The Playboy's Proposal (Sorensen Family) (11 page)

Something flickered in her eyes, and whatever had been holding her up slipped and she was suddenly falling, upending his left hand, and bringing him tumbling down on top of her.

…

“…and Cruz stood there, not even flinching while two busboys trapped the man-size cockroach and swept it out the terrace doors,” Payton was telling everyone over dinner, her voice filled with laughter that matched her exuberant expression. Glowing, naturally.

Benny and everyone glanced to her ever-stoic older brother, who sat stone-faced, but there was a gleam in his brown eyes as he watched his wife tell the tale, his adoration clear. “Someone had to retain some level of calmness. Payton was standing on her chair and shrieking like the place was on fire.”

“I wouldn’t say…shrieking. But when a cockroach big enough to physically carry me out the door nudges my foot, I think my reaction was absolutely reasonable.” But she was laughing along with everyone else.

Benny sneaked a glance at Henry, who was chuckling, looking the picture of relaxation with his natural debonair charm and one of her nieces on each side of him—clearly besotted from the way they both fought to sit next to him. Despite the humiliating moment before dinner when she’d been pinned underneath him, the weight of his body on hers not entirely uncomfortable, Henry had taken everything in stride. Even her brothers’ attempts to drill him on his sports facts, which she’d been surprised to find were remarkably keen, hadn’t broken so much as a sweat on his too-handsome face.

Now he sat back, his entire plate of fish tacos devoured, looking for all purposes like he belonged here among her family. She got the feeling that Henry naturally fit in any place he went, with his easy and teasing smile, his quiet confidence and way of making everyone like him.

Well, almost everyone. Cruz and Dominic had barely thawed, but no surprise there. Always overprotective.

Dominic was studying her now, his face perplexed. “What have you done? You look…different.”

Of course that drew everyone’s gaze to her, and she felt her face flush uncomfortably under the attention. “What do you mean? I haven’t really done anything different.”

Payton was staring at her with more careful scrutiny. “He’s right. You look great, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is…”

Benny hadn’t wanted to do the whole glamour girl style that she’d been doing at work for family dinner, wanting to avoid this exact scrutiny. But she also enjoyed how she felt and looked when she took twenty extra minutes to brush her hair to a shine before drawing it back to a loose ponytail and slipping in silver hoop earrings, applying a touch of makeup to her eyes and lips so her face felt brighter and more…polished.

She’d never realized before how just taking a few moments could make her feel so much more confident. Not that she’d ever have Payton’s stunning prettiness, Kate’s strong and beautiful features, or her own sister’s natural dark beauty. But Benny was a strong finisher now, and she knew that people noticed her more—men particularly. And she didn’t…hate it.

“I like it,” Kate said firmly.

“Are you wearing…makeup?” Cruz asked incredulous. “What was wrong with how you looked before? Who are you trying to impress? Did someone make you feel like you weren’t good enough as you were?” His gaze, though, was on Henry, and he looked like he wanted to challenge him.

“Enough, everyone. Leave Benny alone,” her mom intervened. “She’s a professional. A doctor lady now, and she can’t stay eighteen forever. She looks like…a pretty doctor.” Her mother smiled and nodded toward her.

“Thanks, Mama.” Benny glanced again at Henry, who was studying her with his own strange glint in his brown eyes. “The tilapia was seasoned perfectly,” she said to distract everyone from her face, and motioned toward the last bite of her fish taco on her plate.

“Lime zest,” her mom said, nodding. “You just need a hint of zest and salt.”

“Hey, don’t I get any credit for grilling the fish?” her dad asked, a faint smile around the edges of his mouth. He winked at her before taking another taco from the platter.

Well, the worst was over. No one was telling her she looked ridiculous. No one said she was trying too hard to be someone she wasn’t. And the thing was, right now, with her family surrounding her, the strange swirl of excitement in her belly growing as Henry continued to watch her, she felt exactly like who she was meant to be.

“Okay,” she said and tossed her napkin on the table. “I think it’s time Henry and I took on the two geriatric brothers in a little game out back. You up for it, Henry?”

“I think I can hold my own.”

