Proposal in Room 309 by Joss Wood Read Free Book Online

the issue, you want to keep talking?’ Ben tried the card again and sighed in relief when the door clicked open. ‘This night has been an utter disaster-‘
    ‘My fault,’ Joely muttered as she stepped into the darkened room.
    Ben allowed the door to shut behind him and saw that Joely had dropped his jacket on the couch and was now struggling to reach for the zip on her dress. ‘Can you just stop being independent for one second and ask me for help?’
    He yanked the zip down, pulled his tie over his head and went to work on his shirt buttons, ripping the bottom two in his frustration. Balling the shirt in his hand he stared at her in the half light coming from the bedroom. ‘When are you going to realise that I’m here and that I’m not going anywhere? Whether you marry me or not, I am here, standing in your corner wanting to be there for you! Wanting to be your soft place to fall.’
    Joely frowned as her dress slipped down her body to end up in a puddle on the floor. ‘You’re now mad because I didn’t ask you to unzip me?’
    Ben, goaded by the events of the evening into finally losing control, allowed her to see his roiling temper. ‘Yes! No! God! That was just a small example…you still pay me dammed rent, Jo! I own my flat outright but you pay me rent like we are sharing a commune. You insist on paying half of the utility bill…I earn ten times more than you ever will and every bill is an issue!’
    Ben undid his belt buckle as he toed off his shoes. ‘I want to buy a house together but you are hesitating because you can’t pay me your share of the deposit…haven’t we moved on from all that crap yet?’
    ‘It’s important to me that I’m independent.’
    ‘It’s important to me that you relax with me! That you understand that I’m not just going to walk away when times get tough, that I’m going to be standing in your corner…even when you’re being crazy and insecure! Even if you don’t want to get married!’
    Ben shoved his trousers over his hips, taking his boxers with him. He looked over at Joely who was unhooking her bra and couldn’t believe that they were naked and still arguing. He ran his hands through his hair. ‘God, Jo. Your lack of trust kills me.’
    ‘I trust you! I do!’ Joely cried, her body rigid with shock.
    ‘Yeah but you don’t trust me not to walk when times get tough.’ And that, he realised, scoured his soul because he wasn’t his father; he didn’t bounce, give up, give in. He stuck it out, worked it out and fought for what he wanted.
    And she couldn’t see it. He had enough determination to make it work for the long haul, enough belief in them to fight for what they had. Why couldn’t she see that, trust that? Because her mother, father, step parents…everyone who ever professed to care for her walked - ran- when life got sticky. He was his own man, why couldn’t she accept that? Believe that?
    Ben shook his head and was about to turn to walk to the bedroom when he heard the distinctive slide of a key card in the lock outside the room door and turned to see the door opening. He instinctively dashed across the room to put himself between the intruder and Joely.
    ‘Who the hell are you and what are you doing in our room?’ Ben asked his voice full of menace.
    The tall guy muttered a curse and held up his master key. ‘I’m Jason, I was told that this room was empty…’
    ‘Not empty,’ Ben muttered, his lips thinning as he saw the appreciative look the intruder sent Joely. She responded by picking up his shirt and holding it against her, effectively covering up from collarbone to mid thigh.
    ‘Eyes front and centre…in fact, just keep them on me, mate.’
    Jason had the balls to grin. ‘Sorry, but you’re not my type.’
    Ben growled deep in his throat and the man lifted his hands in supplication. ‘Sorry…going now.’
    Jason walked backwards to the door before looking down at his hand which he opened. ‘Oh, by the way, did you drop this?