"No, I'm not. I don't really have the time right now. But getting back to your new friend-Benny, was it?-tell me. What's she like? Maybe I've seen her around."
"Benny is super nice and pretty and tells Uncle Henry when he's being dumb."
"Ella, we don't talk about anyone like that and we don't use the word ‘dumb,'" Morgan said in disapproval before turning back to Henry with her eyes shining a little more. "I think I like her more already. Someone resistant to your charms?"
Unfortunately, that was a truth that was niggling under his skin a lot more recently. It wasn't like he'd set out to seduce Benny Sorensen or anything, but the time they'd spent together had been more interesting than he'd thought possible. And in spending so much time with her, getting to know her, he'd found that he not only liked hanging out with her, but that he'd opened up to her more than any other woman.
So the fact that she didn't seem to have the slightest attraction to him was a point of contention.
Although that kiss that had been good. Something he was thinking about too much. And her response? The way her legs had wrapped around him and she'd pulled him into her, wanting more? Hot.
Which might have been why, when he heard Benny and Luke Seeley get off the elevator and head down the hall to her place the other night, he'd had a hard time staying away from his door, trying to hear and see whatever he could with his face pressed to the peephole. To see if she would kiss Luke just as responsively, so entirely, as she'd kissed him.
And although he'd denied it later, Henry sure as hell had intended to put a wrench in Luke's plan to kiss Benny good night. The thought of Luke's lips on Benny's had churned a strange emotion in him, and he had been unable to not do something. The garbage, he thought, had been a good idea, something he was certain would wreck whatever mood had been set.
Unfortunately, that had not been the case, when seconds after he'd returned to his place, he could hear Luke's words, then the silence that followed. He knew what was happening even if he couldn't necessarily see it.
And it had killed him.
He'd thought about that feeling, his anger and frustration, trying to make sense of it, and could only come to one conclusion.
Plain and simple, he didn't want anyone kissing Benny Sorensen but him.
But that was ridiculous. Stupid. He couldn't have feelings for this woman. Feelings that would eventually turn to pain when the inevitable happened and things ended. When, as was human nature, one or both partners grew tired of the other and started looking elsewhere.
Then the heartache set in. The disappointment. The bitterness.
He's seen it before in the years leading up to his dad's passing.
Sad was how Henry would have described him.
Suddenly he realized that his sister was staring at him with a wide smile, waiting for some response. What had she asked?
Right. What was Benny like, this woman resistant to his charms.
"Benny Sorensen is I don't know, a pain in the ass sometimes. Did I tell you what she tried to pull with the home owners' association?" He detailed her complaints, starting with the moment she first stepped into his party in her pajamas and asked him to keep the music down.
"Good for her. You are so used to people-women especially-just giving in to whatever whim you have. It's about time someone withstood your persuasion. So that's why you did this, then? This makeover? So she'd drop her complaints against you."
His sister knew him better than he thought. He nodded in agreement.
"Only I think you got more than you bargained for. You seem a little different."
He laughed. She was really reaching here. "I'm different, huh. I assure you, I'm the same person I have always been, Morgan."
"No. Not really. You're a little more sincere? No, that's not the word. Well, like tonight. You having us here? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you called, but it isn't like you to be this big family man. I-I like it."
"Glad I have your approval." He stood and grabbed his plate and put his hand out to take hers, not sure if he was altogether pleased to hear her assessment.
He was no different than before.
"I've got mine," she said coming to her feet. "You do dishes, too?"
"Actually, I have a lady who comes in every morning to clean up. I just place everything in the sink."
Morgan laughed. "Of course you do. You know, it isn't very hard to operate the dishwasher. Here, I'll even show you."
Ten minutes later, the table was cleared off and Morgan and Ella were getting the movie ready while he made popcorn-microwave, of course-when someone knocked on the door. Morgan bounded from the couch and headed over with a sly smile his way before he could stop her.
For good reason. He didn't get many visitors. Save for one, lately.
With twenty seconds to go on the microwave-the most tenuous of them all, unless you liked scorched, smelly popcorn aroma-he watched as Morgan opened the door.
