“On paper, Preston and I were the perfect couple. He’s in finance, the family’s well-connected, our fathers have known each other forever.”
“Romantic…”
I bristle. “Marriages should be built on more than romance. Love isn’t aplan. Not for me. Not anymore.” The wind picks up, whipping my hair around my shoulders. “I’ve seen how romance plays out and — spoiler alert — it ends with lawyers. There’s no such thing as a happy ending.”
“Wow.” Bennett draws out the word, making it almost three syllables. “Jaded much?”
His tone is light. The intensity in his blue eyes isn’t.
“I’ve watched love turn into a weapon. Twice. At first, it’s devotion. Then it’s leverage.” My fingers curl tighter around the railing. “My dad managed to fall for the wrong woman two times. The last one was an epic disaster. Her infidelity forced an entire hockey team to move, if you’ll recall.”
“Yeah, I know.” His mouth tightens, his eyes fixed on the dark ocean. “Not great.”
“That’s the understatement of the year. So can you blame me for not trusting pretty promises? They’re always the first lie.”
His knuckles flex on the railing. “You have a point.”
I know I do — and that’s the part that sucks so much.
“I gave up on hearts and roses and fairytales a long time ago.”
“That’s too bad.” His voice is soft. Like he means it.
I glance over my shoulder, locking eyes with him. “Why do you care? I didn’t take you for a romantic.”
He shrugs, broad shoulders rising. “Because it’s a depressing way to live. Treating every relationship like a merger instead of a desire. Wanting to be with someone.”
I tip my head, studying him. He’s…different than I thought he’d be. More real.
More dangerous.
“Emotions are messy, complicated. I like things to be clean and clear-cut.”
“That’s not real life, though. You can’t simplify feelings down to the lowest common denominator. Not everything’s about stats.”
“Too bad.”
“Sometimes it’s fun to get messy, Sunshine.” Bennett smirks, never taking his eyes off mine as his lips curve into a wicked smile.
My heart slams against my rib cage under his stare, a hot blush creeping up my neck.
He’s throwing me off my carefully controlled game and it’s rattling me more than I’d like to admit.
The wind blows, pushing my hair into my eyes. Bennett lifts his hand, tucking the stray lock behind my ear. I swallow hard, willing myself to stay focused and calm, even with the tequila swimming in my veins.
“We should get back inside. The longer we’re gone, the worse it looks. If Eleanor catches wind of us out here together, she’ll make it a story.”
“And we can’t have that.” He rolls his eyes, a sandy curl flopping over his forehead. “Wouldn’t want to be another headline.”
Bennett pushes off the railing and holds the door for me. I straighten my shoulders, head held high. Eleanor MacDonald isn’t getting the best of me tonight.
Or ever.
The din of music and conversation floats through the air, growing louder the closer we get to the ballroom. Despite the terrace break and the tequila, anxiety still hums through me.
I hesitate at the entrance and Bennett holds out hiselbow, wordlessly offering me his arm. Warmth blooms in my chest and I accept, sliding my arm through his. The fabric of his jacket’s cool on my bare skin, his powerful biceps barely contained in the tux.
“Thanks,” I whisper, and he winks.
