by Lexi Ryan
Caroline patted Reese’s shoulder before pulling away. “Well, that’s all behind you now.”
Gratitude and regret and love all swirled together and grew thick in her throat, so Reese only nodded in reply.
Someone called across the lawn and Caroline squeezed Reese’s hand before sliding away.
“The party looks great!”
Reese turned to see Trish, bright red hair bouncing at her jaw line, green eyes bright. Her sister was a beauty in the league of Halie McCormack. Which was probably why they spent so much time together. Beautiful people always flocked to each other like that. But unlike Halie, Trish hadn’t had the world handed to her on a platter.
“Thanks,” Reese finally replied. “I didn’t really do much, but I know it made Ben feel better to have me here. Where’s my beautiful niece?”
“She’s inside,” Trish said, “fondling the Hawks’ baby grand, where else?”
Reese grinned. “I told Caroline about the jazz band—she’s very impressed.”
“You told everyone about the jazz band.”
Shrugging, Reese said, “It’s a big deal.”
“So.” Trish clapped her hands. “How’d the date go?”
Reese stuck out her tongue and pointed her thumb to the ground.
“Really?” Trish screeched. “Man, he seemed so solid too, really ready to settle down.”
“Next time, less solid, more manwhore, okay?”
Laughter bubbled out of Tricia’s lips, making Reese grin.
“I’m serious. I’m not looking for that kind of…intensity right now. After Lance, I deserve a little fun.”
Tricia’s face grew serious. “Of course you do. Damn. You and I know how to pick ’em, don’t we?” She shook her head. “I’ll do better next time.”
“No more blind dates, though,” Reese said. “If you want me to meet someone, introduce me. That blind date stuff is just hellacious.”
“Old fashioned introduction to a manwhore. Got it.”
Reese took a deep breath, casting a glance around to make sure they were speaking in relative privacy. “You shouldn’t have told Halie.”
“Told Halie what?”
Reese cocked her head. “Really? You expose my biggest secret to the queen of sexual pleasure and you don’t remember?”
Slowly, realization dawned and Tricia’s eyes grew wide.
“She brought up my little…problem during our business meeting. Do you know how awkward that is?”
Trish covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m sorry. It just came out.” Her shoulders slumped. “You must hate me.”
“You’re my sister. I can’t hate you. I should, but I can’t.” She adjusted a vase of flowers on one of the many tables set up around the yard. “Oh well, it’s probably thanks to that little tidbit that she took pity on me and offered me a job.”
Trish looked confused, so Reese filled her in on her Friday from Hell, from the lay off to the job offer.
“Wow! You get to do Sex Goddess 101 for free?”
Reese groaned. “You’re missing the point. It’s a job. A great one.”
“Halie’s amazing. I can’t wait to see what she does for you.”
A sick knot grew in the pit of Reese’s stomach. She preferred to focus on the job, not the embarrassing reality that she was going to have to become one of the illustrious sex goddesses. “At least one of us is excited,” Reese muttered.
“In the meantime, I’m going to find you that manwhore you want so badly.”
Reese’s gaze unconsciously settled on the Hawk brothers at the grill.
Trish giggled as she saw where Reese was looking. “Mark Hawk? Oh, God, Ben would kill me.”
Mark caught her eye and winked.
Was she an aspiring slut or not? “What Ben doesn’t know can’t hurt him.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Ben turned away from the grill at the sound of laughter and spotted Reese and her sister chatting a few yards away. Whatever big secret Tricia exposed must not have been too important because Reese’s big eyes were bright with humor.
Something squeezed in his chest at the sight of her smile. It made her—
Next to Ben, Mark made a tssking sound. “Keep looking at her like that, and she’s gonna figure it out.”
Ben frowned. “Figure what out?”
He gave Ben a knowing look. “Come on, man, you’ve been making eyes at her since that dude she was dating moved out of her place.”
