Page 32 of Savage Romance
She rested her elbows on his chest and stared into his face. “Then how did you find me?”
He looked a bit sheepish. “Conchita took pity on me.”
“She did?” Zoe’s voice rose at the end of the sentence.
“Well, after she grilled me about my intentions, and scolded me in English and Spanish for being an estupido baboso.” He stroked her cheek. “I truly am sorry I didn’t give you the chance to explain, darlin’. If I’d only been half an hour or so later, he might have taken you.” Ben closed his eyes against the horrible idea, and Zoe cradled against his chest and hugged him as well as she could.
Her head pressed in the crook of his neck, she volunteered, “I was so scared and angry with Michael for putting me in the position.” She blew out a breath, mentally scolded herself for being a coward and finished, “Michael was my stepbrother and I idolized him in my head. Getting to know you and listening to Charlotte talk about her experiences with him, it…” again she faltered, “it also brought back memories about the darker sides of his personality.”
Ben squeezed her bicep. “Can you tell me about your childhood?”
Struggling into a more upright position again, Zoe took in Ben’s strong features. They showed genuine interest.
“I was three when my mother married Seamus Connolly, a widower with a ten-year-old son.” She paused, remembering the wonder of belonging, having a family. “I was an only child from a single mother before that and from one day to another, I had a family.” She rested her chin on his chest and heaved a sigh. “Seamus was… strict, um, controlling and somehow determined to toughen up what he called his wimpy boy. For the most part, I was obedient and compliant enough, Seamus didn’t pay much attention to me, never formally adopted me or gave me his name.” She paused for a moment and looked up at him. “So, to answer your question, yes, my name is Zoe Jones.”
“No, it’s Zoe Dennehy, remember?”
Smiling, she nodded and then continued. “Anyway, whatever Michael did; however, no matter how hard he tried, it was never enough.”
“You were very young back then.” The question was evident in the tone of his voice.
She nodded against his chest. “I was then, but Seamus’ behavior never changed until he drove a wedge the size of the Grand Canyon between him and Michael.” Tracing patterns on his chest with her index finger, Zoe fought past the lump in her throat. “Michael decided to go to KCU to study, where he met Liam Randall, and he never returned home.”
“You loved him.”
It wasn’t a question, but she answered Ben anyway. “Yes, I did. I loved being part of a family. Although I didn’t really like my stepfather, I loved my older brother.” She slid her hand over his chest toward his shoulder and collected her thoughts.
“Our parents divorced when I was at Michigan State University getting my MBA in Hospitality. Michael had moved cross-state to Kansas City after getting his associate degree and started a business with Liam.” She lifted her head and met Ben’s gaze. “I only met Liam once at our Christmas dinner in the year before my parents divorced. I didn’t care for the guy, but that year the tension between my mother and stepfather was running high, so I couldn’t get back to Michigan fast enough.”
Ben hummed and caressed her back with long, soothing strokes. Zoe rested her head against his chest again. Her fingers around Ben’s shoulder curled and anchored her in the moment.
“Anyway, our parents’ marriage fell apart, Michael moved to Kansas City permanently, and I traveled a lot for work. Michael and I were never out of touch for more than six months or so, but our meetings were few and far between.” She blew out a breath. “I think in my head I idolized him, put him on a pedestal. It has only been lately when I started to remember some of his nastier side, and then I learned how he treated Charlotte.” She swallowed hard and her voice broke.
Needing the comfort Ben could provide, she searched for his hands. When he engulfed her fingers in his strong grip, she gave him a thankful smile. “More and more puzzle pieces clicked, and I finally started to see Michael for the person he really was. I partly blame Michael’s father for the twisted, horrible person his son turned into.” She had to clear her throat before she could continue. “So, after the New Year’s party, I wanted to come clean with you and explain it all. But somehow the moment was never really there.”
Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes and blurred her vision. Ferociously, she blinked them away, determined to finish this. “I’m sorry, Ben, for not telling you sooner.”
“Darlin’.” Tugging her against his chest by her arms, Ben surrounded her with his signature hug. “You’re absolutely forgiven. Family can mess with our minds.” He resumed his comforting stroking of her back. “Let me tell you about mine, so you understand why I don’t trust easily.”
For moments there was utter silence between them, but it wasn’t heavy.
“My family has been in business for generations. My great-grandfather built the Dennehy empire, his son enlarged it and left it to my father.” Ben’s voice was monotone, “At first, things ran okay, and my mom helped Dad handle his affairs. But she died of breast cancer when I was nine.”
Under her ear his swallow was audible. Not daring to speak, Zoe squeezed his shoulder.
“From there it went downhill. With the loss of my mom, my father lost his anchor, and he simply lost interest in anything work-related. He started to drink and do drugs, had a string of girlfriends with questionable morals and intentions. In short, my father almost ran the business into the ground spending his time, money, and energy on his next high and selfish women.”
His hand on her back started its soothing up and down motion again, and Zoe guessed the comfort was as much for himself as it was for her.
“I think my dad was looking for love in all the wrong places and in his despair to find my mother’s replacement, he clung on to each woman who gave him the time of day.” His chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I swore I would never fall into the love trap and kept my sexual partners within the confines of iron-clad contracts.”
“That’s why you stuck to escorts?” She scrambled up so she could see his expression.
“Er—yes.” He stroked his hand over his chin, and he gave her a sheepish look. “And because of my, er… darker needs in the bedroom.”
Zoe didn’t turn away and her beautiful face colored an adorable pink. “I happen to like your darker needs in the bedroom. They align with mine just fine.” Even embarrassed by admitting her baser wants and discussing sex which she found visibly uncomfortable, Zoe displayed the same straightforwardness that appealed to him when he hired Zoe Jones to manage one of his hotels.
“Hmm, you do, do you?” His hands slid down her body until he reached her ass. He squeezed the firm globes, enjoying the fit in his palms.
