Crossing Hathaway (17 page)

My grin popped out, and to mask it, I headed for the bar. “Would you like red or white wine, Mrs. Hathaway?” I steered my sights away from the smirking Richard as I passed him. Footsteps followed me. A glance over my shoulder showed Ben with his head twisted to stare at his brother.

“White,” Mrs. Hathaway said.

“Why don’t you both take a seat in the dining room?” Ben edged closer to me, brushing my hip with his as I poured the wine into a crystal glass. “Evangeline and I will bring the first course.”

I turned and started toward Mrs. Hathaway, but Ben put his hand on my arm and took the glass from me before carrying it to her himself.

“Why in such a hurry, Benjamin?” She straightened his lapels one-handed as she sipped. “Are you so anxious to be rid of your family?”

His heavy sigh carried across the room to me. “It’s after one, Mother. I thought you’d be hungry, that’s all.”

She hooked her narrow arm through his. “I need to speak with you about the Morrison project so your friend can escort Richard to the dining room.”

Fire had nothing on Ben’s glare. He stood firm, his eyes narrowed. “Her name is Evangeline, Mother, and—”

“I insist.” She tugged him along with her as I noted where Ben had gotten his pushiness from.

His lip curled in a sneer but he followed behind her, anyway. Our gazes met for a moment, his dark and hard. “Wait here, close to the door. I’ll be right back.”

His attempt to reassure me did nothing to calm the sudden squirming worms in my guts. I wondered if she might have been voicing her grim assessment of me. No wonder his family was so screwed up with a mother like that. What a biotch.

Richard’s breath hit my ear before I realized he’d moved. “You’re looking ravishing today, kitten.”

I moved away, scrubbing at the side of my head where my skin crawled. “And you’re looking as creepy as ever. What are you up to, Dick?”

Lip twitching, he tilted his head, shrugged. “Why ever would you think I’m up to something?”

“Uh … because I get the feeling you’re always up to something, as if it’s written in your DNA and leaks out like a stink from your pores.”

The rumbling laugh that fell from his lips sent needles along my spine. I found it utterly shocking that he’d shared a womb with Ben. “Perhaps I just wanted a chance to see you again.”

“Bullshit!” I glanced around to make sure his mother wasn’t standing behind me before stepping closer and pointing a finger at him. “I’m not sure who you’re used to dealing with, buddy-boy, but I’ve got more than air between my ears. You gave us until Friday, so what are you doing here?”

A quick move had his hand wrapped around my wrist and he shoved me back into the wall. Releasing a sigh, he tucked my hair behind my right ear, gaze sliding over my face before he gripped my chin and leaned in. “Don’t you worry your cute little head over it, kitten.”

Richard’s hot breath and malignant expression disappeared to be replaced by the back of Ben’s heaving shoulders.

“I warned you to stay away from her.” Ben’s voice lowered into a growl.

His mother strode up, hands on hips. “Apologize to your brother, Benjamin. I will not have fighting in this house.”

“This is my house, Mother, and I will not tolerate Richard’s games.” He shifted his stare to Richard. “Your choice, brother. Obey my wishes or leave.”

My eyes widened, and although I wished the floor would swallow me up, my chest swelled with glee. Ben stood up for me. Nobody, other than Mom, had ever stood up for me before.

“Are you throwing your family out over this,” again, Mrs. Hathaway eyed me with disdain, “woman?”

Ben’s hand reached behind for me, and I took it, intertwining my fingers with his. Tightening his grip, he pulled me forward and slipped his arm around my waist. “Evangeline is not just a woman, she’s my girlfriend, and I’m not throwing anybody anywhere. Pay her the respect she deserves and we can all sit down and enjoy a meal together. Continue to be condescending and inappropriate and I’ll have security escort you from my home.”

Mrs. Hathaway let out an open mouthed gasp. “Might I remind you that I own this building?”

Snickering, Richard came forward and stood by his mother.

Ben’s arm tensed around me. “You own twenty percent of this company, Mother, while I own the rest. You are welcome to oversee operations because the board seems to think you contribute something useful. However, if I am so inclined, I can convince them otherwise.”

Wow. I couldn’t stop the satisfied smile from slipping across my lips, but it faded under the increased tension rippling through Ben’s body. He was threatening his mother? Although I found her stunned expression satisfying, I wondered how much trouble Ben was getting himself into over me.

