"The more you get out, the quicker it'll pa.s.s. It's just because you've been gone so long."

"It's just because they're waiting for me to screw up again."

That, too, Eden silently concurred, but managed a rea.s.suring smile all the same. "Then don't give them anything." Eden silently concurred, but managed a rea.s.suring smile all the same. "Then don't give them anything."

His dark gaze found hers, curiously making the breath in her lungs thin. "I'm trying, Eden," he said, an unmistakable sincerity ringing in his voice that affected her far more than it should. "That's why I've asked for your help."

And in that instant she was reminded once again why she'd offered it. He really wanted to make a go of things here, to be the stand-up guy his grandfather was counting on.

Eden cleared her throat. "What is it exactly that you want me to do?"

Bennett smiled, and a bit of humor twinkled in those dark, mysterious eyes. "That's simple enough. I want you to protect me."

Back to that, were they? The infernal wretch. She could just kill Devi. Eden snorted and rolled her eyes. "You're so full of c.r.a.p."

He blinked innocently, though they both knew it was just an act. "What? You're the one who said I should be taking this more seriously. So I am. I want you to protect me."

No, he was just looking for an excuse to keep her around so that he could apologize to her...among other things. She didn't know exactly how she figured into his turning-over-the-whole-tree approach, but she knew he wanted her absolution. He wanted to do things right this time-hadn't she just realized how important that was to him?-and by doing that, he needed to correct some old wrongs. No doubt he needed to put a check mark by her name. But for Eden's own self-preservation, she didn't need to let him do it.

She had her own heart to look after, dammit, and she had to be smarter about him this time. As much as it galled her to admit it, her mother was right. Bennett had made a fool of her twice, had hurt her more deeply than she ever imagined a person could feel pain. She wasn't up for that again, and only a moron with some sort of emotional death wish would allow it to happen for a third time.

Absolutely not.

She had had to stay strong. She to stay strong. She had had to resist him. to resist him.

Anything less was simply begging for more heartache, and she'd had enough of that to last her a lifetime.

Did she want Bennett to get his new start? Certainly. Despite everything they'd been through together, she wanted him to be happy. But aside from helping him out with his stalker, Bennett was on his own.

It was only four days, Eden told herself. She could handle anything for four days, right? She looked across the table and felt her belly flutter with dangerous longing. She helplessly let her gaze trace the woefully familiar landscape of his face-dark, compelling eyes, sinfully carnal mouth and that smooth patch of ultrasoft skin just above his cheek and to the left of his eye-and mentally whimpered.

Four days. Four agonizing, miserable tempting days with the one and only man she'd ever loved and had never been able to resist.

G.o.d help her.

PREDICTABLY, SHE SHE'D SEEN RIGHT through him, Bennett thought, studying Eden from behind the lip of his beer. Though he knew he should be more concerned than he was regarding Artemis525-of being hunted-Bennett found himself more worried about Eden bailing despite the true evidence of the threat. through him, Bennett thought, studying Eden from behind the lip of his beer. Though he knew he should be more concerned than he was regarding Artemis525-of being hunted-Bennett found himself more worried about Eden bailing despite the true evidence of the threat.

Yes, she'd agreed to help him this morning, but that had been before she'd really had a chance to rethink her position. She'd been put on the spot and backed into a corner-his lips quirked-and if there was one thing a person could count on when Eden Rutherford was backed into a corner, it was that she'd come out fighting.

In what manner remained to be seen, but Bennett knew better than to trust that she would simply do as he asked. She was notoriously stubborn-not to mention sneaky when the need arose-and would cater to her own agenda, regardless of the consequences.

His gaze lingered over the sweet curve of her jaw, the smooth line of her cheek and that delectably plump bottom lip. G.o.d, he'd missed her, Bennett thought, swallowing past a sudden tightness in his throat. Had there ever been a girl he'd cared about more? Did he even have to ask?

No.

Because Eden had always simply done it for him. She was warm and witty, charming and opinionated. She was loyal and fair and moody and interesting.

