Page 41 of Home to Me

"I don't know if I could have an assistant," Lauren said dubiously.

"You're probably going to have to," Ben replied. "As difficult as I know that is to imagine, considering how much you like to be in control."

As he said the last part, his voice lowered and vivid memories of their night together flashed through her head, and she could tell by his voice, it was happening to him too.

Her breathing became shallow and she had to exercise every bit of iron will she possessed not to snap her laptop shut, shove it back into her bag, and straddle him right there in the limo.

Ben smiled seductively, obviously reading in her face the effect he was having on her. Never one to miss an opportunity to close a deal, he followed up this small success by saying jauntily, "So, what do you say, Lauren? Would you like to be my date to the Hometown Heroes Ball?"

She shook her head, breaking the spell he was weaving over her.

"I can't," she said with genuine regret. "I have plans to go with a friend. I just forgot it was this weekend."

At that exact moment, the town car was pulling up in front of her house, saving her from the further embarrassment or discomfort of having to explain who that friend might be. She grabbed her bags—without waiting for either Ben or the driver to open the door for her—and scampered out as quickly as she could.

Ben leaned out of the car, obviously wanting to have one more exchange with her, one more chance to solidify the realness of what they shared during the past forty-eight hours.

"Lauren," he called as she was halfway up her walk.

She turned reluctantly.

"I had a really good time," he said.

"So did I," she replied with a slight smile, "but you know what they say. What happens in Aspen stays in Aspen."

Ben looked confused as he pulled his head back in the window. "I've never actually heard that version." He looked at her like he wasn’t quite sure why she was acting the way she was.

As the town car drove away and Lauren turned back to continue her way up to her front door, she said under her breath, "That's probably because it might not actually be true."

13

Lauren opened her front door, and Karina, Sam, and Amanda all trudged in, one right after the other, like ducklings following after their mama.

All three of the women were weighted down with garment bags and makeup cases and carrying totes full of hair-styling implements.

Lauren laughed. "I'm used to seeing Amanda and Karina walk in this way," she said, "but Sam, I think all I've ever seen you carry when we’re getting ready for a night out is your gym bag!"

Sam grinned. "Oh, I'm full of surprises. I've been discovering whole new worlds since I've been with Luke, and not just of the carnal variety. I've actually found that I like getting dressed up. Can you believe it? I like putting on makeup. I like curling my hair!"

"Aww..." said Karina, "our little Sammi's growing up. She's discovered it's actually fun to be a girl!"

Sam laughed. "It actually is. Isn’t that crazy?"

The four of them followed Lauren to her master bedroom, where she had the three gown options laid out on her bed. Lauren gestured towards the adjoining bathroom. "You guys can go get your stuff set up in there if you’d like," she said. "I was just in the middle of trying on dresses."

Amanda, Karina, and Sam set down their garment bags in empty spaces on the bed and then immediately headed into the bathroom to relieve themselves of their heavy bags.

"I was actually kind of surprised that you're going to this," Amanda called back into the bedroom. “I mean Sam and I kind of have to go because Mountain Ridge bought a table…and Karina is…well, Karina…and you know there is no way Renata wouldn’t insist she was there to represent the tribe. But, honestly, aside from the possible real estate networking opportunities, I wouldn’t think you would have had any interest in going."

"Oh, I'm not going for me," Lauren clarified. "Eric asked me to go about a month ago."

There was silence from the other room, but Lauren barely noticed it. She was busy studying herself in the mirror wearing dress option number one. So she was surprised when, less than a foot from where she was standing, she heard Karina say, "Excuse me?!"

When Lauren turned to face Karina, she saw all three of her friends standing there, their mouths agape.

"Oh, it's no big deal, you guys," she assured them. "We're just going as friends."

"Still," Amanda said. "It's kind of a big deal when you get asked out on a date by someone we all know and you don't even choose to tell us about it until moments before the date."

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