Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“Come sit down. I have breakfast for you.”
“You didn’t need to do that. I ate some toast before I left the house.”
“That’s not enough. I know you love chocolate croissants and anyone who works for me always needs more coffee.”
“How did you know I love chocolate croissants?”
“Every time we’ve had pastries in the office, that’s what you choose.”
His mouth dropped open, but he closed it quickly. “You noticed that?”
“I notice everything about you, Benjamin.”
He smiled and sat down slowly, gripping the arms of the chair.
“Why did you come to work yesterday if you were injured?”
He frowned. “Because there was no point in sitting at home.”
“You have sick days here. I offer a generous leave package.”
Ben sighed. “I know that, but there was work that needed to be done and—”
“You could’ve done a lot of it from home.”
“I work better here.”
I studied him for a moment. Had he come in because he wasn’t safe at home? I would absolutely not stand for that. I’d already been worried about where he lived. There was no security beyond a deadbolt and a chain on the door.
“You shouldn’t be here. How badly are you hurt?”
“I’m just bruised. I’m stiff and sore but—”
“Did you see a doctor?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t need to.”
“You have a very good health plan here.” Not that it mattered, I’d pay any medical bills he had.
“I don’t like doctors. I’ll be fine.”
“Let me see how bad it is.”
“What?”
I raised my brows. “Don’t tell me you’re going to be shy with me now.”
He looked away, fidgeting with his hands in his lap. “Miles, really, you’re making too big a deal out of this.”
“Then I’m going to ask you again like I did the other night. Is there something you need to tell me?”
“No. And you don’t need to ask that again. I’m fine.”
“I won’t have you making yourself worse. Either you need to go back home for the day, or you need to let Sheila, our staff nurse, take a look at you and clear you for work.”
“Fine. The nurse can check me over. I’ll go down to the clinic.”
I shook my head. “She can come up here.”
“Miles, you can’t keep treating me differently from everyone else here.”
“I certainly can. I can treat you any way I want.”
He looked up at me, eyes wide, and I realized how those words sounded. “Baby, I didn’t mean it like that. If I choose to take care of you, then I can do that. I own this company. I make the rules.”
I sent a message to Sheila, and she responded almost immediately.
Ben continued to protest. “It’s not fair, and other people are going to notice if they haven’t already.”
“I don’t care who notices. If they dare, they can come to me and complain—”
“It’s not that, it’s….”
I frowned. What wasn’t he saying? “What is it? What’s wrong, Ben?”
“Nothing. I just don’t want to be treated differently because….” He waved his hand back-and-forth between the two of us. “You know.”
“Because you were in my bed all weekend? Because I need you the way I need air to breathe?”
“Jesus, Miles. I don’t need to be hard when the nurse comes to check me out.”
“You’ll be fine. She said it would be a few minutes before she gets here.”
He frowned. “Here, like right here in this office?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re going to stay here?”
“Of course I’m going to stay here.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Benjamin, I’m not leaving you.”
He sighed. “Okay. Fine.”
When Sheila arrived, she introduced herself, then glanced at me. “This would be more appropriate if you left us, Mr. Montgomery. Or if you allowed me to escort Mr. Allred to the clinic.”
I shook my head. “There’s no reason for me to leave.”
She turned to Ben. “Mr. Allred, are you comfortable with this?”
Ben glanced my way and nodded. I knew he was still uneasy. I hoped that was because he didn’t want me to know the truth about how he was hurt. I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to see his injuries and assess for myself whether I thought they fit his story.
I knew what a man looked like when he had been beaten. If that’s what had happened, they’d been careful to make sure nothing would show, but they’d gone too far. It was too damn obvious how much pain he was in. I wanted to pick him up, carry him downstairs, and take him home. I wanted to do everything I could to take the pain away.
When she unwrapped the bandage Ben had placed around his ribs, the sight of the horrible bruising made me want to rip someone’s head off with my bare hands. I didn’t believe for an instant that he’d fallen down the stairs, especially not when I noticed one of the marks was in the shape of a shoe. Someone had kicked him, viciously, and they were going to pay. They were never going to kick anyone again.