“I haven’t.” He cleared his throat. “It’s been nice having her back in my life again. Lance was possessive as all hell.”
“I don’t really see what’s stopping you.”
You, asshole. “Nothing’s stopping me from anything. We’re friends.” He jammed his hands into his pockets. He and Reese had agreed years ago that neither would ask for more. Was he the genius who’d thought of that?
Mark rubbed his chest thoughtfully. “Yeah, it’s probably not the time to rock the boat. She needs friends right now. That’s some shit, what the station did to her.” He turned back to the grill and flipped a few burgers. “I swear that place is run by a bunch of idiots.”
Ben froze. “What?”
“I’ll admit I think she can do better. Staying at the station was the easy choice, so maybe this will turn out for the best.”
Ben didn’t hear the rest because he was striding through the lawn toward Reese.
He stalked up to her and took her by the arm, and the smile on her face froze.
“What’s going on?”
He maneuvered his way through the guests, making his way to the back door. When he pulled her into his parents’ house, he found the closest private room.
“Ben,” she said as he shut the door, “why are we in the bathroom?”
“You lost your job?”
She lifted her chin. “I did.”
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“I think we both know the answer to that.”
He took a step toward her, and she backed against the vanity. “Then you’d be wrong because that seems like information you’d share with your friends.”
“I don’t want you sweeping in to the rescue. I don’t want you paying my mortgage or filling my tank. I don’t want any of the things you like to offer when I find myself in a pinch.”
He crossed his arms. “That’s what friends do.”
“Okay, then let me ask you something. When you found out, how many seconds later did you decide I should sell my condo and move in with you?”
Ben opened his mouth to reply then closed it. She knew him too well, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a perfectly reasonable plan. It was a good plan now, and it had been a good plan when Lance left her. “You never had money problems before you bought that place.”
Her lips quirked. “I don’t think that’s really why you hate my condo so much.”
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind. It’s a nonissue.”
“How do you figure?”
“I was offered a job yesterday.”
He raised a brow. “Another piece of information I’d think I wouldn’t be the last to know.”
“You’re not the last to know.” She blew out a breath. “I haven’t accepted yet. Sex Goddess, Inc. needs a promotions director.”
The words washed away his irritation. “Really? And the job is yours? It’s a done deal?”
“The job is mine,” she continued, “on the condition that I complete Sex Goddess 101.”
Ben grinned. “You’re going to do Slut Hotness 101 program?”
“Don’t call it that,” she said, slugging him in the arm.
Even as he rubbed the dull ache, he couldn’t help the laughter in his voice. “But it’s a condition of getting the job? The job that’s going to save the overpriced condo you’re so determined to keep?”
She dropped her shoulders. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Her brow wrinkled and defeat pulled at her features.
Shi
t. “Hey—” He tilted her chin up so she’d look at him. “It’s going to be okay.”
She cocked her head. “Yeah? Ben, you know me better than anybody and you laughed at the idea. I’m not cut out for this. I can promote the hell out of it. I know I can. But I can’t do it. Me? A Sex Goddess? Seriously, can you picture that?”
You have no idea. “Fake it,” he said with a shrug. When she scowled, he grabbed her hands and squeezed. “I’m serious, Reese. It’s five steps, right?”
“Ten.”
“Okay, so you’ll do ten things, pretend you’re one of her Slut Hotness converts, and you’ll have the job of your dreams.” He shrugged again. “Fake it.”
She took a deep breath and some of the tension left her face. “Are you sure you’re not just saying this so you can see me wear skimpy clothes?”
“It’s an added bonus.”
She sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Thank you, Ben.”
He shut his eyes, resisting the urge to pull her body close. “Sure thing.”
Tucking his chin, he buried his nose in her hair, taking a hit of her scent, that soft and feminine smell that haunted him.
She drew away. “You seem different lately. Is something wrong?”
