Worthington Wives

Chapter Five

Reyanna was being discharged from the hospital when Ben came by after work. He helped carry her things down to her father’s car. Once she was in the passenger seat, Ben reached across and fastened her seatbelt. Reyanna inhaled the aroma that she had come to know as his scent and it pleased all her senses.

Ben smiled at her as their faces came past each other, and she couldn’t help but blush at the close proximity of him. Oh those heavenly eyes! Reyanna thought, dropping her gaze. She knew if given the opportunity she could fall completely into the dark abyss of them. “Be safe,” he said in that smooth voice of his.

Tom Elswick hoped that this man would

not break his daughter’s heart. He feared for her because she was in a fragile state right now. “I’ll be right there, I need to pick up some things,” Ben told them.

Ben used the grocery pickup option at his local store and took the items to the apartment. He came in carrying bags of groceries and Reyanna gave him a confused look. He sure is an unusual billionaire, she thought.

“What’s all this?” Reyannas mother asked, taking the bags from him to the kitchen. “I’m making dinner for you all tonight,” he declared. “Do you need me to do anything?” She asked. “Nope, my treat. You go rest and enjoy your daughter,” he said with a smile.

“Ben, this stir fry is wonderful!” Reyanna exclaimed, enjoying the meal that he had prepared with his own hands. “Some of the best chefs I’ve known have been men,” Tom commented. “Its delicious! Thank you,” Melissa said.

Ben had stayed at a hotel when only her parents were at the apartment, but now that Reyanna was here, he wanted to stay there. He put her in his own big bedroom and had the maid to change the bedding and curtains. He had put fresh flowers in the room for Reyanna to fill the room with fragrance before she got there as well. To her pleasant suprise, he had bought a beautiful set of pajamas with a robe and slippers and laid them on the bed for her. Reyanna felt the soft brushed cotton and smiled at Bens thoughtfulness.

Laying down on the futon in the den, Ben smiled as he thought of Reyanna wearing the cozy outfit he left for her. He hoped she liked the decor and the flowers and was comfortable in the king sized bed. Her parents were in the guest room and the house was quiet. He put his hands behind his head and drifted contentedly off to sleep, knowing the adorable little nurse lay right next door.

Reyanna laid back in the soft bed, covered up with the extra plush comforter and smiled. “I’ve never been so comfortable, it’s like sleeping in a cloud,” she said to herself. She hugged her big teddy bear that Ben had bought for her and thought of his eyes. “How am I going to work for you without being hypnotized by your way too sexy eyes, Mr Worthington?” She asked thinking aloud. Reyanna drifted off to sleep thinking of a billionaire named Ben.

The next morning Melissa got up early and made omelets and French toast for breakfast for them all. She sliced the omelets up in smaller servings because she made four different kinds. Tom had coffee brewing when Ben pulled on a robe and slippers and came to see what the amazing aroma was coming from the kitchen.

Reyanna ran her fingers through her messy hair and pulled on her robe and slippers and padded into the kitchen at the same time. She was yawning and stretching when Ben came out of his room. He grinned at her and she jumped, embarrassed he had caught her like that.

“Good morning. Sleep well?” He asked, grinning at her as she turned to the wall and covered her blushing face with her hands. “Mmhm” she mumbled. He kept smiling, thinking this girl is cute in everything she does.

The four of them sat down to breakfast together and Ben commented on how delicious everything was. Ben chatted with her parents while Reyanna quietly sipped her tea.

“Aren’t you hungry, Rey?” Her mother asked, concerned. She was, but she was a bit shy eating in front of Ben. Although she had become familiar with him very quickly, she wasn’t quite sure where she stood with him. He said she was to be his father’s nurse, but the way he acted around her made her feel like maybe he wanted her for himself.

Reyanna certainly would not be opposed to him being interested in her, but she was cautious to make assumptions. So for now, she decided she would do as her father suggested, sit back and wait for him to tell her what he wants.

“Come on, shortcake, your mom made your favorite, French toast,” her father coaxed. She smiled and nodded as he put two slices on her plate. “That’s my girl,” he said, smiling.

“Ben, you have gone out of your way for all of us, and we just don’t know how to repay your kindness,” Melissa said as she watched him savoring the food she had prepared.

“Well, I would say this breakfast is thanks enough,” he said with a wink and a grin. “But when this young lady is back on her feet in a couple of weeks, me and my dad are anxious for her to start working with him,” he said, looking intently at Reyanna. Their eyes met and she dropped her gaze so she wouldn’t be drawn in to the magnetic pull they seem to have on her.

Reyanna took a drink to clear her throat and braved meeting his gaze again. “Ben…uh, Mr. Worthington, I don’t need two weeks. I can’t be invading your space that long,” she protested. “My mom and dad need to go back to work. They’ve sacrificed enough time for me,” she said, gazing at her parents. “We will leave and I will go back home with them today,” she insisted. “When you are ready, I’ll go to the…uhm…your parents’ home to stay and care for your father,” she said.

“Out of the question!” Ben said, sounding insulted. “Your parents are welcome to stay or go as they please or return as they please,” he said in an irritated tone. “But you need to stay here,” he insisted.

“Mr and Mrs Elswick, I assure you, I will protect and provide for Reyanna as long as she is under my care. You have nothing to worry about,” he assured them.

“I have a maid, an older lady, Evelyn, that I can have come by every day to check on her. I can even see if her sister Elmeta can come on Evelyn’s days off,” he assured them. “She will be completely safe here,” he promised. “You can trust me to maintain her privacy,” he said.

“Am I being held hostage?!” Reyanna stood and asked indignantly. “For what reason do I need to stay here?” She asked. Her pulse and BP raised with her irritation. “Owww!” She cried out, grabbing her head. “And there is your answer,” he said, going around and pushing her chair gently behind her for her to sit. He grabbed a bag of frozen peas out of the freezer and wrapped them in a kitchen towel. Being very gentle with her, he placed the ice pack on the back of her head.

Sitting down beside her, he answered her in a calm and quiet tone. “Reyanna, you are supposed to rest for two weeks. You can’t overdo it and you can’t get yourself excited or stressed out. I intend to make sure of it. As long as you are here with me, I know you are following Doctors orders,” he said, putting his large warm hand protectively over her small delicate one.

“Still sounds like I’m being held as a prisoner and you are the warden,” she mumbled. Ben smiled and looked to her parents for support.

“Rey, honey, it sounds like a good idea. You know if you come to our house you will not be resting while we are gone to work all day,” her mother said, putting her hand on her back. “I think so too, Shortcake,” her father agreed.

Reyanna gave them both a mock angry side glance and called them traitors. “How do you know he’s not some psycho that’s gonna torture and kill me?” She joked. “Because I see kindness in his eyes when he looks at you,” Melissa assured her. “He’s a good man, sweetheart. I feel good knowing he’s going to take good care of you,” Tom said.

“Wait til you see my torture chamber,” he teased. She stuck her tongue out at him in a childish gesture. “Come on, I want you to lay back down and rest,” he said, gently encouraging her to stand. He was suprised how cooperative she was being as he gently put his hand on her back and led her to the bedroom.

Once Reyanna shed her robe and climbed in bed, Ben gently tucked her in. “That’s a good little inmate,” he teased. “I’ll fill your water pitcher….would you like some bread to go with it?” He joked, smiling as she gave him a perturbed side look.

Reyannas parents decided she was in good care, so that evening they said their goodbyes and started on their way home.