Your Alluring Love (The Bennett Family 6)

“She knew this was your dream, and she thought you’d choose the job over her. Maybe she was just afraid of getting hurt.”

“But I told her I hadn’t accepted the job yet.”

Clara smiles tightly. “She probably thought you’d eventually resent her if you gave up on your dream for her.”

“How do women manage to have entire conversations in their head in the time it takes me to decide if I’ll drink a whiskey or a gin tonic?”

“We’re fast thinkers. Get with the program, Nate. Anyway, saying ‘yet’ is not exactly reassuring. I’ve known you for three years, but even I’d bet that ‘yet’ changes into ‘I’m moving tomorrow.’ Maybe she just wanted a graceful, dignified exit.”

“What if she just wanted an exit?” I push. “She didn’t even consider a solution, like long-distance or moving with me.”

“That just tells me she has great self-preservation skills. Get out before there’s a chance of being turned down or pushed away.”

“Women are complicated creatures,” I say in frustration.

Clara flashes me a grin. “I’ll simplify it for you. What do you want?”

“I want Alice in my life. I don’t care how. And yes, as improbable as it might seem to you, I actually did think about turning down the job.”

Clara opens her mouth, then closes it again. This might be the first time she doesn’t have any comeback.

“I mean, I get paid a truckload of money for what I do now here. What’s the point of always chasing the next thing? The people I care about are here—”

“Who are you, and what have you done with Nate Becker? Alice has been an excellent influence on you. Talk to her.”

“What if you’re wrong,” I insist, “and she just doesn’t want any of this?”

“You’ll have to man up and accept it.” Pressing her palms together and lacing her fingers, she adds, “Go out on a limb and take a chance, Nate. Call her. Where’s your phone?”

“At the office. Turned it off on Saturday. Horowitz was starting to annoy me with his calls.”

“Ah yes, he’s pretty desperate for you to take the job.”

I feel more alert than I have in hours. “I have no plan.”

Looking behind me, Clara presses her lips together. “Then think fast, or improvise. As your assistant, it’s my duty to tell you that improvisation isn’t your strongest skill unless you’re trying to entertain a crowd, so think fast.”

“Why?”

“Two of the Bennett brothers are hurrying toward us. They look pissed.”

“Took them no time at all.”

“Don’t worry, they have no guns. Just very pointy pitchforks.”

Glancing behind me, I see no sign of any Bennett brothers.

“I was just messing with you,” Clara says when I turn to her again. “You work best under pressure. Figured you’d come up with a plan in no time then.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

She shrugs. “Was worth a shot. Though I am surprised that none of the Bennett brothers are here kicking your ass.”

“I’m completely innocent here.”

“You don’t understand how the brother rule works. Sister meets man. Sister is brokenhearted. The conclusion is man must be beaten to a pulp.”

“I did always love your knack for simplifying things. My bet is Alice didn’t tell them. She’s one who prefers to fight her own battles. Or in this case… bolt.”