“Work stuff is getting to me.” And it was the truth, if only part of it. “I have big plans and Dad—” He cut himself off with a shake of his head. He didn’t want to talk about Hawk Construction right now. He didn’t want to talk about anything. He wanted to keep her in his arms as long as he could get away with.
She studied him silently for a minute. “You want more,” she said simply.
She had no idea. And for the first time since he had knocked on her door six years ago, Ben let himself consider the possibility of taking what he wanted.
***
The gorgeous creatures surrounding Reese didn’t need Sex Goddess Bootcamp. They needed a mirror.
“Can we leave now?” Reese asked Mason as they entered the convention center and joined the masses of women milling around, waiting to be transformed.
“Chin up, soldier. We’re doing this thing.”
One week ago today, Ben had solved her sex goddess dilemma by telling her to fake it, and now she was here, ready to dive in to the biggest fake out of her life, grateful to have Mason by her side. Halie had encouraged her to bring a friend to Sex Goddess Bootcamp, citing better success rates for women who go through the program with a friend.
How did one measure success of a program like this? Number of jaws dropped? Number of one-night stands?
Reese eyed the women around her and felt her own attractiveness drop exponentially. Some lithe, some curvy, some blonde, some brunette, one even sporting purple streaks in her platinum ’do—every one of these women was beautiful. Reese might not know the designer name brands, but she recognized expensive clothes when she saw them. Of course, with a weekend at Sex Goddess Bootcamp running nearly a thousand dollars—more for those who would continue on with SG 101—the experience attracted the kind of women who could afford nice clothes.
“Did you remember to bring your five most flattering outfits?” The woman at the registration desk asked.
Reese hefted her garment bag onto the table and took a breath. She could do this. “I hope they’re okay.”
The woman waved a hand dismissively. “It doesn’t really matter. It’s a learning opportunity. Now go on in, the Goddess will be with you shortly.”
Reese and Mason exchanged a look.
“Are you going to have to call her that when you work for her?” Mason asked in a whisper.
Reese shook her head. “I couldn’t. Not with a straight face.”
They wandered into the gymnasium and were ushered into a line of women standing in front of the bleachers.
Reese made fists to keep herself from fidgeting.
“My, oh my, there is some sexy going on in here!” Halie McCormack strode into the room, all long legs, high heels, and thousand watt smile.
A cheer rose up as she positioned herself in front of them. Some women clapped. Some jumped up and down. Reese just wanted to leave.
Halie motioned for the crowd to quiet. “Being a Sex Goddess isn’t simple, but the rules are.” She paced back and forth in front of her recruits, hands clasped behind her back.
“The first rule of Sex Goddess Bootcamp,” Reese said under her breath, “is you do not talk about Sex Goddess Bootcamp.”
Masey snorted, earning her a glare from their fearless leader.
“Rule one—” She stopped in front of a red head and yanked the tie from her hair, sending a cascade of thick red hair down her back. “Ponytails are for workouts and housework. Nothing else. No exceptions.”
The redhead nodded enthusiastically and shook out her hair in a frenetic rush of movement.
Reese reached for her own hair tie and pulled it out as inconspicuously as possible.
“Rule two,” Halie shouted, putting two fingers in the air. “You will wear clothes that fit you and flatter your body.” She sent a meaningful glance in Reese’s direction.
“Ouch,” Masey muttered.
Reese huffed softly. “No kidding.”
“Rule three—” she said, pausing dramatically to look each recruit in the eye. “You will seek opportunities to give and receive pleasure.”
Hoots of agreement filled the gym and Reese eyed the door.
Masey nudged her. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Rule four,” Halie called, “—and this is what it’s all about. You will reach for the life you want, not the life that you’ve been given. You will reach out and make it happen because you deserve it.
“Now, let’s get this party started! Sex Goddess Bootcamp isn’t just a weekend conference,” Halie said. “It’s the first day of your new life. It’s a life of fulfillment and excitement. And it’s available to every woman!”
