Renee agreed. “Four will be fine,” she said robotically. “Should I bring anything?”
“Nothing at all. I just want you to come over to my place. We can spend some time together. I’ll cook dinner and show you what I do all day.”
Renee bit her lip. He wanted her to visit his home? Completely alone? She wasn’t sure she was comfortable with the idea. There were definite sparks between them, and Renee didn’t want any temptations that might lead beyond a kiss. Plus, what good would the date do? She wasn’t going to be able to do anything cute for the cameras to help heighten her popularity in the city. Knowing more about Ben interested her, but really, where would it lead? To a broken heart?
“Okay,” she agreed quickly before she could talk herself out of it.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Renee.”
“Tomorrow,” she repeated and hung up the phone.
Renee collapsed in her clutter pile. She should have told him no, but how? If she wanted to stay on the show, she had to go along with his date idea. She would simply keep him at arm’s length, enjoy his company, and get out as early as she could. She knew he was dangerous. The kiss they shared told her as much. She only had to survive another week or two. He would surely eliminate her. She just had to keep herself from falling for him too hard in the meantime, so she would be able to let him go as well.
* * *
Ben’s car arrived precisely at four, and Renee was waiting. She’d been prepared for most of the afternoon, nervously pacing and trying to pretend like nerves weren’t bothering her. She didn’t know what to do with her hands, and she feared she might burst if she didn’t tell someone. She managed to resist the urge to call to Janice, and she nearly exploded in nervous tension when the telltale long black car with tinted windows arrived.
The driver quickly exited the vehicle and opened the back door for her.
“Miss Lockhart?” he asked with a nod.
“That’s me.” She slipped into the car without another word.
The door closed soundly behind her as the scent of fresh leather reached her nose. The soft black seats surrounded her, and the temperature inside the car was just right. The vehicle wasn’t exactly a limo, but it was definitely a luxury vehicle with all the bells and whistles. Renee saw glass separating her from the driver. She could have privacy or ask questions. She decided to leave everything untouched and try to enjoy the ride.
Renee watched the familiar scenery go by. This was her town. She knew most of the streets and neighborhoods as well as her own. She knew what building Ben lived in…everyone in the city did. It featured the biggest apartments the area had to offer. When the car arrived in front of the high rise, Renee expected it to stop, but instead, her chauffer steered toward the back and pulled into an underground parking area.
When the driver stopped the car near a bank of elevators, he hopped out and scurried to open the door for Renee.
“Sorry about this, Miss Lockhart,” he said formally. “Mr. McConnell asked for discretion and wanted you to enter unnoticed.”
Renee nodded. She understood. Ben didn’t want anyone to know about her visit…especially those at the TV station. It was better for her to come and go unnoticed. The vehicle’s tinted windows ensured no one recognized her as they drove underneath the building. And the private elevator nearby did the rest. The driver pushed the right button and released the elevator with his key. He tilted his hat as the doors closed, leaving Renee alone.
Renee fidgeted. She didn’t know what to expect from the date. When she and Ben saw one another around the cameras, she used them as a shield. People were often different in public than behind closed doors. While she was anxious to see what Ben was like when they were alone, it also made her nervous. There would be no hiding…for either of them.
The elevator door opened all too soon, revealing a short hallway with lavish tiled flooring. Renee took a step that echoed up to the ceiling. She didn’t wear heels, but her comfortable sandals still made a sound. Since Ben invited her to his place, Renee grabbed the opportunity to show him her true self…not that she hadn’t been true to who she was before by the way she dressed. She wore nice, but comfortable Capri pants. Their soft black fabric blended in with the pattern on her light blue shirt and her sandals kept her feet happy. Renee took the casual approach to dressing and life in general. She wanted Ben to understand he wasn’t getting anything fancy with her.
Renee glanced left and right. There were doors at either end of the hall. One had an exit sign above it so she assumed the other was Ben’s. Ben’s place must take up the entire floor of the building. Renee was impressed by the grandeur, but she hoped Ben had more to offer than a flashy apartment.
Renee knocked softly on the door. She almost hoped Ben wouldn’t come immediately, allowing a few extra moments to gather her wits. She ran her hand over her straight hair, half of which she had fashioned back with a barrette. She liked wearing her hair down, but it was long and often got in the way. She wanted it out of her face on most occasions.
Renee stared at her feet. She hoped she made the right choice for attire and reminded herself the date was mandatory if she wanted to continue on the show. The rush of air hit her from the apartment as the door opened swiftly before her.
“Welcome.” Ben smiled as Renee examined his bare feet. She moved her eyes up his jean-clad legs and got stuck on his chest, which strained beneath the plain black t-shirt he wore. Shouldn’t he buy a larger size?
“Hi.” Renee breathed a sigh of relief. Her outfit wasn’t too casual. It was far from what any of the other women would have chosen, but it suited her.
“Come on in.” Ben swept his hand through the entrance. “Welcome to my humble abode.”
