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“How much do you have left to write? Didn’t you say you need to replot it?”
“I replotted it this week.”
“So, who does she end up with?”
It makes me smile to hear the genuine interest in his voice. “I decided to go with my initial plan to reunite her with the ex. I’ve introduced a growth arc I’m happy with for Liam. It’ll be Liam and Laurie in the end.”
Ben frowns. “I liked the idea of her ending up with the new guy. Both of them have their growth arc together and live happily ever after.”
“I thought about it, but I can’t. Blaze is just too hung up on his ex.”
“Blaze? You named one of your main characters Blaze?”
I grin. “It’s very romance-novel-ish.”
Ben shakes his head. “He sounds like a tool.”
My mouth drops open. I grab the pillow from behind me and try to hit him with it. “Don’t say that about Blaze. He’s a great secondary love interest.”
“As long as you’re happy with him.” He bends over and drops another quick kiss on my lips. “I’ll chase up that security system today. Then I’ll be round tonight to install it.”
“But don’t I need to give you the money for it first?”
“Just pay me back when you can. There’s no rush.”
“Ben...” I start. I know he’s saving for a rainy day, which makes me doubly sure I’m not taking a loan from him. “Just tell me how much it costs and I’ll have the money for you tonight.”
He studies me for a moment before reeling off a figure that makes me glad I’m lying down. If I’d been standing, I would have collapsed.
“I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”
He nods. “There’s no rush. The discount will make it less than that, but I won’t be able to give you the adjusted amount until I’ve spoken to the company. I’d hate to promise you something and then have them tell me they can only take five percent off or something.”
“I understand. I appreciate everything you’re doing for me.”
“I’m always happy to help out a friend, Lainey.”
There’s a cautionary warning behind his words and I hear it loud and clear. He’s doing this for me because he’s my friend. This has nothing to do with the fact we’ve spent all this time in bed together, exploring each other’s bodies as he hands me one mind-blowing orgasm after another.
I can’t deceive myself about what Ben feels for me. There’s nothing romantic about what we’ve done in and out of bed in his mind. No matter how good we are together, there’s only one woman for him.
Amber.
“I’ll catch you later, babe.”
He waves goodbye and leaves me alone with only my thoughts for company, and the warm fluttery feeling in my chest that comes from hearing him call me babe—an endearment I never thought I liked until now.
An endearment he used to use with Amber.
***
I feel slightly apprehensivewalking into my place without Ben. Seeing it trashed took a lot out of me. The two of us cleaned up yesterday, but it’s not just the mess that has left me shaken. It’s the fact someone broke into my home—a place that is supposed to be secure and safe. Private. My haven.
At least there isn’t glass everywhere today. Ben and I swept up yesterday and taped giant grey garbage bags to the window frames to keep the rain out before my new window arrives today.
After I put my bags down, I call my insurance company and lodge a claim with them. One hour later, I’m getting ready to head out the door to scout out a new laptop when my mobile phone goes off. It’s Cass.
“I’ve got five minutes between scenes. Talk to me,” she orders.
