Exhaling a deep breath, she crossed her arms over her chest, which effectively caused the creamy, upper swells of her breasts to peek out from the low, scoop neck of her sweater. 'The problem is, the situation with Craig is different.'
'How so?' he asked curiously.
'When I first started my business, Craig was essential in getting my name in front of a lot of influential people, who in turn hired me to plan an event or a party for them. With Craig being a club owner, he has a lot of prominent contacts and he's been very generous in putting me in touch with some amazing people who have put me way ahead of my competition in the area. I'm very grateful for everything he's done for me, which makes this whole issue of him asking me out something I need to handle delicately. Does that makes sense?'
'Actually, it does.' To Ben, it sounded like Craig had the ability to make or break her newfound career, and that was a precarious situation in his estimation. 'But despite how nice he's been, you don't owe him anything, Christine.'
'I know that.' She rubbed the tips of her fingers along her forehead. 'But I don't want to be rude to him, either. I also don't believe in burning bridges. It's just not good business practice.'
Realizing they needed to leave because they were already running late, Ben stood up and went around the coffee table toward her. 'How about putting some distance between yourself and Craig?' he suggested. 'Maybe not spend so much time at the club?'
'I've already thought about that, but I'm sort of in a position where I have to deal with Craig for at least three more weeks.' She hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly continued. 'He's insisting on throwing a birthday bash for me at Envy, which is another way of getting my name in front of potential clients, and he's already started to plan the entire thing. I just need to get past that party, and then I can make a clean break with Craig.'
He nodded in understanding. 'So, in the meantime, you want a pretend boyfriend to make him back off and quit asking you out.'
She gave him an impish look. 'That just about sums it all up.'
Ben scrubbed a hand along his jaw, wondering what her father would think about his daughter's ploy to waylay another man's interest with the bodyguard he'd hired for her. 'Christine, as sympathetic as I am to your situation, I wasn't hired on to be your boyfriend.'
'
Ben thought about all the things that being her boyfriend would entail in order to convince everyone, and Craig especially, that they were a couple. Seductive glances, affectionate touches, and private smiles meant to tempt and tease. Jesus, such an intimate scenario was bound to test the attraction between them and push not only his restraint, but his libido, to the limit.
As if sensing his indecision, she took a step toward him and placed one of her hands on his chest, her eyes soft and imploring. 'Please, Ben?' she whispered. 'You're in the perfect position to do this for me, and the last thing I want to do is have to find someone else to help me out.'
He didn't doubt for a moment that she'd attempt to recruit someone else for the job, and the unsettling thought of watching another guy getting up close and personal with her, even if it was just for show, caused a burning, churning sensation deep in his gut.
Bringing in a third party just wasn't going to happen, he decided. Not on his watch. And that meant agreeing to Christine's ploy and everything it entailed so Craig would finally back off.
Ben figured that standing in as a pretend boyfriend wouldn't interfere with the job he'd been hired to do. If anything, it would enable him to get a better insight to all the people she hung out with without them knowing he was a security agent. Bottom line, his job was to protect Christine, and he could do that just as easily impersonating a guy who was smitten with her.
He exhaled a deep breath and took the plunge. 'Okay. Fine. I'll do it.'
Christine's eyes widened, and before he realized her intent she wrapped her arms around his neck and enveloped him in a tight, appreciative hug. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!'
With Christine's soft, lush body plastered so guilelessly against his, Ben's pulse skipped a beat and he wasn't sure what to do-return the embrace, or gently push her away before she realized the kind of effect she was having on him. Her warm breath caressed his neck, her smooth cheek pressed against his, and the seductive scent of vanilla infused his senses. Acute awareness, and a hard kick of lust, flooded south in a rush of heat.
One thing was for certain-faking an attraction wasn't going to be an issue at all. Settling his hands on her hips, he eased her back so he could breathe without thinking about skimming his hands along her curves and other places they didn't belong.
She looked up at him, her eyes shining gratefully. 'I can't tell you how much I appreciate this,' she said, still caught up in the fact that he'd agreed to help her out. 'Just knowing that I won't have to deal with Craig's subtle advances for the next three weeks is a
He smiled, enjoying her enthusiasm. 'Good.'
Despite those four-inch heels of hers, there was a bounce to her step as she walked over to the chair and grabbed her purse. When she spun back around, she was grinning effusively. 'You know what this means, don't you?'
He didn't quite trust the mischievous gleam in her eyes. 'Umm, no.' But he was positive she was about to enlighten him.
She strolled back toward him and trailed a pink painted fingernail down the center of his chest. 'This means, as my boyfriend, you're gonna have to call me Christy.'
His deep groan rolled into a laugh, and he shook his head at her impudence. Leave it to Christine to revel in that small bit of victory.
Chapter Four
BY the time Christine arrived with Ben at Envy, her friends were already there and had claimed a table in the downstairs lounge where it was much quieter than upstairs near the dance floor and circular bar. Instead of stiff, uncomfortable bar stools, the lounge area was sectioned off with velvet armchairs, couches, and love seats in vibrant shades of purples, greens, and reds. Despite how crowded the place already was, the overall atmosphere was warm and inviting, which made for an enjoyable night club experience.
Wanting to make sure she established Ben as her boyfriend to anyone who might be watching her, especially Craig, she clasped his hand in hers as she led the way to Madison, Ronnie, and her boyfriend, Mark. Ben automatically wove his fingers through hers, bringing her attention to just how large his hand was as it closed around hers. She thought about how it would feel to have his heated palm and long fingers stroking across her bare, sensitive flesh, and shivered.
As she neared the group, she noticed Ronnie's curious expression as her long-time friend's gaze zeroed in on Ben. Then there was Madison. They'd been sorority sisters in college and had remained close friends even after graduation. Since Madison was also Christine's assistant at The Big Event and they spent days and hours together, she was the friend that knew her best, and was like the sister Christine never had. The two of them talked about the most intimate details of their lives, and shared just about everything, and that was why Madison was staring at Ben in shocked surprise, because to her best friend's knowledge, Christine hadn't been dating anyone.
Christine had already decided that she'd explain the situation to Madison and tell her the truth about her new boyfriend who was really her bodyguard-as well as their 24/7 living arrangement. But in the meantime, she had a new beau to announce to everyone.
'Hi, gang,' she said brightly, and launched right into the introductions. 'I'd like you all to meet my boyfriend, Ben. Ben, these are my good friends Ronnie and Madison, who is also my assistant at The Big Event. And this here is Mark, Ronnie's boyfriend.'
Ben stepped in front of her and greeted the two women in that polite, gentlemanly way of his, then shook hands with Mark. Compared to most of the guys at Envy who were wearing the latest designer styles for men, Ben definitely looked dressed down in his jeans and his untucked chambray shirt. He was also so opposite of the
