Page 23 of Just a Plot Twist (Tate Brothers #7)

Benson

“You can’t keep doing this, Benson,” Claire groans as I heft her in my arms to gather her closer.

“You’re right.”

“Then, why?!”

“I can’t keep doing this if you’re going to wear slippery dresses.”

A sound of surprise escapes her pouty lips.

“I can barely hang on to you. It’s like you’re wearing a slip and slide.”

“Then put me down!”

“If you would have brought your crutches in, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“Then put me down and go get the crutches!”

“Why? This is working fine.” I’m cradling her close, holding her beautiful body in my arms. Why would I ever want to put her down ?

She growls, but quits talking, hiding her face, which is again a shade of pink, in my chest. I continue along the perimeter of the room, making my way out the doors of the ballroom.

Honestly, not many are staring, which is good. Most people are enjoying themselves and not worrying about us.

Sidenote: Carrying her feels a lot different from last time, and when she begins to relax in my arms, I can’t help smiling.

We exit the venue, and I take the steps carefully.

Once on the asphalt, I locate my car near the back of the dimly lit parking lot.

When we’ve reached it, and with her hip pressed against me, she slides down as I carefully release her legs.

Once she’s steady on her one, good foot, I start to let go, but she’s got the bottom hem of my suitcoat in both hands, fisted like it’s there to steady her. Her forehead is lined.

Claire’s a complicated being. And my feelings for her are starting to become complicated, too.

“I’m sorry you’re in pain,” I say simply, moving a lock of hair out of her eyes.

She groans. “If by pain you mean my insides are dead and gone from humiliation, then, yeah, I’m in pain.”

I appraise her carefully, and I don’t realize I’m frowning until she gives me a look.

“What?” she asks. “What’s with the grunt?” She lets go of my suitcoat and puts one hand on my arm and with the other, she uses her fingers to comb through her hair that’s escaped the clips.

“I’m starting to understand why you wanted this night to go well. Why you didn’t want to use the crutches. ”

“Can we hold off on the therapy couch moment?” Her eyes dart to someone behind me. They look to be fellow party goers also leaving early. I’ve got to get her out of here before we’re inundated with guests. She’s embarrassed, and she needs to be fed.

I lean closer to her ear, a chill slicking down my neck at her closeness. “All I’m saying is you don’t have to abandon the crutches, or try to make things perfect for your grandparents, or dance when you’re injured to prove yourself. You’re pretty great without all that.”

She stills and her breath eases out, curling against my skin. Now I’m the one who’s having ankle problems. Because being this close to her is affecting me—weakening me.

The tilt of her head refutes what I said. Then she sighs again and looks back at me, and for the first time since our fall, she starts to smile.

“Prove it by buying me that burger.”

I help her inside the car.

She doesn’t need to ask twice—I’m buying her that burger.

And I’m willing to bet I’m going to want to keep buying her burgers for a long time.

After getting to Longdale and discovering there isn’t a burger place open past ten at night around here—like Claire tried to tell me—I concede that getting the lady what she wants might not be as easy as I’d hoped.

Even the shake shop is closed, and I start to get worried. It wouldn’t be a big deal to have to take a raincheck on the promise of a burger .

But I don’t want to drop her off at home and call it a night. That’s not what gentlemen do. They don’t go back on their word like that.

And let’s be real here. I don’t want to say goodnight yet.

Is it because she’s interesting, smart, funny, and beautiful? Is it because she gets under my skin? Or is it because I haven’t dated in so long, I’m terrified I’ll forget how and become a hermit in the woods with weird collections of bottle caps and insects in jars?

Yeah. It’s an image that haunts me.

This little exchange she and I have going on is an excellent way to sort of mitigate all my singlehood as of late. Maybe a low-key way to ease into the dating life again.

Except, it’s more than that.

Claire is not an “ease into” anything sort of a person. She’s more like a “slam into me and make me rethink everything” kind of a person.

Which is why I’m resorting to this.

I punch the call button on my dashboard and locate Sebastian’s number. It’s a little strange asking him for a favor. I haven’t done that since he let me stay at the resort before I moved into my townhome in Platt Park.

“Hey Sebastian, is the Summit still open?” The restaurant on the top floor of the Longdale Lake resort is going to be the only way I’ll be able to get Claire a burger right now.

“They’re closing up now. Do you need something?”

“Just hoping to snag a couple burgers, but it’s okay. We’ll go by there another time.” A dash of disappointment hits my gut.

“Did you say a couple of burgers? Either you’re really hungry or you’re with someone.” The lilt of teasing in Sebastian’s voice is not characteristic at all. He’s usually very hands-off when it comes to people’s dating lives .

“Careful. You’re on speaker,” I warn him. My gaze darts over to Claire just in time to catch a bemused smile.

I can’t help smiling, too. Tonight wasn’t what I expected.

Tonight was supposed to be about chilling at home and keeping Cinnamon in line.

But Claire took up most of my brain capacity.

I had fun with her. It’s too bad she reinjured her ankle, but the rest of it was great, even the near-death experience with the swans.

I’ve been lonely since the divorce. I can admit having a dog around has helped that a little. Tonight with Claire is a break from the solitude…something I didn’t know I needed.

I’m out of practice with dating and most social scenes. But being around Claire is easy. Effortless. Despite the falls—both of them—I loved cradling her in my arms.

“I’m at home,” Sebastian says through the car speakers. “But I’ll send Drake over with some burgers from The Summit. Daria won’t mind making a couple more. They haven’t started cleaning up yet.”

Drake’s only job was taking care of Sebastian’s nutritional needs—one of the few splurges in employees he had. But ever since he married Elianna, they haven’t needed Drake as much. Sebastian still keeps him at the resort for emergencies in the evenings, though.

“You’d do that for us?” I ask him.

“Yep.”

Claire pumps her fist silently and grins.

“Thanks so much. Would he mind bringing us a bag of ice, like an ice pack?” I ask.

“What happened?” Sebastian’s voice grows dark .

“It has to do with a minor injury. It’s fine.” I glance at Claire. “Would it be too much to ask Drake to bring the food and the ice pack out to the car? I’ll be parked near the beach on the south side of the lake.”

“That’s not a problem. He can do that.” There’s a beat, and then Sebastian’s tone of voice is both teasing and proud of himself. “And I’m not even going to ask you who you’re with tonight.”

Claire snorts a laugh and I rush to cover her mouth. “Shhh,” I urge. The fewer people who know who I’m with, the better. The family has a tendency to pry and make assumptions. And this isn’t what it looks like.

Or is it?

A lot of people witnessed me carrying her out of the ballroom, it’s only a matter of time until Sebastian finds out, too.

We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

For now I’m going to enjoy a nice meal with Claire.