Your Fierce Love (The Bennett Family #7)(7)

But if it's not one-sided? This just turned into a minefield.

"You sure you're okay?" he asks as I step back.

"Yeah, it was just a scare. Won't go close to that railing again anytime soon." I back away from it, heading back inside, with Blake hot on my heels. "Let's talk rent. Where I live now I pay-"

"You're not going to pay anything here."

I cross my arms over my chest, turning to face him. "Yes, I am."

"This place is empty, and if you don't move in, it'll continue to be empty."

"We already talked about this at the wedding."

"About that... I was just shutting you down, telling you what you wanted to hear so you could relax and enjoy."

I open my mouth, then close it, unsure what to say. "I feel like I should be mad at you for being sneaky."

"Feel free to be mad."

"I can't," I admit. "I happen to abide by the rule that sneakiness is allowed for a good cause."

"That's my girl."

"Look, I know you don't need the money."

"I really don't, and I'm not saying it to be a prick."

Right, how do you negotiate with someone who doesn't need anything? Blake doesn't just own this bar but also co-owns three restaurants with Alice. I saw the profit they make about two years ago. Nate helped them get featured on the Delicious Dining show, and I worked on the pitch for the network with him. They make a truckload of money and then some. The entire family is well-off. More than half the siblings work at Bennett Enterprises, one of the most successful players in the high-end jewelry market.

"Doesn't mean I get to stay here free. It's not right."

"It is if I say so, and I'm saying so."

He steps closer, towering over me like he's determined to dominate the conversation. Dominate me. He should really stop because everything about this pose is alluring.

"Stop being so stubborn."

His face breaks into a Cheshire cat grin. "Why, am I wearing you down?"

"No." I pull myself up straighter. Unfortunately, this doesn't do much, seeing how Blake is more than a head taller than I am, even if I'm wearing heels. "But I'm running out of good arguments. Just so you know, I will circle back to this topic again."

"Excellent. Warning you though, I can hold my stubborn."

"So can I."

"So, what do you say? Willing to take this very bad deal?"

"Oh stop, Blake. You know you're doing me a huge favor. I'll be out of your hair as soon as possible. I promise I won't impose while I'm here."

"You won't impose, Clara."

"Wait until you have a lady overnight and she realizes you're almost house-sharing with a woman. That won't go over too well."



       
         
       
        

He jerks his head back, clearly not having considered this. "Don't worry about that. You're a friend. Practically family. Anyone who has a problem with that isn't welcome in my home."

His words touch me deeply, make me feel important. I'm unbelievably lucky to have him and his family in my life. I try not to think too closely about his future overnight guests. He's not dating anyone, which is why he went alone to the wedding, but during our numerous girls-only outings, Pippa and Summer let slip that Blake enjoys... variety. As he should, considering he's twenty-nine and sinfully attractive.

"What about you?" he asks. "Do you date much?"

"I try, but I keep meeting men who want different things than I do. They're looking for fun or just hanging out in a friends-with-benefits sort of way."

"What are you looking for?"

"I want a family, so someone nice and dependable. Someone safe and not argumentative. Trustworthy. I know some people think safe is boring, but I don't think that at all. I think it's just … safe."

"Clara, relax. You don't have to defend your choices." His eyes search me for a brief moment before he adds, "I mean, starting a family right now is the last thing I'd want, but...I don't think I've ever heard someone speak so openly and honestly about what they want."

I've never voiced these thoughts, and now that I have, I suddenly feel very vulnerable, which I hope to mask with a joke.

"Well, I am one-and-a-half-years older than you. Wait until you hit the thirty mark-hormones go haywire, though it might have something to do with being a woman. Biological clock and all that. Anyway, don't worry about any sexy nocturnal activities on my side of the wall. I don't plan for any until I'm with someone who at least seems to want the same things. Speaking of...nocturnal activities, can you give me heads-up when you plan to bring someone home? Not to pry, but I have to know if I should have ear plugs on hand... that's a fake wall between our bedrooms and bathrooms. Can't be too soundproof."