The crowd roared in approval. Reese was seriously questioning her judgment.
“Are you ladies ready to experience the most important weekend of your life?” Halie’s voice was serious now.
Pre-orgasmic affirmations of “Yes, yes!” filled the room.
“Are you ready to take control of your future?”
More cheering, a few whistles, and even an old-school Arsenio Hall-style “Hoot! Hoot!”
“I’m going to be asking you a lot of questions this weekend. Let’s start with a few basics.” Halie looked around the now-quiet room. “When was the last time you felt manipulated into doing something?”
Oh, the irony, Reese thought.
Halie pointed at the redhead.
“Last week.”
“What happened?”
“I went out on a date with this guy I wasn’t interested in because he gave me this sob story about being lonely. It was horrible, and I had to call a friend to rescue me because I could tell he was going to guilt me right into his bed.”
“That’s not okay,” Halie said. “Don’t waste your time with people who don’t bring you joy. Say it with me, ladies: Never again.”
“Never again,” they chanted, and at least Reese could join in on that one with sincerity.
“When was the last time you felt sexually powerful?” Halie asked, then pointed at Reese. “Reese, you first.”
Reese froze. “Excuse me?”
“You have sexual power. When was the last time you felt like a goddess in a man’s arms?”
She swallowed and tried to think of any answer except the one that came to mind.
“Don’t over think it,” Halie said. “The first answer that comes to mind is the most honest.”
Honest. Okay… “Once, someone came to my apartment at ten o’clock at night just because he wanted the chance to kiss me. I didn’t expect it.”
“Beautiful. What was this guy’s name?” Halie asked.
Reese flashed a look at Masey before she admitted, “Ben Hawk.”
***
“Good morning!” a sing-songy voice calle
d from Ben’s front door.
Ben stood in the middle of his kitchen, sipping coffee and attempting to unglue his eyelids.
Reese strode into the room, her presence kicking his brain into gear better than a whole pot of coffee.
She wore a white tank, yoga pants that clung to the curve of her ass, and a smile way too sunny for a Monday morning.
Not for the first time, Ben imagined she wasn’t joining him fresh from her car but that she was joining him from his bed. She wouldn’t be wearing workout clothes but maybe one of his old t-shirts. She’d pad toward him in bare feet, cotton brushing the tops of her thighs, and she’d wrap her arms around his neck with the smile of a recently satisfied woman. He would slide his hands under her shirt and cup an ass cheek in each hand as he put his mouth on hers. Then they’d get a whole different kind of workout.
A dangerous fantasy. In the real world, Reese smacked a kiss to his cheek like she was greeting her little brother. To add insult to injury, she stole his mug out of his hands and took a gulp of his coffee. The soft moan of pleasure that escaped her lips played all too well into the images flashing through his mind. So did the way she closed her eyes and tilted her head back, pleasure running across her face.
Jesus. Ben tried to get a handle on himself, but, hell, he was only human, and Reese enjoyed a sip of coffee in a way that made a man think of slow, sweaty, thorough sex.
How was he supposed to avoid imagining the expression on her face as he teased her breasts? What sounds would she make when he ran his tongue across a hardened nipple? And when he ran his mouth down her stomach and tasted her between her legs, what sounds would she make then? Would she quietly open her legs for him? Or would she cry out in pleasure, tug on his hair?
She cocked her head, studying him but not seeing him. Reese saw a friend when she looked at him, not a man. And maybe for awhile he’d only seen a friend when he’d looked at her. That was all he’d let himself see. But at some point he’d let his guard down, and now when he looked at Reese he didn’t just see. He wanted.
“Have a lot on your mind this morning?” she asked.
He nodded slowly, let his fingers brush over hers as he took his mug back. “You could say that.” He slugged back the rest of his coffee and headed toward the basement without preamble. Reese followed, humming softly under her breath, a sound low enough to sling shot his mind straight back to his fantasy, to the idea of her body under his hands. His mouth.