Wife Wanted (A Billionaire Bad Boy Romance)(38)

 

“Hey, Anna,” a voice called, and she turned after a second, remembering she was still going by a different name. “You ready for our date?”

 

She grinned as Ben came up to her, wearing his patent leather jacket, silver stud, and stubble that was quickly growing into a beard. It fit him, all of it. “Yes, I am. It’s been a strange week.”

 

“You’re telling me. Oh, wait,” he said and pulled a small, wrapped package out of his jacket pocket. “Brought this for you.”

 

Phoebe took the package and unwrapped it. Her eyes lit up, and she laughed when she saw what was inside the box. “Cutlass letter opener…cute. Very cute.”

 

“Told you I had one lying around.”

 

She tucked it away in her purse and slid her hand into the crook of the arm he offered. “So, we’re walking the whole way?”

 

“The weather seemed nice, and I could use the exercise. Hope you don’t mind.”

 

“Not at all. A walk would do me good. Maybe relieve some of my stress.”

 

“How’s your mom holding up?”

 

Phoebe’s smile faltered for just a second. “She’s in a coma, actually, but they think she’ll pull through soon.”

 

“Anna, I’m so sorry. If you need to be there with her…”

 

“No, it’s all right. The doctors said it’s really pointless for me to be there. I can’t even sit by her side right now,” she said, trying to keep it together. “She’ll pull through, and when she does, I’ll be there for her.”

 

He squeezed her hand with his empty one and held it for just a moment. “Where’s your dad in all of this?”

 

“He’s dead—just last year, actually.”

 

He stopped walking and Phoebe glanced at him, confused. “I just seem to have a big mouth today. I’m sorry, Anna, really.”

 

“No, it’s all right. Just how my life’s been going lately.”

 

“Well, maybe I can help turn it around a bit. Make it seem not so dark and dreary.”

 

She glanced at him. “With ice cream?”

 

“Hey, ice cream can solve even the worst problems.” He laughed as they continued. “That’s what my mother used to say.”

 

Phoebe’s eyes narrowed. He spoke of her in past tense. “Is she gone?”

 

“Yes, her and my dad, both. Plane crash, a long time ago.”

 

“Well, don’t we make a fitting pair right now,” she said. “I think we need a change of subject.”

 

“Yes, that might be a good idea. So you said you had a crazy week? What’s been going on?”

 

She told him a little bit about her job in the archives room and that she found something weird going on with the files, but she didn’t say anything about Yancey. This man had some connection to him. All the companies at the function the other night had been from the same field—all cyber-tech security firms looking for big-time investors. Ben’s boss might not have been there, but then again, she had seen him outside Yancey’s office. They knew each other somehow, and until she knew what the specifics were, she would keep the details to herself.

 

“It’s just strange,” she finished as they turned another corner and the ice cream parlor came into view. “Why would someone want to change out files like that? From that long ago?”

 

When she looked at Ben, she found his eyes staring straight ahead and his jaw clenched tight. What had she said to make him look like that?

 

“Ben, are you all right?”

 

“Hmm? Oh, yeah, sorry, just thought of something. Ah, here we are,” he said and held open the door for her. “Be prepared to have your taste buds blown away.”

 

“I’ll take your word for it.” She gave him one last curious glance but didn’t question him further. Something she’d said had thrown him off. Was it about the files? He couldn’t know about any of that, unless he was in on it with Yancey. Hell, did he work at the same office she did and she just never saw him?

 

They got their ice cream in waffle cones, chocolate mint chip for her and cookie dough for him, before they found a quiet booth table away from the rest of the evening crowd.

 

“This is a great dinner,” she laughed as she took a large bite. “Holy crap, you weren’t kidding.”

 

It was smooth and sweet, the perfect consistency…she almost drooled at the way it melted in her mouth. She closed her eyes and was pretty sure she moaned before she could stop herself. His laughter brought her back to the table, and her eyes flew open, her cheeks red with embarrassment.