Page 21 of A Bit of a Bite

She shook her head and crossed her arms. “Probably not.”

Their eyes met, and Ben felt a surge flow through him. Her gaze wasn’t angry or upset. It had an air of playfulness.

“Come to dinner with me,” he said again, holding her gaze.

He sensed a slight smile turn up her lips. “I really can’t,” she replied.

“You really can,” he persuaded after an exhale of annoyance. Why did she have to hold herself back so much?

“Where would you take me?”

Ben clicked his tongue, thinking and looking around his office. “Whelan’s?”

Ben watched her eyes widen. “Whelan’s?” she said with a tone of doubt.

“Yeah, why not?”

“That’s like, forty dollars a plate,”

“And you think you’re not worth forty dollars a plate?”

She scoffed. “No, I know I am.”

“Then come with me,” he insisted, this time more convincing. He watched as she looked around the room and sighed. He could sense the battle going on inside her. He could sense he was awakening a part of her she had never met.

“Wouldn’t it be closed? Did you forget it’s nine at night?” she asked. He sighed, smiling.

“I didn’t,” he answered, sure of himself. He didn’t want her to think he was disorganized. “I meant Whelan’s for another time.”

She nodded. He could tell she knew he had slipped up. She smiled. “Then where would we go tonight?”

“How do you feel about breakfast for dinner?” he asked, picking up his briefcase.

She sighed again, fighting herself. She looked at him and rolled her eyes with a smile. “I guess I could have an omelet.”

“An omelet it is, then,” he said, walking toward the door. He watched her pick up her bag. She stepped close as he opened the door. He looked down at her, remembering his orders from the Don.

“After you,” he said, motioning her out the door.

She walked out in front of him, and he made a decision.

He wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

Chapter9

Liz

How could she say no to those eyes? That piercing stare that sent shivers through her body? Every word he spoke sent goosebumps up her arms. She tried to hide them as she looked around his office, fighting with herself internally.

He broke into her apartment; he was tied to the mob. He gave her eight thousand dollars cash out of nowhere. He threatened her and her family. This was a terrible decision.Hewas a terrible decision.

She looked back at him. He smiled that same cocky way he always did, but there was something to it that didn’t seem as intimidating as usual. She was undecided, but he needed an answer.

I’m linked with the mob now. I wore a dress barely covering my tits last night. I tried to extort money from a man. We’re already here,she thought. She rolled her eyes and looked at him with a smile.

“I guess I could have an omelet.”

“An omelet it is, then,” Ben said, walking to the door.

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