“Let me go,” she said, pushing away.
He allowed her to stand and straightened away from her, frowning.
Needing space between them, on the heels of her tennis shoe, she spun several feet away and then faced him.Her legs felt like rubber.“Ben,” she said, her voice breathy and unsteady.“I know you’re not aware of this, but I...I reallytrulyhate that nickname.It’s not me anymore.”
He blinked.“All right.I won’t use it again.”
She picked the marker up off the floor and placed it on the workbench.In stiff strides, she walked to the big doors.
My god, what have I done?she wondered.
With effort, she got out the words.“I’ll go up to the house now.”
“Wait.”
His voice stopped her, but she didn’t turn.
“You owe me.Remember my price?”
Chapter Ten
Sarah drew a shortbreath.“Ben, I can’t talk about that time in my life right now.Maybe another day.”She said it over her shoulder, then sent him a quick look.
He bent to collect his shirt and pull it on.Something like disappointment passed over his face.And then, his features hardened.“No, tonight.Now.You gave your word, and I know you’ll keep it.I held up my end of the bargain.Like me, you have integrity.”He stood there, strong, immovable, and she had a glimpse of what he must have been like as a military leader.He’d give an order and others were bound to obey.
With grim resignation, Sarah knew he wasn’t going to let her squirm out of this.Her body still hummed from his touch.Her mind felt jumbled, and processing what she’d just allowed would take time.
Turning in frustration, she opened her arms, palms up.“What do you want to know?Do you want to hear about all the fabulous parties I went to?The expensive champagne?The jet setting around the world?Want to hear about all the movie stars I’ve met?”
Calmly, Ben found two wooden chairs in the corner by the box of chicks and set them facing one another.In their warm enclosure, the chicks peeped.“No, not that stuff.”He gestured to one of the seats.“I’m curious about your life modeling, how you got started, what an average day was like.I want to know how you felt about it.Was it fun?A drag?Was it as great as they say?I hope to know everything, Sarah, and I’ve got time.”Again, he gestured at the empty chairs.
Letting out a sharp sigh, Sarah took the seat stiffly, her back straight, her hands clutching the arms.Oh, how she wanted to run away from him.“All right.”She met his gaze head on.She’d made a bargain.She’d keep it.To a point.“But if I start boring you, just say so and I’ll stop.”
He sat facing her, his eyes never leaving her face.“Impossible.You’ll never bore me.”
“Okay.Well, I’ve told you how I wasdiscovered.”She made quote marks in the air.“So I went to New York, to that fancy lady’s offices.Turns out she was a big-time fashion photographer.She took me under her wing.”
