Page 64 of Dearest Protector
Still dizzy from Ben’s scent that wouldn’t fade away, I answered distractedly, “I couldn’t ask for a better man.”
Marilyn’s smile grew, and I suddenly realized what I’d said. “I mean, I couldn’t ask for a betterfriend,” I corrected hastily, hating the fact that I was actually blushing.
Crap!I’d been so dazed from being close to Ben that I’d screwed up in front of his mother.
“I know what you meant, dear,” Marilyn replied serenely.
I wanted to hug Katie when she rescued me from the awkwardness by saying, “Marilyn and I were just talking about my graduation in Massachusetts at the end of next month. I just wanted them to send my diploma, but Ian is insistent that I walk for it in person. Do you think you and Ben could come?”
“She’s the valedictorian,” Ian commented from his place at the grill. “That’s a huge accomplishment and they want her to speak. She needs to go in person. That’s a big deal, whether she thinks so or not.”
I nodded, agreeing with Ian completely. “Oh, Katie, you have to do it in person. That’s huge, and you deserve to have your moment, even though I know you hate public speaking.”
Katie held up a hand. “I’m going. Ian already convinced me. I might hate public speaking, but it won’t be so bad because I’ll have all the important people in my life there with me if you and Ben can join us.”
Obviously, Marilyn would be there, and I wanted to go. I wanted to be there to support my best friend during her big event.
I couldn’t speak for Ben, but I instinctively knew nothing would stop him from being there for Katie. She was family to him.
I nodded. “It’s still a month away. I’ll be walking just fine by then, and now that I’m making really good money, getting a plane ticket isn’t a big deal. I’d love to be there. You worked so hard for your degree.”
Katie coughed before she said drily, “Um…a plane ticket isn’t necessary since Ian has a private jet that would probably accommodate an entire football team.”
“If your departure time doesn’t work for Ariel, I can fly her in my jet,” Ben offered, obviously keeping track of the conversation. “You know I’m going to be there, Katie.”
I swallowed hard as I saw the moisture form in Katie’s eyes.
My best friend very rarely cried, but I knew she was feeling overwhelmed.
Just like me, she’d been raised by a single mother who had already passed away.
She had no other close family, so I knew it meant a lot that she was going to have all of her chosen family with her at her college graduation.
She nodded. “Then I’ll have absolutely everyone I want with me.”
The conversation quickly changed to another subject, but I couldn’t get over the fact that we’d be flying in a private jet out of my mind.
Both Ian and Ben hadprivate jets.
Yeah, I knew they were ridiculously wealthy, but that fact hadn’t slapped me in the face very often.
I’d never asked Ben if he even had a private jet, but it should have been obvious, right?
Ian and Ben certainly weren’t going to fly commercial.
“Hey, you okay?” Ben asked as he bent close to me to deliver my plate with my steak and baked potato. “You got pretty quiet. Are you hurting?”
“No!” I denied emphatically. “I was just lost in thought for a moment. I’m good.”
Sometimes, I just couldn’t see Ben as the powerful billionaire that I knew he was, especially when he never flaunted it.
He didn’t have an overinflated ego.
He was just…Ben, the hottest, most handsome guy on the planet. And the kindest, most thoughtful guy I’d ever met.
There were other facets to his personality.
There had to be.