Shaking his head clear of those too interesting thoughts, he started another game of FreeCell. A few moments later, something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he glanced out the office's glass-enclosed window-front to see a black Town-Car with dark-tinted windows pulling up in front of The Big Event. As always, whenever someone parked near the business he went straight into security mode-taking in the car description, memorizing the license plate, and making a mental note of whoever exited the vehicle. If they entered the office, the scrutiny continued, but on a more personal level to make sure the visit was legitimate.

The driver, dressed in a uniformed suit, stepped out of the car and opened the back door. Ben groaned as Craig Crosby emerged, looking like the pretentious son of a bitch that he was in his dark blue, knit-collared shirt, tan trousers, and with his dark, glossy hair combed back from his face. He said something to his driver, then headed toward the shop with a portfolio folder in hand.

He pushed open the door, and a buzzer rang in the back rooms to let Madison and Christine know that someone had come inside. Looking straight ahead, Craig didn't notice him sitting on the couch off to the side, giving Ben the advantage. As the other man continued walking farther into the office as if he planned on going in search of Christine himself. Ben decided to squash his presumptuous stride.

'Hey, Crosby.'

Craig jolted to a stop, and his head snapped to the left. As soon as he saw Ben, the suave grin he'd been wearing to greet Christine fell flat and animosity etched his features. 'What a surprise seeing you here,' he said dryly.

'I'm sure it is.' Leaning back into the couch cushions, Ben folded his arms behind his head and smiled, liking that he had the upper hand over this guy.

'Especially at this time of the day,' Craig said, the insinuation of Ben being a bum reflecting in his voice. 'Don't you have a job?'

Ben shrugged. 'I make my own hours. Do you have an appointment to see Christine?' Each morning he went over the day's agenda with her, and Crosby had not been listed for a meeting today. That's something he wouldn't have forgotten.

Craig visibly bristled with annoyance. 'What are you, her receptionist now?'

'No. Just a very jealous boyfriend.'

The other man's gaze flared with a mix of anger and frustration, and Ben had to admit that provoking Craig was the most fun he'd had in days.

Craig didn't bother hiding the look of disdain he gave Ben as he took in the casual USMC cotton T-shirt and well-worn jeans he was wearing today. 'I don't understand what she sees in you.'

'I can't really say.' Ben mulled that one over as he compared himself to Craig and the biggest difference between them. 'Maybe it's the fact that I'm just a normal, average Joe.'

Craig smirked. 'Well, that novelty will wear off in time, I'm sure.'

No doubt, Crosby was hoping that was true, but Ben was well aware that even after he was out of Christine's life, she had no intentions of ever getting involved with Craig.

Thank God.

'Craig?' Christine came around the corner, a half-smile on her lips and a curious look in her eyes. 'What are you doing here?'

'Hi, Christy.' Crosby's smarmy smile reappeared as he turned all his attention on Christine. 'We never did get the chance to discuss some of the details for your party on Sunday since you left so abruptly, so I thought I'd stop by and we could go over a few things. Do you have any spare time right now?'

She glanced at her watch, then nodded. 'Sure.'

'Great:' He cast a quick, telling glance at Ben. 'Do you mind if we go somewhere a bit more private?'

'How about the conference room?' she suggested.

'Perfect,' he said, an unmistakable note of satisfaction in his voice.

Christine met Ben's gaze. 'I'm sure this won't take long. I'll be done in just a while, then we can head over to Starbucks for a drink.' She then smiled at Craig. 'Ben knows all the long hours I've been working this week, so he dropped in to make sure I took a break today.'

Ahhh, a good call on Christine's part to explain his presence.

She headed to the conference room, and Craig fell into step beside her. When he placed his hand at the small of her back as she preceded him inside the room, Christine stiffened and stepped away from Craig. Ben's blood boiled in his veins and it took every ounce of control he possessed not to charge in there and break the man's arm in a couple of different places so he'd keep his hands off Christine in the future.

Ben shifted restlessly on the couch and swore beneath his breath, unable to believe how this one guy could get to him in such an elemental way. Craig closed the door behind them, but the conference room was glass-enclosed, and while Ben wasn't able to hear their conversation, he was able to watch every move that slimy bastard made.

He shut down his computer, set it aside, and kept his gaze glued to the conference room and the pair inside. An eternity seemed to pass as he watched the two interact. Craig casually touched her arm as he pointed to something in his portfolio folder, and Ben's jaw clenched. The other man said something to make Christine smile and laugh, and Ben's stomach churned with an emotion he refused to exam too closely.

By the time they came out of the conference room. Ben was feeling more than a little surly.

Christine walked Craig to the door, said good-bye, then strolled back toward Ben with an amused smile curving her lips. She was wearing a button-up beige silk blouse with her brown skirt and killer high heels, and the expensive material shimmered across her chest as she moved, reminding him of how soft her breast had felt in his hand, how tight and hard her nipple had peaked against his fingers. At the time, he'd ached to pull off her pajama top and take one of those firm mounds of flesh into his mouth so he could taste her.

She sat down beside him on the couch. 'Did I hear you right earlier when you said you're a jealous boyfriend?' She looked immensely pleased at the notion.

So, she'd overheard part of his exchange with Craig. 'A jealous pretend boyfriend,' he corrected her. 'I'm just acting the part for your benefit.'

She tipped her head, causing the ends of her hair to brush across her shoulder like expensive skeins of blond silk. 'Are you sure about that?'

No way was he going to admit that his jealousy was real, and judging by her sweet, knowing smile, he didn't have to. The woman read him way too easily, and it was an unnerving feeling to realize she could get into his head that way.

'Even knowing you have a boyfriend, the man can't keep his hands off you,' he said bluntly.

'I don't encourage it, as you've seen,' she said, absently smoothing a hand down the front of her skirt.

'I don't like him.'

She laughed lightly. 'So you've said before. Not that you're jealous or anything.' She made a face at him.

He held back a grin, because she just looked so damned cute and irresistible. 'My dislike of Craig is all based on my professional assessment of the guy,' he said gruffly.

With a sudden look of concern, she reached out and placed a hand on his forehead.

'What are you doing?' he asked.

'You're a little warm,' she said, appearing completely serious. 'I think you're experiencing office fever from being cooped up in here for so many days. And you seem to have all the symptoms of office fever, too.'

He frowned in confusion. 'And what would those be?'

A playful smile flirted at the corners of her mouth. 'You're grouchy and irritable, which are the two most common ailments of office fever.'

'Oh, you're funny,' he replied.

'Luckily, I know just what you need. A change of scenery and some fresh air does wonders to alleviate office fever.' She stood back up. 'Give me another hour to wrap up a few things and make sure Madison has everything under control, then you and I can leave the office early this afternoon.'

'To do what?'

'I have some errands to run, and then I was thinking you and I could grab a bite to eat afterward. I've had a craving for pizza lately. How does that sound?'

He grinned. His day had just taken a turn for the better. 'Are you kidding me? Pizza and beer is my idea of a gourmet meal.'

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