“So, that’s how it is?” Jaw rigid, she nodded. “I see now that Richard was right.” With a snap of her fingers, Richard retrieved her bag from the sofa. “We shall soon see who has the greater influence in this city, Benjamin.”

Shit.

Her heels clicked across the floor as Richard led her to the door and opened it. Before he went through, he looked over his shoulder. His smirk widened into a full grin as he winked.

The instant the door closed, Ben collapsed into the nearest chair with his face in his hands.

I stood there like an idiot, staring at the place where’d they disappeared, aching to smash their faces in. “Well, that went well.”

Growling, he made wild gestures with his hands. “I couldn’t let them treat you that way. What other choice did I have?” He spoke as if trying to convince himself, staring at the far wall.

I sat on the arm of the chair, playing my fingers through his hair. “I appreciated you sticking up for me.” A sigh rushed up my throat. “So, Richard came here to piss off your mother and make your life difficult, is that about it?”

“I’m not sure if he has a specific motive to help him get what he wants, or just likes to see me uncomfortable. He knew she wouldn’t approve of you, and he had to know I wouldn’t let him touch you like that without consequence.” He uttered a bitter laugh. “You could be the queen of a nation, and she would still find fault with you.” His head shook, shifting his hair forward over his face.

I kissed the vein pulsing in his temple. “I don’t really care what she thinks of me, Ben. I’m more concerned with what she meant by that last comment, about seeing who has more influence in the city. How much can she hurt you?”

Intense green eyes turned to me. “If she chooses, she can destroy me.”

Well, shit.

After snuggling on his sofa most of the afternoon watching Stephen King’s,
The Stand
, Ben leaned against his office door with pleading puppy-dog eyes. “Are you certain you won’t stay?”

I sighed and took his hand, rested my cheek against his. “Remember what I said about slowing things down?”

His nod rubbed his five o’clock shadow against my skin. “I do. I’ll stop pressuring you.”

A moronic giggle bubbled up my throat. “Thank you. Besides, I don’t have any clothes, and I don’t want you sending your staff out every day to pick up more.” I tipped my face up to his, a pang of guilt seizing my guts. “I’m sorry about everything with your mother. If I’d known what she was like, I would have run for the hills when you gave me the chance for your sake. For what it’s worth, the way you stood up for me was totally hot.”

Laughter boomed in his chest. When it dwindled, he pressed his lips to mine. “Then no matter what comes to pass, it will have been worth it.”

We locked gazes for a while. I stepped back with unwilling feet. “Well … I really should go.”

“I’ll call you a car.”

I held up my hand. “No, I’ll take a cab. You said Richard has supper with your mother every Saturday night, anyway, so he shouldn’t be on the prowl.”

When he dug in his back pocket, I grabbed his arm. “You pay me well, Ben. Don’t even think about giving me cab fare.”

A crooked grin twitched his lips. “You are most definitely not like any woman I’ve met before.”

I did a mock curtsy, feet crossed, bent at the knee. My mouth curved to match his. “I’ll take that as a compliment, sir, now get the hell out of my way so I can go home.”

Monday morning idiot users kept me occupied until nearly eleven o’clock. In need of a break from the morons in Research and Development who’d jammed their printer for the fifth time in half an hour, I headed up to see Brent.

When I neared his desk, the clacking of keys met my ears. Grinning like a crazy woman, my face radiating heat, I dug a roll of bills out of my pocket as I approached Brent’s desk and smacked it down on the surface.

Brent looked at the money and up at me, his smile slowly emerging.

I shook my head. “Shut up.”

His arms shot toward the ceiling. “Yes!” He stomped his feet before jumping up and bouncing around his desk. “I knew you’d hit that hotness.”

My skin prickled. “Would you shut up! The whole damn country is going to hear you.”

Brent covered his mouth with a well-manicured hand but the giggles still came through. Between spread fingers, he whispered, “I want details.”

I gasped, my mouth hanging open. “You can want them all you like, but you’re not getting them.”

With a grunt, he slumped back as if he were going to fold down to the floor like a marionette whose strings had been cut. “Fine, be that way.” His sparkling eyes centered on me again. “At least tell me if it was good.”

My head hung forward for a moment. I sighed, looked left and right and moved closer to him. “Good doesn’t quite cover it.”

