“You realize you are only encouraging me to continue taunting you.”
“Norman, I’d like you to meet my exasperating friend, Cassandra.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Cassandra. It’s difficult to make Ben squirm so I advise you not to stop.”
“Norman!”
The gentleman chuckled and left.
Ben huffed, “I’m renaming you Trouble.”
“That’s the name of my lipstick.”
“It suits you.”
“I know,” Cassie responded with a cheeky grin.
“You might want to grab a sweater or light jacket, it’s a bit chilly out.”
“Do you want to come up with me or wait down here?”
“I’ll come up with you.”
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Ben kissed Cassie, and when she wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss, he gave her rear a playful swat which made Cassie blush.
“Ah, you cheeky little monkey!”
“I warned you.”
“In that case, light contact is allowed.” The elevator arrived on her floor. Cassie grabbed a raspberry sweater and her umbrella, telling Ben that if she had it, they wouldn’t need it. When they were walking out of the hotel, it dawned on her that she didn’t know Ben’s full name. “What is your last name, Ben?”
“Thorton.”
“Thorton, that sounds familiar for some reason.”
“Erm…my firm designed Cerise’s office. You’ve probably walked past the Thorton and Hines Architecture plaque hundreds of times.”
“Holy shit, your firm? You told me you were a senior partner but…”
“Evan and I went to school together so I convinced him to be my partner.”
“You knew I was working for Cerise on the plane. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to ease into it. I didn’t want to appear as a braggart on the plane. I was going to ask you tonight what you thought of the building then let you know I was behind it.”
“Hmpf, were you raised on an estate? You have to have money to start your own firm.”
“No, I grew up in …erm Knightsbridge…Belgravia to be specific.”
“Holy fuck! Benedict Thorton, did you go to Oxford or Cambridge?”
“Neither, I started at City University London and transferred to Leeds my second year. Opted for a year abroad at McGill. Why are you getting so bent out of shape? Where did you get your degree?”
“ University of Pennslyvania”
“You mean Wharton, Cassie… which I know, costs a fortune.”
“I was on full scholarship, well actually a Fellowship. I got a Forte because I was an outstanding female student and demonstrated exemplary academic and team leadership.”
“Wow, you worked very hard to get that scholarship. Cassie, why do you seem to be put off? I’m the same guy you met on the plane and seemed to really like. I’m starving. You can come to dinner with me, or you can go back to your room and never see me again.”
“Sorry for overreacting. I just wish you would have mentioned being the architect on the plane.”
“Why?”
“It would have been something else we had in common.”
Ben got them a cab. Cassie looked out the window for most of the ride, and her eyes seemed to focus on couples holding hands. Ben was looking out the window too. His jaw was tense, his lips were pressed into a fine line, and his hands were curled into fists that rested on his legs. The same long legs that started the best plane journey she ever had.
“Ben, please accept my apology. I was surprised that’s all.”
Ben’s response was cut short by the cab stopping. Ben quickly paid and helped Cassie out of the car. She didn’t recognize the area and assumed they were going into the building in front of them called Pembroke. Ben talked to the hostess and turned to speak to her. “Do you want to eat inside or outside?”
“Wherever it is quiet so we can talk.”
The hostess sat them in a booth for four in a corner and a few minutes later the waiter stopped by to take their drink order. Cassie had a double vodka and Ben a pint. They both took a long sip and stared at each other.
“I like this place, it is both modern yet traditional. What do you recommend?”
“I always get the fish and chips. It’s haddock with minted peas and tartar sauce.”
“Sold.”
“Cassie, if you want me to be honest with you, then you should know that your reaction triggered a blast of self-doubt in my mind. I’m working to get my usual confidence back as we speak. The girl I met on that flight was fascinating and unique. You were a breath of fresh air, and my stale life needs fresh air. I won’t apologize for not handing you my resume mid-flight. Maybe we do need to slow this runaway train down.”
