Page 6 of Baby For The Billionaire Silver Fox

“You look like you need that beer more than I do,” I said. “And a shower. Youreallylook like you need a shower. What’s up?”

“Nothing. I’ve just been getting my workout in without hitting the gym. It was demo day on that new building I acquired.”

“You know you have people for that.”

“Yeah, but I like to get in an honest day’s work when I can. I don’t like being cooped up in an office pushing papers around.”

“You have people for the paper pushing as well.”

Bennett sighed, running his hands through his messy hair. Some plaster fell to the ground. “Maybe I’m not top dog material.”

“You could get a person for that too,” I answered, looking at the mess he was making on the plush rug.

“Dude, go take a shower now.”

While Bennett took a quick shower, I went to the kitchen. The one wall that was not recycled bricks held the door to the pantry. I opened it and rooted around for something to snack on. I discovered some partial bags of chips and a container of roasted nuts and put them on the salvaged wood coffee table. I went to my under-counter wine fridge and poked around until my fingers felt a beer bottle. I flipped off the cap and took a long pull.

“Hey, darn it. I thought I took the last of the good beer,” said Bennett, returning to the living room.

“I always keep spares where you can’t find them.”

Bennett settled back on the oversized couch, clearly refreshed.

“So, how was your day, dear?” he asked in a high female voice.

“Funny you should ask, Mom. I met a girl.”

Bennett dropped the fake voice. “Go on,” he demanded.

I took my time drinking my beer before I answered. Bennett was starting to fidget.

I sat back and looked up at the exposed steel beams before my eyes landed on some of the huge potted plants in the corner of the loft. They were flourishing now that I had a plant person come in and give them what they needed. I liked plants as much as the next person, but I had no idea how to take care of them.

“Correction. This wasn’t the first time I’d met her. I was introduced to her over a year ago at the grocery store. She was visiting Lexi.” I smiled, remembering that encounter. “Anyhow, she’s back. And she’s just as pretty, funny, and sexy as I remember. Probably too young for me, though.”

“Yeah, you are getting kind of old.”

“Shut up. Last time I checked, I was two months younger than you.”

“So she’s just visiting? From where?” Bennett asked while whipping out his phone. “What’s her last name? I’ll look her up on social media.”

“Good God, don’t be a stalker. Besides, I don’t know her last name. Yet,” I answered.

“Now what? You going to ask her out? Is it even worth it if she’s just visiting?”

“She’s a travel nurse, and she’ll be here for about three months.”

“Hmm, interesting.” Bennett scratched the scruff on his face. “Since you’ve lived here, I’ve never heard you interested in a woman for more than one date. The fact that you’re even talking about a female at all is huge.”

I shook my head at him and rubbed the back of my neck. “Maybe I should ask her out and see if she’s really all that I think she is. But three months, man, is that not enough time, or is it too much time?”

Bennett was philosophical. “Well, if all goes to hell with her, at least you know she’s not sticking around.”

Maybe that was the allure. She wasn’t staying, so I didn’t have to worry about having a relationship. As much as I was intrigued by her, I wasn’t ready for another relationship. Maybe I’d never be ready.

“Now, I need some real food. Chloe is at her BFF’s house for dinner. Are you cooking, or are we ordering pizza? And I need another beer,” declared Bennett.

“You’re so needy,” I responded. “I’ll get you another beer while you order the pizza.” Pizza and beer at my place were what we did when Bennett got the occasional night off from being a dad.

---