Yours For The Taking Part 4

Gina kicked off her shoes, unzipped her dress, and unfastened the halter letting it fall to the floor. Unsnapping her garters, she shimmied out of her hose. Gina rummaged around in her suitcase looking for a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. By the time she was dressed, the room looked as if a bomb went off in it. Great. Ben knocked. "What is it?"

When she opened the door, Ben did a double take, obviously surprised she could make such a big mess in less time than it took him to make a phone call. "Jess said she'd be here in ten minutes. We'll grab a quick lunch with her before going to look at the places she's lined up." Lucky for him he didn't mention the mess. Smart boy.

Gina picked up her stockings and rolled them together. "That's fine. I'll be out right after I hang up my dress." She figured he'd leave. He didn't. He just stood there watching her, which was a bit unnerving. She hung her dress and placed her shoes neatly on the shoe rack, then turned to find Ben holding her garter. Great. She ripped it out of his hand, balled it up, and stuffed it back into an open suitcase.

"I didn't think women wore those outside the bedroom."

Gina laughed. "Shows how much you know." She unzipped another bag and pulled out her leather jacket. "I hate panty hose and thigh highs don't stay up, so I wear garters all the time."

Ben swallowed the few comments he thought about making. He'd almost forgotten Gina thought he was gay. Now that he thought about it, it was probably a mistake calling Jess to show them houses. Jess and he had dated a few years ago and she knew he was definitely heteros.e.xual. Maybe if he introduced Gina as his wife, it would put a stop to any reminiscing Jess might want to do.

The intercom beeped announcing a visitor. Gina threw her jacket on before grabbing her purse. "I guess the Realtor is here."

Ben opened the door and took Gina's keys from her to lock up. "It sounds that way. Come on, I'll introduce you."

They met Jess on the stoop. "Jess, this is my wife, Gina. Gina, this is an old friend, Jessica Spencer." He gave Jess a pointed look hoping she'd take the hint not to discuss their past liaison.

Jessica did a double take. "You're married?"

Ben put his arm around Gina. "Yeah, just today, actually."

Jess looked Gina up and down and unsuccessfully tried to hide her shock. "Congratulations!" She gave him a hug and then shook Gina's hand with both of hers. "I never thought I'd see the day someone landed Ben Walsh."

Gina snorted. "Yeah, well, what can I say? He drove a hard bargain."

He gave Gina a pinch on her very pinchable a.s.s and ignored her little jump. Serves her right.

Jess smiled her fake model smile. "Let's go celebrate over lunch, shall we? That way we can talk about what you're both looking for in your new home."

Gina stood in the entry of a Romanesque Revival mansion in Montgomery Place, one block off the park. "This is just too big. It's five stories, Ben. Count them, five." She held a finger up for each floor and counted them off. "Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco. Five."

Jess stood off to the side as Ben pulled Gina into his arms, a place she definitely did not want to be. This show he was putting on for the Realtor was beginning to get on Gina's nerves.

"I know it's large, but it's well within our price range and you have to admit, it's beautiful."

Gina did her best not to look at him. Instead she checked out all the molding on the walls, the rich colors they were painted, and the elaborate woodwork. If someone had told her last year she'd be standing in a home like this, no less considering purchasing it, she'd have thought the person was insane.

She whispered, "Ben, I can't live in a place like this."

"Sure you can." When she shook her head, he pulled her closer. "Let's at least look at it. You're the one who wants to stay here in Brooklyn. If you don't, I'm sure we can find a great penthouse in the city."

"I'm not a penthouse type of girl." Before he could say anything to rebut her statement, she continued, "I'm not a Romanesque Revival mansion type either."

Ben squeezed her hand. "Come on, give it a chance. You might just surprise yourself."

She doubted it. The place looked like a museum.

Ben didn't let go of her hand as he and Jess dragged her from room to room, each more gorgeous than the last. When they hit the master bedroom, he looked over at Jess. "Do you think the owners would be interested in selling the place furnished?"

Jess' eyes glazed over, Gina was sure she was seeing dollar signs. "The owners didn't mention it, but it wouldn't hurt to ask."

Ben nodded. "Why don't you give them a call while Gina and I talk."

Jess took the hint and closed the door behind her, leaving Gina stuck in yet another bedroom with Ben. She turned on him and poked his chest. "Are you nuts? What am I going to do with this much s.p.a.ce?"

Ben calmly removed her finger from his chest and held her hand in his as he shook his head at her like she was an errant schoolgirl. "I told you we could spend about ten million. This place is only going for three point seven. With the downturn in the real estate market, it's cheap, but that's not helping you. It would probably be better for you to go to the city and let me buy one of those penthouses I mentioned, but if you insist on staying in Brooklyn, this is about the best you can do. I suppose I could put whatever we don't spend of the housing fund into a trust for you. That seems fair, doesn't it?"

