Page 11 of Bennett (HC Heroes #15)

L ater that evening, after a long phone conversation with Brandi and a quick check in with her aunt at the diner, Laurel lugged her duffel bag into the building, huffing as the worn strap dug into her shoulder.

The keys to the place that her aunt had handed her earlier were tucked safely in her purse for future use, since the guys were still here, and the back door was unlocked.

She let her eyes adjust to the dim lighting, the faint glow barely cutting through the shadows.

Everything was quiet except for her footsteps echoing off bare walls and unfinished spaces.

The emptiness felt vast and a little eerie, but she knew that in a few short months, the place would be buzzing with life.

Brandi had been more than happy to chat about the plans, her enthusiasm making Laurel’s own nerves feel a little less frazzled. They’d agreed to meet up the following day to review the project’s progress in detail.

Still, standing here now with the dull scent of paint and sawdust hanging in the air, the reality of what she’d just committed to felt enormous.

But it was also exciting.

As she made her way up the stairs to the second floor, the voices of the guys working on her apartment drifted down, along with the occasional clank of tools.

Round two.

Her pulse kicked up at the thought of continuing her word sparring with the most stubborn of the bunch.

Idiot. She exhaled to dispel the stupid thought, then straightened her shoulders.

When she pushed the door open to her unit, Carter, Matthew, and the sheriff’s brother, Tyler, were all gathered around a mess of wires in the living room. Disappointment rippled through her chest. Laurel ignored it, telling herself she was glad Bennett wasn’t around.

“Well, well, if it isn’t our brave little tenant.” Carter grinned, wiping his hands on his jeans.

“Here to inspect our work?” Matthew asked, his expression full of lazy amusement.

“More like here to make sure you haven’t blown the place up yet,” Laurel replied, walking toward the kitchen, where she dropped her duffel onto the counter, now cleared of broken glass. “From the looks of things, I’m not entirely reassured.”

Carter raised a brow. “Hey, everything’s perfectly under control. We’ve been working on the door alarms and wiring the motion sensors. But your apartment’s still a work in progress.”

“That’s okay. I’m just teasing.” Her gaze swept over the half-installed devices, the piles of cables coiled like sleeping snakes on the floor. “Looks like you’re making, uh…progress.”

Tyler glanced up from a cluster of wires, his smile friendly and reassuring. “Should have most of the basics done tomorrow.”

“That reminds me. I left the sleeping bag and pillow in the master bedroom, as promised.” Carter jerked his chin toward the hallway. “Hope that’s where you wanted it since, you know, this place is furniture-free.”

“Yes, thanks. I appreciate it,” Laurel said, her tension easing slightly. “And good to see you again, Tyler. Please tell Piper I said hello.”

Tyler’s grin widened. “Will do. She was hoping to catch up with you at the diner tomorrow.”

“I’ll be there,” Laurel replied. “Someone has to keep Aunt Annie from sneaking off to do more than she’s supposed to.”

“You’ve got your hands full with that one,” Matthew said, chuckling.

“Don’t I know it.” Laurel unzipped her duffle and glanced at her stash of supplies.

A few packs of granola bars, protein snacks, bottled water, and a couple of apples she’d swiped from the diner.

Dinner of champions.

“Speaking of hands full, you sure you want to stay here tonight?” Carter asked, his expression turning slightly more serious. “I mean, until we get all this wiring set up, this apartment won’t be tightly secured.”

“I know,” she said. “But I’ll be fine. I’m not about to let some jackass with a crowbar or whatever they’re using scare me away.”

Laurel was an avid kickboxer, had been since her teens, and was confident enough in her skills to use them if necessary, although she hoped it wasn’t necessary.

“Well, even though this apartment won’t be finished tonight, we’ve got eyes on the building,” Carter informed.

Matthew nodded. “Yeah, so don’t worry.”

Smiling, she nodded as their words eased the stiffness in her neck. At least they weren’t leaving her completely unprotected.

A half hour later, Carter glanced at Tyler, who was already gathering his tools. “Well, we’re about done for the night. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow to finish the wiring and get the system fully operational.”

“Until then, try not to get into trouble,” Matthew said with a grin.

“You guys really know how to boost a girl’s morale.” Laurel rolled her eyes.

“We aim to please,” Carter replied with a chuckle. “Lock the door behind us—well, metaphorically, since your lock’s nonexistent at the moment. But you get the idea.”

She snorted. “Goodnight, gentlemen. Try not to get lost on your way out.”

Their laughter trailed behind them as they filed out, leaving her alone in the silent, unfinished apartment. And for the first time since making her announcement, doubt began to worm its way into her mind.

Laurel let out a long breath as the guys’ voices faded down the stairs. The quiet rushed in, thick and oppressive, as if the building itself had taken a breath and was now holding it.

She shook off the sensation and picked up her duffel bag, carrying it down the short hallway to the master bedroom. The newly installed door swung open on smooth hinges, revealing the empty room with its freshly painted walls and bare floor.

