Simply Sensual

He tossed the ball to the young boy. “Get to work on those jump shots. I’ll be with you in a second.” He pivoted back to her. “What are you doing here?”

Was that anger she heard in his tone? She raised an eyebrow in question. “Well, hello to you, too. And I could ask you the same thing. It just so happens I’m a regular around here. How about you?”

“What’s with the camera?” he asked without bothering to answer her question.

She lifted her prized piece of equipment before letting it fall back around her neck. “I’m working. What’s your excuse? Because if you don’t mind my saying so, it seems awfully coincidental that we’d both end up in the same neighborhood.”

He met her gaze, which was a good sign that he wasn’t hiding anything, but she didn’t know him well enough to read him…yet.

“Don’t get yourself worked up, Gracie.” His voice softened and she couldn’t help melting like ice cream on the hot sidewalk. “I was just concerned to find you hanging in a neighborhood like this.” His arm swept the air around him.

She figured that was as much of an apology as she would get from the man. “Well, I admit it’s not as fine as most, but the people here are real.” Considering concern was behind his attitude, she didn’t mind explaining. “And they deserve the same little joys in life the rest of us have.”

She waved the camera. “That’s what these pictures are for, to help raise money on behalf of the kids in this neighborhood—and the mothers love them. Pictures of their kids are the least I can give back.” She silently cursed the insecurity she hadn’t meant to reveal.

He stepped forward. “And why is that?” His soft voice wrapped around her like a warm caress. “Is your background more privileged than most?”

“How’d you guess?” she asked, suddenly wary. Because they’d met once and she’d never revealed her background to her neighbor. Of course her apartment decor reeked of wealth, but his tone held more than a hint of certainty that he knew her well.

He lifted her chin with his hand, holding her face up to daylight. Heat having nothing to do with the sun skittered across her skin. “That cultured voice is a dead giveaway. And besides those sculpted cheekbones speak for themselves.”

So he’d pegged her from day one. But to Ben, she didn’t want to be the spoiled rich girl, she wanted to be just Grace. And she believed she still had that chance.

She inhaled deep. The air held Ben’s raw scent and if Grace thought she’d been swept away by the sight of him before, she was on fire now. “What makes you such a good judge of people?”

“In my line of work, being observant is second nature.”

She shot him a questioning look.

“Private investigator,” he explained.

His occupation surprised her, but she appreciated the insight. “Is that what you’re doing down here? Working on a case?”

She glanced over her shoulder, hoping the kid Ben had been coaching wasn’t the subject of some undercover investigation that would get him in trouble. Drugs, the illegal sale of fake merchandise—she saw too many kids in danger and hoped the money from CHANCES would help kids like these. Not only would it open the door to her career, but she’d ease the guilt she felt for having so much when others had so little.

“Now, Grace, are you avoiding the question about your background?” He not-so-subtly turned the subject back to her.

She grinned. Apparently, with their interest in each other running high, neither one was willing to give without receiving in return. “No, Mr. Private Investigator. Let’s just say I’m leveling the playing field. You answer my question, I’ll answer yours.”

He fingered the camera strap between his thumb and forefinger. “I didn’t know this was a game, but I’ll play. Since I’m new to the building, I asked the landlord which areas to avoid and he mentioned this neighborhood. High crime, drug trafficking…kids in need.” He pointed to the game of basketball that had resumed behind them. “So here I am.”

She’d found this neighborhood in much the same way, but she was a permanent resident. Ben was a temporary neighbor, which made his actions that much more generous and giving.

She wondered again what was behind his presence here. “Why, Ben, I’d never have suspected you had an altruistic streak.”

He laughed. “I don’t go around advertising it, but I grew up in a place like this. Whenever I go in to a new neighborhood, I like to go back to my roots. Like you, I give back in return.”

Her chest constricted at the admission. So not only was the man of her dreams sexy, but he had a heart.

“No welching. It’s your turn. Is your background more privileged than most? Is that why you feel the need to hit these areas without backup?”

She laughed. “I don’t think I need backup. Who’d be interested enough to bother with me?”

