Ben was just looking at me now. Staring was more like it and I could see he was thinking about something. His brain was ticking away as he tried to size me up.
“What?” I finally asked when I couldn’t take the x-ray stare any longer.
“Nothing. You’re an incredible woman, Sera De La Haye.”
“Uh . . . thanks. I guess.” I wasn’t really sure what to say back to him. Compliment him on how incredible he was? “Oh.” I suddenly remembered and started digging in my handbag. “I owe you change from the other night.” I took out the $88 and pushed it in his direction. He looked at my hand as if he had totally been caught off guard and had no idea what I was talking about.
“The other night,” I reminded him. “You paid me with a hundred dollars. The drink only cost twelve dollars. This is your change.”
Ben’s eyes moved from my hand up to my eyes. “I don’t want change.”
“Well, I can’t accept this.” I grabbed his hand and forcefully thrust the money into his palm.
“It’s a tip.” He smiled at me and tried to push the money back to me.
“I don’t accept such large tips.” I pushed the money back at him getting irritated at his blatant refusal. “I certainly don’t accept charity,” I lowered his tray table and put the money down onto it. Ben looked at the money for a moment or two, confused, and then looked back up at me.
“Sera, you’re the last person on earth I would ever consider giving charity to.”
“Really?” I was caught off guard by his statement.
“Sure. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as self-reliant, strong and independent as you. I mean, you’re the girl who was going to change her own tyre on the side of the road at night. You only called for help because you were missing the jack.”
“O . . . oh,” I faltered. I’d never thought of myself like that before. Self-reliant,yes,but strong,not particularly.
“It’s one of the qualities I like most about you,” he said with a smile. Again, I was caught off guard, and it must have shown on my face.
“This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you, surely you know by now that despite appearances, I don’t only want you sexually. I want much more than that, Sera.”
Despite the loud roar of the engines, everything suddenly went very silent between Ben and I. A part of me wanted to open my mouth and say the same thing back to him. But I didn’t. I didn’t even want to admit it to myself, let alone admit it out loud.
But he was right, this was more than just sexual.Much more.
32. Ass-Kicking Chick . . .
“Sera? Sera?” I heard Ben say and felt a little pat on my check.
“Huh?” I opened my eyes.Why was everything at an angle?I blinked and then became aware that my face pressed into something. Then I noticed the smell. Ben’s smell. And then I becameveryaware of the warmth of his neck and,Oh God, I must have fallen asleep, and worse, I must have fallen asleep on his shoulder. I quickly whipped my head up and looked at him.
“Sorry, I didn’t know I was, sorry, I must have fallen asleep.”
“Don’t worry.” Ben reached up and pushed the hair that had fallen into my face away. “Your little snores are cute.”
“No! I didn’t.” I reached up to touch the itch at the corner of my mouth and realized it was wet. I looked down at Ben’s shirt, and there it was, a tiny little wet patch. I had drooled on him. I had drooled, while I snored and slept on his shoulder. I wiped my mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, Sera, really.” And then he smiled at me. That smile.Dark, sexy, danger!“A little bit of drool doesn’t bother me, I mean, we’ve shared far more than that before.” He winked.
“Eeewww,” I laughed. “You just couldn’t help yourself there, could you?”
“Nope. You did leave it wide open for me, though.”
“Did not.” I shook my head at him.
“Oh Sera . . . you know I’m doing this on purpose, don’t you?”
“I’ve kind of gathered that by now. The question is why?”
“Because shameless flirting’s all part of the fun, isn’t it? Especially when it puts such a smile on your face.”