She was good, good, Bennett realized with a start of warm insight. Would that she could share a little of that with him, he thought, grimacing. G.o.d knows, were anyone asked to use one adjective to describe him, Bennett realized with a start of warm insight. Would that she could share a little of that with him, he thought, grimacing. G.o.d knows, were anyone asked to use one adjective to describe him, good good definitely wasn't going to be at the top of their list. He mentally snorted and his gaze slid to Eden once more. What would she say? he wondered. After all, other than Grady's, hers was the only opinion that had ever truly mattered. Did he want to belong in h.e.l.l? To be painted with his own brush and not that of his parents? Certainly. But in the end, Eden was the only person who mattered. definitely wasn't going to be at the top of their list. He mentally snorted and his gaze slid to Eden once more. What would she say? he wondered. After all, other than Grady's, hers was the only opinion that had ever truly mattered. Did he want to belong in h.e.l.l? To be painted with his own brush and not that of his parents? Certainly. But in the end, Eden was the only person who mattered.

f.u.c.k it, Bennett thought. He'd just ask her. "If you had to use one adjective to describe me...what would it be?" An abrupt subject change, but it wasn't as if the conversation police were going to swoop in and arrest him. She blinked, seemingly startled. "What?" Bennett thought. He'd just ask her. "If you had to use one adjective to describe me...what would it be?" An abrupt subject change, but it wasn't as if the conversation police were going to swoop in and arrest him. She blinked, seemingly startled. "What?"

"If you had to use one adjective to describe me, what would it be?"

She studied him cautiously. "I'm not sure-"

"Oh, for pity's sake, Eden, it's not a test," Bennett told her, shifting in his seat. "I'm just curious." He took a pull from his beer. "And don't sugarcoat it. Be honest."

Eden c.o.c.ked her head in silent bewilderment, then considered him for a moment. A slow smile dawned across her lips and lit her gaze, making her eyes sparkle like fresh dew on new gra.s.s. "Well, it goes without saying that you're hot."

Bennett chuckled, flattered, the shallowest part of him inwardly preening with masculine pride. He'd asked for honest, hadn't he? "Thank you," he told her, his gaze on hers. "But I was actually thinking more along the lines of a character trait."

"A character trait?"

He nodded. "Yes, a good one, if I might make a request."

She made a moue of chagrin. "I thought you wanted honest."

"Smart-a.s.s," Bennett murmured, laughing softly.

The corner of her mouth tucked into an adorable smile, Eden paused once more, seemed to be probing into his brain again, excavating his soul as she studied him. Finally she let go a small breath. "If I had to choose one word to describe you...it would be-" she squinted thoughtfully "-talented." "-talented."

Now that certainly wasn't what he'd expected. "Talented?"

"Yes," she said, sighing softly. "Not what you were looking for, eh?"

Bennett shot her a smile. "Well, it beats the h.e.l.l out of b.a.s.t.a.r.d. b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

Eden chuckled. "There is that." She paused. "Seriously, though, you are very talented. I've always thought that about you, and it's nice to see that you've been able to put that talent to work for you, that you're sharing it with others."

Bennett chewed his bottom lip. "And it doesn't hurt that it's lucrative. But thanks," he said, nodding, warmed by her compliment. Sure, she hadn't said that he was honest or loyal or n.o.ble-none of the traditional traits women usually appreciated in a man-but the one she'd chosen did suit him perfectly, and it was the one that meant the most to him.

"I don't know where that question came from, but turnabout's fair play. What about me? If you had to use one adjective to describe me, what would it be?"

Looking more relaxed in his company than she'd been thus far, Eden leaned against the back of the booth and regarded him with expectant amus.e.m.e.nt. Clearly the alcohol was having a positive effect, Bennett thought, his lips twitching.

"Well, it goes without saying that you're hot," he told her, boomeranging the compliment right back at her.

Eden grinned and nodded, evidently pleased. "Thank you. But I was looking for something a little more...substantial-a character trait, specifically."

Bennett poked his tongue in his cheek, enjoying this conversation with her more and more. He'd missed this, too, Bennett realized. Physically, there was no question that his body had practically gone into withdrawal. But this...fun conversation, relaxing with her. This had been absent from his life for too d.a.m.ned long.

He could tell her that she was good, and while she would undoubtedly appreciate it, Bennett knew it sounded too easy, too trite, so he improvised with a trait he knew she would appreciate. His gaze caught hers and held. "You're fair."