“Don’t underestimate your worth, Grace.”

She shivered, realizing he’d struck her one weakness with deadly accuracy. Though she hadn’t meant to imply she wasn’t worthy of interest, it was her greatest fear. That her worth lay only in her money and family name.

“I meant who’d give me a second look? I’m dressed in rags.” She pointed to her ripped jeans and paint-splattered T-shirt. “No makeup, no jewelry to attract attention.” She shrugged, hoping she’d covered any hint of insecurity she might have revealed.

“Just a fancy camera worth good money in a pawn shop, for starters. Then there’s those cheekbones I mentioned earlier.” His finger slipped down her face, whisper-soft but with enough electricity to light this neighborhood in a blackout.

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know you believe that, but…”

“I know that.” She grasped his finger in her hand. The desire to feel the rough glide of his skin over her aching breasts was overwhelming. Somehow she found the ability to speak. “I appreciate the concern but I really need to get going. I want to shoot a few pictures before I have to get back to work.”

He stepped backward and the distance gave her breathing room. “You owe me some answers, Gracie.”

She laughed, grateful to be off the hook for now. “That’s okay. I’m not going far.”

Before he could answer, she turned and headed for the playground. Little did Ben know, she wasn’t kidding.

He was the key to her sensual self-discovery and she planned to get very close to him, very soon.

BEN SHOOK HIS HEAD, watching as her behind swayed gracefully in tight denim. Her name suited her perfectly, Ben thought. Which was why Grace had no business being in this neighborhood.

Hell, he didn’t like being back in an exact replica of his old stomping grounds. With little money growing up, the basketball courts had been his escape. The harder he’d pounded the ball, the more he’d thought he would forget that he’d be coming home to an empty apartment. No father, a mother who was working too hard, and neighbors screaming at each other on both sides of the paper-thin walls.

He related to the kids he’d met this morning when he’d stationed himself here to wait for Grace. If Ben could get one in particular, Leon, to keep his focus on the game and not the streets, the kid could get a scholarship and make his way out of the slums. Ben’s time here would be well spent, not to mention that helping the guys was a distraction from Grace—who still hadn’t given him a strong enough reason for hanging out in a place like this. He admired her desire to give back. He respected her for the effort. But he’d hate to see her good deeds rewarded by trouble.

And why did he care? Ben let out a groan. This was exactly what he didn’t want—to get involved in her life. His job was to find the facts for his client. Instead he was thinking about Grace too much, words like admiration and respect coming to mind as he did.

No sense in denying the truth. Far from the detachment he’d promised himself, he was beginning to care. Being around Grace could put his heart at risk and he didn’t like it worth a damn.

Better he focus on the facts of the case—he’d gotten the answers Emma had sought, in record time. He knew Grace’s professional occupation and how she filled her free time. He could see for himself she was indeed happy as Emma wanted for her granddaughter. If her choice in locations wasn’t prime, well, she was a smart woman and an adult—she could take care of herself.

Distance, he reminded himself and turned back to the court. Leon threw him the ball, catching him off guard. Ben began a steady dribble, echoing the word detachment each time the ball smacked the blacktop. He went for a layup at the same moment a feminine, familiar shriek pierced the air, sounding over the raucous voices of the guys in the game.

His gut clenched hard. Ball forgotten, he ran toward the sound of Grace’s voice. She was sprawled on the ground where she’d obviously been pushed, and a tall kid in a red sleeveless, hooded sweatshirt pulled on the camera strap around her neck. His strength nearly lifted her off the ground, while Grace, looking petite and out of her league, refused to hand over her precious possession.

“Hey!” At the sound of Ben’s shout, the youth released the strap, causing Grace to fall backward against the pavement. Given a choice between running after the attacker or seeing to the victim, Ben chose Grace.

He knelt down beside her. “You okay?” Long strands of blond hair fell over her face and he brushed them aside with one hand. Ignoring the sensation of silk beneath his fingertips wasn’t easy.

She offered him a smile he had no doubt was forced. “I’m fine as long as you don’t say ‘I told you so.’”

“I don’t have to. You already did.” He held out a hand to help her up.