It’s been a stressful day and my emotions are a little out of whack. It’s the single excuse I have to explain why it hurts so much to have Bennett not want me at his house. The disappointment stings, like small pin pricks straight to my chest.
I shooed Tabitha off the other day when she mentioned Bennett being attracted to me, but there’s always been a part in the back of my head that found it exciting. Hopeful.
Sure, I’m not ready for a relationship right now. But what woman wouldn’t get excited thinking someone as sweet and hot as Bennett likes them? From the way the silence drags on, Tabitha and I obviously got it wrong. I’d rather stay at the safe house than allow Ridge to bully Bennett into taking me home with him. Besides a safe house sounds at least…safe.
“That’s okay, Bennett. I’ll go to the safe house.”
He swings his gaze in my direction. “You don’t understand.” His stare turns to Ridge. “It’s not a good idea. It’s too soon.”
Ridge shrugs. “It’s a small town, Bennett. Everyone’s secrets come out eventually.”
Bennett sighs.
Well that’s reassuring.
“It’s a couple of days. Frankie doesn’t even know who she is, so no one will be in any danger.”
**
Bennett flips his blinker on and turns left. The black paved driveway is long and curves a little before coming to a stop at a two-car garage attached to a white sided two-story home complete with manicured yard. It is picture-perfect for a town like Pelican Bay.
“Wait.”
His words stall my hand reaching for the door handle. “Your house is gorgeous,” I say to fill the silence.
He looks out the front window surveying his yard. “Thanks, I bought it not too long ago when I decided to stick around.”
“Well it’s gorgeous. And thanks for letting me stay here until Ridge says it’s safe at the bakery.” I rush to fill the truck cabin with more than silence when Bennett doesn’t pick up the slack. I don’t know what’s going on, but as the seconds tick away my stomach tightens more and more. If we were closer to the water, I’d suggest we play the Jaws theme song to set the mood.
My hand is once again on the handle when he says. “There’s something you need to know.”
As far as I’m concerned, he can tell me whatever this is once we’re inside. I open the car door and jump out of Bennett’s truck, needing anything to get away for a minute. The air in the truck was stifling and the air out here is refreshing. With a huge breath of it in my lungs I turn to the front door of his two-story colonial house as the front door swings open.
A small child, no older than five or six, runs out the open doorway and jumps down all the steps of the porch. His dark brown hair, cut short and swept to one side, sways in the wind as he runs. With his arms outstretched, he approaches the other side of the vehicle not stopping when he yells, “Daddy, you’re home.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bennett Walker has a son.
A real live son.
One who looks exactly like him. From his brown hair to his bright green eyes, right down to the way his cheeks fold up when he smiles.
Wow.
The small child takes a flying leap and lands directly in Bennett’s arms. Bennett, with his arms wrapped around the small person, the two of them whispering back and forth to one another, takes a few strides toward the house. When he realizes I’m not following, he stops, turns back, and tilts his head toward the front porch.
That’s all it takes.
One quick head flick and I follow Bennett to the white front porch surrounding the spectacular home. With each step, more and more of the information Bennett shared about himself the last few days falls into place.
I figured maybe he needed to get back to the states because his mother was sick. Or maybe a brother. I never guessed a child. Children normally come with a wife. Or at least a girlfriend. Now I fully understand why Bennett fought with Ridge over me staying here. I’ve been flirting with this man for weeks and now I’m about to meet his wife.
I’m pond scum.
I’m lower than pond scum.
I’m whatever pond scum eats.
