Ben laughed. ‘Glad you can see past its rustic charm.’ He pushed a key into the lock and turned it.
The hallway was dark but at least it didn’t smell. Eve had expected the dank, mouldy smell she was often met with in old places, but was pleasantly surprised. They moved down the hallway into a bright kitchen. The room was old but spotless. The outside of the property had been let go, but it appeared the inside had been looked after. ‘How long has this been empty?’
‘A month or two,’ Ben replied. ‘The owner died a few weeks before the lease was due to be renewed. The family chose to evict the tenant, and eleven others, so they could look at selling it.’
‘Eleven others? So this is the project you contacted Peter about?’
Ben nodded. He stepped closer and took her in his arms. ‘God, I’ve missed you.’ His lips met hers with urgency.
Eve found herself responding but her mind wasn’t allowing her to surrender. She still didn’t understand why he’d brought her here today. Today was about them, not about work.
He drew back. ‘What’s wrong?’
Heat rushed to her face. ‘Sorry, I’m trying to work out why we’re here and not at the Sofitel. This is hardly comfortable.’
Ben grinned and took her hand. ‘You haven’t seen it all yet.’ He led her to another small hallway off the kitchen. He pushed open the first door to reveal a large, empty room.
‘Gorgeous fireplace.’
‘It’s at least a hundred years old,’ he said. ‘A bit of work to restore it, and it’ll be an amazing selling point for the house.’ He continued down the hall and pushed open a second door.
They were faced with a similar room. This one, however, housed several old chairs and a broken bed frame. Frustration was growing in Eve. The afternoon of escapism she’d been longing for seemed to be slipping through her fingers. Appraising a run-down house had not been her plan.
Ben must’ve sensed her irritation. ‘Be patient,’ he murmured and kissed her again. This time his tongue lingered in her mouth and he ran his hands down her sides and cupped her bottom. She could feel his hardness through his suit pants.
He pulled away and led her to a third door. ‘Last one.’ His voice was deep and husky as he stood back and signalled for her to open the door.
She pushed it open and stopped. ‘Wow.’ The word was out before she had time to think.
The room was beautiful. The floorboards had been polished and the walls had been stripped of wallpaper and painted cream. The fireplace had been restored and some kindling was piled in the grate along with some scrunched up newspapers ready to light. But the main feature was the bed in the middle of the room.
Ben’s arms circled her waist from behind while his mouth nuzzled at her neck. ‘What do you think?’
Eve swallowed. The bed in front of her was nothing short of glamorous. It was round, with a rolled fabric finish and at least a dozen plump cushions strewn around it. She faced Ben, no longer needing to question why he’d brought her here today. ‘Did you do this all for me?’
He nodded. ‘For us. I’ll tell you more about the South Melbourne project later. For different reasons, we’ll be renovating this house last. For the next six to nine months this room is ours and, while we’re working on the project together, it makes sense that you’ll need to meet me here on a regular basis.’
She grinned. ‘You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?’
‘I organised for this room to be done last week. I wanted to surprise you. Don’t worry. The contractors I used aren’t the ones working on the development. No one except us will be aware that this room even exists.’
‘You’ve thought of everything.’
Ben kissed her again. This time he removed her coat and started on the buttons of her shirt. ‘Hold on, I forgot something.’ He moved across the room to the fireplace and lit the newspaper. Very quickly the sticks began to burn and he leaned down to blow on them, then stopped.
Eve stood before him completely naked.
Ben rolled on to his back, sweat beading his brow. ‘Wow!’
Eve smiled, curling her spent body around his. ‘That was amazing.’
He dragged the soft duvet over them. The room was warm with the fire crackling in the hearth.
He stroked her thigh. ‘You’re the one that’s amazing. How lucky are we?’
They were lucky, extremely lucky to have found each other. If they’d met before they’d both been married would their life together seem so exciting?
‘Don’t think,’ Ben said, allowing his fingers to travel over her body. ‘You do too much of that.’
Eve sighed. ‘Guilty.’
‘We’re perfect as we are, Eve, you know that.’
He appeared to be able to read her mind.
‘It’s part of the excitement. It gives us a break from everyday life. Reminds us we’re desired. Full-time wouldn’t be the same.’
She didn’t respond. She agreed, but there were times, particularly after amazing sex, that part of her wanted this life, not her regular one. She snuggled closer, closing her eyes as the combination of his body heat and the warmth of the fire enveloped her.
The ringing of her phone instantly killed her post-sex glow.
Ben tugged her back when she pushed off the covers. ‘Leave it. It’ll only be work.’
Eve hesitated then fell back against him. ‘Good idea.’ Her mind briefly flickered to the girls. They were with Leah. She didn’t need to worry about them.
Her lover pinned her under him as the phone stopped ringing. ‘You have other things to worry about right now.’ He moved beneath the covers, his tongue trailing down her body.
She tensed in anticipation. But as he continued his explorations, her phone rang again.
‘Shit!’ Eve sat up. ‘I’d better at least check who it is.’
Ben sighed and rolled off her and she slid from the bed and reached for her bag and phone. The caller ID showed Sean’s name. ‘Shit,’ she repeated. She hesitated. She’d never spoken to her husband while she was with Ben.
Guilt stabbed at her.
She looked across to Ben, mouthed ‘Sorry’, then pressed the receive button and put the phone to her ear.
‘Just checking if you want me to pick the girls up from after-school care?’ Sean asked.
‘You’re on your way home already?’ Eve checked the time; it wasn’t even five.
‘Court was cancelled. I thought I should check in with you guys. I’ve been working late so many nights I’m worried I might not recognise the twins.’ He gave a soft laugh. ‘Luckily, I only have to remember what one of them looks like.’
‘Leah picked them up earlier.’ Eve cringed. She hated that this discussion was in front of Ben. Keeping her two lives separate was what made them work. ‘The school called. Ava was unwell. I thought you were in court, and I couldn’t get away.’
‘What’s wrong with Ava?’
‘A temperature, not feeling great. Nothing serious.’
‘And you really couldn’t cancel your day to collect her?’
‘No,’ she said. ‘And Leah was in Hampton at a property, so it wasn’t inconvenient.’