The Trouble With Love: New York Times Bestselling Author Read online

  “Sorry you had to witness me being such a girl.”

  “Don’t do that,” he says. “Don’t use your femininity as a crutch for your emotions.”

  “You’re right. Women are stronger than that.” I nod. “I’m sorry you had to witness me being such a guy.”

  He smiles. “Want to talk about it?”

  “Not really.”

  “Okay.” He stands there, looking at me, waiting. I look down and realize I’m still in a robe.

  “I need to change.”

  “Do you want me to leave?”

  “While I change?”

  “In general.”

  “Can you stay a while?”

  “As long as you want.”

  I move and grab my pajamas, taking them to the bathroom and changing quickly. An overview of my appearance in the mirror confirms that I look like a hot mess—crazy hair, puffy eyes, blotchy skin. No wonder he didn’t even look at my robe or check me out. Jeez. I brush my hair and dab my face with cold water, hoping it helps. It doesn’t. With a shrug, I turn and head back into the room. He’s sitting at the edge of the bed, phone in his hand as he types something.

  “You’re not telling my brother, are you?”

  “No.” He glances up at me. “I should though. Something is obviously wrong.”

  “Please don’t tell him anything.” I walk until I’m standing directly in front of him, my legs between his. It seems to be all he needs to toss his phone aside and look up at me, bringing one of his hands to my waist. I inhale sharply.

  “Are you trying to seduce me?”

  “Is it working?”

  “It doesn’t take much.” He chuckles lightly, tugging me forward.

  “For you to be seduced?”

  “By you,” he clarifies. “It doesn’t take much for me to be seduced by you.”

  “Good answer.” I lean down slightly, closing my eyes as I press my lips against his softly. His grip tightens on my waist as he pulls away from the kiss.

  “Morgan.” He looks up at me with such longing, I feel like I’m about to burst. “We really shouldn’t do this.”

  “How can you look at me like that and say that?”

  “I’m trying to be rational.”

  “About something completely irrational.” I bend a knee, bringing it up between his legs, feeling how hard he is. He groans, shutting his eyes, fingers digging into the flesh of my hip. “You want this.”

  “You have no idea how much.” He opens his eyes again. “But not tonight. We shouldn’t. Not after . . . I don’t even know what happened or why you were crying . . .”

  I sigh, pulling away and crossing my arms.

  “Don’t do that.”

  “Don’t do what? Be upset that you’re not letting this happen?” I glower. “I don’t let emotions come between myself and an orgasm.”

  “Good to know.” He raises a brow. “I normally don’t either, but you’re not just some random woman at a bar anymore and for some absolutely insane reason I want to get to know you.”

  “Absolutely insane reason? Not because I’m hot and was a good lay the first time around?”

  “That’s part of it.” He stands up, reaching for me. When I don’t uncross my arms for him, he just grabs on to my left as he comes closer still. I tilt my head up. He’s stupid-tall when I’m barefoot. “Also, because you’re smart and funny.”

  “We can get to know each other tomorrow.”

  “We will.” He puts an arm around me and holds me to his chest, his shirt still wet from before, a reminder that I already sort of let my guard down with him. “Tonight, let’s rest, okay? We have a long day ahead of us.”

  “Okay,” I whisper against him.

  He leads me to the bed and we lie under the covers, our bodies facing each other as his fingers lightly run over my arm. I’m asleep before I even have a chance to ask him a question, and that’s how I end up spending the first full night with Bennett.

  Chapter Seventeen

  When my alarm goes off, I groan and reach over to turn it off, but instead, hit a wall of a person and instantly open my eyes, wide awake.

  “Turn that shit off,” Bennett grumbles.

  I smile. Even first thing in the morning the man looks like he can be on the cover of a magazine. It’s extremely unfair. A part of me can’t believe he stayed the night. I can’t believe I let him. Oddly enough, I don’t regret it—yet. I push myself up and out of bed, heading toward the bathroom. Taking a look at myself in the mirror, the gravity of last night actually hits me and I find myself wishing Bennett wasn’t in my bed right now. He probably thinks I’m crazy. When I emerge from the bathroom, he’s sitting up in bed. He glances up from the phone in his hand.

  “It’s seven o’clock. We don’t have to be down there until nine.”

  “I know.” I start looking for the clothes I’m wearing. “I like to start getting ready two hours before.”

  “Two hours?”

  I glance up at him. “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  “Just something I do.” I shrug. “I like to be prepared.”

  “Such a little perfectionist,” he says. “How’s your app doing? I keep forgetting to ask.”

  “Good.” I clear my throat, busying myself with the underwear drawer, which was difficult to do, since I only had three clean underwear left and one of them was already in my hand, but what was I supposed to say?

  “Just good? Has anyone dropped the app? Or deleted it? Or complained? I haven’t seen any data. Have you been reporting to my dad?”

  “Everyone is still active. I told your dad I would accumulate the data over the three weeks and then give it all to both of you in one shot.” I grab all of my clothes and start walking to the bathroom. I don’t want to give him a chance to ask me if I’m on it. It’s not that I’m embarrassed. I mean, I developed it, after all, but still. “I’ll be ready in an hour. Feel free to lounge here or go back to your room.”

