Taken Over by the Billionaire(44)

Jess sighed. The man was a devil all right. With way too much sex appeal. And way too much charm. Even her father liked him. No doubt her whole family would fall under his spell in no time flat.

Still, if they did, she would at least be able to relax a bit and enjoy the barbecue instead of being on tenterhooks all the time. This last weekend might have been exciting but it hadn’t exactly been relaxing!





CHAPTER TWENTY

BEN WAS HELPING Joe with the barbecue when Jess joined them, a huge black-and-white cat in her arms.

‘You haven’t been plying Ben with too much beer, have you, Dad?’ Jess said in a teasing but loving voice which Ben could never imagine using with his own father. Or his mother, for that matter. He’d thought he had a good relationship with both his parents but seeing Jess interacting with her parents was a real eye-opener.

So was her interaction with the rest of her family. She was so warm with them, caring and considerate, asking after their well-being when they arrived with real interest, not just giving lip-service. He could see how much they loved her back as well. The children had flocked around her, vying for her attention. Even the damned cat loved her, yet he’d been warned by Joe not to touch Lazarus, as he was known to scratch. When he’d commented on the cat’s name, he’d been told that Lazarus had been stillborn but Jess had resurrected him with the kiss of life.

Ben didn’t doubt it. She was a girl of many talents, and a wealth of stubbornness. He still could not believe she’d refused to come to New York with him. But he had no intention of giving up on that score.

‘The boys want Ben to go play cricket with them and the kids,’ Jess said. ‘I’ll take over for him here,’ she offered before dropping the cat gently onto the paved pergola which stretched across the back of the Murphy house.

‘Can you play cricket?’ Joe asked as Jess took the fork Ben had been using to turn the steak and sausages. ‘I gather it’s not a popular sport in America.’

Ben grinned. Could he play cricket or what? He’d been captain of his school’s A-grade cricket team. But best not mention that. That would be bragging.

‘Don’t forget, Joe,’ he replied, still smiling. ‘I went to an Australian school. A boy’s boarding school, where sport was compulsory. We played footie in winter and cricket in summer.’

‘Right. Off you go, then. Just don’t go hitting the ball into that thick bush over there. Can’t count the number we’ve lost in there over the years.’

Ben resolved to peg back his batting ability a bit. No need to be a smart Alec.#p#分页标题#e#

Jess watched Ben stride off, a wry smile on her face. If she knew Ben, he would be anything but an ordinary cricket player. He wasn’t ordinary at anything he did. He was an exceptional man, with exceptional abilities and exceptional social skills.

She was still amazed at how he instinctively knew what to talk about with every member of her family. He talked cars with her father, sport with her brothers and the advances in technology with her very smart sisters-in-law. He didn’t mention his wealth when he was introduced, or sit back and play the role of honoured guest. He was happy to help with the food and very happy to drink beer. She imagined that over in New York his social life was very different. He’d go to fancy restaurants and fancy parties where they’d eat caviar and drink the most expensive champagne.

Jess frowned at this last thought. She would be uncomfortable with that kind of life. It was shallow, in her opinion. And snobbish. And way out of her league. She was a simple girl at heart with simple wants, like love, marriage and a family. She wasn’t cut out for the high life.

Such thoughts renewed her resolve not to go to New York with him, if and when he asked her again. Jess suspected she would not enjoy the experience. The sex part, yes. And possibly some of the sightseeing. New York was a fabulous city, she was sure. But she shrank from the idea of meeting any of Ben’s American friends or ex-girlfriends; shrank from being looked down upon by the type of people he mixed with.

* * *

The barbecue finished early, as the younger children got tired and the older ones had to go to school the next day. Ben seemed reluctant to leave, however, staying to help clear up and to have a final beer with her father. It was after ten before Jess could drag him away.

‘You have a wonderful family, Jess,’ was the first thing he said on the way back to Blue Bay. ‘You’re very lucky.’

‘Yes, I am,’ she agreed. ‘By the way, my mother knows about us.’

His head jerked her way. ‘You told her?’