Part 9 (2/2)
Still there seemed no way to avoid it.
They were riding in the limo on their way back to her condo when he hit her with his latest demand.
”It was a nice evening, wasn't it?” he said casually, easing into the subject he wanted to discuss.
Autumn looked at him and smiled. ”I had a wonderful time, Ben. I didn't think I would enjoy myself but I did. I really did feel like Cinderella.”
He straightened a little, gearing himself up for the argument he knew would come. ”I hope it won't spoil your memory of the evening when I tell you Prince Charming is planning to spend the night.”
”What?”
”Not in your bed...at least not without an invitation.”
”What are you talking about?”
”Look, Autumn, you've had this dream of yours every time we've been together. Odds are you'll dream again tonight. If you do, I want to be there when you wake up.”
”No way. I am not letting you stay with me. No way, no how, no sir.”
He gave her what he hoped was a disarming smile. ”You aren't afraid of me, are you?”
Autumn eyed him with suspicion. ”There's such a thing as date rape, you know. Maybe once I let you in-”
”I don't have to rape my women. I don't intend to start with you.”
She stared at him for a moment, then blew out a breath. ”Look, I'll write it all down, just like I did before. I won't leave anything out.”
”Let me stay. When you wake up, I'll be there to help you focus. I'll ask you questions while your mind is fresh. Maybe something important will come out.”
She chewed her bottom lip, a habit he had noticed, whenever she was nervous. Her lips were plump and glossy and a soft shade of rose. His groin tightened and a shot of l.u.s.t hit him like a fist in the stomach. He couldn't remember the last time a woman had turned him on the way this one did.
”Let me stay,” he coaxed, wis.h.i.+ng he wouldn't be sleeping on the sofa but next to her in that sweetly s.e.xy canopy bed.
”It's a bad idea, Ben.”
”All of this is a bad idea. The whole d.a.m.ned thing is totally insane.”
”I know it is-but it's happening just the same.”
”Then let me stay. If I'm satisfied your dreams are for real, you'll have my complete cooperation. We'll work together, do whatever it takes to find out the truth about Molly.”
The limo rolled to a stop. An instant later, the driver jerked open the door. Autumn turned to get out, but Ben caught her arm.
”What's it going to be, Autumn? We keep dancing around this or we set things in motion?”
Autumn released a long, resigned sigh. ”All right. You can stay, but you're sleeping on the couch.”
Ben wasn't sure it was truly a victory but he nodded. His driver gave him a conspiratorial wink as he stepped out of the car.
Apparently, his reputation preceded him.
If you only knew, Ben thought. He hoped Autumn wouldn't notice the driver's knowing grin.
Ten.
Autumn unlocked the door to her condo, her nerves kicking in again. For G.o.d's sake, Ben McKenzie was spending the night with her! Well, not exactly with her. Not in her bed, at any rate.
The thought sent a sliver of heat into her stomach. Dear G.o.d, even on the sofa the man would be far too close for comfort. She found him ridiculously attractive and he would be there in her living room, sleeping just a few feet away.
He's there for good reason, she told herself. It's really no big deal. At least it shouldn't be. For one reason or another, Josh had slept on the couch at least four or five times. But Josh wasn't Ben and that was the rub.
Autumn flicked a glance at the tall man standing beside the breakfast bar stripping off his black tuxedo jacket. He tossed it over the back of a chair, then proceeded to remove his black bow tie, unfasten his gold-and-onyx cufflinks and remove the matching studs that closed the front of his pleated white s.h.i.+rt.
When he started to tug the s.h.i.+rt out of his trousers, Autumn held up a hand. ”Wait a minute! What do you think you're doing?”
”I'm taking off my s.h.i.+rt. You don't expect me to sleep in my clothes, do you?”
”I don't know, I...I mean, you should have thought to bring something with you or...or...”
”Look, I didn't plan this. After I read the paper you gave me with the details of your dream, it seemed like a good idea.”
She nervously chewed her lip. ”Maybe we should try it a different night when we're both better prepared.”
Ben unfastened the last of the studs and his white s.h.i.+rt parted, exposing his chest. It was wide and muscled and lightly furred. Autumn's gaze moved over that hard male anatomy and her stomach contracted.
”You're looking at me like you've never seen a man's bare chest before.”
”Well, I-”
”There was good ol' Steven Elliot, remember?”
”Steve wasn't built like you.” Autumn closed her eyes, wis.h.i.+ng she could call back the words.
Ben stood there grinning. ”I think I like you, Autumn Sommers. You have an honesty I haven't seen in a woman in years.” He frowned. ”At least I hope you do.” He turned and walked over to the sofa, which wasn't all that big. ”You got an extra pillow I can borrow? Maybe a blanket?”
She went into her bedroom and came out with a blanket and pillow and set them down on the end of the couch. When Ben went in to use the bathroom, Autumn gave him one of the extra toothbrushes she kept for emergencies then waited for him to come out.
Noticing she still wore her evening gown, he paused on his way to the sofa. ”Unless you're planning to offer me a nightcap, I suggest we both go to bed.”
She quickly nodded. A nightcap with a half-naked Ben McKenzie was the last thing she wanted. ”If there's anything you need...”
Ben cast her a slow, sensuous glance that said exactly what he needed. ”Actually there is one more thing.” The husky note in his voice threw out warning signals, but she couldn't make herself move.
Ben walked over to where she stood in the bedroom doorway. ”A Cinderella night wouldn't be complete without a goodnight kiss.”
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