AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Shorty, I came to see what you were doing today. I know you have to work. All I need to know is your schedule. I approve any changes.”
“Holy shit,” Angelina whispered. “Dad invited an idiot into our house. My father left me to deal with a crazy man trying to mark his territory like a homicidal maniac.”
“He left you a note.” Ben handed her the folded piece of paper Quinn left for her.
“A note? Dad doesn’t leave notes.”
Angelina snatched the paper out of his hand. Eyeing him skeptically, she wondered if this was a trick. Ben stood rooted to the floor. She cursed under her breath as she unfolded the paper. It was her dad’s sloppy scrawl. No one could copy that mess.
Baby Girl,
I’ll be away for a week or two. Don’t worry. Ben helped me modify my cast so I could drive. He is a good man and is doing me a favor watching over you while I’m gone. Listen to him. Call you when I get close to home.
Love,
Dad
“Oh my God,” Angelina groaned. “He does realize I’m not five, right? Since when do I need someone to watch over me when he is gone? He decided after all this time I needed someone to tell me what to do. Like I’m going to listen to a guy he picked up off the street after he broke his leg. How does he even know you are a good guy? Driving an injured person home doesn’t mean a thing. It could be part of your plan. You could be casing the house, ready to steal my clients and ideas, or a criminal on the run looking for a place to hide. Absolutely fantastic. He left me with a babysitter.”
“Quinn wanted you to feel safe because he is away so often.”
“My father left me with an insane watchdog that looks like he is ready to bite me or pee on my leg. I’m not sure which. News flash, I have been making it on my own for quite some time. I don’t need any help, and I don’t need a scheduling master,” Angelina ranted as she poked his chest.
“Not crazy.”
Ben backed her against her worktable. His thighs rubbed hers as he held her in place.
“Territorial, absolutely. You don’t fuck with something that isn’t yours. I’ll be taking care of that real soon. Homicidal will happen if I catch the lawyer putting his hands on you or if I can’t find you. He isn’t good enough for you. Shorty, you don’t want to test me on this. I promise this will all be worth it in the end. All I need to know is where you’re going and when you’ll be back.”
He gave in to the urge to touch her. He watched her pulse quicken when the tips of his fingers traced the curve of her cheek and down her neck before resting his hand on her shoulder as his thumb caressed the thumping pulse on her neck. Her skin was the softest thing Ben had ever touched.
“Ben,” she whispered, then shook her head before glaring at him. “Hands off. I have no idea what you and my father are cooking up, but it stops now. This isn’t going to work. I am a very successful professional woman. I gave up answering to anyone a long time ago. Don’t think because you have a note from my dad that it changes anything. I’m not buying it.”
Angelina didn’t get an answer. Ben studied her closely. It was frighteningly thrilling the way he backed her up to the table. She wasn’t afraid of him hurting her. She was afraid of melting under his touch. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to have a little fun scratching an itch. Women shouldn’t be ashamed of taking what they need and enjoying it. However, Ben looked like he came with a boatload of complications. One of which would be explaining Jake and Max. Angelina wasn’t going to out her men.
“See you got smart and ditched the lawyer,” a smirk came from the top of the steps.
Angelina jumped as Ben whirled around. She found herself pinned behind him. His big body vibrated with energy, ready to face down whatever the threat may be.
Peering around him, she groaned. It was the delivery guy. The one and only delivery guy in town, so it appeared. Angelina rested her forehead on Ben’s back. If he was this worked up over Jake and Max, the delivery guy would give him an aneurysm. This was not going to be good.
“What do you want?” Ben demanded with one arm securing her to his back. If he had to move, she was moving with him. His body would shield her from the threat.
“Got a delivery for Angelina.”
“That’s it,” Angelina mumbled. “I am running away. No one will know where I am.”
Ben kept his focus on the boy, trying to leer at his woman. Obviously, they knew each other, and she wasn’t thrilled he was in her office.
“You do not speak to her. You do not look at her. All future deliveries are to be accepted by me,” Ben barked at the kid.
“Yo, dude. You need to back it down a few. If you want to thaw the frigid bitch, be my guest.”
Ben released her and crossed the room in three strides. Hauling the kid up until the tips of his tennis shoes grazed the floor, he shook him. “Listen up, ass wipe, because I will only say this once. You see that woman over there?”
He paused until the delivery kid nodded, swallowing hard.
“You do not look at her, talk to her, or even think about her. If you do, I will know.”