“A breath of fresh air, no one has ever called me that before. Ben, half of my life is dedicated to Cerise. I love my job. I overreacted because it felt like you didn’t want to connect with me on that level. I love the Cerise building. The columns in the central atrium remind me of blush brushes and the windows look like compacts. The office I use when I’m in town has the nail polish bottle crown molding. On more than one occasion, I’ve wanted to get a ladder and paint the bottles different colors.”
“Your building was the first huge contract Evan, and I landed. We put so much work into the details that usually get handed over to a decorator. I think that was why we were chosen. I’m thrilled that you like it. Now tell me why you assumed I went to Oxford?”
“I freaked out a bit wondering if your humble act could be the moves of a smooth operator. I met several of them in Wharton and while I did my internship. I like you, Ben, I didn’t want to find out that you were an elite playboy who would be taking me to a private club on Saturday. You seem too good to be true, and you know what they say.”
“Cassie, why do you think I prefer Ben to Benedict? I am a low-key, humble guy who hasn’t had a date in over a year. I’m a very talented architect, but I wouldn’t know a smooth move if I tripped over it. I lead a very boring life of sleep, work, eat and repeat.”
Cassie reached over the table to hold his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sorry Ben. Can we forget my little freakout? Though I have to say, I find you even more attractive now.”
“You are forgiven, I was harsh with you too. I frustrate easily. I think we do need to slow down a bit. There will be no sex on Wednesday night.” Ben smiled to soften the message.
“Will there still be chocolate? I’ve got the lingerie all set.”
“Yes and ogling Cassie in said lingerie will still be the best Wednesday ever.”
Cassie smiled to hide her disappointment. She wanted sex, but she had come to value Ben as more than just a friend. There was potential if she didn’t send him running for the hills and that possibility overruled her libido.
Ben and Cassie continued to get to know each other over dinner.
“So if you could only eat one candy for the rest of your life what would it be?” Cassie asked.
“Licorice allsorts although those drunk gummy bears are intriguing.”
“Why hasn’t some woman married you?”
“I haven't’ found Mrs. Right yet. What about you?”
“Too busy working and I’ve met one too many smooth operators.”
“How do you feel about children?” Ben asked as he drew a little circle on her hand that expanded and turned into an egg.
“I like them generally. I’d like to have one someday.” Cassie replied showing him one finger.
“Why only one?”
“My brother, I wouldn’t want to inflict a sibling on any child of mine.”
Ben laughed. “It’s lonely being an only.”
“Not if you are a creative child,” Cassie replied with a smirk.
Ben rolled his eyes, “Cheese or wine?”
“Cheese, I have an unhealthy obsession with cheese. You?”
“Oh cheese definitely, I’m a wee bit obsessed myse
lf.”
They talked through chocolate mousse and then decided to take the Tube to the Savoy. Cassie was tired when they arrived at her room and gave herself an extra half an hour of sleep. When she told Ben that she had fallen asleep in her clothes the night before, he quickly agreed that sleep was a good thing for her. They parted with a series of gentle kisses and promises of coffee and breakfast together.
Chapter Three
As Ben suspected, most of breakfast on Tuesday was spent answering questions about himself. He didn’t mind answering, but some of the things Cassie asked were astonishingly personal. For awhile, he wondered if she worked for MI6, but decided they wouldn't follow up asking his favourite sexual position with questions about political affiliations. Cassie was wearing a body-hugging red dress that skimmed the top of her knees with matching heels and a dark red lipstick that she told him was named Seduction. She laughed when he told her it was working. Aside from that, Ben barely got a word in edgewise on the trip to Cerise.
“So when did your stripping service for chocolate begin?” Ben asked as he helped her out the door.
“There were lots of Wharton boys with money, and I couldn’t afford the good stuff on my Fellowship,” Cassie replied then gave him a sweet kiss.
“Dinner tonight?”
“Could we get pizza, Ben?”
