Wild for Him

new bodyguard had witnessed, Audrey Delacroix had no qualms about expressing her disapproval and disappointment over her daughter's choice of career, and single status, and she did so every chance she got. Even knowing how critical her mother could be, the digs were sharp and always cut deeper than Christine expected or anticipated.

As soon as they settled into Ben's vehicle-a new but basic Ford truck in pewter gray-he told her he needed to swing by his place to pick up some of his things before heading to her house, then he excused himself to make a phone call on his cell. At the moment, he was talking to someone named Kevin and letting him know about the sudden change to his work schedule, and that he'd be on this new assignment until the election was over.

As the two men discussed a few of the open cases Ben had been working on and what needed to be done on each in his absence. Christine leaned her head back against her seat and attempted to relax after that awful, and embarrassing, confrontation with her mother. And she couldn't think of a better way to unwind and calm her frayed nerves than to listen to Ben's smooth, deep voice as she admired everything that made him so exceptionally male.

And there was plenty about him to appreciate and enjoy. From his thick, rich, brown hair, to those disarmingly seductive eyes that reminded Christine of her favorite Godiva chocolate. He possessed a full, sensual mouth that had inspired many shameless, wicked thoughts, and she liked that he smiled easily and often and didn't seem to take her, or life in general, too seriously.

The fact that he could indulge in a bit of humor, even while working, was a pleasant and welcome change from her ex-fiance's oppressive personality.

His facial features were lean and defined, as was the rest of his body. Standing, he was much taller than her even when she wore her highest heels. His shoulders were broad and he had a firm, muscular chest that had made her wonder, more than once, what he looked like without a shirt on. No doubt, breathtakingly gorgeous. From the waist down, he was just as honed and well built… everywhere.

As an ex-Marine and professional bodyguard, he looked strong and capable of keeping her safe and protected. As a man, he looked just rough and tough enough around the edges to give him a bit of a bad boy image. But that rugged appearance and his lack of pretense was what made him real, solid as a rock, and oh-so-appealing to her. What you saw with Ben was exactly what you got, and it was such a refreshing, welcoming change. Those traits also made him stand out from the pack of polished, self-absorbed men she was used to being around.

No question about it, Ben Cabrera was hot, sinfully sexy, and he was exclusively hers for the next three weeks.

Imagine that, she thought with a small, private smile.

Actually, imagining Ben any number of ways was extremely easy to do, considering how attracted she was to him. With just a slow, dark-eyed look or one of those half-smiles of his that tried to bank his own mutual interest- and failed-she felt as though she was melting inside. He made her pulse race, her skin tingle, and her stomach feel as though someone had released a dozen butterflies inside.

Her intense awareness and reaction to Ben was like nothing she'd ever experienced for another man. Her ex- fiance included. And that said a lot about just how incompatible she and Jason had been from the beginning, on so many levels. But now, looking back at the entire scope of their relationship, it was easy to see Jason's hidden agenda as well as her mother's ulterior motives in pushing them together.

None of that mattered now. She was done living her life for anyone other than herself, and now she was going to do things her way. With her new event planning business taking off faster than she'd anticipated, and living out on her own for the first time in her life, she was in a great place emotionally and mentally. She loved her newfound freedom and independence, and she was going to enjoy both for a good long time before even contemplating settling down again-with the right man, of her choosing.

But in the meantime, there were certain things she was very open to exploring and experiencing. Like the undeniable sexual chemistry between her and Ben. Their situation and forced close proximity couldn't be a more perfect way to take advantage of all the smoldering heat and awareness they'd both been skirting for months now.

'I'll be in touch over the next few days,' Ben told the man on the other end of the line, effectively pulling Christine's attention back to the present. 'And if you need anything from me regarding those cases, just give me a call on my cell. Talk to you later. Kev.'

He snapped the unit closed and glanced at Christine to find her turned his way, since she'd been watching him during the entire phone discussion. After scrutinizing her expression for a quick moment, he returned his gaze to navigating the road.

'Are you all right?' he asked.

She wasn't sure why he was asking, and she wasn't about to give him an answer he might not be expecting. 'Why shouldn't I be?'

Again, he looked at her, searching her features for what, she wasn't sure. 'No reason,' he said vaguely. 'Just checking to make sure you're okay with everything.'

For her, everything encompassed a whole lot after this afternoon's lunch meeting with her father, then her mother's theatrical entrance into the dining room. 'If you're asking about our situation, I'm one hundred percent fine with you being my bodyguard, and I'll try to make your job as easy as possible for you.' Although she wasn't frightened by the threats her father had received, she did take his concern seriously and would never argue the point of him hiring a security agent for her until the election was over.

'Don't worry about me,' he said as he gave her a glimpse of one of those sexy, toe-curling smiles of his. 'You do what you have to do and go about your life and business as usual, and you won't even know I'm around.'

Ignoring his existence for the next three weeks was going to be virtually impossible, she knew. Even if he was invisible, everything that made her inherently female would sense whenever he was near, would feel his eyes wandering over her. He'd be close enough at all times.

Like now for instance, for her to inhale the warm, virile scent that was uniquely his-an arousing blend of heat, sex, and pure male temptation.

Feeling hot and bothered, she shifted in her seat and addressed the other issue Ben had been privy to when her mother had joined them for lunch. 'I'm really sorry that you had to witness all that family drama back at the house.'

'Hey, stuff happens.' He shrugged casually as he eased the truck off an exit ramp just outside of the Chicago city limits. 'I've learned to tune out conversations like that.'

She shook her head, finding that hard to believe. 'I don't know how that's possible. I mean, you were right there, and it's not easy to tune someone like my mother out. Believe me, I've tried.'

He chuckled, the rich, warm sound sliding over her like a caress. 'Okay, I'll give you that. Let's just say I hear more than I care to when it comes to my clients, but I don't judge or make assumptions. At least I try not to, anyway. It's not my place.'

Which said a lot about his own moral compass. There had been too many instances in her life where people had judged her, based on something as simple as her last name, where she lived, and what her father did for a living. It was a refreshing change to find someone who didn't give a damn about those things.

'I'm glad to hear that you're not one to think the worst based on someone else's opinion, because what my mother had to say wasn't very flattering, or even very nice for that matter.'

A familiar frustration reared its ugly head, and she sighed in an attempt to keep all that bottled up resentment from spilling out of her right here and now. Instead, she kept her voice calm and steady as she said, 'I'm truly beginning to wonder if my mother is ever going to forgive me for calling off my engagement to Jason only months before the wedding.'

Ben cast her a brief but incredulous look. 'Are you kidding me? From what I've heard, the man is an ass and deserved what he had coming to him.'

She lifted a brow and teased blithely, 'Isn't that a bit…judgmental?'

'You and I are participating in a conversation, and in that case I'm entitled to express my opinion.' His gaze scanned the area, then his rearview and side mirrors, an action he'd done routinely on the drive to his place. 'I'm certain you saved yourself a boatload of future heartache by ending your relationship with him.'