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her bare thigh.
    He grabbed the bread and stepped away from her. She noticed that his eyes touched her legs before they returned to her face. “What would you like to talk about?”
    There were a million things, like why she had felt so close to him last night, or why he didn’t put a shirt on before he came downstairs or why she felt things for him that she shouldn’t feel for her ex-lover’s brother. And most important, she wanted to talk about what he was planning on doing about her and Dash, but she couldn’t blurt any of that out. “I didn’t think you could cook.”
    “I can’t. I can do basics. Eggs, sandwiches, pasta.”
    “Why would you ever have to cook? It seems like your staff would break their necks to serve you.”
    “I keep odd hours. I don’t sleep very much. It would be wrong of me to expect them to stay up just in case I have need of something.”
    “Virgil wouldn’t have cared. He once had a hotel wake up their chef at two am so he could have beef Wellington.”
    A muscle in Ben’s jaw ticked. “That explains the four-thousand-dollar bill I got for dinner at the Frances Hotel.”
    “Did he die in debt?” she asked carefully.
    “Half a million dollars’ worth.”
    “Oh.” She fell silent. Half a million bucks and now a kid. Even after Virgil was gone he was still leaving behind his mess for Ben to clean up.
    He toasted four slices of bread before he assembled two sandwiches and handed one to her. She took a bite, not sure she was feeling hungry anymore, but as soon as the combination of toasty bread, fluffy eggs and melted cheese hit her mouth she moaned.
    “Is it to your satisfaction?” he asked, handing her a glass of orange juice.
    “Thank you.” She felt her cheeks burn. Ben stared at her for a moment. His eyes lingered on her mouth before he turned his attention to his own meal. They ate in silence for a few minutes. “Ben? Do you think I might be able to have my clothes back?”
    “No. I’d prefer to keep you naked and chained to a wall.”
    “Was that a joke?”
    “Yes,” he answered, not smiling. “You’re going to get new ones today. Dovie will take you shopping later today. You are to get yourself and Dash whatever you need.”
    “Oh. Thank you.” Ben had just confirmed once again that he was going to help, but she didn’t know for how long. “Ben?”
    “Yes?”
    “What exactly are your plans for me and Dash? We have to leave soon and I don’t want to disturb your life any more than we have. If you can just assure me that you’ll help me with Dash I can be out of your hair soon.”
    “I don’t want you out of my hair soon. I plan to marry you.”

Chapter 4
    I Really Can’t Stay.… Baby, It’s Cold Outside …
    Ben almost laughed when he saw Dina’s big, beautiful hazel eyes bulge, but he didn’t because he knew he had just dropped a bomb on her. He had just dropped a bomb on himself. He never thought he would get married again, never thought he would share his life with another person after Karen died. But he couldn’t let Dash walk out of his life. Or Dina for that matter. He didn’t know what made him offer marriage. It might have been the time he spent with Dash last night. It made him remember how much he wanted to be a father. It made him realize how empty his life had become these past few years. It made him not want to go back to the way things were. He stared at Dina. She sat before him with shock and uncertainty etched on her pretty face. It could have been her too. His brother had treated her badly. Her family wasn’t a part of her life. She was just as alone as he was. She didn’t have to be. She shouldn’t have to struggle or be unsure of her son’s future. He could do that for her. He could protect her. Protect them.
    He couldn’t keep Virgil alive. He couldn’t save his brother, but he could keep his son safe. He could give the boy everything and in the process gain the family he always wanted.
    Marriage seemed to be the only