A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(72)

“Huh?”

“Are you okay?”

I shake my head because I’m mesmerized by the way her breasts move under her shirt as she sits down. I turn away and shift into gear.

“Yeah, I have a stop to make and I want you to come with me.”

All I have to do is think about our next stop and my dick stops trying to poke a hole through my pants to get closer to Sam. Instead, it hides.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going? This is an office building.”

“Trust me, okay?”

I take her hand in mine as we exit the elevator and into a reception area. I leave Sam for a second while I announce myself to the receptionist. Then I grab Sam’s hand again.

It doesn’t take long before Karen comes around the corner all business-like. Her lips thin when she realizes I’m not alone.

“Why is she here?”

“You’ve met my girlfriend, Samantha. She and I are having lunch downstairs. Since we were close I thought I would personally bring you this letter from our lawyers. And I won’t be able to attend dinner tonight or any night for that matter.”

I hand her the letter in plain sight of the receptionist who has now become my impartial witness.

Karen’s jaw clenches. “I’ll be moving my money from your firm.”

“I think that might be for the best.”

I press the elevator button and am rewarded when the doors open instantly. I walk in with Sam in tow. Both women look shell-shocked. As the doors close forever on a relationship I never intended to have with Karen, I pull a stunned Sam close and kiss her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I say when I pull away.

“You should have.”

Her answer given through gritted teeth warns me I’m in trouble. I back her in the corner of the elevator. “I should have. Let me make it up to you.”





“Make it up to me? What the heck were you thinking, Ben, not giving me some kind of a heads up here? I felt much like a fool.” My hands fly up in the air.

“No, that wasn’t my intent. I wanted her to get the message loud and clear that the two of us are together and that she and I are finished. Plus, I really did need to deliver that letter to her.”

“Fine. I get that. But you could have clued me in and not blindsided me. What if I had done that to you? Taken you to a former lover’s office? I feel like you used me.”

His mouth works, as he searches for something to say. “No! I would never use you. I’m sorry. I should’ve told you.” His hands automatically plow through his hair. “Can you forgive me?”

It’s always the eyes. They tell the truth before anything else. And when I look into his, all I see is clear focus and honesty. He didn’t mean any harm. He only wanted to do just what he said. The little V between his eyes and the way his mouth turns down shows me how he erred.

“I can, but please don’t do anything like that again. I probably would’ve jumped at the chance to go with you if you’d only asked me first.” I walk into his space and put my arms around his waist. “You have to know I’m your biggest supporter.”

He leans his forehead against mine and says, “Now I feel even worse.”

“And here I thought you were going to make it up to me.”

The elevator dings and the doors open. People start to walk in, so we move apart and exit.

“I’d like to do more than what I can right now. But time isn’t being very kind to me today. I did say lunch, so let’s go eat. Does that sound okay to you?”

As an answer, my stomach emits a huge embarrassing protest at having been denied food so long.

“I guess I have my response,” he chuckles. “Come on, there’s a great place right over here.”

We get seated right away and order. He brings me up to speed on the situation at work, and I do the same.

“I’m glad things are getting somewhat better for you,” I say.

“Yeah. It’s still crazy, mind you. But at least I feel like we’re in control, or maybe have a better fix on things. With Dad gone, I was worried things would go too far south and by the time he gets home he would feel like I was this major failure.”

“When I spoke to him, I had the sense he had the utmost faith in you.”

“Yeah maybe.” He rakes a hand through his hair. “But we’re not there yet. This is my chance. And I want to show him I’m capable, that I won’t fail. And now this.” He rubs his face momentarily, then adds, “Dad always acts like I’m not good enough, not cut out for this, and I bust my ass for him, but … and now this Karen thing. At least the major crisis was averted.”

It’s nice to see him opening up to me about work and his relationship with his dad. “I can’t believe Karen threatened a lawsuit. But you’ve handled that too. No way your dad won’t see that.”

His hands start to move towards his hair, but I intercept them and lace my fingers with his. He looks at our joined hands and the corner of his mouth turns up. When his eyes meet mine, they sparkle. “I have a terrible habit of doing that.”

“I know. You’ll go bald if you don’t stop.”

“You, Cate, and Drew.” A rapid fire burst of laughter escapes from him.