Ben was pleased that she liked everyday fare and not just expensive gourmet dishes.“Sure, I was going to take you for seafood but pizza it is. I know the perfect place near Kensington Palace.”
“How about we go for seafood tomorrow?”
“Okay. What time shall I pick you up tonight?”
“Can you come at five-thirty?”
“See you then.” Ben kissed her hand and watched her go.
Cassie’s eye caught a bottle of deep blue nail polish, and it reminded her of the spectacular shade of Ben’s eyes, so she changed the name of it to Ben’s Eyes which gave her a fabulous idea. She called her boss to see if she could create a new promotion for the summer campaign.
Clients went crazy any time Cerise released one of their iconic makeup bags. They were highly sought after collectibles. A small, cherry-covered makeup bag containing the nail polish, a couple of eyeshadows, a lipstick, gloss, and blush became the Just One Look campaign, and suddenly Cassie's boss in New York was prepping a new job title and salary for his one-time summer intern/assistant. Cassie skipped lunch to pick the initial colours for her collection. She took two makeup bags and filled them with the products. One for herself, one for Ben’s mother.
She was waiting for Ben outside the building, as soon as she spotted the black cab, she started walking towards it, and when Ben opened the door, she scooted him over.
“Hi Ben, I’m starving.”
“Hello Cassie, we should be there in half an hour or less.”
“No Albert today?”
“No, today is his day off. I’m glad we ended up with him. I’m going to try to use him all the time.”
“I do like him.”
“How was work?”
“Productive, so productive that I skipped lunch. I have a present for your mother.”
“Why does my mum get a present instead of me?” Ben asked with a pout.
“Do you wear makeup, Benedict?”
“No. Of course, I don’t! Actually, when I was twelve, my mum put the stuff for your eyelashes on me and took a picture.”
“It’s called mascara, and I bet she told you that your eyes were stunning.”
“Something like that. I was not impressed.”
“I don’t imagine you were thrilled, and there is your answer. I saw this nail polish again and changed the name. It’s now called Ben’s Eyes, and it’s part of the Just One Look summer campaign.” Cassie handed over the cherry makeup bag and Ben looked inside to see his namesake.
“It does resemble the colour of my eyes. My mum gave me one of these cases to put my coloured pencils in. They sit in my home office on my drafting table.”
“Did you grow up knowing you wanted to be an architect?”
“No, I just knew I wanted to do something that involved drawing. I thought about animation for awhile but the older I got I started drawing buildings instead of entire pictures. I drew a picture of my mum’s vanity once and included the couple of Cerise bags that sat on it. I’ll have to try to find it to show you.”
“Does your mom own it? Do you think she’d let me buy it off her because I’d love to own it? I’d have it framed and put it up in my office. A covert reminder of you when I get back home.”
“No, I showed it to her, but it’s in one of my sketchbooks. I’ll look for it. Did you always want to be in the cosmetic business?”
“No, I had no clue what I wanted to do. I liked animals so I thought about being a marine biologist or a vet but I barely got through dissecting a frog as a freshman. I liked history and English in high school and thought about becoming a teacher but my AP English Lit teacher let me shadow her for a week, and it was just too much damn work. Not worth the summer off.”
“I could never teach either but mostly because I don’t have the patience for it. Continue please.”
“You are very patient with me Ben, and I want you to know how much I appreciate it.”
“You are welcome.”
“She told me I was great at leading groups and coming up with creative ideas and suggested marketing to me. I went with it since I didn’t have any other bright ideas. When it came time to do my internship Cerise had the best offer. It helped that I happened to use several of their products. I was an assistant to the President, and he was awesome and let me see every aspect of the business. I had a knack for naming products, and he offered me a job doing that after I graduated. Stephan saw something in me, and I was the Director of Marketing within three years. Naming products should fall to someone else, but I like it too much.”