He jumped around in a circle before grabbing both my hands and staring at me from an inch away. “Give me another word then. Please?”

I took a few steps away, feigned interest in a piece of art on the walls. My shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I suppose ‘delicious’ would do it.” I turned, biting my bottom lip as I headed back to the elevator.

His voice bounced down the corridor. “Oh, come on! You can’t give me that look and word and not tell me.”

Laughing, I pushed the button, waving at him with my other hand. “Have a nice day, Brent.”

At three thirty, Cam showed up at my desk. “Grab your notebook and a pen. Mr. Hathaway wants us in his office, now.”

My brow crinkled as I cranked my head around to stare at him. “Why?”
What are you up to, Ben?
The thought of being in the same room with Mr. Hotness and Cam filled my stomach with acid. I needed to keep my wits about me. All I needed was to have Cam catch me ogling his boss like a horny groupie at a rock concert.

Cam scratched his head. “I don’t question the big guy, Eva, and neither should you.”

“Oh, right.” I forced my face into a solemn mask. “Forgot, sorry, boss.” I found my notebook buried beneath a stack of old computer soundcards in my desk. After snatching a pen from Paul’s shirt pocket despite his protest, I followed Cam out into the hall.

Five minutes later, we stood outside Ben’s office door. Cam’s scrawny chest heaved under the deep breath he took, and his fingers curled and relaxed.

I stared at his profile. “You okay, Cam? You look as if you’re about to go up against a firing squad.” Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Brent’s smirk where he feigned interest in a paper on his desk.

“Might as well be.” Cam shook his arms out and stared at me. “Just psyching myself up for whatever ass-ripping I’m about to get.”

A snort broke free of my lips. “Jeez, he’s not that bad.” I opened the door and went inside.

He followed behind me, grumbling. “Easy for you to say. It’s not your face he’s going to chew off.”

I took a few steps into the office, a bright swath of sunlight dividing the carpet into dark and light.

“Good morning, Ms. Ross.”

A gasp escaped me as I whirled to find Ben leaning against the wall beside the door, hands in his pockets, his gray suit jacket pushed aside to accommodate them. All Calvin Klein-ad again. Warm tingles started at my toes and made a slow ascent to my face. My world narrowed to those emerald gems twinkling back at me, staring into me so deep he could probably see my next life if I had one.

“Eva!”

I blinked at Cam’s shout beside me and narrowed my eyes at him. “What?”

Wide-eyed, his head gestured toward the floor.

Right, I wasn’t supposed to look at the big boss. I shrugged. “Sorry.”

Hands in his pockets and gaze fixed on the far window, Cam stepped toward Ben. “What can we do for you, Mr. Hathaway?”

“Come, let’s sit and we’ll talk about the IT budget for the next quarter.” Ben walked past me, close enough his shoulder brushed mine. From that tiny point of contact, a lightning bolt spiraled down my spine and started an inferno between my legs.

I shut my eyes and swallowed to keep the sigh from escaping.
What is he doing?
I never sat in on budget meetings. Butterfly wings wandered the expanse of my empty stomach, and not all of them from lust. He was up to something; I could smell it.

Something warm touched my arm. I flinched and looked down to find Cam’s hand resting just below my elbow.

“You coming, Eva?” His bushy brows bunched together. “You feeling okay?”

A nervous giggle trickled up my throat. I shook myself and headed toward the sofa where a grinning Ben lounged like a well-dressed god at one end. “I’m fine. I was just … thinking about something.”
How I’d like to smack your boss across the head—or impale myself on his giant tube steak.

The sight of Ben, one arm stretched along the back of the leather, tempted me to take the seat beside him, but my logical side forced me to the chair farthest from his yummy body. Cam took the other chair.

The two of them droned on about equipment and numbers while I kept my gaze below Ben’s knees. The act did nothing to stop my mind from spinning nasty scenarios for Ben and I to play out in his office. On the computer desk. Against the wall between the paintings. Ben bending me over the back of the sofa.

“Eva!”

My gaze snapped to Cam and my cheeks burned. “What?”

“Mr. Hathaway asked you if you can think of anything else you need for the surveillance system so we can add it to the budget.” I could read the “snap out of it” in the tightness around his mouth as well as if he’d said the words.