“We’ll see,” Cruz and Dominic said at the same time.

Chapter Eleven

“How’s your head?” Benny asked and threw a glance over to Henry.

She was back in the driver’s seat of his car, a few minutes from home. It was a fair question, considering the possible mild concussion she’d caused earlier that day, but far more pertinent now after the “accidental” elbow to his head when he’d attempted a jump shot during their scrimmage earlier. Cruz and Dominic were denying accountability.

“Not too bad.” He opened the visor and lifted the front of his hair to look at the darkening bruise near his hairline.

“You probably should take a couple more Tylenol before bed—just avoid ibuprofen. Sorry about what happened. My brothers tend to turn into complete idiots whenever Daisy or I bring guys home. But I think Kate and Payton have mellowed them a bit—or age. You actually got off easy compared to many who’ve gone before you.”

“Good to know. I feel much better.” But he smiled, not looking particularly concerned. “Believe it or not, I liked them. They kind of grow on you. All of your family, actually. They were all so…kind.”

“I’m afraid you came away with a little fan club tonight,” she said, remembering the way Jenna and Natalie had cheered them—and by them, she meant Henry—on from the sidelines. They were adorable, fawning over him like they had. “Something I’m sure you’re used to.”

But he didn’t seem to notice her teasing. In a quiet voice, he said, “You’re very lucky to have them.”

And she was reminded again of what he’d said earlier about living in his mother’s house, vying for attention but failing. “Tell me about your family. Is it just you and your sister? Is your dad still in the picture?”

“My dad died a long time ago.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well, you get on. You have to.” He was quiet again, and she thought he was done with the topic when he added quietly, “He was a good dad, so I’m glad we got the time together that we did. My parents divorced when I was five, and for a while it was just the two of us. He loved baseball, was a huge Giants fan. The two of us would go to a couple of games a year in San Francisco. After he died, I moved back in with my mother.”

“How old were you?”

“Eleven.”

“And your sister? Where does she fit in all this?”

“My mother wasn’t really much for making a commitment to anyone. Men were always coming in and out of her life. Part of why my dad left—he had already resigned himself to sharing her with her job, but he wasn’t about to share her with another man. Or men, as the case might be.”

She didn’t have words to communicate how sad she thought it all was. A parent should be someone to set an example, or at least try. Someone to hug you and tell you how much he or she loved you each and every day. She was certain Henry hadn’t been so lucky.

Without thinking, she rested her hand on top of his and turned to meet his gaze. But she didn’t say anything, words seeming unnecessary through this brief connection. And then it was over and she pulled her hand away and back to the steering wheel.

“Anyway,” Henry continued, “after my dad and I left, she remarried two more times, and Morgan was a result of one such union. Like me, she’d been growing up in that huge mausoleum with our distant mother for company, although unlike me, she didn’t have the comfort and love of her father. He took off before the ink was dry on the divorce papers. Needless to say, she was starved for affection when I arrived. She was my shadow for so long, so in many ways, as heartbroken as I was losing my dad, in moving back, her attention and need helped fill the void of my dad’s absence. I found someone who needed me. We needed each other.”

“And your mother? Do you see her?”

“She passed last fall,” he said with no inflection.

Benny risked another glance at him. That had to be rough. As much as he had reason to dislike his mother, in death, there was no room for any kind of reconciliation. Or forgiveness. She held her tongue, though, sensing he didn’t seek her sympathy.

They’d arrived at the garage, and she punched in her code and waited for the door to open before pulling in.

“Sorry we didn’t make it very far in your lessons today. Maybe we can try again next Sunday. You know, if you still want to try and learn a few things.”

She nodded as they reached his parking space and pulled in next to her Mini. “I’d like that.” Because even if her morning at the club hadn’t endeared her to the sport any more than before, the prospect of spending more time in Henry’s company had some appeal. Okay, a lot of appeal. But it was only because he was so irreverent and funny and easy on the eyes. “And since I don’t think I’ve said it before…thanks, Henry. For your help.”

She reached over to grab her bag, and before she could open the door, Henry was there, already holding it for her. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit it was terribly flattering and sent her heart skipping a beat or two.