Renee snorted as she moved into the apartment and took in the finery. The dark entry had maple wood accents and heavy marble flooring. Everywhere she looked there was an expensive item. A lavish fountain…an ornate coat rack. Renee raised her eyebrows. Ben’s booming business had been good to him.
“Let’s go back this way.” Ben gently took her hand and tugged her away from the entrance.
Renee tried to take it all in as she flew past. The next room was a living area with pristine large white couches. They looked unused. She noticed a dining area, which might double as a conference room because of the table and chairs it featured. She wondered where the kitchen was, but didn’t have time to ask. Ben led her to the back of the apartment and into a quaint space filled with computers and camera equipment.
“I really wanted to show you what I do so you could understand it…and me, a little better.”
Renee bobbed her head. She desired to learn more about him and seeing his work would help. She heard some things in the news, of course. He was the mastermind behind ConArt, a photography software program that hit it big several years back. From what she knew, ConArt allowed photographers and artists to blend photos with artwork, creating a completely new piece of work. The concept became a fresh element in the art world, but average people enjoyed using the program as well.
Renee inspected the wall of work hanging behind the computers. The first picture was of a white tiger she recognized from the zoo. Ben changed the white colors to a rainbow of other colors, making the tiger appear like a fictional creature from a fantasy novel. At the same time, its real eyes stared out of the photo, grabbing her attention and reminding her the animal was not make believe.
She moved down the wall, taking in one beautiful piece of work after another. By the angles he used and the clarity the pictures held, the pieces were intriguing photos to begin with. But what Ben did with them using ConArt made them unique and unlike anything she had seen before.
“They’re…beautiful.” Renee struggled to find a better word to describe the work she saw. She stopped at a photo of a little girl laughing. The photo was larger than Renee’s torso and the girls’ pupils reflected the outline of a family.
“She’s seeing her future,” Ben said, close behind Renee. “Or at
least her dreams for what is yet to come.”
“How did you do that?” Renee was curious, but she was also trying to keep her mind off the fact that Ben stood inches away.
“I took the picture at the park. The way she looked at the ducks on the pond with such wonder fascinated me. I later drew the family outline and completed the piece using the software.”
Renee nodded. Ben was an artist. He captured moments with a photograph, and he drew and blended colors to perfection. She was impressed.
“Well, everything is beautiful.” She turned and bumped into his chest.
Ben grabbed her elbows and steadied her. “You’re beautiful.” He was inches from her face.
Renee’s cheeks grew warm, and she took a step back. She couldn’t let herself get caught up in the moment again. Last time she did, they shared quite a kiss and it was wonderful. But then she heard about another kiss and witnessed a third. She didn’t want to be one of many. She wouldn’t allow him to toy with her emotions.
Ben cleared his throat. “I’d like to create an image for you,” he said. “Something unique to who you are. We can chat while I work. What do you think?”
“You mean you’re going to make a custom piece I can keep?”
“A ConArt original.” Ben teased. “One of a kind. I won’t reproduce it, use it for any promotions or distribute it anywhere. The piece will be yours and yours alone.”
“I’d really love that.” Renee was touched that Ben wanted to give her a gift of that magnitude. She didn’t know what he had in mind for his image, but a one of a kind ConArt creation designed by Ben McConnell would be worth a lot of money. Not that she planned to sell it.
“I’ll need to take a few photos of you before I get started on the rest.”
“Wait, what? Me?” She wanted a ConArt original but she had no idea he expected her to be the subject.
“Don’t worry.” Ben grabbed a large camera with a long zoom lens. “It’ll be painless.”
Renee nodded. If he wanted to take pictures of her, she needed to relax. She didn’t want to come across stiff and posed in everything he did.
Ben led her to the opposite side of the room where he had a large, comfortable couch in front of a mountain scene pulled down on a screen. He yanked a few other scenes down and shook his head. “I don’t think I really need much of anything,” he said. “I want something to provide good light to bounce back onto your face.”
“You’re going to shoot up close?”
Ben nodded. “A specific part of your face.”
Renee needed to show her true colors like she had for the cameras. She fidgeted. As Ben chose a background, she shook her arms and stretched her legs. He settled on a bright yellow background. When he turned around, she was massaging her cheeks with her fingers. “Just trying to warm up a bit.” She gave him a cheery smile. She wasn’t totally at ease with the situation, but she planned to pretend like she was until it became the truth.
“Trying singing a few scales.” Ben smiled in return as he snapped several practice shots.
“Scales?”
“You know…me me me me.”
“Me me.” Renee sounded silly. “Me me me me.” She threw her hands out, singing louder with every “me.”
“Now you’re talking.” Ben took pictures faster.
“Wait, are you shooting this?” Renee’s embarrassment returned.
“I’m getting everything.” Ben’s camera snapped again. “I only need one image, but I never know when I might capture the right one.” Snap. “Just be yourself.”
Renee sighed and flopped onto the couch. She threw her head back onto the cushion. “Where did you come up with the idea for ConArt?” She wanted to learn as much about Ben as she possible while she had the chance.