Gina shook her head and blew her bangs out of her eyes. "It's insane. I never said you had to spend that much. Heck, I'd be happy staying in Rosalie's place."

Ben pulled her over and sat on the bed. She flopped down next to him. "I need to buy a home and spend the expected amount of money if we're going to make this marriage look real. That's the point here, Gina."

She shrugged and chewed on the side of her thumb. "Then buy it. I guess I could live in one of the attic rooms. It would be about the same as staying in an extremely nice fifth-floor walk-up."

"Nonsense. Why stay there when you can stay in this room?"

"You don't get it, do you? You saw where I came from. Tina and Sam's apartment is the nicest place I've ever lived by far. Going from a small two-bedroom in Spanish Harlem to a mansion in one day is disconcerting."

Ben smiled. "Yeah, but in a good way."

"Ben, I think this whole marriage thing was a mistake. Look, why don't we just get it annulled and you can marry someone like that Realtor who's been making eyes at you all afternoon."

Ben raised his eyebrows. "Are you jealous?"

Gina laughed. "Hardly. I just think it's funny because her gaydar is on the fritz. She obviously didn't get the upgrade. What does she think, there are no gay guys from Iowa?"

"Idaho."

Gina waved away his correction. "Whatever."

"We've been married all of four hours and you're already trying to get rid of me? This is working out better than I expected."

Gina wanted to wipe that smirk right off his too-pretty face.

"Let's see if we can buy this place with the furniture and then I'll be out of your hair for the foreseeable future."

"Is that the only way for me to get rid of you?"

"Either that or let's get a penthouse in the city."

"Are those my only choices?"

Ben stood, took his keys out of his pocket, and tossed them in the air. He caught them and thought about it. "Yeah, pretty much."

"Fine. Buy it then. But if you don't get the furniture with it, I can easily live with one furnished room."

"If we don't buy it furnished, I'll have a decorator come in and take care of it. She'll want your input though."

"Don't be too sure of that. I've never furnished anything in my life."

Two weeks later, Ben watched as Gina stared at her suitcases lying on the same king-sized mahogany sleigh bed they'd sat on while Ben railroaded her into buying this mansion. He knew exactly what he'd done at the time and he didn't regret it. He'd even compromised; a penthouse in the city would have looked better for him and would have been a much better investment for her, but for some reason Gina insisted on Brooklyn. She still looked unhappy, not that he could figure out why. After all, he'd caved in and bought the place in Brooklyn, and was even able to get it furnished. For someone who supposedly had a great mind for finance, she certainly hadn't used it while making this decision.

Ben stood in the doorway watching Gina. It was becoming a habit. He couldn't help it. The woman fascinated him. Most women he knew would be thrilled to be stuck living in a mansion. Not Gina. He wasn't sure if his interest was simply because of her obstinacy or in spite of it. The fact he studied her didn't surprise him. He seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time staring at his wife, and when they weren't together, he was thinking about her. No matter what he did, he couldn't seem to stop himself. He was just glad he was heading west in a few hours. Maybe if he put most of the country between them, he'd have better luck getting her out of his mind.

"You look good here, Gina."

She laughed. "Oh, yeah. I look as if I were born to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Robin Leach and me. All we're missing is the champagne."

"Now that you mention it, Jess sent over a very nice bottle. It's chilling in the refrigerator if you'd like some."

"Ben, it's not even noon."

He smirked. "We could throw in a few drops of orange juice and call it a mimosa, if drinking champagne at ten in the morning offends you."

"No, it doesn't offend me, though I'd rather have a Starbucks," she muttered before she looked up. "Did you buy gla.s.ses too, or do we have to drink it out of plastic cups?"

"The kitchen is fully stocked. I think you could probably have a dinner party for a hundred and not have to deal with renting a thing."

"Oh, good. And to think, I was worried about that." She unzipped one of her suitcases. "I do so love to entertain."

Ben turned on his heel and headed to the kitchen. Whistling, he grabbed the champagne from the refrigerator and filled an ice bucket before sticking the champagne bottle into it. Searching the kitchen for flutes, he pulled them off a top shelf and threw a folded linen towel over his arm for spite.