Eden paused, seemingly absorbing the implication of his a.s.sessment, then finally nodded, evidently pleased. "Thank you," she said. "I like to think that I am."

"You are. And you're also compa.s.sionate, otherwise we wouldn't be sitting here."

"Oh, no," Eden laughed, the sound rife with self-derision. "We can chalk that one up to stupidity."

"Ouch," Bennett said, only half joking, as the barbed comment found its mark. He'd been hoping to preface the apology with the "compa.s.sionate" remark, but clearly that hadn't worked. Was this the place for this conversation? Probably not, but Bennett had to take the opportunities where he could find them. So far, this had looked like his best bet, but...

"I'm sorry," Eden said, looking truly repentant. "That was ugly."

Bennett finished the last of his beer and signaled the waitress for a second. "No, I asked for honest, didn't I?"

"Still." She paused, a line of frustration emerging between her brows. "It's just...After everything that's happened between us, everyone is going to think I should have better sense."

"Than to see me again?" he asked. "This isn't a date-it's a business proposition."

She aimed her bottle at him. "It's a business proposition that I can't tell anybody about, which makes me look like a fool. Not that I mind," Eden hastened to a.s.sure him. "You've got a stalker, for pity's sake. I'm just sayin'..." She shrugged, letting the rest of the uncharitable sentiment left unsaid.

Bennett swallowed, the ramifications of his selfish plan surfacing, as usual, at an inconvenient time-as in, when it was too late to do anything about it. He'd been so desperate to spend some time with her, to make the case for his apology, that he hadn't stopped to consider how being seen with him in public was going to affect her. Ironic, wasn't it? He'd sworn her to secrecy about his stalker to protect his own hide and in the process had sacrificed hers.

He was pathetic, Bennett thought as his insides writhed with humiliation. Utterly pathetic.

Quite frankly, when he'd suggested that they get together tonight, he hadn't invited her to the house because he hadn't wanted his gimlet-eyed grandfather watching and listening to his every move. She'd suggested Ice Water, rather than her house, which would have suited him much better as they would have had some privacy.

No doubt that's why she'd suggested the bar and grill, and it just went to show him how desperately she hoped to keep him at a distance. He knew she wanted him-could feel it every time those gorgeous green eyes tangled with his. Could read it in the unwitting way she leaned toward him when they were together, as though she gravitated to him the same way he'd always gravitated to her. But she was willing to risk being the object of renewed ridicule to keep from being alone with him.

Now that was distinctly disheartening.

In fact, now that he thought about it...Bennett glumly reached into his back pocket for his wallet and tossed some bills on the table. "You know, this was a bad idea. I hate that I've-"

"What the h.e.l.l are you doing?" Eden whispered urgently, leaning forward in her seat.

"Giving you an out."

Eden glanced around the room, then leaned forward even more, and though her lips were shaped into a smile, the dangerously chilly tone of her voice and the fire blazing from her eyes begged to differ. "If you get up from this table and leave me sitting here by myself before we even finish our meal-if you humiliate me again- again-I will tear those precious b.a.l.l.s from your body and hand them to Artemis525 myself." She upped the voltage of her smile. "Am I making myself clear?"

Bennett stilled and the 'nads in question inexplicably shrank at her threat. Well, all righty then. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Eden huffed an exasperated breath. "You have a stalker, Bennett," she said as though he still didn't comprehend the gravity of the threat. "Of course I'm sure. Now sit back and tell me just exactly what it is you want me to do."

Fine, Bennett thought, more than marginally relieved. He'd hoped to work around to this by degrees, but since she was so adamant and had so eloquently cut to the chase, he'd tell her. Bennett thought, more than marginally relieved. He'd hoped to work around to this by degrees, but since she was so adamant and had so eloquently cut to the chase, he'd tell her.

"I want you to come stay with me."

12.

FLABBERGASTED, STUNNED STUNNED, SHOCKED SHOCKED and otherwise bowled over, Eden snapped her mouth shut. "I can't come stay with you," she said, her voice a breathless squeak. "Have you lost your mind?" and otherwise bowled over, Eden snapped her mouth shut. "I can't come stay with you," she said, her voice a breathless squeak. "Have you lost your mind?"

