Beauty from Pain(82)

“Then it’s probably a good idea for me to get out of your hair today.”


“Let’s call it a girls’ day out. You and your friend can shop or whatever it is you do when you’re together.”


I shrug because I don’t really have any extra money to spend. My budget is super tight after my lingerie spending spree before Christmas. “I don’t really need anything.”


He gets out of bed and takes his wallet from his pants. He places several hundreds on the nightstand under my phone. Wow, that really makes me feel like a hooker.


“When you buy for yourself, you’re buying for me because I like you in nice things.” He leans down and kisses my mouth. “I’m taking you somewhere next week, so buy some new things for our trip.”


“Where are you taking me?”


“New Zealand. It’s a business trip, but we’ll have plenty of time to play while we’re there, so buy some sundresses and a few new swimsuits. I’d like to request skimpy bikinis.”


No freakin’ way. Addison will be so jealous. “You’re taking me to New Zealand?”


“Yes. I have some business at one of the vineyards and my boss has a house on a private beach. He’s letting us stay there a couple of nights.”


“Lachlan. I don’t even know what to say.” And I don’t. I’d never get to do anything like this on my own. I wouldn’t have been able to come to Australia if Addison’s parents hadn’t bought my airline ticket.


“There’s only one word I want to hear.”


“Yes?”


“That’s the one.”


I hold my arms out and he lets me hop on him with my legs around his waist as I squeal. “We’re going to New Zealand,” I squeal in excitement.


I call Addison when I’m almost to the apartment. I don’t plan on going up because I don’t want to run into Ben. “Hey, I’m a block away. Are you ready to come down?”


“I need five or ten more minutes.” Of course she does. She’s never ready on time. Won’t I ever learn to tell her to be ready thirty minutes earlier?


“I’ll wait in the car.”


“No way. Come up, please.”


I know I shouldn’t, but I agree against my better judgment. “Okay. Buzz me in, but please hurry.”


Daniel stops in front of the apartment. “Addison isn’t ready so I’m going up. I shouldn’t be long.”


I reach for the handle, but it doesn’t work. Child safety locks, I guess. They’re probably activated because Daniel knows I don’t give a rat’s ass about having a door opened for me. I’m not helpless. I can open my own door, but that’s not the way Lachlan wants it.


Daniel appears displeased with me as he lets me out the car. I think he doesn’t approve of me going up to the apartment because he knows his employer won’t like it. “I won’t be long, Daniel.”


“I can’t tell you what to do, but you know he won’t like this.” Daniel knows about my run-in with Ben, maybe not the specifics, but Lachlan has told him something.


“I’ll hurry.”


“Take your phone and call me if you have any problems. Anything at all.”


Great. I have Lachlan and Daniel wanting to kick Ben’s ass. “I’ll take it, but don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”


“I’ll worry until I see you come out of that building safe and sound.” What did Lachlan tell him?


“I’ll be ten minutes max,” I promise.


“Make it five.” He sounds irritated.


I knock on the door and Ben answers. He gives me a crooked grin, but he’s embarrassed. He should be. “Hi, Laurelyn. Please, come in.”


I walk into the apartment and I can’t remember a more uncomfortable moment in my life. I stand there trying to think of polite conversation, but I can’t come up with anything I want to say to the man who called me a whore after he tried to kiss me.


“I’m gonna walk back and check on Addison.”


He touches my arm as I walk by and I go stiff. “Can I please have just a minute?”


I pull my arm from him. I don’t want to do this, but I feel like I have to because he’s my best friend’s brother. “I’ll give you one minute.”