20 JANIE
JANIE
Harper: How’s the patient?
Janie: Finally asleep, thank God
Harper: So even a billionaire turns into the typical needy man-child huh?
I hesitate and then finally just reply with a laughing emoji. Because he hasn’t been a needy man-child. Well, he has needed me. For sure.
I’ve propped him up, brought him food, water, and set up Netflix for him to watch, only for him to insist we sit together and watch my Real Housewives show.
Even though it was a small sprain, his ankle turned purple and swelled up to the size of that pumpkin he exploded last week. He can’t really do anything but sit with it elevated. They decided on a few days worth of hard painkillers, which made him not needy, not even loopy. More like…gooey?
Did you know your whole face lights up when I bother you? I so enjoy it. Bothering you.
You aren’t the most gentle nurse but you have absolutely got to be the prettiest.
Is this soup so good because you made it?
That last part was overkill. I heated some fancy soup from the fridge that he chose and bought.
I don’t know why he always lays it on so thick.
Does he think I need that? I don’t need that.
I also didn’t need the constant commentary on my legs and butt every time I bent to grab him a blanket, a fallen spoon, and all the other things I soon realized he was dropping on purpose.
Don’t need it but…don’t hate it.
I don’t like the gooeyness though. No more drugs for him tomorrow. The sincerity, the earnestness…things got very weird.
Did you know you called me Ben? I quite liked that. Too much, probably. Made my chest all tight. That’s weird isn’t it? Felt weird. You make me feel weird. Bloody hell. I’m in trouble with you, I think.
He said the last part on a sigh, not even really talking to me anymore. That’s when I blurted a hurried goodnight and went to hide in my room. An hour later, he’s finally out cold.
I gather dishes and turn off the TV. I clean up our trash and adjust the blanket over his long legs. He doesn’t twitch or even change his breathing, so I decide to study him.
Good Lord, he’s handsome. And built. This is my first time seeing him in a simple white T-shirt and it pulls tight across a full chest and bulging shoulders.
Nice biceps. He’s firm, tall, warm…solid.
I swallow and refocus on his face. He actually looks more serious and hard while sleeping.
No smirk or wagging eyebrows, only him, unaffected.
Makes me wonder what else is under his persona. Behind his facade…if it is a facade. I know the drugs made him say things he didn’t mean. I know he likes my body and enjoys annoying me. But is he really so freaking nice? All the time? So happy?
Can’t be.
I shake my head free of all these thoughts.
What do I care what Ben—what Bossman’s deep dark secrets are? We’re not even friends. We’re business partners. Sixty-four days and then we’ll part ways. I will have the money I need to start reassembling my life, and he will have fulfilled his obligations to his family.
Simple.
Contractual.
I start to turn to go to bed and hear him murmur. I look back and his face is twisted, a quick flash of pain. A flash of something else twists in my gut in response. I go back to him.
“Benedict? Ben, wake up for me.”
“What? Apples. Janelle.” He mutters, eyes still closed. More twisting inside me.
“Boss!” I say much louder. “Time for more medicine.”
He finally stirs and opens his eyes. “Right. Okay.”
I grab his water off of the coffee table and hand it to him. As I put two pills in my palm and hand them to him, he smirks. The eyebrows start their wagging.
“Benedict Clark, if you drop a pill on purpose to make me bend over again, I swear, I will go back to Gran’s and leave you here to rot on your own.”
“Wifey already knows me so well.”
“Really? You’re in this state, I just threatened you and that’s what you’re going with? Wifey?” I pretend to poke his ankle, and actually make contact, but just barely.
“Ow, woman! What made you so mean?”
I flinch, feeling bad, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to actually hurt you.”
“You didn’t, love, I was only joking.” He says gently. “You’re not that mean.”
I glare at him. “I see your meds are kicking in just fine, so I’m going to bed.
” I turn and walk across the room but pause.
When I turn around, his gaze is on me. He doesn’t even try to hide watching me walk away.
I ignore it, since he’s probably just trying to get a reaction anyway.
Still, he’s pretty pathetic right now. “Do you think you’ll be okay here on the couch all night? ”
His face lights up, “Are you offering to sleep—”
“Ugh, never mind! Goodnight!”
“Goodnight, darling wife! Dream of me!” He calls, his words a little slurred.
I disappear quickly into the hallway but I feel like he can still see me somehow, still sense that I’m smiling wide like a dork. Why does he always make me smile like this? How?
I blink hard and shake it off. I just need some good sleep.
_____
“Oh good, you’re up.” I say when I enter the living room and find my billionaire standing at the kitchen counter. He’s keeping his weight off of his foot, leaning on the island. I’m about to ask how his ankle is but before I can, he drops his mug. It breaks.
“Bollocks.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be up!” I rush to help. I grab the pieces, glad it broke off in big chunks rather than tiny shards since we’re both barefoot.
