As soon as I think it, here he is, saying it. Benedict barges in the front door like a cartoon, “Honey, I’m home!”
My stomach somersaults sideways as I turn around to face the front door.
“Harper, I’m going to have to call you back…”
18
BEN
I burst in ridiculously, hoping to see those gorgeous eyes roll with the crinkling at the sides. I notice it more and more, her subtle smiling. My mission to lighten this woman’s heavy load seems to be working. She even FaceTimed me. I almost shit myself in front of three Japanese billionaires.
“Wifey?” I add as I walk into the house.
“Back here, boss,” she replies from a hallway off the main living room.
I rush forward and then move to hug her when I see her but stop myself. No cameras in here. I’m not sure how she’d react at the moment.
“Again with the boss?”
“Again with the wifey?” She sasses back.
Cheeky. Good to be back.
“I’m going to hug you hello now,” I say and grab her quickly. She makes a squeaky sound in protest but doesn’t pull away.
“Is this going to be another uncomfortably long one?” She asks into my shirt.
“Depends, what do you think of the house?”
She pushes me away and I let her, eager to see what expression takes over her stunning face.
She narrows her eyes, “You found my Pinterest board, huh?”
“What’s a Pinterest board?” I pretend.
She bats at my arm, a playful move I quite like, and says, “Of course I like the house. It’s beautiful.”
“Good! I told them to move you into the primary suite, is that all right?”
She shrugs jokingly, “No, it’s not alright. It’s your house, I’ll take the guest bedroom.”
We stop our walk in that direction, “But you’ll be living here all week, please, woman you—”
“Benedict. Do I look like I’m going to cave on this?”
She crosses her arms, lifting those perky tits even higher in her sweater. Hell, that sweater looks so soft…my hand starts to twitch.
“No, I don’t.” She finishes.
“Fine, let me show you around.” I bound down the hallway. I show her the first guest bedroom, the office and the second guest bedroom, her room, apparently. “This is directly across from the primary suite where I guess I’ll be. Close by should you need, you know, a spider killed in the dead of night.”
“I’m not afraid of spiders,” she replies.
“Now you’re just lying. Everyone hates spiders. Honestly.” I huff as I move past her and her snarky smile to open the master suite door. It’s just like the rest of the house, fresh and modern and lined in massive windows. The original paneling has been painted over with a rich deep green, the fixtures are all brass and black, but the bedding and furniture is in soft whites and beiges. Would have been perfect for her. Stubborn thing. “The whole house has remote blinds in the Google Home app, lamps and thermostat too. I’ll show you,” I say quietly, watching her walk around in what looks like awe.
“Benedict…” she starts quietly. I don’t hide my smile. I had hoped she’d like it.
“It’s a good house, eh?”
