started to relax. Sitting next to Ben here in Eudora’s house felt natural. I wanted this to be my future. I would even learn to knit if it was the only way I could see Ben outside the office.

When everyone began to say their goodbyes, I turned to Ben. “Would you let me see you out?”

He gave me a soft smile and nodded. “I’d like that.”

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