Your Alluring Love (The Bennett Family 6)

“Well, when you put it like that, I sound terrible. Thank you for the lavender oil. Very thoughtful of you. How did you get it on my doorstep? Did the doorman bring it up?”

“No man worth his salt reveals his secrets.”

“Do you have anything secret planned for our date?”

“Ah, that’s no secret. I plan to drive you crazy. You might even forget about your rule of five.”

“You sound a bit too self-assured.”

“I kissed you out of your shoes when we weren’t on a date. I like my chances, Alice.”

Holy hotness and sweet mercy. My name rolls off his tongue in a lower octave than the rest of the sentence, sounding seductive and forbidden. Damn it, he shouldn’t use his bedroom voice on the phone. There should be s

ome rule against it. Does this man have no mercy? I ignore the way my pulse spikes, chastising myself for being so overresponsive to him. Instead, I clasp the lavender flask tighter.

“Game on, Becker.”

Chapter Eleven

Alice

Two evenings before my date with Nate, I rope the girls into a trip to the spa. It’s become our designated activity for a girls’ night out. A few years ago, we usually went to a bar, downed cocktails, and talked about everything under the sun. But since Pippa and then Ava gave birth and breastfed, and now Nadine is pregnant, bars have lost the appeal. And honestly, a few hours of getting pampered at a spa are infinitely more relaxing than cocktails.

Pippa, Ava, and Nadine are already there when I arrive. Victoria and Emilia, Christopher’s and Max’s fiancées, usually join us too, but they’re all gone on a trip.

This place has an incredible vibe. From the moment I step through the front doors, I already feel like I’ve left any stress behind me. Whether this is because of the relaxing music playing in the background, or the sound of water dropping coming from the small waterfall built into the wall behind the reception, I can’t tell, but I love coming here.

“Hi, girls,” I greet Pippa, Ava, and Nadine. We’re in for a few hours of treats: sauna, swimming in the heated pool, and we’ll also take turns going in for our mani-pedi, massage, and facial appointments.

The deck has a nice view, with the Golden Gate Bridge looming in the distance. The heated pool is half outside, half inside, perfect for when it’s chilly outside as you can just relax in the indoor area.

As I said, I love this place. Whenever I feel like I’m about to burst from stress, I drop by, even if it's just for a mani-pedi or massage if I need a quick fix.

“Oh, this is so great,” Ava comments. The four of us are in the juice bar adjacent to the pool, relaxing. We’re alone in this space, which I prefer.

“So, who starts sharing news?” Pippa asks, clapping her hands excitedly. She looks at each of us in quick succession, then lingers on me. “Alice, you look like someone who has big news.”

“I agree,” Ava adds. Nadine merely smiles.

Oh yeah. I have no doubt they heard through the Bennett rumor mill about Nate’s permanent job in San Francisco, but I haven’t updated Pippa on the rest. Heck, I haven’t even told her about the kiss, but it was mostly because I wanted to put it out of my mind. Thinking about it got my hopes up. But now things have changed. Now I can hope and dream.

“You agreed so quickly to this spa day just so you could quiz me,” I accuse my sister.

She shakes her head with vehemence.

“That’s not the only reason. But I agree, it was a great incentive.”

“Fine, here’s the short version. Nate asked me out on a date.”

The girls erupt in cheers, with Pippa saying under her breath, “I knew it.”

“We really want the long version though,” Nadine chimes in.

“Don’t leave out any detail,” Ava adds.

They listen with rapt attention while I tell them everything.

“Five dates?” Pippa says, awestruck. “Sister, you have great self-restraint if you can resist him for so long.”