Page 39 of Just a Plot Twist (Tate Brothers #7)

The seriousness of his expression grounds me. “I want there to be an ‘us.’ I want it to be inevitable.” His smile is warm, but there’s still a hesitation in his eyes. “It’s a good idea to tell them about our connection and my connection to the Tates.”

“Maybe we could go out to dinner with them.”

“Dinner?” He frowns. “I don’t think so.”

I sit up from his lap. “Why not? I mean, my grandparents are…” I cringe. “… my grandparents , and I know that. But if they spent more time with you, they’d see that—”

“They won’t want to spend more time with me, Claire.”

There’s a heaviness in his expression.

“Is there some sort of gag order? Should we not be discussing things with them?”

“Gag order? That’s not how an injunction works.”

“Well! I’m not in business. I’m in public service.”

“I just…” He hesitates. “What do you know about their involvement?”

“Involvement with what? Because apparently they’re good enough friends to contribute to each other’s causes. ”

“It’s more than a simple contribution. Besides, I gotta tell you, Foundations has already lost a couple of big clients. And if word of mouth influences others to leave…”

“But I thought the injunction would protect that from happening.”

“The injunction will prevent him from stealing any more lists, but it can’t prevent the clients who have already moved over to do a little recruiting on the side. A lot of companies have incentive programs.”

“Like a refer-a-friend type of thing?”

“Yes.” A muscle in his face twitches. “And the injunction is being filed this morning. We don’t know if it will be granted. Either way, this whole thing could prove detrimental to the company for a while.”

I swallow hard. “I’m sorry, Benson.”

“Did you know about their involvement?”

“You keep saying involvement, but what are you talking about, exactly?”

He takes a slow breath in and out. “Have your grandparents ever asked you any questions about me? About Foundations?”

“They don’t know you’re involved with the company. Or the Tates at all. This is one reason I need to talk to them.”

“Claire, they contributed a large sum of money to the Schillers for the purpose of supporting their new business. But, considering the amount, this might be a partnership, not a simple donation.”

I step off the sofa. “They did?” Disappointment filters through me. I shake my head. “They were upset about the firing, sure. I didn’t know they were joining forces with Epic.”

“They could be silent partners. Maybe they’re not partners at all. But it’s something. Maybe I’m crazy but it feels targeted. ”

I huff out a pent-up breath and sink back down on the sofa next to him. “How do you know about the contribution?”

“I saw proof on public record. It’s real, Claire, and my father is beside himself. First he’s betrayed by Peter and then his daughter-in-law’s own grandparents contributed to the cause?”

“I’m so sorry, but these are my grandparents’ actions. Not mine.”

“I know.” But there’s something in his eyes. A hedging. Like maybe he doesn’t really know for sure that I had no idea. That I’m not involved.

I scoot back. “Are you doubting what I’m telling you?”

“No.” But the word is uncertain. “I mean, I trust you, Claire.”

I shoot up from the sofa again. “Benson, why would they have talked to me about any of this? They don’t know we’re dating or that you’re part of the Tate family. It makes sense that they’d talk to Sophie about it, but—”

Benson gets up and begins to pace. “It becomes problematic because…”

“Because of what?”

“A couple of weeks ago, after you’d mentioned the trailways project, Thomas and Celine made a contribution.”

“What? They donated money? So many donations, I can’t keep track of all this.”

He stops pacing and nods. “My dad told me right after he mentioned the line items from your grandparents. He said that my brother Gabriel used his consulting firm to help Thomas and Celine make a donation. But he was saying it’s sizable and he’s not sure it would be good, given that you have these ties to the Schillers. ”

“I have ties to them? I’m not a Hanson. I’m a Lawson.” I fold my arms, the injustice of it all burrowing inside me. “Is this about my grandparents or about me? ”

“What do you mean?”

“Are your parents rethinking their support of the trailways project because of what my grandparents did? Are they grouping me into this? That’s not fair.”

“You’re right.” He chews his bottom lip. “I’m sorry. And I don’t know what will happen with the donation to the project, but it’s nothing against you personally.”

I swallow against the discomfort. “The trailways project is something I’m doing, yes. But the contribution is to the city. It’s not to me.”

“I know, Claire. I just…” He sighs out a short breath. “I really care about you. I’m falling for you, and so are the kids.” Kindness alights his eyes. “Your grandparents’ actions don’t affect how I feel about you. I want to be with you.”

Then he paces again, his frown deepening.

And I’m pacing, too, but on the opposite side of his living room. Like the two sides of a war—in agony.

I can’t help but think that it’s symbolic of something more.

His face falls and he draws in a breath. Letting it out slowly, he bridges the divide and approaches me. He tugs me into a hug, but I’m brittle in his arms, unable to fully give myself up. He’s also holding back, even though his words are soothing.

“I’m in the weeds on this because it’s my father and I care about his business. And about him.” A swift kiss on my cheek. “Look, it’s all going to be okay.”

But there’s doubt in his voice.

It’s so silly. Is this like a Romeo and Juliet situation? Is he a Montague and am I a Capulet ?

“I want it to be okay,” I say. “I really care about you, too. We need to figure out what we want, what we’re capable of handling right now.”

He steps back and away from me, his hands on my upper arms, his gaze taking in my face.

“I know what I want,” he says.

“It’s not a simple thing, though. We’re so different. You’ve had all these experiences that I haven’t. Dax and Indie are…well, they’re incredible and I can’t hurt them.”

“Hurt them? How would you do that?”

“If things don’t work out between us. And if they do, but it turns out that I totally suck at…at being a stepmom.” My heart is pounding. We haven’t talked about getting married…not even close. Still, the word “stepmom” is hard to say.

At this, he laughs. “You won’t suck at it. You’re so good with them, Claire.”

I shake my head. “Outside the restaurant with Indie was so hard.”

“It was, but it ended well. You did everything right with her.”

I knead my shoulder with one hand, keeping the other arm wrapped tightly around me. “And what about Dax? He’s a teen! I don’t know how to do this.”

He lets out a low gust of air. “Of course. This is different than what you expected, I get it. Becoming a stepparent can be hard.”

“I need to talk with my grandparents and figure out what’s going on. And you should talk to your father.”

He nods rapidly. “Okay. Yeah.”

“And I can’t rush into this with you. I’m already so involved in your lives and things are already happening fast. I guess last night with Indie was a wake-up call. Parenthood is a lot. And I want to be a parent. I’ve always wanted that. I just need to figure out if I can right now.”

The way his face crumples before hardening with a mask is killing me.

It’s unfair. I don’t want to disappoint my grandparents.

But not knowing how to show up for Dax and Indie? Not feeling capable that I can?

That is so much worse.