Receiving the phone call from Ben's mother unnerved her. She was excited to have a potential client calling. After Sloane announced herself, there was a pause.

She was just about to hang up, when the caller spoke. "Is this the woman who is dating my son?"

The question shocked her and she mumbled she must have the wrong number. The woman identified Ben, and Sloane thought she was a crazy fan — ten times crazier than her.

"We should plan a dinner so I can get to know you. My Benny would love it."

Everyone called him Ben or Benjy, but never Benny. Sloane knew something wasn't right. The churning in her belly warned her.

"Benny will call you. I need to get back to work."

She might have overreacted by calling Ben over and over. The more she tried to reach him, the more worried she became when she couldn't. By the time she called Kenzie, her pulse was racing, and she was sweating.

Dominic came back from his meeting with the network team and knew something was wrong.

"What d'you find? Another breach?"

"No." She looked around, but they were alone. "Some crackpot called me claiming to be Ben's mother. I couldn't reach him and started worrying. I called Kenzie, and she said the crackpot probably was their mother."

"Drama!"

"I called him at least ten times. He'll decide I really am crazy and break up with me."

Dominic laughed. "He won't break up with you before he has the chance to get some of what he's been drooling over."

"He has not!"

"Oh sweetheart, he has."

Waiting until the following night to see him felt like forever. Dominic had convinced her she hadn't put their relationship in jeopardy.

He sent her a text. Come over. I'll cook.

She wouldn't miss the chance to see Ben Lynch in the kitchen. She went straight from work and regretted it. Ben wore jeans and a tee shirt with bare feet. He looked incredibly sexy. She took his left hand in hers and touched his cast-less arm with her fingertips.

"How does it feel?"

"Good and working out feels great. I'm sorry."

Her pulse quickened, but it might have been because he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to him.

"Sorry for what?"

"For that woman upsetting you. She always wants money, and I refused to give her any. She probably recognized your name and wanted to try her luck. Angela fell for her sob story."

"What happened?"

She listened as Ben told her about finding his mother in his hotel room. "That is part of why I was glad to move. Thanks to you."

He leaned in and kissed her. "Why were you with her?" Sloane pulled away. "Don't answer, I saw you staring at them."

He pulled her back to him and gazed into her eyes. "You are sexier than her."

His hands moved from her waist to her hips. He brushed them close to her buttocks as he pulled her closer to him. Her breasts pressed into his hard chest and her nipples tingled. His lips found her neck, and she lifted her chin to give him more of it. Her head was swimming and her body was on fire. They had never been this heated. Dom's words filled her head, and she abruptly pulled away.

He looked at her with stormy eyes. "Sorry. I lost control."

"Everyone keeps telling me how you look at me. I know you want me, but it will make it harder for me when you decide next week or the week after you don't like me anymore."

"Why would I do that?" He walked over to the kitchen counter and poured two glasses of wine.

"Because you told me you only liked me now and not later. I'm not one to do anything I'll regret later. I'm not an impulsive person." His face masked his pain again as he took a sip of his wine. "There I go, saying the wrong thing again. I feel like every time I open my mouth, I remind you of something painful."

"No, not every time. I like you, a lot. I miss you when we don't see each other. I won't lie, I want you in my bed, but would never use you. I can wait until you're ready. I don't remember saying I only liked you now, but you scared me. It has been a long time since I liked a girl as much as I do you."

"Tell me about her." She knew a girl he loved was the reason for his sadness.

He shook his head. "You worry about me pushing you aside. I worry if you really knew me, you wouldn't like me anymore."

"Why? Kenzie loves you?"

"Kenzie doesn't know everything about me, neither does Jett."

It must be a secret because Jett had been his best friend since high school. She only had more questions.

"Come on, you came to eat."

She would give him time to decide he trusted her enough.

"You know I'm a crazy fan who has loved number seven for a long time, so I doubt you could tell me anything to change how I feel about you. I didn't when you thought I was a stalker."

She picked up her wine and took a sip. It was her favorite. She knew he bought it for her. He tossed vegetables and meat in a pan. She watched as he shook it and stirred it. Then he added spices without measuring. Watching him cook mesmerized her. She sipped her wine while enjoying the show.

"You look like you're having fun watching me work."

"I am. Who knew a man in the kitchen could be so hot?"

"Hot! I'm hot?"

"You're in front of the hot stove."

"You're a tease. Grab two plates in the cabinet behind me."

She walked around and brushed against him before she reached up for plates. "Where's the forks?"

"Below the plates."

He served the stir-fry and carried their plates to the table. She followed him with their wine glasses.

"We have a family thing tomorrow for Kenzie's birthday. She'll love it if you come. Um, I would too."

"At Kenzie's house?"

"No, at my Dad's. I understand if you don't..."

"Sure."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I don't want to disappoint Kenzie."

He smiled. "I'll pick you up around noon." Suddenly going to his childhood home excited her. "Don't dress up, we usually end up in the backyard."

"I don't play."

"You can be my cheerleader."

Smiling, she would enjoy watching Ben play again. "Can you play with your wrist?"

"I have a splint, but we just mess around a bit."

"This is good. You can cook for me every night."

"Okay. Come over after work and I'll be barefoot in the kitchen with dinner on the table."

"Are you still trying to seduce me?"

He laughed. "If it's that easy, but I promise I'll never take advantage of you."

"Ben, what's the real story with your mother?"

He sighed. "She left my Dad when we were little for a ballplayer. In the years since, she's married and divorced more times than I can count. She only remembers she's a mother when she wants money. End of story."

"It must be hard."

"Not really. I have no memory of her other than occasional visits. Don't look for something that's not there."

"She's the one you were talking about at the gallery?"

"Yeah, I had no right to compare you."

"It's okay."

"Can we just kiss? I'm all talked out."

"I'll clean up."

"We can do it together."

Dominic didn't arrive home until the next morning. He had a smile, which made her jealous. Maybe she was being too cautious. She was far from a virgin, but aside from teen love with Monty, she had never loved the men she slept with.

"Glad you had fun, but I'm going out for the day."

"Another date?" He winked.

"Kenzie's birthday. I just came back from shopping. Do you think she'll like these?"

She really hadn't known what to get her friend. A pair of cashmere lined gloves weren't personal. Since it was getting colder, she wouldn't mind a pair of her own.

"You're wearing that?" Dominic took in her outfit.

"Yeah, he said it was casual. Is something wrong with it?"

"Nope, it's perfect." He smirked.

She wore jeans and a blue sweater, which brought out her eyes. She chose her favorite leather boots. Because they almost went to her knees, they weren't comfortable in warm weather.

She jumped when the doorbell chimed. Dom laughed and disappeared upstairs.

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