He returned to the bedroom just as Gina was sorting through her lingerie. Perfect timing. From the little he saw, the woman had fantastic taste in unmentionables. When it came to what she wore over those little sc.r.a.ps of silk and lace, that was another story. She dressed loudly, in bold bright colors, and had no qualms about showing off her killer body. She had a style all her own and he wasn't sure if he liked it, but as a man, he certainly appreciated it. Still, every time he'd seen her in the last two weeks, he'd felt the need to cover her up. He didn't miss the fact that every other man who saw his wife drooled over her. Their marriage might be in name only, but no one else knew that.

Gina turned toward him and laughed. "Only you would play waiter. Too bad you don't have the outfit for it."

He looked down at his jeans and b.u.t.ton-down shirt, set the champagne bucket and gla.s.ses on the dresser, and picked up a white-on-white corset. "No, but you can dress up if you want."

She slapped his hand and ripped the corset out of his grip. "Oh, yeah, as if you're interested."

She had no idea. This, he reminded himself, was a good thing. "I do have fabulous taste in clothes. We should go shopping for a few evening gowns next time I'm in town." When she made a face, he continued. "It'll be fun. I'll probably have a few benefits to go to when I get back and, if you remember, that was part of the deal."

She stopped what she was doing and looked into his eyes. All hint of her teasing smile was gone. "Don't remind me. Please, really, don't." She threw her hands up in the air as if to encompa.s.s the entire house. "I'm going through culture shock as it is." She turned her back to him. "Rosalie and Nick's wedding was the dressiest thing I've ever gone to." She looked back over her shoulder. "Give me some time before you start parading me around, would you?"

Ben shrugged and pulled the champagne bottle out of the bucket.

"What are you doing?" She turned around, stomped over to the dresser, and picked up the ice bucket obviously looking for another place to set it. She sat it on the carpeted floor, pulled the towel off his arm, and wiped the dresser where he'd set it in the first place. "Don't ever put an ice bucket on the furniture. It'll leave a ring. This stuff is probably antique and even if it isn't, it's hardly Salvation Army castoffs."

Ben picked up the bucket and set it on the marble table. "Is that better?"

Gina furrowed her brow. "I don't know. I guess since they make countertops out of marble, it'll be okay. But put this under it just in case." She tossed him the towel.

"Yes, ma'am." He did as she requested. "I didn't think you liked the furniture."

"What are you talking about? I love it. I'm just not used to having furniture like this. High style for me was the dresser I picked up in the scratch-and-dent room at Ikea for $60. This stuff is way out of my league."

Ben thought about correcting her but knew she'd only argue with him. He decided to forgo that experience, popped the top off the champagne, and poured instead. He handed Gina the flute. "Here's to a short and successful marriage."

She nodded, clinked his gla.s.s, and took a sip. "So, when's your plane?"

"Whenever I get there." He checked his watch. "Grandfather sent one of the corporate jets for me. We have a board meeting tomorrow-it's his way of ensuring my attendance."

Gina's eyes widened.

"He was hoping you'd come along, considering he's interrupting what he thinks is our honeymoon." When her eyes bugged out, he took pity on her. "Don't worry, I told him you were busy getting settled in our new place. He wasn't happy about it, but he didn't argue the point."

"Good." She set her gla.s.s down on the marble table and returned to folding her lingerie and placing it in the dresser drawer. "Can you picture me in Ohio? I've never stepped foot west of New Jersey."

"It's Idaho." He slid a suitcase over, making room to sit on the bed where he'd have a good view of her lingerie. "You know that state in the northwest, west of Montana, north of Utah, and east of Washington and Oregon."

She rolled her eyes. "I don't need a geography lesson."

"Could have fooled me. So far you've hit just about every state that starts with an i i or ends in an or ends in an o o other than the one I'm from." other than the one I'm from."

"Well don't expect me to go out there and certainly not in a plane. I don't fly."

Ben was taking a sip of champagne and almost spit it out. The bubbles burned the back of his nose and he coughed. "What? How the heck do you get around?"

"As nature intended: by bus."

Ben pushed another suitcase aside and sat on the bed. "You've never been on a plane?"

"No, and I never plan to be."

"Why not?"

She stared at him as if he'd just grown horns. "Why would I? The only place I've ever been interested in going was Miami and I took the bus. It was nice."

"Nice?"

"Besides, planes crash."

"So do buses."

"Yeah, but most people survive bus crashes; planes, not so much."

"That's ridiculous. Commercial flight is the safest form of travel."

"Not for me it's not. Have a nice flight to wherever."

Ben stood. "I'm leaving you my car until we can get one for you. Why don't you give Nick Romeo a call? He'll set you up. Just have him bill me."

Gina shook her head. "I don't drive. And before you start on me, I don't want to. I'm very happy taking public transportation and I can always call a cab. It's one of the perks of living in New York."

That was a fight for another day. Ben took his wallet out of his back pocket.