"No," Bennett replied drolly. "I just thought the goal here was to save my life." His lips twisted. "My mistake."

"We can save your life without me moving in with you," Eden said, trying to remain calm. Jeez, Lord, as if she didn't have enough to worry about. Now he wanted to muddy the waters even more by having her stay with him? Twenty-four-seven?

Why didn't she just head to the bathroom with him now-it's not as though they hadn't done it there before, Eden thought, her pulse tripping at the merest thought-then tell him that she still loved him so that he could dump her all over again? The fast-forward version of each one of their courtships. Naturally she wanted him to be safe, but this- This was out of the question.

"Look, Bennett, I'm going to do everything I can to find out who she is before the twenty-fifth, but as far as actually protecting protecting you...I don't know what I'd do exactly that you can't do for yourself." you...I don't know what I'd do exactly that you can't do for yourself."

He frowned thoughtfully. "Didn't you take some defensive training before you joined the police force?"

"Haven't you been kicking a.s.s since kindergarten?" Eden shot back. She knew what he was doing-knew that, for reasons known only to him, he wanted to keep her close. This was just an excuse. Yes, he needed to take the stalker seriously, but keeping her in his pocket wasn't going to keep him any safer. Did she feel a bit responsible because this crazy woman was using a Web site she'd designed out of spite? Yes, but that didn't mean she was going to be an idiot.

Bennett smiled, blew out a resigned breath. "I'm not going to win on this, am I?"

"No," Eden said, barely suppressing her own grin.

"At least give me the twenty-fifth," Bennett pressed. "If you really think that's when she's going to make her ultimate move, then even you can't deny that you should be there."

Eden paused, examining her motives, silently considering the request. Given what she knew and what she expected, then yes, she had to agree that being with Bennett that night would probably be a good idea. If this were anyone else, she would certainly make that call.

She swallowed, then nodded cautiously. "Okay," she said. "And naturally, if anything happens, you should call me. I don't suppose you have any new ideas as to who it could be?"

Bennett shifted uncomfortably and hesitated, causing Eden's belly to flip over in dread. No doubt it was some new conquest he'd remembered, someone from town, no less, which was going to make her want to break things and cry. Eden steeled herself against the anxiety and irritation hurtling through her, and tried to focus. This was serious, after all. She couldn't afford to let emotions get in the way.

At least not right now. She'd cry later.

"Come on, Bennett," she told him. "If you've thought of someone, then you've got to tell me who-"

Bennett gave his head a small shake and looked away. "It's nothing, really. Just a far-out-there suspicion not worth mentioning."

"Bennett-"

The waitress chose that moment to deposit the hot wings on the table, momentarily preempting Eden's ability to press him further. Margie, twenty years older than him and married to boot, looked down at Bennett and smiled flirtatiously enough to set Eden's teeth on edge.

"Welcome back, Bennett," she said as though Eden wasn't sitting there. "I didn't know these were yours or I'd have put some extra ranch dressing on there for you."

Bennett shot Eden an uncomfortable look and actually blushed.

Bennett Wilder-blushing. Now there was something she didn't think she'd ever seen before. She knew Ben had come back from Savannah a different person from the one who'd left h.e.l.l, but clearly the changes were much deeper than what she'd realized. Eden filed the thought away for future contemplation. In the meantime... Now there was something she didn't think she'd ever seen before. She knew Ben had come back from Savannah a different person from the one who'd left h.e.l.l, but clearly the changes were much deeper than what she'd realized. Eden filed the thought away for future contemplation. In the meantime...

"Evening, Margie," she said brightly, forcing the waitress to acknowledge her presence. "Now that you mention it, I'd like to have some extra ranch dressing." She smiled sweetly. "And another beer, if you don't mind."

Margie's grin turned a bit sick. "Certainly."

Bennett's twinkling gaze met hers once the waitress had walked away. "Am I mistaken, or did you just post a No Fishing sign."

"No," Eden said, feeling her cheeks pinken. "I just posted a 'Hey, what about me?' sign." She fidgeted in her seat and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Honestly," she sighed, rolling her eyes. "It's sickening."