Ben nodded. “It looks like you’re prepared for a night on the town and maybe some dancing?”
She smiled and nodded a little self-consciously. “I travel a lot in my job, but It’s very rare for me to come to a place as lovely as Singapore. I’d hoped to enjoy the nightlife, but it’s looking like I’ll be calling it an early night. I’ve got to be at the airport early tomorrow morning, and I don’t know enough about the city to find the right hot spot to truly enjoy myself. I should have prepared better.”
Ben nodded as he knew very little about the city other than he loved it and wanted to come back.
The waiter returned with their drinks, and once he left, Robin lifted her glass. Ed and Ben raised theirs too.
“To a successful completion of your around the world tour!” Robin said, and they tapped glasses.
Ben watched Ed’s face as he took his first sip. The man’s eyebrows went up, and he looked at Robin with a smile. “That’s really good!” She smiled after she took a sip of hers.
“Just a word of warning. I believe it’s also very strong. That’s all I’ll say,” Ben offered, and Ed nodded.
“Did you ever think you’d be here doing this when you were growing up? I know I didn’t,” Robin said as she shook her head in wonder.
Ben looked over at her curiously. “Why?”
She shrugged self-consciously. “My mum worked as a maid in a big house in central London, and my grannie raised me. My father worked as a taxi driver. My world was contained in two city blocks. I didn’t know there was anything outside of that.”
Ed sipped his drink and nodded to himself. “My mom died in a car accident when I was five. Her cousin was the only family available to take me in. Aunt Shirley raised me and her daughter Grace. She didn’t have much money, especially after getting hurt in the factory. We learned how to live with very little, but we were happy, most of the time.”
Ben was staring at Ed as his mind spun. Another similarity and an ugly one. “My parents died in a car crash when I was five. I didn’t have any other family, so I was put into the foster care program.” He swallowed some water for his suddenly dry throat. “My experiences weren’t… positive, but I survived and picked up my engineering skills in school and college.”
“To humble beginnings leading to greater things,” Robin said, raising her glass once more.
Ed and Ben raised their glasses as well.
“Ben has certainly achieved greater things, and from what I understand, he’s been successful in finding love as well. How about you, Ed? Have you found love? I don’t see a wedding ring.”
Ed’s face flushed, and he gave her a bashful smile. “Yes. I’ve found love, and I have three beautiful daughters.”
Robin grinned. “Pictures!” she insisted.
Ed didn’t need much coercion to bring out his cell phone and pull up a picture of his triplets. He handed the cell to her, and she cooed over the images.
“They’re lovely! Triplets?” she gasped, and Ed nodded proudly.
She handed the cell back. “And their mum?”
Ed swiped to the next picture. “In the black swimsuit,” he said, handing it back.
Robin’s eyes widened as she took in the number of bikini-clad women in the photo’s background. She focused on the woman in the black one-piece and could see the love in her eyes. “I see where the daughters got their looks.”
“Grace is very beautiful!” Ed said happily.
Robin’s eyes widened. “Oh! Your cousin?”
Ed’s smile slipped away. “Second cousins, actually.”
Robin immediately looked contrite. “Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not judging you! The heart wants what it wants, and you make a lovely couple!”
Ed’s smile returned, and he nodded bashfully.
The lovely redhead looked at Ben and saw he had his cell phone in his hand. “Children?” she asked with a grin.
Ben nodded happily and showed her the photo of Tina holding Sam with Christopher leaning up against her side with a big smile on his face. Then he showed her the picture of Lucy with Gretchen.
“They’re beautiful, and that was a lovely tribute to your daughter’s namesake,” Robin said gently.
Ben’s smile wobbled a little, but he nodded.
“This is the first time I’ve met you on one of Sky Shepherd’s flights. Do you travel much?” she asked Ben.
“No. I prefer to stay home with my family,” Ben said. He looked at Ed in question.
Ed nodded. “I go with Louis and Dan on these developer meetings. Sometimes, I travel to inspect the buildings to ensure everything follows the specifications and the local building standards. I don’t like traveling away from my family either.”
“I don’t have anyone at home, so I don’t get homesick, which would be troublesome for someone in my line of work,” Robin explained.
Ben sipped his water to relax his throat and nodded. “Meeting someone must be difficult when your job takes you away so much.”