  * * *

  Owl: You okay? Never heard back from you

  Me: Yes. It was weird, but I got through it. Your joke helped.

  Owl: Good. It wasn’t a joke though.

  Me: LOL Well, either way, it helped. Any more secrets for me today?

  Owl: You need more?

  Me: I’ll tell you one if you tell me one.

  Owl: Okay but I get to ask the questions

  Me: Okay. Going into a meeting though so I may not respond right away.

  I set my phone on silent, put it in my purse and walked out of my room. Bennett is standing in the hallway.

  “We should open the doors between our rooms.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “That sure of yourself?”

  “I was before you gave me that answer.” He chuckles as we head toward the elevators. When we stop in front of them, he gives me a once-over. “You look beautiful.”

  “Thanks.” I feel myself blush despite the fact that I spent an hour on my makeup, trying to hide the blotches and puffiness that came with last night’s grief. That memory comes with a wave of uneasiness. I look up at him. “I’m sorry about last night.”

  Of course, the elevator opens the exact moment I say this and I find five pairs of eyes looking at me. One of the guy’s smirks as if he suspects what I’m apologizing for.

  With a light chuckle and a large hand at my lower back, Bennett ushers me to the back of the elevator.

  “You don’t have to apologize for being human,” he says, low and near my ear.

  “I pride myself in not having reactions like that to situations.”

  “I wish you would tell me what happened.”

  I glance away. Not going there.

  He sighs but doesn’t comment. When we walk out of the elevator, we step to the side.

  “Guess we can grab breakfast here.” I eye the tables crowded with pastries and coffee.

  Bennett pulls out a paper and unfolds it, brows slightly pulled together as he scans it. “We can do software development —” He stops talki
ng and glances up at me at the sound of my laughter.

  “You own a tech company and you’re not using the app for this conference?” I pull out my phone and scroll, feeling his eyes on my screen. He taps my hand, his touch sending a shiver through me.

  “You’re on the app?”

  “Seriously?” I laugh. “Stop looking at my screen.”

  “Are you?”

  “Yup.” I click on the conference app quickly.

  “Morgan.”

  “Yes.” I meet his questioning gaze. “I have to make sure I can keep an eye on it and fix whatever glitches need to be fixed.”

  “You seem to be more invested in this than just a developer,” he says, his tone grating. I ignore the statement.

  “There’s a really interesting panel with a robot today.” I scan the description of that one and smile when I see it’s Presley’s boyfriend’s company. “I definitely want to go to that one.”

  “Morgan.” He covers my screen with his hand. My eyes snap to his. “Did you join the app? Did it match you with anyone?”

  “Yes.”

  “And?”

  “It matched me. End of story.”

  “You don’t want to talk to me about it.” His eyes narrow.

  “I don’t see why it’s any of your business.”

  “You were ...” He lowers his voice, coming closer still, until I’m dwarfed by him. “You were coming on to me last night. I told you I want to get to know you.“

  “You’ve said yourself that you don’t believe in love. I don’t see how this has any bearing on us hooking up. We’re here two more days. We can hook up tonight, tomorrow, and be done with this pull by the time we get back to the office on Monday. It’s not like I’m sleeping with him.”

  “So you want to talk to him and just fuck me without letting me get to know you, is that it?” A muscle in his jaw jumps.

  “That’s not —”

  “Bennett! Hey, man. Long time, no see.” We’re interrupted by an older man who clearly knows Bennett.

  I step aside and go over to the table filled with food. Grabbing a plate, I put a few things on it before moving on to the coffee. Every few seconds, I glance up and catch Bennett watching me as the man continues to talk his ear off.

  * * *

  We end up taking a car because the hotel the lunch meeting is taking place at is not on the strip. I’m relieved because it’s the first time I actually get a chance to text my friends back.

  Me: Pres, is Nate Dog here this weekend?

  Presley: He is! I think he’s meeting with your boss, actually.

  Me: Ha. Funny story, I think I’m on my way there right now.

  Dev: How much are flowers supposed to cost?

  Jamie: Like a bouquet?

  Presley: Depends where you buy them … duh.

  Me: same answer ^

  Dev: For the wedding, assholes.

  Jamie: WHAT WEDDING?

  Presley: YOU AND NORA ARE GETTING MARRIED?

  Me: Omg. I thought I told you guys?!

  Jamie: NO

  Presley: BAD FRIEND

  Dev: Ballpark price, Jamie. Isn’t that part of your job?

  Jamie: It honestly depends, but I’ll do your flowers for free! I just want an invite to the wedding ;)

  Dev: You got it. I’ll tell Nora to call you

  Jamie: YAY

  Presley: When is the wedding?

  Dev: We’re thinking winter

  Me: OMG! SO SOON!

  “What are you all smiley about?” Bennett asks beside me. “Chatting with your suitor?”

  I roll my eyes. “Maybe.”

  “Is it so wrong for me to not want you to be on that app?”

