After leaving Missy’s, I came home and unloaded my groceries in the kitchen. The first thing I did was put the ice cream in the freezer and wine in the wine chiller. Ben wanted to go on a date? I was still trying to get my mind around that. The thought had awoken the butterflies. What would a date with Ben Hunt be like? Where would be go? There were so many questions. I rushed upstairs, determined to keep myself busy so I wouldn’t watch the clock. I changed my bedding, rearranged my perfume shelf, and cleaned my home office. When I’d done all I could, I decided a face mask and late afternoon bath were exactly what I needed. As my body succumbed to the bubbles and hot water, I closed my eyes and felt the tension begin to rise from my body. As relaxation washed over me, my mind took me to a place I tried desperately to avoid. A place where my mother’s decisions didn’t affect my decisions. Where I fell in love, gave my whole heart to a man, and began a life without fear of abandonment. Where a house, kids, and a happily-ever-after was the dream I could strive for. Where a man like Ben could be my everything, and a man like him could have all that I am.

At the thought of a future with Ben, I submerged myself in the water and held my breath. When my lungs screamed at me, I came to the surface and gasped for breath. It had been something I’d done since I was younger, because it reminded me that even when I didn’t think my heart was beating, my need to breathe reminded me that I was alive.

As the water began to chill, I stepped out the bath and wrapped a towel around my body. My phone chimed with a text message, and I quickly grabbed it and swiped across the screen.

BEN: I’ll bring Mexican food to you. I’ll be there within the hour. Date night is happening Sunday.

I couldn’t help but smirk. Even his text messages were bossy.

SASHA: So bossy.

BEN: I hear you like it.

SASHA: Its questionable.

BEN: That fucking mouth of yours kills me.

Grinning, I placed my phone on the vanity, lathered up with moisturizer, and started doing a minimal routine for the night. I kept my face make up free, but dried my hair and left it to fall over my shoulders. After spritzing myself with my favorite perfume, I entered my bedroom and looked at my cupboard. What do you wear to a ‘its-not-a-date-but-possibly-having-sex-with-a-man-who-has-already-seen-you-naked dinner? This was too damn hard. I decided on dark skinny jeans that hugged my butt, a tight off-white cami, and a baby pink cardigan that skimmed my knees. It was a casual, cute, and comfy outfit. Perfect for dinner with a man who was bringing my favorite food to my house, and had told me he’d be having me as dessert.

* * *

The doorbell chimed through my house forty-five minutes later. I’d moved downstairs and had been curled up on the couch with my kindle and getting lost in the newest release from one of my favorite authors. Placing my kindle on the side table, I stood from the couch and, with soft yet eager steps, moved toward the front door. Sucking in a deep breath, I counted to three before opening the door.

The aroma of Amigos hit me and my eyes closed with a moan.

“Already moaning? Shit, I’m doing something right.”

My eyes shot open. “Have you got queso?" I said in a tone that was full of hope yet peppered with attitude.

"I got double," Ben replied with a cocky grin.

"You may enter," I said and stepped aside, allowing him entry into my home.

"What would you have done if I didn’t have it?" He chuckled as he passed me and took himself to the kitchen.

My response was instant, and I did it with a smile. “You’d be turning around, walking back to your car, and going to rectify your grave mistake.”

I followed him and his deep, low laugh into my kitchen. Fascination coursed through my body as I studied him unloading containers of food onto the counter. He wore the confidence of a man who’d done this a hundred times before. Like this was our usual Friday night routine. That this was our thing. He looked like . . . he belonged here. Resting against the doorframe, I folded my arms over my chest and observed him. Something settled within me. I was woman enough to admit that he had completely rattled me in both the best and worst ways. In such a short space of time, he’d forced his way into my life like a cannonball attempting to smash his way through the wall I’d spent the past thirteen years building. I had been at a loss of how to stop him.

His gaze flashed to mine, a twinkle of mischief staring back at me. “Is this shit really that good?”

He could not be serious? “First thing first, do not call it shit. And yes, it’s freaking amazing!”

He threw his head back as deep, resounding laughter filled my kitchen. My eyes were blessed with the spectacle of his eyes crinkling, his throat moving, and his face softening. Mr. Intense had left the building. It was official. I was swimming in dangerous waters.

"Do you want a glass of wine? I just opened a new bottle of Moscato, or I have red if you a red kind of man,” I stammered, desperate to ignore my sudden need to kiss his throat. "Actually, that might be too girly for the kind of man you are. I have beer as well. Oh, and whiskey.”