She nodded. “That’s why I made a deal with myself to move on to another occupation when I turn thirty-five. Before taking this job, I’ve worked in several different fields, so I may go back to one of them when I’ve gotten this wanderlust out of my system.”
The music playing in the background changed to a slower tune, and they watched two couples get up and move onto the dancefloor.
Robin looked at Ben with a hopeful smile, and it took him a moment to catch on.
“Oh! Would you like to dance?” he asked.
“I would if you don’t mind?” she said as she rose to her feet at his nod.
Ben got up as well.
“I’m not a dancer, so I’m going to head back to my room. My head’s spinning a little,” Ed said.
“Goodnight, Ed. See you at breakfast,” Ben said and patted the man on the shoulder as he followed Robin to the dancefloor.
They faced each other, and Ben took her hand in his as his other landed on her lower back to pull her closer. He moved them into the flow of the music, and Robin’s eyes flashed with delight as she grinned at him. They smiled at the other couples enjoying the music then Robin sighed happily.
“I rarely get to dance, and I enjoy it so much,” she said.
“You don’t dance when you’re alone?” he asked with a cheeky smile.
She grinned. “Of course I do! But dancing with a partner is so much better. Especially one who moves so beautifully. You’ve had lessons!”
He gave her a small smile. “A long time ago, but muscle memory is a strangely permanent thing.”
They were quiet as they enjoyed the rest of the song and danced through the next two as well.
“I’d love to spend the rest of the night out here on the dancefloor with you, but I have an early start tomorrow,” she sighed regretfully.
“I had a delightful time. You’re a great dance partner,” he said with a smile.
She bit her bottom lip as she looked at him, then smiled. “See you tomorrow.”
He bowed over her hand and stepped back. She grinned, turned, and headed for the exit as he watched her leave. She was a strikingly lovely woman, and her movements were graceful like someone else….
Ben was about to head back to the table when he heard his song playing. The opening notes to When I Fall in Love caught him, and he couldn’t move. The tide of emotions caught him by surprise.
-=-
“Are you all right? Ben?”
Liliya’s hand was captured by Ben’s, and he pulled her close as he moved them onto the dancefloor. She was a little stiff at first but quickly let him guide her, and they moved as one. She wanted to see his expression as he’d looked so lost moments before when she approached him.
She’d seen him freeze and went to make sure he was okay. Now she felt like a feather in the wind, giving him complete control of her movements. She’d had training in dance as it was a necessary skill to lure in her targets, but Ben’s movements were pure heaven. She gave herself over to it and relied on Tatiana and Evelyn to remain vigilant for dangers as she enjoyed the dance.
When the song came to a close, Liliya finally got to see Ben’s face, and she saw the tears there.
“Ben, come back.”
He blinked, confused for a moment, then he looked at her, but she wasn’t positive he was seeing her.
His lips landed softly on hers as his big hands gently touched her face. She pressed her mouth against his, and the kiss threatened to ignite her ears as he sensually caressed her lips with his. It was so sexy, her breath caught in her throat.
“NO!”
The shout was sharp and violent, jarring Liliya from the moment. She was trembling as she turned to look in the direction of Tatiana, who was storming toward them.
“STOP!”
Equally sharp and loud, the Sergeant stepped between Tatiana and her. She wanted to yell a warning to her as Tatiana wouldn’t stop. She didn’t see the Sergeant as a threat.
Tatiana lashed out lightning-fast with her right fist, but the Sergeant had already moved, and the punch sailed over her shoulder.
Then the brunette assassin hit the floor face first as her legs were swept out from under her. Evelyn had her pinned instantly.
Liliya worried that Evelyn might have taken a step too far.
-=-
Ben came out of his momentary confusion standing on the dancefloor clinging to Liliya as the Sergeant held Tatiana down.
“What the hell is going on?” Ben asked.
Liliya stepped away from him. “You reacted oddly to a song the DJ played for the dancers. Have you been subject to psychological programming?” Liliya asked.
“Get off me! I swear I will kill you if you don’t,” Tatiana snarled from the floor.
Ben blinked in confusion, then closed his eyes as he felt the memories fading. He’d had another regression. They were fewer and farther between, but he wasn’t cured, it seemed.