Chapter 2
Though she was with Johnny,it was Ben Marianne met first.He was the general manager at the rental car company her boss favored—with so many boutiques in the Richmond area,and more scheduled to open,company policy was to use a rental whenever possible to reduce wear and tear on personal vehicles and limitliability.Most of the travel was done by Marianne’s boss,which meant she had to arrange for the rental cars to be droppedoff at their office ahead of time.
The first time Ben came in,keys in hand,Marianne was smitten by his devilish goatee and sexy grin.He reminded her of a youngRobert Downey,Jr.,with an extra twenty pounds broadening his chest and shoulders.It was after four in the afternoon,and his suit was a little rumpled that late in the day,but it only added to his charm.Leaning down over her desk,he dangled the keys to a rental car in front of her and said,“Your chariot has arrived,milady.”
Marianne giggled.“You look like Iron Man.Well,no,the guy who plays Iron Man.I mean,the actor in the movies,not the way he’s drawn in the comics.”
He gave her a wink that made her blush.“I hope that’s a good thing.”
“Oh,it is,”Marianne assured him.“God,that guy’s hot.Hecould make a movie of him just sitting on a couch for two hours and I’d pay to see it.”
Ben grinned wider.“So you’re saying I’m hot.”
Realizing her gaffe,Marianne ducked her head and took a deep breath to steady herself.Her face was on fire,and now that he was staring at her so intently,she couldn’t seem to meet his gaze.What color were his eyes,even?She didn’t know.She wasn’t able to look higher than the nametag on his lapel that read Benjamin Stewart,Manager.
Grasping for something to change the subject,she asked,“You’re the manager and you deliver cars to clients?Now that’s what I call customer service.”
“It’s what I call being short staffed.”Ben palmed the keys and folded his arms in front of him on the top of her desk,and didn’t seem in the least bit interested in moving any time soon.He smiled down at her like a benevolent god,and she snuckglances up at him when she thought she could get away with it,but every time she did,their eyes met and sparks flew.At least,they did for her.By the time he left the office,her panties were going to be wet.
After an awkward moment,Marianne spied the telephone and sighed in relief.“Let me get Ms.Harper up here to sign for the car.”
When her boss was at the front desk,Ben was all business—he stepped back and straightened up,his smile reserved for Ms.Harper now,his eyes no longer on Marianne.For the first time since he had entered the office,she felt as if she could breathe again.
She turned to her computer and pretended to ignore the interaction between her boss and the rental car manager,but she couldn’t deny the way her heart fluttered every time she glanced up and saw Ben’s smile.When Ms.Harper shook Ben’s hand,Marianne thought maybe she could finally get back to somesemblance of work—or maybe dip into the restroom to rub a quick one out while the memory of the man was still fresh in her mind.But,to her surprise,Ben lingered by her desk when her boss left.
A bit more composed now—she hoped—Marianne asked Ben,“Can Ihelp you with something else?”
“Let’s get back to where you said I was hot,”Ben joked.
Marianne laughed.“No,I didn’t mean…I’m not saying you’re not,but…I don’t—”
He smiled down at her,obviously enjoying her discomfort as shestuttered through a reply.Finally he covered her hand with oneof his,and the feel of his warm skin on hers really did make herpanties wet,just a little bit.“It’s okay,I’m only teasing,”he assured her.“I don’t want to ruin your day or anything,but I like guys.”
“Oh.”The word came out in a little bubble of disappointment,oh.Of course he would be gay.All the sexy ones were.
Ben squeezed her hand.“But my best friend is straight and single,and if you think I’m hot,then,sister,he’s off the chart.I’m telling you,and you can believe me,because I know hot when I see it.He works with me,so he has a good job,steadyincome,and he’s an all-around great guy.I think you two would hit it off.”
Gently,Marianne pulled her hand out from under Ben’s.“Thanks for the offer,but I’m not really interested.”
Ben gave her a knowing wink.“Well,I’ll tell you what.I’ll send him by to pick up the car when it’s ready,and you can see for yourself if I’m right.”