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‘Um...handing in my book draft on time?’ she said finally, when she realised he was still waiting for an answer.
‘And how do you plan to do that when your “To Do” list is full of stuff you need to do for other people?’
It was a question she’d asked herself often enough, but hearing it in Ben’s relaxed, carefree voice made her bristle. ‘What do you care? If you’re so against helping others, why do you care if I get my book in or not?’
Ben shrugged. ‘Well, I’ve listened to Nest’s life story this evening. I’m invested now. I told you—I want to read the damn thing when you finish it.’
‘Oh.’ Luce tried to hide her astonishment.
‘Besides, I didn’t say I was against helping others. I’m here in Chester because I’m doing a favour for my brother.’
Apparently he wasn’t going to stop surprising her any time soon.
‘What favour?’
‘The person who was supposed to be checking out the hotel this week got sick, so I offered to swing by on my way to a week off.’
Ben smiled down at her, and Luce felt it in her cold bones.
‘So, you see, it’s not helping out others I object to.’
‘Then what is it?’ Luce asked, remembering that she was supposed to be annoyed.
‘I object to you giving up your whole life to serve others. I think you need to put your own wants and needs first for a while.’
It sounded so reasonable when he said it. So tempting. But then Luce remembered the pages of ‘To Do’ lists filling her stolen organiser. ‘And how, exactly, do you suggest I do that?’
‘Well, actually,’ Ben said, grinning, ‘I do have one idea.’
They were nearly back at the hotel now. Luce stopped walking and raised her eyebrows. ‘Are you really trying to tell me that sleeping with you would solve all my problems?’
Ben chuckled. ‘No. But it would be a good start.’
Luce closed her eyes and laughed. ‘You are incorrigible.’
‘Come on,’ he said, tugging her forward again. ‘Let’s get inside.’
CHAPTER FIVE
THE SUITE WAS almost too hot after the bite of the December night air. Ben stripped off his coat and jacket, rolling up his shirtsleeves as he made his way across to the bar area. ‘What can I get you? More brandy?’
‘Um...peppermint tea?’ Luce asked.
He couldn’t help but smile at her. ‘Is that to help you resist my charms?’ he asked.
‘To help me get up for this lecture in the morning.’
Luce sprawled into the chair he’d been sitting in earlier, and Ben admired the way her slim calves stretched out in front of her. She’d kicked her shoes off the moment they’d got into the room, and she pointed her toes as she flexed her feet.
There was absolutely no reason at all for that to be sexy. And yet...
Flicking on the kettle, he said, ‘I wanted to talk to you about that, actually.’ If she wasn’t going to let him help her relax the way he knew best, maybe he could at least draw her attention to some of the unnecessary things that were stressing her out.
Luce raised her eyebrows at him and waited for him to continue.
‘What is it, exactly, that you’ll get out of attending this lecture for a colleague?’
‘It’s a favour,’ Luce said. ‘I’m not expecting to get anything out of it.’
‘So this guy won’t do the same for you at a later date? It’s not somehow tangentially related to your own research and might prove helpful one day? The university won’t look fondly on your actions and bear it in mind in the future when it comes to promotions and such?’ He was watching carefully, so he saw her squirm a little in her seat. Had she never considered how little she got back from all she gave out?
‘Well, no. Not really.’ She shifted again, looking down at her hands. ‘Dennis doesn’t like leaving the university much, and I can’t imagine he’ll let on to anyone at the university that I went for him in the first place. Plus the topic’s pretty dull.’
The kettle boiled and Ben poured hot water onto a tea bag in one of the fine china mugs. Then he poured himself a large brandy while it brewed. ‘In that case, I can only assume that this man is important to you in some way. Are you dating?’
‘No!’
The answer was so quick and so vehement that Ben suspected he wasn’t the first person to suspect it. But maybe it wouldn’t bother her so much if it wasn’t him asking. He could hope, anyway.
‘Then why are you doing it?’
‘Because he asked,’ Luce said, sounding miserable.
