Your Alluring Love (The Bennett Family 6)

“Who? What if I took up a hobby?”

“Just a wild

guess.”

“And you’re still not being nosy?”

She shakes her head vehemently. “No, just asking so I know how long the miracle lasts.”

I barely hold back a smile at her transparent efforts.

“So? Is it Alice Bennett?” she presses.

“Yes.”

Clara flashes me a megawatt grin. “I knew it. So you two are getting along well?”

I nod, but by Clara’s reaction, you’d think I’d just announced my wedding. She claps her hands excitedly, then puts them together as if in a prayer.

“Thank you, God, for listening to my prayers. I knew only a good-hearted but wild woman could make an honest man out of him.”

“What was I before?” I ask with fake horror.

She presses her lips together, her hands falling by her sides. “I can’t insult you. You’re my boss.”

“I already feel insulted, so you might as well go on and say what you were going to.”

“I’ll just say this: I very much prefer this version of you.”

To be honest, I prefer this version of myself too. Something’s changed since Alice became a constant presence in my life. I’ve always liked solitude, having my own space. But now I like that I can feel her presence in my apartment even when she’s not there, even though I sure as hell like it more when she is there. This is so different to the way I used to do things, to the way I used to like them, that I almost don’t recognize myself.

Alice has taken over my entire place. My room smells like lavender, my pillow smells like her, and I have more dirty laundry than usual because Alice has the habit of wearing my best shirts inside the house. I don’t really mind it because the woman looks sexy as sin wearing nothing but my shirts.

“Earth to Nate.” Clara’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

“What?”

“I’ll be damned. I’ve never seen you like this, lost in thought, smiling to yourself like a goof.”

I groan. “I really should set more professional boundaries between us. You calling me a goof means we just reached rock bottom.”

Clara shrugs, eying the last bite of food on her plate as if undecided whether she should eat it or not.

“No, it means you’re finally letting someone in. Now, take care of Alice, or I’m going to kick your ass.”

“You’ve been hanging out with Pippa, right?”

Clara shrugs. “That doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

“So whatever I’m telling you stays between us?”

“Only if you insist.”

“You work for me! You should be on my side.”

“No. It’s called female solidarity. A paycheck can’t come in between.” She shoves her spoon in her mouth, pointing to her now-empty plate, and I tell the waiter we’re ready to pay.

“Good to know.”