Australian Affairs: Taken: Taken Over by the Billionaire / An Unlikely Bride for the Billionaire / Hired by the Brooding Billionaire

‘No, but it’s very unlike me, Ben, to hop into bed so quickly. Mum’s sure to jump to the wrong conclusion.’

‘Which is?

‘That I’ve fallen madly in love.’

Again, she was on the end of another long, thoughtful look.

‘I take it that hasn’t happened?’

‘You know it hasn’t. We’ve been having a dirty weekend, Ben. That’s all.’ It went against her grain to describe their weekend in such a crude fashion, but it was the truth after all.

‘I don’t see it that way, Jess. I like you. A lot. And I want to see more of you.’

‘You mean you want to have more kinky sex with me whilst you’re in Australia.’

He pursed his lips in obvious annoyance. ‘You make it all sound so tacky. Yes, of course I want to have more sex with you, but not just kinky sex. I enjoy making love to you in more traditional ways as well. I also want to spend time with you out of bed.’

Jess’s laugh was a little bitter. ‘Yes, I noticed you like having sex out of bed too.’

His blue eyes flashed with frustration. ‘Very funny. Just remember, you’re the one who knocked back my offer of our working together on Fab Fashions.’

‘I can live with that. I can’t live with you taking me for a fool.’

He sat bolt upright in his chair, his face furious. ‘I would never do that. I think you’re one of the smartest girls I’ve ever met. And the most stubborn. I suppose if I asked you to go back to New York with me, you’d say no to that as well!’

Jess could not have been more taken aback. Or more speechless.

‘Well?’ he snapped when she said nothing. ‘What would you say to such an offer?’

Jess gathered in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. ‘I would say thank you very much, Ben, but no thank you. My life is here, in Australia. I wouldn’t be happy in New York.’

‘How do you know?’

‘I just know.’

His eyes carried exasperation. ‘Most girls would jump at the chance. For Pete’s sake, Jess, you wouldn’t have to pay for a thing. You could stay in my apartment and have the holiday of a lifetime.’

The word ‘holiday’ reaffirmed what Jess already knew. He wasn’t seriously interested in her. Not the way she would have liked. But then, that was never going to happen. He’d already said he didn’t want to get married. She was just a passing amusement, one which he hadn’t grown bored with yet.

‘Couldn’t we just leave things the way they are, Ben? I’m happy to go out with you whilst you’re staying up on the coast. I like you a lot, but I don’t want to go to America with you.’

Ben should have been relieved, he supposed, that she hadn’t jumped at his somewhat impulsive offer. But he wasn’t. He was bitterly disappointed. He’d wanted to show her New York, wanted to give her the time of her life.

‘Fine,’ he bit out.

‘Please don’t think me ungrateful, Ben,’ she went on, her eyes softening on him. ‘It was a very generous offer. But it’s best I stay here in Australia.’

He sighed, then smiled at her. ‘So we’re still on for dinner tomorrow night?’

Jess smiled back at him. ‘Of course. Where are you going to take me?’

‘I have no idea. I’ll ask Mum when she gets back tomorrow. She knows all the best local restaurants. But you’ll have to pick me up. I’m not allowed to drive till I get that stupid medical clearance. Hopefully by Tuesday that’ll be done and I can drive Mum’s car.’

‘So your mother will be there when I pick you up?’ she said, sounding a bit panicky.

‘Yes, but you don’t have to worry. Mum’s really quite nice, despite everything.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘I’ll explain on the drive back,’ he said, thinking he shouldn’t have made such a leading comment. But it was too late now. Besides, it would give them something to talk about. Telling Jess all about his mother’s exploits over the years would take some time. ‘I’ll go shower and shave whilst you have breakfast. Then we should get going.’

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#u0806079a-4a07-5d02-afbb-911d27f8d79b)

BY THE TIME they stopped at Sandy Hollow for lunch, Jess had a much better understanding of why Ben wasn’t interested in marriage. To find out that your mother had married your father for his money must have come as a bitter blow. Still, it had been good of his father not to say anything till Ben had turned twenty-one. That way, Ben had been able to grow up loving his mother who, though materialistic, had obviously been a good mother to him.

Despite that, Jess could just imagine how Ben had felt when his mother had admitted she’d trapped his father into marriage with a pregnancy and had never loved him. His money was what she’d loved. Yes, there were reasons for her materialism, but the bottom line was still not very nice. Her actions certainly wouldn’t have engendered faith in her son’s own relationships with the opposite sex. Given he would one day be as rich as his father, Ben would always be on the lookout for signs that his girlfriends were gold-diggers. Which was an awful way to have to live.

But it did also explain why Ben concentrated on sex when he was with a girl he liked. Sex was safe, especially the kind of sex he indulged in. Such goings-on kept his girlfriends at a distance, both physically and emotionally. Jess realised that the only time he’d had sex face to face with her had been when she’d been on top. But even then he’d adopted the role of voyeur rather than that of a loving partner.

‘Neither of your parents have married again,’ she remarked once they sat down to another pub lunch. Different pub but similar food. A steak sandwich and salad. ‘Why is that, do you think?’

Ben shrugged. ‘Mum always said she would marry again if she ever fell in love. But that’s unlikely to happen, given the type of man she usually dates—all young, handsome studs without much between their ears. Mum does like intelligence when she’s out of bed.’

Jess tried not to look shocked at his talking about his mother’s sex life in that fashion.

‘But who knows? This fellow she’s gone on the cruise with seems a different kettle of fish. Not so young and he actually works. I’ll find out more when she gets home tomorrow. As far as Dad is concerned… This might sound silly but I think Mum was the only woman Dad ever truly loved. Though don’t get me wrong. He was unfaithful to her during their marriage. Had several mistresses going at once, apparently. He still has women running after him, despite being sixty-five and not the best-looking man in the world. Money is a powerful aphrodisiac,’ he added drily.

Jess sighed. ‘I can understand now why you don’t want to get married.’

‘What?’ Ben said, almost knocking his drink over. ‘I never said I didn’t want to get married.’

Jess frowned. ‘But you did. When I asked you why you broke up with Amber you said she wanted marriage and you didn’t.’

‘Not with her I don’t. I don’t love her. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t consider it with anyone else at some stage.’

‘Oh,’ Jess said, startled by this turn of events. Not that it changed anything. Ben might want marriage at some stage, but it wouldn’t be to an ordinary girl like her.

Ben stared across the table at Jess and wondered if that was why she’d refused to come to New York with him. Because she wanted marriage and she thought he didn’t. Not that he was about to propose. He did, however, feel more strongly about Jess than any girl he’d ever met.

He decided then and there that he would ask her to come to New York with him again later in the week. Meanwhile, he’d show her the time of her life every night. And, yes, behind the scenes he’d even do something about that damned Fab Fashions.

‘Are you absolutely sure you don’t want me to come to your family barbecue?’ he asked coolly before picking up his steak sandwich and taking a big bite.

She was tempted. He could see she was tempted.

‘I promise to be on my best behaviour,’ he added once his mouth was temporarily empty.

She laughed. ‘It’s not you I’m worried about. It’s my mother.’