Read Accidental Sex Goddess for Free Online Page A

or not? “What Ben doesn’t know can’t hurt him.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    Ben turned away from the grill at the sound of laughter and spotted Reese and her sister chatting a few yards away. Whatever big secret Tricia exposed must not have been too important because Reese’s big eyes were bright with humor.
    Something squeezed in his chest at the sight of her smile. It made her—
    Next to Ben, Mark made a tssk ing sound. “Keep looking at her like that, and she’s gonna figure it out.”
    Ben frowned. “Figure what out?”
    He gave Ben a knowing look. “Come on, man, you’ve been making eyes at her since that dude she was dating moved out of her place.”
    “I haven’t.” He cleared his throat. “It’s been nice having her back in my life again. Lance was possessive as all hell.”
    “I don’t really see what’s stopping you.”
    You, asshole. “Nothing’s stopping me from anything. We’re friends.” He jammed his hands into his pockets. He and Reese had agreed years ago that neither would ask for more. Was he the genius who’d thought of that?
    Mark rubbed his chest thoughtfully. “Yeah, it’s probably not the time to rock the boat. She needs friends right now. That’s some shit, what the station did to her.” He turned back to the grill and flipped a few burgers. “I swear that place is run by a bunch of idiots.”
    Ben froze. “What?”
    “I’ll admit I think she can do better. Staying at the station was the easy choice, so maybe this will turn out for the best.”
    Ben didn’t hear the rest because he was striding through the lawn toward Reese.
    He stalked up to her and took her by the arm, and the smile on her face froze.
    “What’s going on?”
    He maneuvered his way through the guests, making his way to the back door. When he pulled her into his parents’ house, he found the closest private room.
    “Ben,” she said as he shut the door, “why are we in the bathroom?”
    “You lost your job?”
    She lifted her chin. “I did.”
    “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
    “I think we both know the answer to that.”
    He took a step toward her, and she backed against the vanity. “Then you’d be wrong because that seems like information you’d share with your friends .”
    “I don’t want you sweeping in to the rescue. I don’t want you paying my mortgage or filling my tank. I don’t want any of the things you like to offer when I find myself in a pinch.”
    He crossed his arms. “That’s what friends do.”
    “Okay, then let me ask you something. When you found out, how many seconds later did you decide I should sell my condo and move in with you?”
    Ben opened his mouth to reply then closed it. She knew him too well, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a perfectly reasonable plan. It was a good plan now, and it had been a good plan when Lance left her. “You never had money problems before you bought that place.”
    Her lips quirked. “I don’t think that’s really why you hate my condo so much.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Never mind. It’s a nonissue.”
    “How do you figure?”
    “I was offered a job yesterday.”
    He raised a brow. “Another piece of information I’d think I wouldn’t be the last to know.”
    “You’re not the last to know.” She blew out a breath. “I haven’t accepted yet. Sex Goddess, Inc. needs a promotions director.”
    The words washed away his irritation. “Really? And the job is yours? It’s a done deal?”
    “The job is mine,” she continued, “on the condition that I complete Sex Goddess 101.”
    Ben grinned. “You’re going to do Slut Hotness 101 program?”
    “Don’t call it that,” she said, slugging him in the arm.
    Even as he rubbed the dull ache, he couldn’t help the laughter in his voice. “But it’s a condition of getting the job? The job that’s going to save the overpriced condo you’re so determined to keep?”
    She dropped her shoulders. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Her brow wrinkled and