Men at Work: Through the Roof / Taking His Measure / Watching It Go Up

Ben shot her a gaze full of promised retribution and disappeared into the bathroom again, where he dropped his pants and clapped the hard hat over his goodies. Then he strode out with a gleam in his eye. “So, ladies. How would you like me?”

“Why, sunny-side up, darling,” Marina retorted, settling herself into a chair and crossing her slim, bare legs.

Sam’s lip quivered but she held on to her professionalism. “How about if you recline against the far wall. Rest your weight on your elbow. Good! Hold that expression.”

“What expression?” Ben asked.

“The one that crosses your face when you look at Ms. Reston. As if you’d like to—”

“Beat her?” Ben inquired.

Sam’s face flushed red. “Eat her for lunch.”

“Oh, that expression,” said Ben, and bared his teeth in a wolfish grin.

“Holy Mother of God,” said Sam. She clicked away. “Um, I don’t want to get, um, out of line here. But go ahead and think about doing…whatever it is you do…to Ms. Reston when you’re spending time together. I’d like those expressions, too.”

“Oh, I’d be delighted.” Ben turned his dark eyes on Marina and let them drop to a sleepy half-mast, while he bit his lower lip and began to picture all kinds of X-rated things.

“Dear Lord!” Sam uttered, and Marina squirmed visibly in her chair, uncrossing and recrossing her legs.

They continued in this vein for a good ten minutes.

Finally, Ben laughed softly. “More?”

“I’m not sure I can take any more,” Sam said, fanning herself with an envelope she’d snatched off a side table. “Besides—I’ve got shots here that will peel the wallpaper in the average housewife’s kitchen. I don’t think we can improve on them. Thank you.”

“Just doing my job, señorita.” Ben headed for the powder room, very conscious that the two women’s eyes were glued to his naked backside. Just for fun, he turned his head and caught them in the act.

Sam immediately pretended to look at her camera. Marina switched her attention to her Piaget watch.

Ben smirked, and she flushed angrily. He got dressed wondering how the atmosphere between them always became sexually charged, whether they were speaking or not. By all rights, they should be icily cold to each other after the way they’d parted yesterday.