“Fascinating. Ah, here we are. Welcome to Italian Pizza Connection, I think you would really like one of their sangrias, and we can split an eighteen-inch.”
Sounds good to me.” Cassie stepped out of the cab. She noticed a black squirrel and made the clicking sound she always used to capture their attention. She took a bag of peanuts in the shell out of her purse and tossed a few at the squirrel who happily fit them in his mouth and left to bury them. Ben decided to hold his question until Cassie had something to drink and snack on. As soon as they were seated, he asked for a rush order of garlic bread with cheese. Cassie requested a ginger ale and Ben had a pint. “What kind of pizza do you like?
“I like cheese, mushrooms and red onions on a thin crust.”
“What about roasted red peppers too?
“Sure, I’d be game for that.”
“Super. So peanuts in your purse?”
“I’ve always loved squirrels and chipmunks as I believe I told you when we were playing twenty questions. There were a lot of them in our backyard and my parents let me feed them. Eventually, they would come right up to my feet to pick some up, and the braver ones would jump on the bench to take them out of my hand. My dad is allergic to pet hair and we couldn’t have a cat or dog so they became my pets. I go to Hyde or Green Park while I’m here to feed them when I have some time in my schedule. A bunch of them know me in Central Park. I sit in the Shakespeare Garden, call them and they come to me.”
“So it was possible that you went from feeding squirrels to a dorm room to stripping for chocolate. You are certainly the most eccentric woman I’ve ever met.”
“I’ve never been accused of being boring. I march to my own beat.”
“You certainly do, and it is very refreshing. I like you, Cassandra Devane.” Ben ran his thumb over the hand that was closest to him.
“I like you too Benedict Thorton. So what are we doing Saturday?” Cassie turned her hand and laced her fingers with his.
“It’s a surprise but dress casually and bring a sweater. We’ll be out for the entire day. I thought I’d pick you up at nine.”
&nbs
p; “Great! I can sleep in a bit.” Cassie made him laugh when she started to clap her hands.
“I appreciate you getting up early this morning to dine with me.”
“It was great, but my schedule is tight tomorrow. I won’t be able to see you until dinner.”
“That is a shame, but I understand. What do you think of the garlic bread?”
“I love the gooey cheese. I really shouldn’t have skipped lunch today. My assistant at home never lets me forget lunch.”
“Mine needs a reminder from me to go get us food.”
Cassie laughed. “Ben, tell me something few people know about you.” She placed her hand on top of his.
“When I was fourteen, I was dragged to a Polo match. I like horses but watching rich kids hit a ball while on a horse was so boring to me. I wandered off and found two little girls who were having an imaginary tea party. I got chatting with their mum, and she asked if I could watch them so she could escape to the loo. So I spent the afternoon pretending to drink tea, gathering flowers and weaving them into crowns. The girls insisted I made one for their mummy so I did. The three of us presented it to her. She hugged her daughters for thinking of her and gave me a chaste but soft, quick kiss on the lips. That was my first kiss. I never got her name, but her girls were Emily and Sasha.”
“So Sasha and Emily’s mom was your first kiss.”
“Yes.”
“That is such a sweet story. An older woman, I’m impressed,” Cassie chuckled. “I was twelve, and my brother’s best friend just up and told me I looked pretty and planted a wet kiss on me. I kept my lips shut and slapped him.”
Ben laughed. “What was this gobhead’s name?”
“His name was Donald.”
“My story is definitely better.”
“Yes, it is. So tell me where would you take me on vacation for three weeks?”
“Bora Bora, but I don’t think they have any squirrels. From everything you’ve said, you work very hard plus you live in a noisy massive city. You need a break, and I’d love to see you in a bikini every day.”
“I think I’d love Bora Bora, and I do need a place with no cell phone towers or WiFi. I think I’d bring you to Universal Orlando to see the Harry Potter attractions and then to Disney World. You need to let go and act like a kid again.”
Between Hearts: A Romance Anthology Page 42