They walked toward the elevator, neither of them speaking, when the familiar ding of its arrival sounded. Looking over, Benny caught a glimpse of long black hair on a statuesque woman stepping into the elevator.

Lord. That horrible woman again. This time Benny didn’t even bother to call out to ask her to hold the elevator. Not only because she knew the beast wouldn’t, and there was no reason to give her the satisfaction of ignoring the request, but because she was enjoying the peace that had fallen between her and Henry.

Henry, however, wasn’t aware of the woman’s predilection toward deafness and shouted, “Hold the door.”

And in an act that initially surprised Benny, the woman…did.

The wide smile the woman shot Henry a minute later disavowed Benny of the possibility the woman was maybe not as bad as she’d thought. Which she confirmed when the woman only gave a barely concealed disdainful look at Benny before leaning in toward Henry as they stepped into the elevator.

“Thank you,” Henry said congenially. “You’d think with the prices we pay to live here they’d at least have an elevator that didn’t run on weights and pulleys. I’d have aged another decade before it returned for us.”

The woman opened her mouth wider and laughed. Benny managed not to roll her eyes and watched as Henry pushed the button for their floor.

“You’re Henry Ellison, aren’t you?” the woman asked with unbridled interest in her dark, almond-shaped eyes.

“In the flesh.”

“I thought so. I was reading about you the other day. Your firm was just nominated for an award in the small agency category. Best digital campaign, wasn’t it?”

Henry nodded modestly. “True.”

“And if I’m not mistaken, at next week’s Salt Lake conference, you’re rumored to be finalists for taking the gold for best small agency of the year in the West.”

How the heck had the woman known that?

As if anticipating Benny’s thoughts, the woman added, “I’m in PR. I follow these things. I’m Lela.” She held her hand out to Henry, who took it artfully. The woman, however, had ceased to recognize that Benny was there and drew her hand back, her attention only on Henry. “That’s quite an accomplishment.”

“I can’t take all the credit. It’s a team effort.”

“Oh, I’m sure it is.”

As if suddenly realizing Benny was still there, Henry smiled at her. “Lela, correct? This is Dr. Benny Sorensen.”

The woman nodded—barely—and reached inside her purse and pulled out a card to hand to Henry. “Maybe you might be interested in having lunch sometime? Or going for drinks? I would love to bend your ear about how you’ve accomplished so much. Maybe you can offer me some guidance…from a PR standpoint, of course.”

Guidance, Benny’s ass. The woman was totally hitting on Henry and not even concerned with the possibility that Benny and Henry might be on a date. Or something. But considering she recognized Henry on sight, Benny wouldn’t put it past the woman to have done research into Henry’s background and to know his reputation as a proverbial playboy.

Henry slipped the card in his back pocket. “Maybe I will,” he said. “I haven’t seen you before. Are you new to the building?”

“My brother lives here, but he’s abroad for the moment, so he’s letting me crash at his place until I find my own. I was working for a PR firm in Chicago until recently.”

“Ah, yes. The Windy City. How’s our little city holding up in comparison?”

“I’m quickly seeing its potential.”

Good grief.

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened before any more of the cutting-edge wit could continue.

“This is me,” Lela said and reluctantly stepped off. “It was such a pleasure to meet you, Henry. Don’t be afraid to stop by sometime. I’m in 907. I’m afraid being new in the city I don’t really know anyone or what to do with myself.”

“Something that will have to be remedied,” Henry said as Lela gave a final smile and the elevator door shut.

Benny didn’t try to suppress her groan.

“What?” Henry asked, looking truly baffled.

“Sorry, I’m not used to witnessing such disgusting displays of desperation.” Benny paused and gave an imitation of the woman’s sultry laugh. “Oh, Henry. You’re so wise and smart and little old me is just helpless and lost and I need you to help guide me.” She batted her lashes for good measure and licked her lips.

Henry chuckled as the door opened and they headed down the hall to their respective places. “Yes, Benny, there is a certain artifice in all flirting, but it’s part of the game. Lela wasn’t afraid to go for what she wanted. She showed her interest and left the door open for further communication. If you want a date with Luke, you’re going to have to take a page out of that playbook and put yourself out there.”