“I’m fine, just, uh, startled. You startled me.” He murmurs. Then goes silent. I toss the pieces in the trash and straighten to look at him. But he isn’t looking at me and…is he blushing?
“Benedict? Are you okay?”
He clears his throat. “Fine. Luckily there was no coffee in it. This pot’s slow as molasses. I’m ordering a new one. Honestly.”
He’s fidgeting on his one leg and won’t look at me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this awkward. He opens the cupboard for a new mug.
“Hey. Bossman.”
“Hm?”
“BEN!”
“What!” He finally looks at me.
“Why are you being so weird?”
He looks down at me, then away quickly.
Oh, I’m still in my pjs. A tight, thin white tank and black silk shorts with white dots. A gift from Skye when she found out I secretly love polka dots. Who doesn’t though?
…Wait.
“Are you being this weird about my boobs? Seriously?”
He huffs the most annoyed sound I’ve ever heard from him. “I’m trying to be a gentleman here. Truly, I am. But if you don’t want me to stare and comment and probably outright drool, maybe… I don’t know, a robe?”
“A robe.”
“Yes, Janelle, a robe!”
“Stop calling me that!”
“Fine! Just go put some clothes on!”
“No.”
He turns to me, looking pointedly at my face and only my face, his jaw ticking. “No?”
“No. You drive me crazy all the time with the Janelle and the wifey and the compliments and the niceness. I finally found something to drive you crazy. Deal with it.”
His mouth falls open in shock. Then he blinks a few times.
“You are by far the strangest woman I’ve ever known,” He huffs, still annoyed.
“A ha! A real comment from you for once.”
“Haven’t I also told you you’re mean? And grumpy? And you’re absolute crap at making scarecrows. I’m sure I mentioned that.”
I pour my coffee and grab the organic half and half that’s already out for me— annoying —and stir aggressively. “Keep going, Boss, finally the truth comes out.”
“I’ve always been completely hon—you know what? Forget it.”
“Fine,” I shrug.
“Fine.” He’s still flushed and refusing to look in my direction. I’m panting and irritated that I’m panting. How does he always manage to get a reaction out of me?
Why do I want to…
Never mind.
He stirs his sugar into his coffee, staring straight ahead at the kitchen cabinets. I stand a couple feet away, looking down and sipping my own. I think he’s almost smiling. I definitely am. Both of us are as red as the apples we picked. He’s so ridiculous. And I’m so ridiculous when I’m with him.
He takes a sip of coffee and then clears his throat. “As unbearable as you are,” he starts.
“Excuse m—”
“Oh shut it, woman,” he barks. I laugh. He smiles wide, turning toward me but still not actually looking at me. “As completely horrible as it is to be around you, I’m afraid I need you to clear your plans Friday evening.”
“For?” I ask.
He winces, “A Halloween party.” I start to groan and he cuts me off. “It gets worse.”
“How could it?” I whine.
“Saturday we also have the Halloween party here in town, according to your spreadsheet. So that’s two nights in a row.”
“Ugh, you’re right.”
He hums into his coffee, then adds, “We’ll have to dress up but it can be low-key. Or funny, if that’s your thing. Ketchup and mustard or some other couples costume.”
“Despite my job, I’m not that into condiments.”
He chuckles, “Thank God. It’s the New York Clark Industries office. We should probably do something together but we can just, I don’t know, wear suits and black sunglasses and be secret agents. Done.”
I frown, “You want me to wear a suit? Like Secret Service? So, like a man’s suit.”
“No, mother of f—Janelle.” He finally looks at me. “I want you to wear whatever you want. I want to do whatever you want. If you’ll just bloody tell me what that is!”
Whoa.
This is different.
He’s vibrating, his muscles pulled tight under his snug teeshirt. His jaw is clenched, knuckles white around his coffee cup.
I’m used to him being friendly, thoughtful, charming, funny, sure.
But he’s angry.
At me.
And it. Is. So. Hot.
Again I fight the urge to attack him. I bet he’d catch me if I just leapt up onto his body and gripped like a baby monkey. A shiver runs down my entire body, head to toe, taking a pointed detour at my chest. The thin fabric of my tank hides nothing.
Ben’s eyes dip down and stay there for a beat then he looks up at the ceiling. I make a noise between a laugh and a moan.
“Bloody hell. I quit. I can’t not look! I can’t not comment, look at them! They’re perfect! How’m I supposed to just ignore them? I’ve not yet started my kickboxing and the treadmill isn’t cutting it, I—” He’s almost yelling.
“Sorry!” I yell back and finally cross my arms to cover myself up. “I’ll get a sweatshirt!” I walk quickly out of the kitchen. “I’ll go get a sweatshirt.” I add, softer.
I just barely hear him mutter, “Do they have floor-length sweatshirts? Kill me already. This is torture.”
I decide to just change into my clothes for the day. But once again, as I wash my face at the deep sink and change in my new closet, I’m smiling ear to ear.