/> Reaching for a smartphone, Ben tapped the phone twice before a call began on the speakers of the car using the blue tooth service. Just as he turned down a narrow street, a man answered the phone.
“Carter,” a deep voice announced. Katherine sat up in her seat, glancing at Ben as he drove the SUV through her neighborhood.
“It’s Ben. I need you to come by and pick up the Audi,” Ben spoke flatly, unlike the fun tone he used with Katherine. He was back into business mode, and Katherine listened closely, curious about the businessman she had just learned of Ben to be.
“No problem, sir. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Thanks.”
Ben ended the call, turning down the street of the restaurant, his red Audi still parked on the corner where he’d left it on the previous night. He watched as Katherine perked up in her seat before pulling to the side of the road. Quickly, he hopped out, pressing a key fob until the trunk flew open. Reaching into the trunk, Ben grabbed the gift bag and jogged back to the Mercedes.
Clapping her hands together, Katherine gleefully celebrated as he returned to the car, taking the gift bag from him instantly. She was excited to try on her new gown and spend the night on the town with Ben.
Remembering the way from their walk, Ben drove to Katherine’s building without any further direction. As always, he hopped out of the car before walking around to her side and escorting her to the door. She acted like it was old fashioned, but Ben knew she really liked it. Every woman wanted to be treated like they were special, and he liked the way she smiled whenever he did it.
She was overjoyed as she carried the gift bag to her front door. Ben couldn’t have asked for a better first night together, so he wanted nothing more than extra time as he inched toward her door, wrapping his arms around her before peppering kisses down her neck.
“What time should I be ready?” Katherine asked as Ben held her close.
“I’ll call you before I leave, but I’m thinking around seven. I can’t wait to see you in that gown,” he told her, thinking of the soft fabric of the dress.
“I’ll see you then,” she pushed onto her toes to press her lips to his before walking to her apartment, leaving him on the sidewalk, watching her walk away.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Katherine
HER PHONE VIBRATED on the small table beside the bathtub and Katherine reached around to answer.
“Hello?”
“I need your address, sweetheart,” his voice felt warm across the phone. Katherine’s body reacted to just his voice, curving in the bath as she spoke the digits without hesitation.
“Six-six-seven,” she called out before telling him she would call after her bath.
“Next time, you’re taking one with me,” he teased, and Katherine thought how much she would love to take a bath with Ben.
Soaking in her deep bath, she tried to make sense of her life after everything had seemed to flip upside down in the matter of two days. Ben had swept her off her feet, dropping her back at her apartment with just enough time to be whisked off her feet once again. It was fabulous and unbelievable all at the same time.
Glancing at the clock resting on the wall of her bathroom, she decided it was time to get out of the tub. Talia had agreed to help her with her hair and make-up and would be arriving soon.
Reaching for her big white bath towel, Katherine draped herself in the thick fabric before stepping on the cool floor. Tip toeing across the floor, she had just made her way into the bedroom when she heard the doorbell. Talia must have been earlier than she expected, so she hopped to the front door quickly, opening the door before glancing through the peephole.
“Delivery for Katherine Marshall,” the man announced, extending a medium sized cardboard box with a clipboard on top of the package.
Katherine quickly signed, pushing the clipboard back before taking the box under her arm. It was from Ben, she could see that from the paperwork she signed. It dawned on her that Ben was the first person she had ever given her address to, and it felt like a relief to no longer be hiding from everyone she met.
The first thing he had done was send her things, which made her think that giving out her address wasn’t so bad after all. Closing the door behind her, Katherine moved to the table in the foyer to open the package.
Inside the box was a pair of stiletto heels to match the gown Ben had gifted her with the night before, and a matching purse. Giddy like a child, she danced around the room with excitement until the sound of the doorbell interrupted her celebration.
Wondering what else Ben could have possibly had sent to her, she peeked through the peep hole to see Talia’s red hair. Eager to tell her friend all about her night, Katherine swung the door open, inviting her inside.
“I need to know what’s going on!” Talia yelled before wrapping her arms around Katherine in a tight hug.
“What do you mean?” I have no idea what you’re talking about.
“Yesterday, Ben came to the bakery after you left. He said he needed to give you something, so I gave him your number. But then you call me today saying you’ve just gotten back from his place! What is going on?!” she yelled, as Katherine giggled like a teenager, falling to the couch with amusement.