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“If that’s the only thing that’s worrying you, if you promise that’s it, I’m staying.” She started to speak and he put two fingers on her lips.
“If I left tonight, they’d be in bed long before I got home. And tomorrow is the day my boys hang with Grandma and Grandpa. Dad is not allowed to interfere with grandparent time. They’ll be up and gone by sunrise. By the time they get home, I will be too. And, I’ll get to spend another few hours with you.”
“But…”
“Let go, Liv. Don’t worry so much, and just enjoy this time we have together.”
“It’s just that…”
“What, Liv? Don’t you like being with me? I sure like being with you.” Ben smiled, but she could see tension lingering beneath its surface.
“I have enjoyed being with you, Ben.” Liv got up and climbed into her panties, looking for her bra.
He walked over to her, bringing his hand up to caress the side of her face. He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Talk to me. Tell me what you’re thinking. Are you worried about Paige?”
“No. Paige travels all the time. She does her own thing. I don’t need to worry about her.”
“Then what is it?” He rubbed his head again. “We already determined you like the bald head. We discovered other things you like, too. Come on, give me somethin’ here. You ready to run away from me again, Liv?”
She maneuvered out of his arms and walked to the window. She stood to the side and looked out at the Las Vegas Strip. What could she say? The more time she spent with him the harder it would be to let him go.
If she left now, her pride would stay intact. She’d walk away, thank him for the wonderful memories, great sex, and ride off into the sunset, or at least to the elevator. If she said goodbye first, she might have more of a chance to keep her emotions in check, and not make a fool of herself.
Ben stood with his arms crossed, less than a foot from her. “Liv, tell me. I can see the wheels turning. Talk to me.”
“I have to go. It’s been great…a great couple of days.” What else had she planned to say? She couldn’t think. “It’s been, you know?fun. But it’s time to get back to real life.” She picked up her dress, and looked for her shoes and bag.
“Uh-uh.”
“What?”
“No. This isn’t going down like this. You are not, I repeat, not running out of here. Even if I was leaving tonight, which I no longer am, I wouldn’t let you leave now. Who knows how long it will be before we see each other again? We haven’t even talked about that yet.”
6
“Sure, that works. See you then.” Liv ended the call.
“All set?”
She bit her lip. “I realize I said Paige is self-sufficient, but even as busy as she is, and as much as she has to do, she’d never do this to me.”
“Do what?”
“Leave me with no one to hang out with while we were traveling together.”
“What did she say? Did she sound upset?”
“She said she wanted me to enjoy myself, more than anything, so…”
“What else did she say? So…what?”
“I wasn’t so damned grouchy when we got home.”
Ben’s head tilted back and he laughed, again. She loved his laugh—he did it with his whole body. His whole body experienced the joy of the moment. And it wasn’t just when he laughed, he did it all the time. On stage, and especially when they were having sex.
He pulled her back down on the bed and shifted so she was on top of him. “Skin on skin, baby. You know how much I like this.” His hands worked their way up and down her back, pressing her closer to him.
“Can you sleep on the plane?”