His eyes darkened, the blue transforming into a beautiful shade of sapphire. Suddenly, the food was forgotten, and in three paces he was standing in front of me with my back was against the wall. I sucked in a breath as his eyes roamed over my face before locking on my lips.

“What kind of man am I?”

I shook my head. I couldn’t do this. Not with him standing so close, looking like he did, while my head was still clouded with thoughts of kissing his neck. Damn it, Sasha!

“Sasha, what kind of man am I?” he repeated in a voice so low that it sounded more like a hum.

I sucked in a breath. “You’re intense. You’re frustrating. You’re confusing. You’re completely unexpected.”

I licked my lips and his gaze followed the actions of my tongue.

“You’re enticing, and that scares the absolute crap out of me.”

“Want to know what kind of woman I think you are?”

Finally, his eyes came to mine.

Did I want to know?

I did.

But I didn’t.

In the end I chose the easier, safer option. “The kind of woman I am is one that thinks we’ve chitchatted enough and it’s time to feast on Mexican food. Now, what do you want? Beer, wine, or whiskey?”

"Beer would be good.”

I nodded and ducked away from his body, then I moved into the kitchen, grabbed my bottle of wine, and pulled out a beer for him before moving them to the counter. We each dished out our food. I made him put a little of everything on his plate, and while we did this, we each stole glances at each other. I liked having him here, even though it scared the absolute crap out of me at how easy this felt. I held my bottle of wine under my arm and carried my plate to the living room. Tucking my legs under me, I made myself comfortable on the couch and smiled up at him when he joined me. As soon as he sat down, I dug into my food.

“Fuck, Sash, this is incredible,” he said around his fork. “This is going to be our regular date night.”

Our regular date night?

“Pretty sure I told you I don’t date.”

He smirked. “We’ll see.”

“Stubborn. I’d like to add that to the list of what kind of man you are.”

He finished his first plate, and then I watched with a smile on my face as he walked into the kitchen, filled up his plate again, and came back already eating. “Seriously, this is delicious.”

After putting my empty plate on the coffee table and filling my empty glass of wine, I took a large sip, looked at him over the rim, and asked, “So, how was Salt Lake?”

Ben’s eyes turned heavy as they came to me. He didn’t break his stare as he took a pull of his beer and then placed it on the coffee table beside our empty plates. “Honestly, it was shit.”

I took another sip and nodded, then the words tumbled out before I could stop them. “Did you see your lady friend?”

He didn’t hesitate. “I’m looking at her now.”

A shiver of pleasure ran through my body. His body left me useless, but his words could be his best weapon.

“What are you really asking, Sasha?” His eyes cut into me as he silently dared me to ask what was on my mind.

I knew that as soon as I asked, it would mean something shifted between us. Was I ready for that? Could I give anything more than I was already giving? That was the million dollar question. What did I have to give? And would it be enough to satisfy him?

“Did you see Kat?” I whispered, the words feeling like they cut as they fell from my mouth.

“Let me tell you something about the way I work. When I’m on a job, I shut down. Nothing exists besides the job I’m working on. My family, my house, Monroe—nothing. But that changed this week. It was a fucked up week. I saw and did shit I want to forget. People I care about had to relive horrendous things that have forever changed their lives. But you know how I got through that shit . . . what made the filth easy? It was thinking of the way you sound when you come, your sweet as fuck whimpers when you beg for my cock, the way your body fits perfectly against mine, and the way you gift me soft when the rest of you is so fucking hard. That’s what made it bearable. But it was the thought of kissing and tasting you again that brought me straight to you when I got back to Monroe. I didn’t even check in with my family first, which is something I always do. So no, Sasha, I didn’t see Kat, and I don’t have any plans to see anyone besides you.”

My ability to speak fled as I tried to grasp onto everything he’d just said. I desperately wanted to give him something—anything—to express what was going through my head, but what could I say? I had so many questions. I wanted to know what this meant. I needed to comfort him. I craved his touch, but I was frozen.

I opened my mouth to say anything, hoping something would come out that would explain how I was feeling, but I was stopped by the sound of the doorbell.

I shot up from my couch and rushed to the door. I didn’t even pay attention to the figure I could see through the glass. I was in the Ben zone and that was all I was thinking about. I gripped hold of the door handle, swung it open, and gasped.

PPGD Danny stood there.