Page 77 of Bennett

Her fingers slid higher on his chest. “We’ll discuss it later. Maybe over coffee.”

“Deal.”

He kissed her again—slow, unhurried, no fire this time, just warmth. But there was heat waiting beneath it, waiting to be stoked again if either of them so much as blinked wrong.

Laurel broke the kiss and nestled her face into the crook of his neck. “This feels too good.”

“I know,” he said honestly. “But I’m not complaining.”

She hummed something in agreement and went quiet again.

And Bennett stared up at the ceiling, one arm around the woman curled into him, and knew without a doubt that everything was about to get a hell of a lot more complicated.

But for once in his life, he didn’t want to run from it.

Laurel slid out of bed first, dragging the sheet with her like it was armor, and shot him a mock glare over her shoulder. “No staring.”

Bennett propped an arm behind his head and smirked. “Too late.”

And it was a little too late for her to suddenly become bashful, considering the night they’d shared and all the things they’d said and done to each other. Several times.

She rolled her eyes but didn’t look away. “You gonna lay there all smug, or do you plan on getting dressed for work?”

“Give me five seconds and a reason,” he said, sitting up and reaching for his jeans.

“If I didn’t need to get to work, I’d give you a reason,” she called from the bathroom, her voice muffled by the sound of running water.

Her words immediately stoked the fire simmering in his veins. Damn, she was under his skin but good.

Deciding that could be a good thing, he headed to the other bathroom to get ready, returning a few minutes later to tug hisjeans on and shove his feet into his socks and boots. A moment later, she emerged from her ensuite, with her hair damp from the quick rinse, curling slightly at the ends. She was dressed in a soft lavender T-shirt and a pair of figure-hugging jeans that looked like they had been worn and washed a hundred times. The best kind.

Need fisted his groin. The response was unexpected and swift, not to mention dangerous.

“You look…” He paused, working to regain control, then added, “Comfortable.”

Her lips curved. “You almost said beautiful, didn’t you?”

He almost said a hell of a lot more than either of them was ready to hear.

“Almost,” he replied, shrugging into his shirt.

She stepped closer to smooth a wrinkle near his collar before grazing his jaw with her lips. “You’re getting better at that.”

“At what?”

“Letting your guard down.” She smiled. “Romantic Vaughn makes rare appearances, but he’s growing on me.”

Bennett leaned in, brushing her hair off her shoulder. “Don’t get used to him. He’s a rookie. Doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.”

“Perfect, because I don’t either.” She winked. “And he better not disappear, because I alreadyamused to him,” she said brightly, patting his chest before stepping back to grab her bag and toss him his phone from the dresser.

He caught it with ease, and a slow warmth spread through his chest as she smiled at him like she already knew he’d catch anything she handed him, and damn if it didn’t feel dangerously close to happiness.

He followed her into the living room, and when she sat on the couch to slip into her shoes, Bennett’s phone buzzed in his hand. He glanced at the screen to find a text from Mac.

Diner. Breakfast and a quick update from Gabe. Bring your appetite and your attitude.

Bennett huffed a quiet laugh and tapped a quick reply before sliding the phone into his back pocket.