“Maybe.” I shrug. But based on Lois being pregnant, it obviously wasn’t Neil who was the problem—it was… is me.
“No, not maybe. It’ll happen. You dodged a bullet, Savy. That guy is a grade A douche. That kid is so fucked with the two of them as parents.”
I laugh under my breath at her attempt to lighten the mood.
“You know what you need, right?” She backs up and raises a single brow. “To get laid.” Her face lights up as if her answer is the cure to world hunger.
Typically, this is when I would argue with her and tell her that’s not who I am, but as I stare at my lying and cheating ex-husband and ex-best friend on the screen, I can’t help but think maybe she’s right. As I was growing up, my world revolved around my parents—trying to be the perfect daughter so they would want me. And when nothing I did made them want to keep me, I focused on trying to make a foster family want to adopt me—which of course never happened.
Next came school. I worked my entire way through college to create a future for myself. I was the model student, afraid if I slipped, I would end up failing and be on the streets. And then there was Neil—my entire sham of a marriage was all about him—his wants, his needs, his desires.
I’ve been so focused on everyone else, I never focused on me. I made it through the years with my parents and in foster care, I graduated college and have the job of my dreams, I’m living in a beautiful home with my best friend in the city that doesn’t sleep, and I’m single.
“You know I’m right,” Brianne says with a knowing grin. “What you need is to find some hot guy to have some no-strings, no-emotions sex with. A few mind-blowing orgasms, and you’ll be saying, ‘Neil who?’”
Before I can respond and tell her I’m already over him, a deep throat clears behind me. When I spin around, Ben stands there with his cup in his hand, his gaze searing into me. “Needed a refill.” He holds up his glass while his eyes remain on me as if Brianne isn’t right next to me.
“Friday night,” Brianne continues, refusing to be deterred. “We can hit up a club.”
“Bri!” Laura shouts. “Where’s my drink?”
“Coming!” Brianne yells back, snagging her phone from me and pocketing it before grabbing two of the drinks she made and heading out of the kitchen. “Friday night, Sav, it’s on!”
“What was that all about?” Ben asks once Brianne is gone.
“Like you didn’t hear.” I roll my eyes playfully.
“I was just wondering if I heard her correctly.” The corner of his lips quirks into a sexy smirk. “You looking for some no-strings sex, Savannah?” The way my name rolls off his tongue sends a shiver down my spine.
“What if I am?” I volley, trying like hell to come across as nonchalant while knowing full well I’m playing with fire. Ben is the type of man who picks up the gauntlet when it’s dropped.
And his next statement proves me right. “Then I’ll tell you if stringless orgasms are what you want, you don’t need to leave this building to have them.”
I pop a brow, silently asking him to clarify while I swallow thickly at the thought of Ben pleasing me over and over again.
He sets his cup down and backs me against the counter, one of his hands landing on the countertop next to me and the other on the curve of my hip. His breath is warm against my face as he murmurs, “You already know I have no desire to commit, and I have no doubt that the number of orgasms I could give you would have you forgetting about that asshole ex of yours.”
His tongue runs across the seam of his lips, and my brain turns hazy, imagining his tongue on my body… until his phone rings. He pulls it out and frowns, taking a step back.
“Brody, you okay?” His son’s name on his lips clears the fog from my sex-filled head. Ben is Brody’s dad. My friend. My neighbor. He’s best friends with my boss. Brianne was right. I do need to get laid, but not by him. He might not do commitment, but with everyone we’re linked to, he’s the definition of strings.
“I’m actually with her. Let me ask.” Ben looks at me. “Can you do dinner Friday night?” It takes me a second to understand what he’s asking, and then it clicks. I agreed to go to dinner with Brody, Ben, and Paola.
“Umm, yeah, sure… I can do dinner.”
“Did you hear her?” he says to Brody. With him momentarily distracted, I skirt past him, grabbing my drink and heading for the exit. “Okay, I’ll be home in a couple of hours.” Before I can make it out of the kitchen, strong hands grip my hips and spin me around, backing me up against the fridge.
“No,” I blurt out before Ben can say a word.
“No?” He says the word as if he’s never heard it before, and I’m sure he hasn’t. He’s a beyond good-looking, wealthy man. I’d bet women throw themselves at him all the time.
“No,” I repeat, my tone firm. “We’re friends, neighbors… I care about your son. There are already strings. So, no. No stringless sex.”
He opens his mouth to argue, but before he can, I duck under his arm and run out of the room to safety.
Chapter Ten
Benjamin
She said no. I offered her stringless, unemotional, endless orgasms—just like she wants—and Savannah Cartwright flat out said no. It’s been three days since she looked me in the eyes and told me no, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Of course, she lightened the blow by mentioning all the reasons the sex wouldn’t be stringless, and her reasons make sense. I’d already thought about those same reasons when I considered making a move on her. We do live in the same building, we have become friends—good friends actually—and she has gotten close with my son. But when I heard them discussing their plan to find Savannah a guy to get her laid, all those reasons went out the window because even though I know I shouldn’t, I want her. In my bed, screaming my name. But her turning me down is for the best.
At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
I thought after our conversation, Savannah would pull back, but every morning she’s been at the gym working out—if you can call it that. We haven’t ridden to work together since Brianne got back to town because they’ve been going in together. But we’ve had dinner both nights with Brody at our place, and the entire time, she acted like I didn’t proposition her with sex, and she didn’t tell me no. Hell, she even stayed after dinner and watched a movie with us last night.
Now, we’re at Three Amigos, Brody’s favorite Mexican restaurant, waiting for his mom to arrive for dinner, and I can’t take my eyes off her as she talks to Brody about his day. I can tell he’s nervous about meeting with his mom, but Savannah keeps him talking and laughing. She’s good at making people feel comfortable around her.
We’re going out after dinner tonight to Lush. I insisted we go there since the women want to go out, and I offered to show Savannah my club. She’ll have no problem picking up a stranger to fuck. She’s beautiful, sweet, genuine… She’ll have guys lining up a mile away, and unless I can come up with a good reason to stop it from happening, there’s not a damn thing I can do.