  “Yes, actually.” I slip my phone into my bag and look at him. “You don’t see me questioning what you’re doing with your life. As a matter of fact, I’ve had to deal with your psycho ex-wife telling me all kinds of things about you and I haven’t once brought it to your attention.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “Your ex-wife. She’s crazy and has been calling the office every single morning around ten-thirty like clockwork to tell me all about your sexcapades and how all the previous girls quit because they couldn’t handle you. Or her.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “What’s the point? I’ll be out of that desk when we get back.”

  “Hm.” His jaw seems to be working overtime, with the way it keeps twitching. “My father assigned you to another department?”

  “Development.”

  His gaze catches mine. “With Wesley.”

  “And twenty other people.”

  “Are you hoping it’s him you’re chatting with on the app?”

  I stare at him for a beat. “How’s Stacy, by the way? Are you still dating her?”

  “I was never dating her.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, fucking her.”

  “Would it bother you if I was?” He raises an eyebrow. I pull back slightly, realizing that it would bother me. Why though? I try to make sense of it, but he’s staring at me, waiting for a response.

  “Maybe it would.”

  He leans a little closer. “Why do you think that is?”

  “I don’t know,” I whisper. He comes closer still. I feel my pulse quicken.

  “I like that it bothers you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it means you care.” His lips crash down on mine before I can form a response and suddenly I’m entirely too aware as to why I would care if he was sleeping with someone else. His mouth is familiar, as if it’s been on mine an entire lifetime, yet it feels exciting, as if it’s my very first kiss all over again. As the kiss deepens, I toss a leg over him, half straddling him in the backseat of the car as I tug his hair. In the back of my mind, I remind myself that there’s a driver, but I don’t care. Right now, I want this. As his large hands explore my body over my blouse and stretchy pencil skirt, I want nothing more than to rip it all off. The car comes to a stop and the driver clears his throat.

  “We’re here.” I register his door closing as he comes around to open ours, and I pull away and sit back down, fixing my outfit and my hair, running a finger under my lip to make sure I don’t look a mess.

  Bennett takes a deep breath beside me and looks over, bringing a hand to my cheek. “I’m not sleeping with anyone, Morgan.”

  “Good.” I smile.

  He chuckles, shaking his head as he gets out of the car and helps me out.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “I should probably mention I know who we’re meeting with before we go in there,” I say as we walk toward the restaurant.

  Bennett looks down at me. “How?”

  “A friend.”

  His brows pull together slightly, but the hostess approaches us before he can ask more questions. Bennett walks behind me as she leads us to the table, pressing his hand slightly on my lower back. I want to shake it away, because the meeting isn’t making me nervous, but the way his hand feels certainly is. I spot Nathaniel first, sitting in the center of the table, talking animatedly with his business partner, Ryan. I’m relieved to find that it’s just them and one more man I’ve never met. Nathaniel stops talking and stands up, laughing when he sees me. I walk around the table and laugh when he throws his arms around me, lifting me off the ground in a hug.

  “Did Presley send you to spy on me?”

  “No.” I roll my eyes as he sets me down and turn to say hi to Ryan, in a much more appropriate way. I don’t know Ryan the way I know Nate though. “Hey, Ry.”

  “Morg.” He kisses me on both cheeks. “This is Elias.”

  I turn to the man I’d never seen. “Nice to meet you, Elias.”

  “Likewise. I’ve heard a lot about you.” When he smiles, his dimples are on display. “All good things. Impressive things.”

  “Good.” I turn to find Bennett saying hello to Nathaniel and Ryan, and turning toward Elias and introducing himself.

  He raises an
eyebrow at me. “I didn’t know you were so popular.”

  “I’m not.”

  “We go way back,” Ryan says. “College.”

  “And Nathaniel is engaged to my best friend,” I add.

  “I don’t know how I pulled that off.” Nate chuckles. “Luckiest man alive.”

  “I agree.” I smile.

  “I do too,” Elias adds. “I’ve only met her a handful of times but I don’t know how he managed to score that one.”

  “Years and years of work.” I wink.

  “Do you want to get down to business or you want to wait until after we eat?” Nathaniel asks, looking at Bennett.

  “I have nothing in my stomach to get rid of if you start throwing numbers my way right now, but I’m good either way,” Bennett says. He looks over at me. “You hungry, Morgan?”

  “A little.” I start scanning the menu in front of me. “But don’t let me stop you from starting your meeting.”

  “Let’s eat first and talk after,” Ryan says. “I’m starving.”

  “Morgan, how do you like working at SEVEN? I know you can’t say anything bad in front of your boss, so wink your left eye if you hate it,” Elias says.

  “Oh, my God. I love it.” I laugh. “Nothing to hide.”

  “My father’s her boss,” Bennett says beside me. “Most days I feel like she’s bossing me around.”

  Nathaniel raises an eyebrow, looking between us. I shoot him a look to stop it, which makes him laugh.

  “Bennett is Devon’s best friend,” I say, staring at Nathaniel with my best stern look, but my words only stoke his curiosity.

  “That is definitely interesting,” he says.

  “I feel like the odd man out. Did all of you attend college together?” Elias asks.