Chapter Four

Ben

I love dogs. Always have. But I don’t have one of my own. I travel so much between here and my place in New York and abroad that I never thought it would be fair to the dog.

Rita’s a cute and scruffy little thing, white with gray markings—an obvious rescue. I’d say she’s mostly some kind of terrier, and I can’t guess her age, exactly. She doesn’t seem old, but she’s definitely not a puppy anymore. She doesn’t seem bothered by me as she continues to sniff the ground.

“Hey, pup,” I say.

She wags her tail at me. She’s small enough that I can easily pick her up, so I kneel and take her in my arms. She licks my face. And I can’t help myself. I laugh.

Yeah, I’ve got to get a dog.

“She doesn’t usually let people pick her up.”

I turn at Tessa’s voice. She opens a bag and scoops up the poop, knotting it closed. Then she walks over to the trash can close to the entrance and drops it in.

Rita is wriggling in my arms. I let her down and hand the leash to Tessa. “I’ll see you back up.”

“Ben, I was just up there.”

“I know. But I’m going to see you to your door. It’s what I do. Besides”—I bend down and give Rita a pet—“Rita and I are good friends now.”

She sighs but doesn’t argue.

We walk back in, up the four flights of stairs, and Tessa unlocks the door to her unit.

I make a point to stay in the hallway. “It was great meeting you.”

“You too.” She looks at the floor as Rita runs into the small apartment.

Resignation exudes from her. She’s depleted. So depleted, and I yearn to help her. To at least do something within my power.

“Tell you what,” I say. “I’ll make the arrangements for your bachelorette party if you’d like. I’ve got all the details about the resort, and Braden gave me carte blanche. He’s planning on paying for everything.”

“I know,” Tessa says. “Skye told me. He’s very generous.”

“He is, especially where Skye is concerned. He’d buy her the moon if he could.”

“I believe he would.” She looks over at Rita, who has settled herself on a chair. “Skye fell in love with a puppy when I rescued Rita. Her place didn’t allow pets, but I…” A small smile curves her lips.

She’s so beautiful.

“I called Braden,” she continues. “I told him about the pup, about how much Skye loved it, and Braden adopted the pup for Skye.”

I nod. “I’m familiar with the tale.”

“It’s so…”

“So…what?” I ask.

She sighs. “It seems like years have gone by since then, but in reality it’s only been a few months. I remember telling her to go for it when Braden asked her out. To let her hair down. Skye was never like that. She thought everything out. Overthought everything. Tried to control every minor facet of her life.”

“And now?”

“She’s still like that, but not to the same extent. Braden has been good for her.”

“She’s been good for him too,” I say. “I’ve never seen them happier.”

That gets another small smile out of Tessa.

“Goodnight,” I say.

“Goodnight. Thank you for the drink.”

“Anytime. I’ll be in touch about the arrangements. That way you can…”

She meets my gaze. “I can what?”

“Nothing. I’ll be in touch. I’ll take care of all of it.”

“Thank you.” She nods and closes the door. I wait until I hear the deadbolt click into place, and then I leave.

I hope I haven’t done Tessa a disservice by offering to take care of the arrangements for both parties. It’s clear she’s not in the mood, not in the headspace, but this is her best friend. I know how much she loves Skye. I can see it in the way she talks about her and how happy she is for her and Braden. I don’t doubt Tessa wants the bachelorette party to be perfect and she’s just struggling to focus.

The signs are loud and clear to me. I’ve been where Tessa is. Not for the same reasons, of course, but I’ve been to that dark place where you’re not sure you’ll ever be able to climb back out of the hole. The best thing you can do is to have something to focus on, and I just took that away from Tessa.

I wanted to help her, yearned to help her, but I may have only made things worse.

Sherlock is waiting for me, and I scramble into the back seat as he holds the door.

“Where to this time, Mr. B?” he asks.

It’s early yet on Friday evening. I could go to a club, but I’m not really in the mood for crowds and dancing and loud music.

Watching Braden and Skye find each other and follow their love has made me wonder if maybe it’s time for me to look for the same thing. Indiscriminate sex no longer has the thrill it once did. I’m looking for more. An emotional connection that matches the physical.

“I think just home,” I say.

I see Sherlock’s eyebrows rise in the rearview mirror. He’s surprised, and I can’t blame him. Since when do I go home before ten o’clock on a Friday evening?

But it’s been a rough week at work. Braden and Skye are in New York, and frankly? I’m exhausted. Home, a glass of Wild Turkey, and a little Netflix marathon sounds great.

“Just home,” I say to Sherlock again.

This time he nods.

…

The next night is Saturday, and I usually spend it at a local downtown dance club called Ballroom Blitz. The owners have been known to look the other way if people get a bit physical on the dance floor.

I dreamed about Tessa last night. The funny thing is, it wasn’t even a sexual dream, but when I woke? I felt a pulsing need that was new to me.

I’m feeling horny, but I don’t have any desire to do anything about it. That’s new.

My phone dings. I glance at it.

Apple: I know you ended our mutual fun, but…I’m kind of horny.

She sends me the devil emoji, with horns and all.

I send back a laughing emoji. She texts back.

Apple: Your place or mine?

Apple and I have been friends with benefits—on-again, off-again—since she was barely eighteen. She and her twin sister, Addison Ames, had a huge party at their daddy’s mansion while the parents were out of town, and somehow Braden and I ended up there. We were both working construction at the time for our father, Bobby Black. Addison chased after Braden big time, but Apple and I? We just clicked. Nothing romantic at all. We love each other as friends, but nothing more. And we have a good time in the sack.

I consider it, given my raging hard-on over Tessa, but then I text her back.

Ben: Sorry. I’m busy.

Apple: Are you?

Ben: No.

Apple: It’s okay. You don’t have to lie to me. You okay?

Ben: Yeah. I guess.

Apple: How was your date with Tessa?

Ben: Are you kidding me? That was hardly a date.

Apple: Yeah. I could see it wasn’t from her end, but I saw the way you were looking at her.

Ben: Why shouldn’t I look at her? She’s a gorgeous woman.

Apple: She is. And she’s Skye’s maid of honor. The two of you will be thrown together a lot during the next couple months.

Ben: I suppose so.

Apple: Are you hoping something will happen there?

Am I? Tessa Logan has baggage. Baggage I’m not equipped to handle. So no matter how attracted I am to her—and I’m damned attracted to her—I need to leave well enough alone.

Apple texts back before I think of how to reply.

Apple:Have a good evening. I’ll slake my horniness elsewhere. Ciao!

Ben: Take care.

I shove my phone in my pocket and walk around my rec room. I have a house in a luxury community. I only recently moved there from my downtown Boston penthouse. It’s the quintessential bachelor pad with a sleek contemporary design, lots of glass, steel, and stone accents. My large lawn is home to elegant shrubs and a fountain and koi pond.

The inside is spacious with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light. The colors are a masculine mixture of blacks, grays, and whites, accented with bold artwork and high-end furnishings. The place boasts a home theater, a game room, and a fully-equipped gym.

And of course a spacious master bedroom complete with king-size bed, walk-in closet, lounge area, and en-suite bathroom with shower, jetted tub, and infrared sauna.

I love it all.

Apple’s been there many times, and I could have easily accepted her invitation. She’d have come over, and together we could have taken care of business. No different than any other time we screwed.

Except everything has changed.

I met Tessa Logan. Tessa Logan, who I know damned well I should stay far away from.

Only problem?

I can’t get her out of my mind.