A girl could get used to this.
Then I reminded myself that this was just an act and I couldn’t start staring into his gorgeous eyes too intently. Otherwise I’d fall for him.
The objective here was simple. Get one over on my sister.
‘Oh, sorry!’ I gently moved my gaze away from Ben and back to Esme. ‘Where are my manners? Hon, this is my sister, Esme. Esme, this is Ben, myboyfriend,’ I said, emphasising the word, my tone laced with an extra dose offuck you.
‘This… he… that’syourboyfriend?’ she stuttered. Her eyes bugged and her brows lifted so high I was surprised they didn’t fly through the roof.
‘Yes, he is,’ I said smugly, thinking I owed Ben big time for this. The look on her face was a picture. I was almost tempted to pull out my phone and take a photo to remind myself of this moment.
‘Ah, sothisis Esme.’ Ben cocked an unimpressed brow.
‘It’s so… it’s… wow! Er, it’s lovely to meet you, Ben.’ Esme tried to regain her composure, fluttered her eyelashes, then opened her arms wide, inviting Ben in for a hug.
Unbelievable.
Esme wasn’t one for hugs or personal contact. At most she’d do air kisses, but hugs? She barely hugged our parents. She was blatantly trying to flirt with Ben.
Saying how hot she thought he was when she assumed he was one of Adrian’s friends was one thing. But fluttering her lashes and trying to hug Ben when I’d just told her we were together was out of order.
Ben wouldn’t know that she was trying to sleaze over him, though, so he’d probably just do it because he’d think that was how my family greeted each other. It was my fault. I should’ve mentioned this stuff when I did the briefing thing.
My stomach tensed. Although Ben wasn’t really mine, I didn’t wanthertouching him.
But to my surprise, Ben just looked at Esme with a blank expression, then left her standing there with her empty arms wide open like a plonker.
Yes.
‘I would say it’s a pleasure to meet you’—Ben wrinkled his nose—‘but I was always taught that it’s best not to lie. Come on, gorgeous.’ He took my hand. ‘The quicker we check in, the quicker we can get to our room and test the bed.’
Esme’s mouth crashed to the ground again, and as Ben led me away, satisfaction flooded my belly.
‘You were amazing!’ I whispered into his ear. ‘Thank you!’
‘Pleasure.’ Ben smiled and a basket of butterflies filled my stomach. ‘You haven’t seen anything yet. I’m just getting started.’
Wow.
If it was possible for my knickers to disintegrate, there’d be pieces of white cotton dissolving on the ground right now.
Hearing Ben say those words was the biggest turn on ever. He’d defended me and was ready and willing to do it again. No man had ever done that before.
Thanks to Ben, I’d seen Esme again and it hadn’t been a disaster.
Actually, it had been a success.
If this was a game, the score would be unanimously in my favour.
Yep, I’m calling it:
Round 1:
Ben and Sarah: 1
The dirty little rats: 0
I’d got through coming face to face with my sister.