“It was really something I did for myself,” he replied as he snapped away. “I’ve always loved photography, and I’ve dabbled in painting and other areas as well. I like the way art makes me feel alive as I create it. I wanted to share that with people who enjoy it as well.”
Renee shivered. She had similar experiences in her job as a radio announcer. She loved being on the air and making people laugh. She wanted to brighten their day and share herself with others.
“So you just played around with software until you got it right?” she asked.
“Something along those lines. ConArt is an idea I created many years ago and once it was discovered, it really took off. The first time anyone recognized what I was doing was when I had a tiny little art show of my own in a small store no one really knew anything about. The guy who told me it could be huge visited the gallery because of my family’s legacy. Once I realized I actually had something, I took his praise seriously and built a business.”
“What does your family think?”
Ben shrugged as he continued to click. “They always hoped I’d take over the family company, but they’re proud, I guess. At least I succeeded, you know?”
Renee didn’t have much family to speak of, but she was certain if she earned millions of dollars with an idea she concocted, all of them would burst with pride.
“So now, you run the daily operations?” She wanted to know what his day-to-day life consisted of.
“Actually, I’m more like the queen of England.” Ben took the camera away from his eye.
“The queen?” Renee frowned.
“You know, sort of a figurehead. I mean, I own the company, and I have a large interest in what happens, but I’ve hired good people who understand the business side of things. I show up at corporate events and smile and wave for the press, but I mostly stay in the background.”
Renee had a flash of Ben getting out of a limo in a tux with a stunning woman beside him. “So that’s why you date so much?” she asked.
Ben laughed. “Do I date a lot?” His tone teased. “Is that what you call seeing four women at once?”
“Well, that and having a different woman on your arm for every event.”
“Oh, yeah.” Ben hid behind his camera and snapped more pictures as Renee waited for his response. After a long pause, Ben stopped shooting and sat down next to her on the couch. “You really want to know?”
Renee nodded.
“I wouldn’t even call it dating.” He sighed. “I take women out because it’s expected of me. I’m an average man like any other guy who wants to find the right person to spend my life with.”
“You’re anything but average.” Renee shuddered as Ben slid a little closer to her on the couch.
“That’s not true. Sure, I have a lot of nice things and a cushy job and a company of my own, but inside,” he said, reaching for her hand and placing it on his heart, “where it counts, I’m ordinary.”
Renee glanced at their hands, then into Ben’s eyes. His eyes captivated her. He could easily hypnotize her if she let him.
“So you’re looking for the right girl.” Renee tried to direct her gaze over Ben’s head so his eyes wouldn’t fool her. “And you date because you haven’t found her.”
“Right,” Ben said. “I can often tell whether or not a woman is worth my time on the first date. Once I see she’s not the one, I move on. Simple.”
Ben released her hand, but she didn’t remove it from his chest. She liked the thump of his heartbeat beneath her palm. It reminded her of the truth. No matter what the press said or even how he acted sometimes, he was a normal, everyday guy. He had blood in his veins, and a beating heart like anyone else.
“What about the women left on the show? You haven’t ruled any of us out?”
Ben slid closer. “Obviously not or none of you would be here.”
“And kissing each of us is your way of trying to figure it out?” she said just as Ben leaned forward, his lips searching for hers.
Ben stopped. “What are you asking?” His breath was hot on her cheek.
“Nothing, really.” Renee slid her hand from his chest and stood to get away from Ben. “I’m just trying to tell you I’m not the type of girl
who wants a guy who can’t make up his mind. I mean, either you want me or you don’t. If I’m the one for you, it should be obvious.”
Ben got up and ran his hand over his hair while bracing the camera at his side. He raised the lens again and started taking pictures as Renee shifted her feet awkwardly next to the couch.
“Can you blow for me?”
“Blow?” she asked.
“Pretend like there are birthday candles in front of you and blow.”
Renee gave in and blew a few times. “Are we done now?”
“I think I have all I need.” Ben moved to the bank of computers to upload his work.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ben sat at his computer, a look of concentration on his face. Renee wondered if the tension in the air would remain between them for the duration of the date. Maybe she shouldn’t have accused him of indecision, but she didn’t want to stand by and remain helpless either.
“So I know you have low blood pressure.” Ben glanced at her from behind the screen. “Tell me something else about you. I want to hear a Renee Lockhart story.”
A Renee Lockhart story? Now the pressure to entertain him was back on her. She could mull over her options for hours, or just jump in. In true form, she opened her mouth and began to deliver the first story that popped into her head.
“I have poor circulation too.”
“Is that right?” Ben muttered around the pen in his mouth.
Renee nodded. “I got my job at the radio station in the fall and when winter rolled around, the company Christmas party came with it. This wasn’t just a party with the people I worked with daily either. Some of the corporate big wigs came in to celebrate with us, and I got to meet the higher ups.” Renee took a breath. This was the story she chose? Too late now. “I have a tendency to sit on my legs.” She gestured down to her lap. Her legs were folded beneath her in her signature form. “The problem is that when I sit this way for any length of time, my feet fall asleep.”
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