Right. Luke. The reason she was doing all of this in the first place. She nodded. “Okay. I see your point.” They reached his door first, and she looked at the time. Nearly nine. “So you think you’ll be okay on your own? Your head is doing okay?”

“I know my name, the year, and the name of the current president if that’s what you’re wondering. You know, Dr. Sorensen, if you’re worried about me, there’s more than enough room in my bed to fit the two of us. I wouldn’t want you to spend a long, sleepless night thinking about me,” he said with a smile and gleam in those dark eyes.

“Does that really work on women?”

“You’d be surprised.”

“Good night, Henry,” she said and walked down the hall.

“’Night, Benny.”

She just prayed that Henry hadn’t noticed the flush that crept in her cheeks at the prospect of sharing his bed—joke or not. Of lying next to him, watching him sleep, watching him do maybe a few other things…

Then she remembered Henry’s easy, casual flirting on the elevator. What was she thinking? A night with Henry would be setting herself up for heartache, since he’d just move on to the next woman the next night.

No. Henry didn’t want any of the same things she did. Didn’t want forever, just…for now.

Good thing they were totally incompatible.

…

Henry watched as Benny Sorensen headed into her place. He’d be lying if for a brief moment he hadn’t entertained the idea of feigning some confusion or a sudden pounding headache that would obligate the good doctor to stay by his side. But then reality set in and he realized…he was nuts.

Benny Sorensen was feisty, opinionated, and surly. Definitely not his type.

But hell, she could really make him laugh.

He headed into his place and walked over to the stereo, in the mood for a little Frank Sinatra. He poured a splash of bourbon into a glass and took a seat in his leather recliner that looked over the city.

Today had not gone at all like he’d planned. But he didn’t know the last time he’d ever enjoyed himself more, starting the moment Benny Sorensen opened her front door, tired and grumpy about the early hour but still a refreshing change from all the women who’d practically flip handsprings to please him.

She was intriguing.

And despite her spastic interactions with Luke Seeley, she’d handled his buddies at the club with aplomb, had them eating out of her hand. Something that had kind of irked him, the banter that flowed between them, the easy way she’d flirted with them. Fast learner, he supposed.

If Luke Seeley knew what was good for him, he wouldn’t take no for an answer from Benny Sorensen the next time, diving in there before some other lucky guy usurped his place in Benny’s heart.

Henry had meant what he’d said earlier about liking her family. Even the brothers who hadn’t just slugged him in the head but had sabotaged him the entire game. Something he knew and was well aware
they knew
he knew. He took it as a sort of hazing ritual. What brothers and sisters did to protect each other.

Speaking of sisters, it had been too long since he and Morgan had shared space, let alone a meal. And he missed his niece.

Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, he dialed the number and waited for her answer. “Morgan? Hey, it’s me.”

“Oh, no. You’ve called to lecture me. What have I done wrong now? Did I forget your birthday?” But he heard the smile in her voice.

“I was thinking that maybe if you’re in town, we might all have dinner together next week. Just the three of us.”

There was silence. “Sorry, Henry—you’re asking me to have dinner with you? Are you sick? Is there something I should know?”

“Very funny. It’s just that having Ella with me last weekend made me realize how much I miss you guys and like hanging out with you. Something we haven’t done a lot of lately. So I thought I’d try and fix that. How about it?”

“Okay. I—I’d like that. And Ella would, too. In fact…she mentioned something interesting to me the other day. Something about Skittles and the nice lady doctor who pulled one out of her nose—”

“Wow. Look at the time, I should let you go. I’ll call you later this week to finalize the details.”

She laughed. “Okay, I’ll let it go this time. Good night, Henry.”

“’Night, Morgan.”

He hung up and returned the phone to his pocket, finding the card of the beautiful woman from earlier. Lela, was it?

He stared at the card, remembering the interaction on the elevator. Yes, she was beautiful, but it wasn’t Lela he was thinking of. He smiled as he recalled the look of disgust Benny had shot the two of them, particularly Lela.