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Ben says nothing so I go on. “We can start over.”
I stand abruptly and have to steady myself before I stick out my hand. Ben looks at it for a long second before taking it in his own. “I’m Victoria. Nice to meet you.”
Ben stares at our locked hands and takes a deep breath. When he exhales, he meets my eye. “Ben.”
I smile. “Ben, is that short for Benjamin?”
When he returns my smile, a tiny bit of my broken heart heals. It’s a start.
“No. It’s short for Bentley. A family name.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Ben. I look forward to learning more about you.”
He doesn’t let go of my hand when I loosen my grip, so I retighten it, taking a step closer.
“You know,” he starts, looking down to our hands and then up my body in a way that sends chills through me. “The first time we met, you seduced me.”
“Is that what happened?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.
“I’m pretty sure that’s the only way I would have ended up in that hotel room with you.”
“Well, since we get a do-over, maybe it’s your turn to seduce me.”
“I would, but…” Ben drops my hand and pats his pockets. “I didn’t bring any snacks with me.”
I laugh then, in surprise but also in pure joy. The weight of the last few weeks has been heavy on my shoulders, and I just felt a bit of it lift. I know this isn’t the end of what we need to work through, but the fact that he’s willing to start that journey with me is music to my soul.
I feel a bit like singing.
Instead, I unbutton the stiff suit jacket and let it fall to the floor behind me, seductively reaching for the buttons of the silk blouse.
Ben groans. “You can never, ever tell anyone how much I’m about to enjoy this law clerk intern strip tease.”
I scoff and try to look scandalized. “I thought this was part of the interview.”
Ben groans again and covers his face with his hands. After a moment, though, I see him peeking through his fingers.
“Do I need to take it all off? Or would it be okay with you if I just unbutton my top?”
Ben shakes his head and pulls his phone out, holding down the button to power it off. “Thing’s always listening,” he mutters.
I want to laugh at his unnecessary precaution, but I stay in character. “I really appreciate this opportunity, sir.”
When he looks up at me, I can see the change in him. He’s going to play. Adrenaline shoots through me, and I suck in a breath to keep from reacting.
He stands and buttons his suit jacket, just the way I’ve seen actors do it on television law shows. Again, I want to giggle but I keep it together.
“On your knees.”
I drop to the floor in a rush of desire.
Here we are, right back to where we started, Mr. Adams.
But so much has changed since that night. It seems like a million years ago that we were in that hotel room on Faraday. I never could have imagined being here now, still with Ben. Getting a chance to make this crazy thing between us real.
But here we are, in my shabby studio apartment, with him standing over me in his fancy suit, getting ready to make me earn a clerk job the hard way.
And he says his real life isn’t any fun.