Carter had unrolled the sleeping bag and dropped the pillow near the far wall, clearly making himself at home while setting things up for her. A note, written in messy scrawl, sat propped against the pillow.

For the stubborn Ms. Sinclair. Don’t strangle Bennett if he gets too bossy. Unless he deserves it. —Carter

A laugh slipped out before she could stop it. That was a pretty big “unless” and probably unnecessary, since she’d see him with the guys in the morning. Assuming he even bothered to show up. His absence tonight hadn’t gone unnoticed.

Had he asked to be reassigned?

The thought gripped her chest with an unexpected tightness. She’d pushed more than one man away with her willfulness and independence. But disappointment still washed through her. She’d honestly believed Bennett had a stronger backbone. Thought he was different.

That was her mistake, and it was a stupid one.

Heck it wasn’t like they were a thing or even friends.

They were acquaintances at best.

Forcing her mind off the broody, irritatingly attractive man, Laurel tucked the note into her pocket and shook out the already unrolled sleeping bag, her fingers smoothing the fabric until it lay flat.

This was going to be interesting, to say the least. And by interesting, she meant a complete pain in the ass.

She glanced around the room, her shoulders sagging under the weight of the silence.

It felt massive now that she was alone, the lack of furniture amplifying every creak and whisper of air.

And the fact that the rest of the apartments up here were nothing but shells didn’t help.

The bare studs and open spaces gave sound a strange, distorted quality.

It’s just an unfinished building , she told herself. Nothing to freak out about.

But it sure as hell felt like something was watching her.

The phone in her pocket buzzed, making her jump. “Damn it,” she muttered, fumbling for the device.

Annie’s name flashed across the screen, her timing impeccable as usual. Laurel swiped to answer, her voice coming out a little more breathless than intended.

“Hey, Aunt Annie.”

“Hey, sweetheart. You settled in okay?”

“Sort of,” she replied, trying to steady her pulse. “The guys left a while ago. I’ve got a sleeping bag, a pillow, and enough snacks to feed a squirrel army.”

“Well, at least you’re not starving. And you sound way too awake to be murdered.”

“Yep, still alive.” Laurel managed a grin. “Though I nearly had a heart attack when you called. This place is a little…echoey.”

Her aunt chuckled. “Echoey or not, I appreciate you being there. You’re taking a big load off my shoulders, you know.”

“Hey, anything for you. I’ll check in with Brandi tomorrow, but for now, I’m just getting settled.”

“Good. And remember, if you need anything—”

“I’ll let you know. Promise.”

“All right, honey. You get some rest. And try not to let Bennett drive you too crazy.”

Laurel’s lips twitched. “No promises.”

Why did people keep saying that? Especially since it was unlikely she’d be seeing him again.

Annie’s laugh warmed her chest before the call ended, leaving her in silence once again.

Determined not to let the weird, uneasy feeling get to her, she wandered back out to the kitchen, deciding a snack was in order. Anything to keep her brain occupied and away from the fact that this place felt way too big and empty. She stayed away from the uncovered windows, too.

She had just reached for a granola bar when she heard it.

Footsteps.

Heavy, measured, and coming up the stairs.

Her muscles went rigid, her hand freezing mid-reach. The guys had left over fifteen minutes ago. They would’ve had no reason to come back, and it wasn’t like anyone else was supposed to be here.

Her pulse pounded in her ears, her thoughts racing. Was someone breaking in? Surely, the guys had locked the back door on their way out.

Laurel’s gaze snapped to the few things she’d laid out on the counter. Weapons, weapons…what the hell could she use as a weapon?

The only thing within arm’s reach was a travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer.

Seriously?

“Oh, for crying out loud,” she muttered, her voice a strained whisper.

But she didn’t have time to find something better. The footsteps had reached the landing.

Clutching the tiny bottle like it was some kind of grenade, she pressed herself against the wall next to the broken door. The position was ridiculous, but she was already committed.

The footsteps headed to her apartment then stopped before the door slowly creaked open.

With her racing heart pounding in her ears, Laurel didn’t think. She just reacted.

“Take that!” With a wild, desperate yell, she lobbed the hand sanitizer straight at the intruder’s head.

“Shit.”

The deep voice startled her almost as much as the thud of something heavy hitting the floor.

A crowbar?

But she wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.

Ignoring the discarded object, she lunged forward with a quick jab aimed directly at the guy’s face.

But he was faster. Much faster.

He dodged her punch and snatched her wrist, his grip firm but not painful.

She twisted, letting the momentum pull her into a spinning kick. But he was already one step ahead, intercepting her leg with maddening precision, and throwing her balance off enough that she stumbled.

Before she could recover, her back hit the wall, and she found herself pinned.

Strong hands held her wrists against the cool drywall, his solid body pressing close enough to trap her in place.

“What the hell, Sinclair?” the intruder muttered, his voice low and angry…and very familiar. “You trying to break my nose?”

“Bennett?”