Page 69 of His White Moonlight (Dominant CEO Shifter Romance #1)

Thanks to their whispered warning, I waited a few seconds before looking up. My perfect smile was in place for Mrs. Shane as she focused on me with barely a glance at Mom.

“Wrenly, you look lovely today. I think this is your first visit to Clay and Leaf, isn’t it? If you could spare a few minutes, I would like to show you the garden and have a private word.”

“A private word? Why? I think this is the first time I’ve ever spoken to you. Is this about your daughter, Lindi?”

All conversation around us stopped, and Mrs. Shane’s smile grew a little more brittle. If I were a betting person, which I was, I’d bet her face was flushed under all the makeup she was wearing.

“It is. There are some concerning photos she has on her phone that I’d like to discuss with you.”

I laughed. “Those? I promise I won’t tell anyone about her involvement in those.

” I dropped my volume as if to keep the rest confidential and felt the ladies next to us lean in.

“I never used her name when I went to the police. But it's still an open case that, as the victim, I’m not supposed to discuss with those involved.”

Mrs. Shane wasn’t good at hiding what she was thinking or feeling. She was irate and ready to do whatever was necessary to save her daughter, but she couldn’t tell if I was bluffing or not.

“Is there something else?” I asked.

“My daughter is showing you more respect and kindness than you deserve,” Mom said before Mrs. Shane could answer. “Instead of wasting your time trying to intimidate her, you should focus on fixing the mess your daughter made. I heard it’s starting to affect your business.

“What was the name of the investor your husband found in France again? Oh, wait, that one fell through yesterday. Today’s is in India, isn’t it?”

Mrs. Shane’s face drained of color, and she slowly sank to her knees on the floor.

“Please.” The broken word was filled with defeat.

Mom leaned in toward Mrs. Shane and spoke softly enough that I could barely hear her.

“I rented the grand ballroom at the same hotel you used to throw your daughter her welcome home banquet. Tomorrow at seven. Invite everyone you know, and make the announcement, or watch everything you covet disappear.”

When Mom straightened, she looked at me.

“We should go before Bennett starts to worry.”

I stepped around Mrs. Shane and left with Mom.

She kept it together until we were in the car then unleashed her outrage in a verbal deluge.

“How dare she try to threaten you with those pictures again! They’ve pushed too far. I don’t care if they do disown their daughter. They’re never coming back from this. I will spend every penny we have to make them pay. I’ll haunt them for the rest of their lives.”

She pressed a button on her steering wheel.

“Call Bennett.”

The phone started to ring through the speaker.

“Um, maybe you shouldn’t be driving mad,” I said just as Bennett picked up.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay, Wrenly?”

“I’m fine. Mom’s mad.”

“Use whatever resources you need to add more pressure on the Shanes. If they don’t use that room tomorrow at seven to announce they’ve severed all ties with their daughter, I want them to wake up to an eviction on their house.”

“What happened?”

“That woman tried to use those pictures to coerce Wrenly into speaking with her in private.”

“I didn’t,” I said quickly so Bennett wouldn’t start freaking out too. “I stayed with Mom.”

“Good girl.”

I blinked at the tone in which the praise had been delivered and felt an immediate flush consume my body.

Mom sniffed. All the anger evaporated from her body as she glanced at me with a smile.

“We’ll be back in fifteen minutes,” Mom said before hanging up.

I rolled down my window and let the wind clear out whatever Mom had smelled and my growing worry. Why had I reacted like that? When did Bennett’s praise start to matter? Why was I even worried?

My state of confused apprehension lasted all the way to the office, where Mom watched me hesitate to get out of the car after she opened the door.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

“Yes, but I’m not even sure what’s bothering me. All I know is that I don’t want to face Bennett right now.”

“Why?”

“Because I think he’s going to go too far and I won’t hate it.” Admitting the truth didn’t make me feel any better.

She gently tugged me out of the car and hugged me. “My poor sweetheart. It’s not easy dealing with an obsessed mate. Especially when they’re so good at being loving after the initial insanity settles down.”

“Has it settled down? He still sleeps with me at night and wants to touch me all the time.”

“That’s normal, not insanity. The insanity was not telling you the truth, stealing your bed, hoarding your old clothes, and sending his brothers away.”

She withdrew as she said the last part and caught my frown.

“He told them to come back. They’re waiting for you to reach out to them, though.”

