Page 19 of Impossible Bachelor (Bachelor Tower 2)
“I’m not going to change, Ben.” It’s not that I don’t believe him. I hope he’s right. I wish that’s how the world works.
“I was raised by four strong women. You don’t have to change. The right person never requires that.”
I rest my head back on his chest and wish I could stay there forever. No business waiting for me. No history taunting me about falling down the same hole my mother did. In his arms I feel like I can be more than my accomplishments.
Love almost seems possible.
I force myself to slide away from him and stand beside the bed. “I need to get back.”
He nods but looks disappointed.
I totally get it—I hate this side of me too.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ben
The hour ride home feels too short. I wish we were crossing the country road-trip style. When we pull away from the cabin and onto the main road, Kylie spins the radio dial to a station she claims to love. She puts it loud enough that talking will be difficult. She’s not fooling me. I love her the way she was in the cabin—no make-up, no barriers.
The closer we are to town the farther she pulls away. Her phone starts beeping with text messages and emails. Her expression turns guarded. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but it can’t be good.
She lowers the volume on the radio and clears her throat. “We should talk about what happened last night.”
“Kinky. I like it.”
“I mean how we are going to act going forward. I’ve given it some thought. With a few rules I think we can manage this and ensure it is mutually beneficial. I still have reservations about living in the same building, but I’m hopeful we can navigate that.”
“Okay.” I don’t interject. I want to hear what she thinks will work.
“We should make this a weekend only thing. I can’t lose focus at work right now. I need to be at the top of my game. I can’t be watching my phone, wondering if you’re going to text me.”
“You won’t have to wonder. I’m going to text you. I don’t play games.”
“Also—”
“There’s more?”
“We don’t invade each other’s space. I don’t go to your place. You don’t come to mine. I don’t want this playing out at the Tower. We can make a hotel reservation if we want to spend time alone together.”
“Are you turning me into a booty call?”
“Would you object?”
“I like the perks of the job. I don’t care for the restrictions.”
“Another thing. We don’t need to get all cutesy around everyone. Penny is going to make a huge deal out of this as it is. No double dates. We don’t want them to think this is more than it is.”
“I’ll be honest; I’m feeling very special right now.”
She rolls her bracelet on her wrist. “I’m trying here.”
“I know you are. It’s adorable, but pointless.” I probably could have said that better.
She sucks in an angry breath. “Don’t you dare call me adorable.”
I can apologize, but that never works in this type of situation. A smart man doubles down. “The only rule I’ll agree to is that you can always say no. I’m going to ask you to do things, and you’re going to say yes or no. That’s all.” I pull the car into the parking garage of the Tower and into my reserved spot.
“My answer will depend on what you ask me.” She reaches to the back seat and grabs her bag. Business Kylie is back.
“Tomorrow night Dalton and Penny asked us to join them for dinner. Seven o’clock at Casa De Laurent’s.” I’m out of the car, rounding to her side and opening the door before she can get her bearings.
“I just said no double dates.”
“Then I’ll eat with them. You’re free to say no and stay home.” I lean in, kiss her with a brief flash of passion, and then pull away. “See you tomorrow, Kylie.”
“But I said—”
“Only one rule. You decide.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ben
“You sure she’s coming?” Dalton asks, checking his watch for the tenth time. He’s doubtful, but I’m not worried.
“She’s coming.”
Penny squeezes Dalton’s hand. “I called her twice today, but she didn’t get back to me.”
“Guys, relax. It’s fine. I’m telling you, we had a great time. She’s going to come to dinner.”
Penny gestures for the waiter to pour another glass of wine. “We’ve never been on a double date. Can you believe that? Sisters who have never been out together with guys.”
“Because she’s never dated me.” My attempt at levity falls flat as she continues to nervously fidget with her now-full wine glass.
“I hope she’s not upset with me.”
Dalton takes her hand in his. “I’m sure she isn’t. She’ll arrive soon, and we’ll all have a nice dinner.”
“She’s coming,” I say.
