Page 10 of Pillow Talk

Grabbing my bag, I head to the front door and see Ben is standing there, watching this whole exchange take place.

“Hey, sorry to rush out, but I’m really late.”

“Oh, right. Well, I just need to settle my bill,” he says. Oh, his bill. I’m a little deflated, thinking maybe he stuck around for me.

“It’s on the house,” Vince calls from the back.

“I swear that man has ears like a cat,” I say, and Ben laughs.

“HEARD THAT TOO!” Vince yells.

“I can’t allow you to do that,” Ben tells him.

“How about you give Alexa a ride home, and we will call it even.” He did not.

“Sure.” Ben looks amused.

“How do you know he even has a car? And what about not getting into cars with strangers?” I don’t have time for this!

“I’m pretty sure no one else around here is driving a black Tesla. And I took a picture of the license plates through the window,” he proudly informs us.

“Wonderful,” I mutter.

“Shall we,” Ben asks, opening the door for me.

“Uh, sure.”

His car is parked just down the block, and it’s gorgeous. Car isn’t even the right word. If sex were a car, it would be this. He opens the door for me, and I gently climb in, careful not to touch anything. But my body melts into the soft tan leather, and I’m dying to lay back and close my eyes. The car smells like him. Clean, sexy and masculine, well, and now like maple, thanks to my clumsiness.

“What’s the address?” he asks, waiting to plug it into the GPS.

“Uh-- just take me to Arch and Randolph Street, please,” I tell him, not wanting him to see the run down building I call home.

“Sure thing,” he replies, not pushing the issue. Hitting the gas, we take off, and the car practically purrs. Sexy as hell.

“You really didn’t have to do this. I could have taken the bus or walked,” I try to reason.

“No problem at all. It’s the least I could do. I’m actually headed home to get cleaned up and then off to a meeting at Tate & Cane.

“No shit?” I blurt, cheeks reddening at the outburst.

He eyes me curiously from the side. “You’ve heard of them?”

“Yeah, who hasn’t? They’re one of the giants, and having a west coast office has for sure put them on my radar. I saw Olivia Cane speak last year at a seminar at the university. Well, I guess its Tate now. She was brilliant, and not to be sexist, but seeing a woman like her, holding the position she does… She’s badass! It’s pretty inspiring. Plus their vision is amazing, very cutting edge. The changes they have made to their corporate culture are making waves and setting trends.” I’m aware I am nerding out and rambling. What is it about him that turns me into a chatterbox? Ugh.

“That’s hot.” He keeps his eyes on the road this time.

“What? You mean Olivia? I’m pretty sure Noah could take you,” I inform him. Not jealous. At all.

“No,” he laughs. “You, talking shop. It’s fucking hot.” And this time, his eyes are staring right at me.

Shifting in my seat, I feel flushed. “Shouldn’t you keep your eyes on the road?”

“You’re safe with me, Alexa. Don’t worry,” he reassures me. “Oh, and make no mistake, I wasn’t referring to Olivia. Because you’re right…Noah would kick my ass. Or, at least, try.”

My mouth hangs open in shock. “You know them?” I squeak.

He nods, turning onto Randolph, and I know we are getting close. I should be relieved, but I’m feeling disappointed. It’s been so nice to be talked to like a person and not a set of tits.