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I find twenty dollars in my purse and hand it over.
“Thank you, Emily. You have fed me for a week with this.” He reaches out to grab my hand. It is my last twenty. Something I was keeping to take Rosie for a milkshake after school this week. But we don’t need milkshakes. I am sure I have some ramen at home and maybe we can make a quick trip to the library to see if they have any new braille books we can borrow instead.
I squeeze his hand. “Anytime, Dale. I wish I could do more. Be safe.” I stand and turn around to head to the subway, but instead step straight into a tall, hard chest as large hands encase my waist to keep me steady.
Ben was standing right behind me the entire time. He is looking at me now, admiration in his eyes, and the air leaves my lungs as they drill into mine.
“What’s that look for? Haven’t you seen anyone do a good deed before?” I say with a quirked brow, trying to brush off the surprise.
“I have. I’ve just never seen a guardian angel quite like you,” he says, his serious tone something new. His eyes glisten as they look into mine, a few seconds passing as we quietly take each other in as people rush all around us. I feel his hand lingering, caressing my waist just slightly.
“I have to run, but I will see you next week for art class. Text me the details,” Ben says, almost snapping us out of the moment as he lets go of my waist and turns, walking in the opposite direction. But he takes one last look between Dale and me before he does.
Dale walks up to me then, and we both stand together, watching Ben until he disappears into the crowd.
“Ben’s a nice guy,” he says to me, and I whip my head around to look at Dale.
“You know him?” I ask, shocked that Ben knows the local homeless man.
“Yeah, Ben gives me twenty dollars every morning, along with a coffee from Starbucks. Makes my mornings better,” Dale says, smiling, and I can’t help but smile in return.
Ben is just full of surprises.
CHAPTER TEN - BEN
I rush into the bar and head to our regular table at the back, surprised to see my brothers already there waiting. Even though it's busy, I can still spot them from a mile away, usually because there is always a table of ladies constantly nearby. Such is the life of billionaire bachelors like us.
“Sorry, gents, had a meeting,” I say as I take a seat at the table with them.
“About time. I have to be across town in an hour,” Harrison says, straightening his tie, and I see a table of his staff behind us, their heads buried in their phones and laptops, clearly waiting for the governor to take him to his next appointment. My older brother is well loved in Maryland, and his hard work doesn’t go unnoticed by the masses.
“Glad you could spare us an hour, your excellency,” I mock, and he thumps me in the arm before he grabs his water.
“What took you so long?” Eddie asks, eyeing me questioningly. I am always on time; usually I am the one waiting for them. It is one of my annoying traits. I like to be punctual, and I expect punctuality from everyone else. My eyes flick to Tennyson, already seeing him downing a whiskey and wondering how many he has had. He went to New York a few months ago, and ever since, he hasn’t been himself. My brothers and I have talked at length to both him and each other, but he keeps telling us he is fine.
“Chasing women, brother?” Tennyson pipes up, and I smirk. He isn’t exactly wrong.
“Just finishing up a meeting with Emily,” I state, wondering where the waitress is, because I need a drink.
“Who’s Emily?” Harrison asks, and I am relieved when the waitress delays my answer. The four of us order quickly, because not only does Harrison need to leave, but the rest of us need to get back to the office to finish our financials for the month. As we order, I see the waitress eyeing Tennyson, but he is doing a good job of ignoring her, something she doesn’t seem to like. I can only assume he has had sex with her, but can’t remember her name, so he is ignoring her, hoping this awkwardness of their meeting will melt away and never be spoken of again.
The waitress leaves without saying a word to Tennyson, and I raise my eyebrow to him in question. But he doesn’t pay any attention, as the boys are focused back on me.
“So, who is Emily?” Harrison presses, and I pick up my menu again, pretending to peruse it.
“Why are you so quiet? Has your tongue been busy doing something else, Benny boy?” Tennyson uses my kid nickname, and I throw a punch, hitting him in the arm.
“Ow, what the fuck, man?” He rubs his arm dramatically, and I run my hands through my hair to try to pull myself together.
“Again, who is Emily?” Harrison repeats to me, as he takes a sip of his water.
“She is the woman defending the school case I’m working on at the moment. The property Beasley wants to own in William Heights,” I explain, acting like I didn’t just want to fuck her in the elevator. I take a deep breath and my brothers all wait, knowing I have more to add. I’m not sure how to deliver the news. It is by far the most outrageous thing I have ever done, so I just blurt it out. “And I am not chasing her. She is actually my fiancée.” The waitress saves the day again, bringing me my beer, and I take a quick drink.
Harrison almost spits out his water, Tennyson grins in delight, and Eddie’s eyes are wide as he stares at me, unmoving.
“What?” Eddie and Harrison ask in unison, shocked.
“Fake fiancée,” I confirm before I proceed to tell them about my deal with Emily.
