Beauty and the Boss (Modern Fairytales #1)(48)
“I’m still wearing my purse.” She held it up. “I didn’t even take off my purse.”
His lips twitched, and she burst into laughter. Shaking his head, he kicked his bedroom door open and laid her on his bed, a huge smile on his face. “The things you find funny…”
That only made her laugh even harder.
By the time she had herself under control, he’d put on a pair of sweats and walked into his closet. “I got you something. Don’t be mad.”
She swiped her hands across her wet cheeks and watched him, her heart picking up speed. “What did you do?”
“I saw this, and I couldn’t help but think it would be perfect for the party at the Met on the twenty-third.” He came out carrying a big pink box. “You usually pick your outfits, and I know you don’t like me spending money on you, but I couldn’t resist this one.”
She reached out and took the box, her arms feeling weak and shaky. He bought her a dress? How very…prince-like of him. “Is it black?”
“No.” He snorted. “Never.”
Smiling, she played with the pink bow for a second before undoing the knot. The second she lifted the lid off the box, she gasped. The most beautiful midnight blue dress she’d ever seen stared back at her. It was satin, and had intricate beading that looked like it was straight off an A-lister’s back on the red carpet. “Oh my God. It’s beautiful.”
“I couldn’t resist.” He sat beside her, bending a knee and settling on his foot. He touched the dress, tracing one of the threads that led to the beads. “The blue matches those flecks that show up in your eyes when you smile. And since I plan on making you smile a lot that night, it seemed like it was made for you.”
“It’s perfect,” she whispered, tears burning her eyes. “You’re perfect. I love it. Thank you.”
He curled his hand behind her neck, and kissed her. When he pulled back, his blue eyes were warmer than ever before. “You’re the perfect one. Not me. I’m just me.”
She wasn’t sure what to say to that, so she kissed him instead.
And she didn’t want to stop.
By the time they came up for air, they were both undressed and breathing heavily, and the dress had fallen to the floor. Yawning, Benjamin pulled the covers over them and settled in. She rolled onto her side, facing him, and folded her hands under her cheek. “I—” The ring of her phone cut her off. “Who could that be?”
He raised a brow. “I have no idea, since it’s not my phone. Answer it, we’ll find out.”
“It’s probably just—” Digging in her purse, she pulled out her cell and frowned down at the screen. “Oh. It’s my parents. They never call this late. Could you give me a second?”
Benjamin sat up. “Sure. I’ll go grab us a couple bottles of water.”
“Thanks.” She watched him go, waiting till he crossed the threshold and turned the corner. Then, and only then, she answered the phone. “What’s wrong, Mom?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” She paused. “But Lou called a few minutes ago. We got word from the bank, and we’re going to find out tomorrow at nine a.m. if we got the grant that could keep us running.”
She held the phone tight, offering a silent prayer that they would get it. If they didn’t, her parents would lose the farm, and everything they worked so hard to build all these years. “Did Lou give you any indication of the verdict when he called?”
“No, he said he wasn’t told yet. He just heard the answer was waiting for him on his desk.” She let out a small sigh. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
“Don’t think like that. You have to think positively.” Maggie flopped back on the bed and stared up at the fan above Benjamin’s bed. Unlike hers back home, his did not need to be dusted. It was impeccably clean. His sheets were soft and satiny, and everything looked…rich. Different. It didn’t feel like home. “If you believe it can be saved, it will. You taught me that.”
Her mom laughed. “I did, didn’t I?”
“Yes.” She peeked at the door, but there was no sign of Benjamin. “The farm won’t be shut down. I swear I’ll do everything I can to make sure it stays open, before we have to resort to something drastic and final.”
“That’s not your job, dear,” her mom said, her voice sad. “It’s mine. And this is our last resort. We’ve exhausted every avenue we could. If we don’t get a loan or a grant…it’s over.”
She rubbed her forehead, worry taking over despite her words to her mother. All her life, her father had worked hard to keep his father’s farm going…and for what? To lose it now? No. That couldn’t be how this ended. “I refuse to accept that. There has to be a way to get the money. There just has to.” Footsteps came down the hallway, and Maggie cleared her throat. “Don’t lose faith.”
“I won’t,” her mom said.
Benjamin hovered in the doorway, and she motioned him inside, sitting up and folding her knees in front of her. She hadn’t wanted him to hear this conversation, but it was pretty much over now. He wouldn’t understand the struggle her parents faced, and would probably offer to throw money at the problem to fix it, and as much as that might help, she refused to be yet another hand held out for him to fill. “I have to go now. I’m not at home.”