“We get it, Ben.” Dalton begins to lose patience, but I understand it’s because he doesn’t want to see Penny upset.
“No, I mean there she is; she’s walking into the restaurant now.” I point toward the door.
“Holy shit,” Penny gasps. “I seriously did not think she’d come.”
“Thanks,” I say with a laugh.
Penny is on her feet and yanking Kylie in for a hug before I have a chance to greet her. It’s the kind of hug you give to your rescuers after a month on a deserted island, and it gives away how important Kylie is to Penny.
“Sorry I’m late.” Kylie looks stunning. Her black halter dress shows off her perfectly muscled arms and reveals just enough cleavage to make me wonder how I’ll pay attention to anything else. This double date suddenly feels crowded as I get half hard at the sight of her.
Dalton leans in and whispers, “Do you know how to play it cool?”
“I do, but I don’t have to. Women love me anyway.”
“Our first double date,” Penny says, her arm linked with Kylie’s.
“You do know you’re not on the date with each other though, right?” Dalton teases, and Penny smiles as she moves toward him instead. “Good to see you came out tonight, Kylie. Ben was certain you were coming. He never wavered.”
As we settle into our seats Kylie leans toward me. “How can you be so sweet and still sport such a big—” She leaves me hanging long enough to think we’re imagining the same endowment then adds, “ego?”
“I can’t help it if I’m irresistible.”
She opens her menu. “I’m here because I didn’t want to disappoint Penny.”
I take her hand in mine and squeeze it gently. Then I blast her with my sexy grin. “Tell yourself what you need to.”
She rolls her eyes, but beneath the sustained attention she reluctantly smiles. “I don’t know how to win with you.”
“Good.” I like that she’s off balance around me because I sure as hell am with her.
“Sooooo,” Penny says, folding her hands together and resting her chin on them. “How was ziplining?”
Kylie looks at her menu. “We had a good time.”
Dalton asks, looking impressed, “Better than yoga?”
“Much better.” Kylie looks at me, and every touch we shared afterward comes flooding back. I absolutely don’t want to be sporting a chubby around her family. Fuck.
Her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink, and I wonder if she’s also reliving last night. Oh man, double dates are torture.
After we order Penny pulls out h
er phone and pushes it toward us. “You have to see these pictures of Kylie. She was the absolute sweetest.”
“Don’t you dare.” She makes a grab for the phone, but she’s too late. I have my hand on the phone, and I can’t help but look at each one. They are little windows into who she is.
“These are out of context,” Kylie insists.
“This is you at twelve years old in a power suit, sitting behind a tiny desk. What kind of context could I possibly need?”
“I used to go to work with my mom. She had that desk custom built for me. I was her mini assistant.”
Penny sips her wine then expands the explanation. “They had matching business suits made. They would wear their hair the same and everything. My mother adored her. She was lucky.”
Dalton leans in so he can see the picture too. “Were you on the payroll?”
“On it? She probably determined everyone’s pay scale. It was scary.” Penny laughs.
I realize Kylie is the only one not getting a kick out of this. I pass the phone back to Penny and put a reassuring hand on Kylie’s shoulder. I’m on her team, and I want her to know that. I want everyone to know it.
Kylie
The pictures didn’t bother me as much as Penny’s assessment of me. I was lucky? I spent my entire childhood trying to get my mother to notice how damn hard I was working to impress her. I never succeeded. Nothing I ever did was enough, and Penny has no idea what that felt like. She never bothered trying with Mom. She didn’t need to. She had our father.
“I wasn’t lucky,” I blurt out with a bite in my voice that stops the chuckling instantly.
“You know what I mean.” Penny tries to dismiss this, but I can’t let it go. She didn’t understand back then. It feels important for her to understand now.
“It didn’t matter what I did. It wasn’t enough for Mom. I don’t know how you can think that’s lucky. The moment I figured out the only thing she would look up from her paperwork for was shop talk, I knew what I had to do. If I wanted her to pay attention, I had better say something worth listening to.”
Everyone draws in a deep breath and holds it. It’s Ben who makes the first move, and it’s a smart one.