Benny didn't know what had brought her to Henry's. They had no plans, and with Operation Luke successfully underway with tomorrow's impending date, there was no reason for her to stop by Henry's place.
But she hadn't seen him since Wednesday night, when he made his hasty exit rather than hang out and discuss the finer details of her date or watch their favorite show. Then last night she'd listened for him, but by the time she finally turned in after ten, he still hadn't come home. It was something of a surprise when she pulled into the parking garage tonight-a Friday night, no less-and found his car in its space. Even on his side of the line.
Sitting at her place, she'd fought the urge to come over. She normally couldn't stand the guy and now she wanted to see him and talk to him and just be with him. It was kind of pathetic. She'd become one of Henry Ellison's groupies.
So she'd resolved to let him come and say hi first.
That had only lasted until two minutes ago, when she decided she was being silly. They were friends now. Why not stop and see if he wanted to chat? And she did have a couple of questions to ask him about golf, since tomorrow she was supposed to be teeing off with Luke, acting like she actually knew what she was doing. She still hadn't figured out what she was going to do there.
What she hadn't counted on when she pulled on her slippers and navy polka-dot pajamas and headed over was that he would have a guest.
Not just any guest, either.
A gorgeous, towering blonde with honey highlights and lovely dark eyes, who was watching Benny with curiosity.
What had she been thinking? Best just to cut her losses and make a quick escape, especially since the silence seemed to go on as the woman waited for Benny to say something.
"Hi, can I help you?" she finally asked when Benny's tongue remained twisted.
Big-girl panties. Pull. Up.
Benny smiled brightly. "Sorry. I was going to ask Henry a quick question, but I didn't realize he had company. I'll just stop by another time."
"No. Please. Don't go. He's just in the kitchen. Come in."
Benny stared at the floor like it was lit with burning coals. No way was she going in there to stand next to this gorgeous creature when she looked like this-least of all when it was obvious the two wanted to be alon-
"Hi, Benny!" A small pixie face appeared at the woman's side, and Benny looked at her in confusion for a minute. "Ella? What are you doing here?"
"So you're the mysterious Benny. I'm Morgan. Henry's sister."
At that moment, Henry reached the door holding a bag of popcorn in his hand. The buttery smell was almost as good as the sight of him standing there in a relaxed jeans that hung from slim hips, a formfitting black tee, and an easy grin. Yum.
Whoa. Where did that come from?
Friends, Benny. You're only friends. Henry Ellison is and will always be way out of your league. No matter what she was wearing or how she styled her hair.
Still she wished she'd gone with something less embarrassing than her pajamas.
"Sorry to just stop by unannounced. As I was telling your sister, I'll catch you later."
"Why? Come in. We're about to watch a movie."
"You can sit by me," Ella said and grabbed her hand.
"I'll stay for a minute," Benny said as Ella led her over to the couch.
Only as the movie started and Ella nestled into her, Benny was having a harder time remembering why she needed to leave. Especially when Morgan would break in to give some commentary about society's expectations of girls compared to boys, and Henry played devil's advocate and agreed with the norms just to yank his sister's chain before giving Benny a quick wink and a playful smile that had her stomach fluttering unnaturally.
Soon enough, the movie was over and Ella was half asleep in Morgan's arms while they said their good nights. "It was really nice meeting you, Benny," his sister said before turning an odd smile in her brother's direction.
"I should be going, too," she said, making a point to look at the time on her cell phone. Only it was eight thirty, and she couldn't very well say it was time she hit the hay too.
"No, you should stay. You were going to ask Henry something until we dragged you into our movie. I'll talk to you later, Henry." She waved and shut the door firmly before Benny could make further objections.
"Nice pj's. I'm glad to see you haven't permanently retired the dinosaur slippers."
"How long have you been waiting to give that sparkling commentary?" she asked, but she smiled as she turned to find him nearly on top of her. "Besides, the slippers were a gift from my nieces and nephew. They won't be going anywhere."