“Bit more intense than that, love,” Liam said.
“Yes, Iknow,but I’ve never gotten to see it!” Did she have enough energy to put on a fake pout for them? Maybe. “What do you guys say? Let’s go somewhere and let me sit in the corner chair for once.”
“I dunno,” Benson said with a heavy sigh, “might be too much for me. I’m old.”
“What I’m hearing is that you should do the pillow eating, Ben.”
He stiffened beneath Eden’s weight while she tittered at the thought. “That’s not usually reserved for the presence of a lady’s company.”
“Oh, but you’re saying you’ll do it?”
“When the mood strikes!”
Eden got up on her knees, looming over Benson as he indulged her with a whispered look. “Is the mood striking now?”
He shifted beneath her, acting like he was about to toss both her and Liam off the couch to give him some air. Then, as if he suddenly remembered who they were and what he liked aboutthem, he said, “Let’s get back first. Then ask me if the mood is striking me.”
“That means yes,” Liam said.
Eden curled her arm around his shoulders and nuzzled her nose against his temple. “You can get it up again, right?” She nearly squeaked in his ear. “Forhim?”
Liam slapped both hands on his knees. “Yeah. ‘Cause I’m not old yet.”
That was Eden’s cue to hop up, even though her legs were sore and her kimono sweaty against her skin. “All right! Let’s go!” She pumped both fists into the air, almost knocking over the forgotten diet soda on the table. “Wait. Where are you guys staying?”
It would not be the only innocent question she asked that night. But, true to their words as consummate gentlemen who loved to indulge her whim when it mattered most, they humored her. All the way to the coat check, to the cab, and to the door of their penthouse hotel suite, where they all hopped in the large shower, and Eden made good on her word to get them ready for her personal show.
It was the least she could do for the two best butterfly catchers in the world.
Benson
Epilogue
The sweet, sea-air breeze ruffled his hair while the sand squished between his naked toes. Benson was not the only man on the Caribbean shore staring down at his phone, desperately attempting a signal, but he was determined to at least be the most good-looking one doing it.
I put on sunscreen, right?
Only a few yards away, between the gently rolling surf and the five-star resort that rented them the cabana, were Liam and Eden. Liam lay on the cabana bed with a book looming over his face as the white curtains rustled in the same breeze, making Benson’s hair incorrigible. Eden, in a big hat, bikini top, and sarong, sat on a beach blanket in front of the cabana and also read a magazine.Why am I not reading something?Well, to be fair, Benson wastryingto read something, but he couldn’t get a good enough satellite signal to read his daughter’s latest email.
“Got my results back about study ab—”That was where the notification on his phone had cut off, and Benson was going crazy attempting to figure out whether his darling daughter had gotten into her Italian study abroad program or not.
“She’s fine!” Liam called from the cabana. “Get over here and be on vacation!”
“How did you know this was about Drew?” Benson asked when he reached the cabana, where he leaned against one of the posts and pushed the curtain out of the way.
Liam vaguely looked up from his book. “Because you have that look on your face. It’s yourpanic about Drewface. What’s wrong?”
Eden turned her head toward them, but didn’t say anything. “I got an email from her about her study abroad program,” he explained. “She found out if she got in or not, but I can’t read the actual result.”
“That’s it?” Liam gently scolded.
Eden held her hand out to him. “Give it.”
“Give what?”
“Your phone.”
“Who are you? My mother?”