I snorted. “I’m not going to invite them back into my life. They left because Bennett told them to, despite what I needed. If they want back in, they can earn it. I’m not going to beg for it.”

“Can I let them know that?”

I shrugged indifferently.

“Do you want to sit in my office for a while?”

I sighed and shook my head. “He’s worse when I avoid him.”

She gave me a reassuring smile as we walked to the elevator. When we reached our floor, we parted ways. She went to talk to Dad, and I slowly traversed the path to Bennett’s suite.

Turning the corner, I saw him pacing in front of his desk.

“Finally,” Miranda. “He’s like a caged wolf.”

“Has anyone bothered him while I was gone?”

“After Mr. Wulf sent out the pack announcement about the challenges for your position, a few women came by, but they took one look at him and decided to ask me why you wouldn’t be there instead.”

“And what did you say?”

“That it was a waste of your time to spectate when you could be out shopping for me instead. I’ll make sure to narrow down my wishlist so you don’t have to shop for too long.”

I shook my head at her, amused.

When I glanced at Bennett through the windows again, he wasn’t pacing. He was staring right at me.

“Are you thinking about going in there?” she asked, humor lacing the words.

“I don’t think I have a choice.”

“You could try running, but I’m betting you wouldn’t even reach Olivia’s desk.”

“You’re not helpful.”

“Do you want me to try to trip him or something?”

“Tempting, but no. I think you’re risking enough for me. Set the timer, and get me in five minutes.”

“You got it.”

As I approached the door, he closed the blinds. Miranda laughed behind me.

“Have fun.”

“Timer,” I said before I opened the door.

Bennett had me pinned to the wall and the door shut again before I’d even opened it a foot.

“One of these days, you’re going to hurt me.”

“Never,” he said, easing up on his already gentle hold on my hands.

“Did you miss me?”

He groaned and dipped his head to inhale near my neck.

“Yes, but this isn’t just about missing you. I hate those pictures. I hate what they did to you…what I did to you.” He started to shake.

“Regret wastes the present by dwelling on a past that can’t be changed. Why do something that’s useless?”

“Everything I’ve done feels useless. Clothes. Jewelry. Makeup. Dates. The car. What’s useful?”

Each word created an exhale that teased my skin, warming me from the inside.

“I like the car. And the dates when you weren’t being a moody ass.”

He let out a frustrated breath, and I closed my eyes against the sensation.

“I have a nose. You didn’t like anything but the car. And what good is the car when you can’t use it?” The fingers of one hand traced along the bandage on my arm.

“You should let me go,” I said, trying not to react to how much I liked my current pinned position and his frustration.

I knew it was too late when he slowly inhaled.

“Wrenly, you are the most confusing female I’ve ever?—“

Turning my head, I kissed him. He released my good hand when I tugged at his hold and groaned as my fingers speared through his hair. His tongue met mine, stroke for stroke, distracting me so much that I didn’t at first notice the arm he slipped around my waist until he started walking with me.

“Wait,” I said, breaking the kiss when I realized he was headed for the couch.

“For what?”

“Miranda is going to come in here in five minutes.”

He veered and locked the door.

“Not what I meant, Bennett.”

He kissed me again. Hungrily.

I wrapped my legs around his waist to prevent him from setting me down.

It certainly had the desired effect. One hand clasped my thigh as the other captured the back of my head.

He kissed me so thoroughly that I forgot where we were and why making out with him was a bad idea until he pulled away and set his forehead against mine.

“This is me listening, Wrenly. I’m stopping now, not because I want to but because you’ll be embarrassed if I do what I want to do here. Tonight. When we’re home. We’ll do this again.”

Struggling to catch my breath, I nodded without fully understanding his words. It wasn’t until he set me on my feet by the door and opened it for me that I understood what I’d agreed to.

Miranda, who was standing just on the other side of the door, watched my eyes go wide, and looked from me to Bennett.

“You sure know how to stress her out. Come on, my little ah-pWren-tice. Let’s look at some spreadsheets together.”

She led me away from him before I could say anything. The door closed behind us.

“You’re sending off ‘what have I done’ and ‘I’d like another helping’ scents at the same time. Breathe. Whatever happened in there is over. However, if you'd like to discuss it, I’m more than happy to listen. The more detailed, the better.”

Her ridiculous comment broke through the muddle in my mind, and I managed a short laugh before settling into my spot.

“Let’s just focus on work.”