Ben laughed. "I don't have a lot of time for that."
I completely understood that because that's what I told Cam every time she said she was worried I wasn't getting out and meeting men. "What about marriage, kids, stuff like that? Or are you a confirmed bachelor?"
He seemed completely unperturbed by the fact that I was practically interrogating him and shrugged. "I guess I think that when I meet the right woman, I'll make time for her."
I gave him a light slap on his shoulder. "That's exactly what I tell Cam when she asks me that question."
"So you're waiting for the right woman, too?" he asked.
I laughed and shook my head, but didn't answer.
He finished his drink and gestured to my half-empty glass. "Do you want another?"
I shook my head again.
"Then, how about you tell me about a typical day for you."
I sipped the vodka and soda before I answered. "I work long hours but I'm usually at home on my couch in my pajamas." I chuckled at the expression on his face. "Yeah, even when I shower, I usually dress in clean leggings and tees when I'm done, but they're still essentially pajamas."
"So you're a hermit?"
"Pretty much, but I kinda like it. People are...hard and sometimes it's just easier to avoid them."
He didn't say anything to that, just looked at me as though I were a puzzle he was trying to figure out. His intensity was actually pretty flattering.
I finished my drink and sat my glass next to his. "Speaking of hermits, can I see the rest of your house? Especially Betty Boop. She's a must on this tour." I asked. It was probably rude to ask him to show me around but I knew exactly where I wanted the tour to end—his bedroom.
"Sure." He straightened from the counter and gestured to the bar that ran between the living room and the kitchen. I hadn't noticed it before, but there was a small tank on the opposite end.
I slid off the island. At The Boot, I hadn't realized how much taller than me he was, but now it was obvious. Then again, I was only a few inches over five feet so he probably wasn't quite six feet tall. In my flat sneakers, I barely came up to his chin. I felt small, even delicate, which was rare for me.
Would I feel the same way if I were lying under him in bed?
My entire body flashed hot and I knew it was time to step away before I attacked him like a rabid animal. Humping his leg probably wouldn't impress him very much.
I crept closer to the tank but all I could see was the shell, no crab in sight.
"Guess it's past Betty's bedtime," I murmured, still feeling more than a little hot.
Ben grinned. "Probably. Maybe you can meet her the next time you're here."
The next time I was here? Was he already expecting a replay before we'd even gotten started? I shot him a sideways glance, but he was already moving away from me.
"Follow me."
When he turned, my eyes dropped to his butt. Hmmm, maybe a replay wouldn't be a problem. If the act was half as fantastic as the view, I wouldn't mind coming back again.
I realized as we left the kitchen that there was a row of stools on the other side of the bar. The kitchen opened directly into the living room, which I hadn't noticed because the room was dark. Ben hit a switch and all the lamps in the room flicked on. I stared in awe.
"Wow, this is a great room," I murmured.
It wasn't the polished chic you might see in a magazine, but it looked cozy and comfortable, exactly the kind of place I would love to curl up and work or watch TV. Or read the romance novels that Cam sent me even though I pretended I didn't. Not because I didn't love them, but because I loved driving her nuts.
Yes, it had already been established that I have a perverse sense of humor.
A huge sectional in a smoky blue was angled toward the corner, which would normally be weird but there was a fireplace in the corner, which was unique and gorgeous. It took up the entire corner and was faced with slate in dark and light grey. A huge TV was mounted above the mantel and I could almost see Ben sprawled out on the sofa with his feet resting on the coffee table in front of him as he watched a ball game or movie.
"You think?" he asked. "My mom always tells me that I need to hire an interior decorator."
