A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(43)

“Oh.” The guy’s face brightens, then dims. “Do you have a problem with her dating me?”

No one can take Drew’s place, but Drew would want me to reassure the guy. He wanted Cate to find someone.

“Not as long as she wants to and you make her happy.”

His next words are a total surprise. “I’m falling in love with her.”

I take his measure differently. The few times I’d met him, she’d made it clear they were just friends. Jenna hadn’t said anything different. “Wow, that’s fast.”

“Maybe. We may have only started dating a little over a month ago, but we’ve been friends for a while. And she’s easy to love.”

“Make her happy, man. She deserves that and more.”

When he leaves, I actually hope he wins her over. Cate deserves someone like him.

Back at the office, the sun has long since gone when Jeff pops his head in my office. It’s a nightly ritual for him, so I’m not surprised by his appearance.

“It’s been a shit day,” he complains.

“That it has. The bad guys always seem to ruin it for the rest of us good guys.”

“Good guys?” he scoffs, falling into one of the chairs in front of my desk. “I doubt any of the women in this town would call you good except maybe your event planner. Did you nail her last night after your little show in the parking lot?” I scowl at him. “Don’t bother answering. You look a little lighter, like gravity doesn’t have a complete hold on you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that since you blew your load, you’re light on your feet.”

I can’t stop the chuckle. “You are something else,” I say evading the question, not sure I’m pissed or amused.

“You want to go out for drinks?” I shake my head. His eyes go wide. “Are you * whipped already?”

“Who said I slept with her?”

Mark’s voice comes out of nowhere as he steps into the room. “I told you, Jeff, she’s not like that.”

It’s my turn to be surprised. “How do you know her?” Even I can hear the predator in the tone of my voice.

“Her parents live down the street from my dad.”

“You ever hook up with her?”

Mark’s face pinches. “No.” He waves me off. “She wasn’t even in high school when I was. But I heard things when I came home from college and they were all good. She’s the kind of girl you marry, not bang. So if you’re not in for the long haul, Ben, leave her alone.”

After they leave, I pick up my phone several times only to put it down. Mark’s words haunt me like Drew’s ghost would have if he could. I’ve already f*cked up and let my dick rule my actions. I can’t play f*ck buddy games with someone like her. She’ll only get hurt in the end. Somehow, I need to let her go before things go too far.

My decision made, I stay away from Sam for the rest of the week. Good girls aren’t in the cards for me. I have nothing to offer them. Even though she says she wants to play f*ck buddies, I know how that usually ends up. Karen is the prime example of that.

When Sam calls me from outside my office on a rainy Friday night after hours, I’m ready to say the things that need to be said.





This is probably the ballsiest move I’ve ever made, but I have to do something. He hasn’t called all week, and I don’t know why. After the night we spent and the fireworks display that erupted over his bed, I can’t stop thinking about him. And I know he felt it, too. I want some more of Ben Rhoades and I’m willing to take this chance.

My heart is pumping blood through my veins at light speed. I wish I had cruise control for my blood pressure because I totally need it right now.

“Rhoades.” His voice is curt when he answers. Does that mean he doesn’t want to hear from me?

“Ben, it’s Sam.”

“Sam,” There’s a pause. “Hi. I was busy grabbing some contracts out of the printer and had my hands full so I couldn’t see the caller ID. How are you?”

Thank God for that. I’m not sure what to make of him yet, but it sounds like at least he’s not put off by me. “I’m fine. How’s your week so far?”

“From hell or worse.” He explains something about a hedge fund, which is purely Greek to me and I tell him.

“All you need to know is that a lot of our clients had to be stroked, petted, and reassured all week that their money is safe and I lost a huge deal because of it.”

“Aww, I’m terribly sorry. That sucks because it’s not like it was your fault.”

“Thanks, but when it comes to money, people don’t care. They only want theirs protected. So what’s up?”

“I was on my way home and I noticed your car in the parking lot on this yucky rainy Friday night, so I decided to stop and call.”

“Wait. You’re downstairs?”

I can almost feel his surprise leaping through the phone.

“I’m in my car, but yeah.”

There’s a long beat and I can imagine him running a hand through his gorgeous hair.

“Come on up … that is if you want.”

“On the way,” I say, not able to keep the grin off my face.