Page 45 of Just a Plot Twist (Tate Brothers #7)

Benson

Claire and I are down at the trailhead after getting the trucks loaded up with the garbage bags and landscaping tools. The trucks are driven away by city maintenance workers, and she and I share a look.

Working for hours on trail cleanup was grimy and hot, but she still wants to hug me, so I consider that a win. Having her in my arms again is just right.

“Can you come to the resort with us?” I ask, softly trailing my hands up and down her back, not wanting to let go.

“The kids are there with Stella, waiting for us. I told my family if they came to help, I’d feed them.

But I want to feed you, too. I’m having food brought in.

” I pull away enough to see her face. “I got you burgers, baby.”

She shivers, her mouth dropping open. “Burgers? I want all the burgers, but I can’t. ”

“What? Why? I love feeding you burgers.”

“I know you do.” Her smile is coy. “And you’re good at it. But I have a flight to Indianapolis in a couple of hours. I barely have time to run home and shower before zooming over to Denver.”

“Indianapolis?”

“For work. Because, you know, I’m a city manager and there’s a conference for city managers there.” She shrugs. “It’s cool. No big whoop.”

She’s acting like it’s not a big deal. But it is, and when I lift her off the ground in a bear hug, she squeals and laughs.

“It’s a big deal,” I say once I’ve set her back on the ground.

Her laughter sends her head back. “I’m irrationally excited to go.” Then her smile fades. “But I hate leaving you. Wanna come on a last-minute vacay?” Her eyes light up.

I groan, crossing my arms over my chest. I’m pretty sure she’s kidding, though, it would be amazing to drop everything for a vacation with her anywhere.

“I know, I know. The kids and all.” She beams. “And it’s fine! One of these days, though, we should be spontaneous.”

I gather her close, resting my chin on her head. “When will you be back?”

“Tuesday afternoon.” She plants a swift kiss on my cheek that I’m sure is covered in dirt. “Thanks a bazillion times over for coming today and working so hard. Can I see you when I get back?”

I ache that our time together today was so short, but I can wait.

She’s worth waiting for.

It’s Claire.

On my front porch the next Tuesday, holding a very portly Cinnamon in her arms. Cinnamon has a bright pink bow tied around her neck.

The dog grunts, trying to wriggle free from Claire’s grasp, but Claire is beaming.

“How?” I start, not sure I can even finish.

She hefts Cinnamon in the air to regain her grip on the dog. Cinnamon, for her part, seems both bemused and barely tolerant of this display.

“I’m being spontaneous, like we talked about! Look, Benson. Hear me out.” She blinks. “I called your landlady on Sunday, and she said that Reggie’s grandson had already contacted her about the possibility of you taking her back. Indie’s note convinced them that she’d be well taken care of.”

Claire holds her closer to her middle as she fusses with Cinnamon’s bow.

The dog tries to bring up her back leg to scratch at it.

“I told Mrs. Lambert that I could take her, depending on what you want to do. I’ve wanted a dog for so long, and I always avoided it because my grandparents don’t like dogs.

Anyway, doesn’t matter. Because now, I want Cinnamon.

Can we…share her…do you think?” Claire’s countenance is pure sweetness, her bright green eyes aglow.

By now, Cinnamon’s had enough of being held. She wiggles her stubby legs and paws so strongly that Claire has to let her down. Cinnamon trots inside the house, her head held high like she’s belonged here all along.

“Sharing her makes a lot of sense,” I say around a growing smile. “Will you come in?” I ask, my gut simmering with every good feeling I can imagine .

She nods and once we’ve settled on the sofa, Cinnamon wedges herself between us, giving each of us a curious look.

Claire absently rubs Cinnamon’s back. “You okay with the return of Princess Cinnamon?” Now that she’s settled in next to me, I sense an undercurrent from Claire of something I can’t name—a sadness, maybe?

“When Reggie’s grandkids came to take her away, all I could think about was that I wasn’t ready to be done with her. Which shocked me. But the hard stuff?” I pause. “The hard stuff was worth it because of all the good things that came with having her here.”

Claire leans down to nuzzle against Cinnamon’s neck. “You hear that, girl? Benson actually likes you.”

I do like this old dog, but I don’t dwell on that right now. “What I’m trying to say is I’ve come to the realization that just because things take work, doesn’t mean they’re not worth working for.”

I meet her gaze. She traps her bottom lip with her teeth. “I agree.”

I look down at Cinnamon, her too-small ears pricked up like she knows something important is happening. “Nice to have you back, Cinnamon.” I meet Claire’s gaze. “Same goes for you, too.”

Claire’s expression grows serious. Cinnamon wiggles down from the sofa.

I slide the tip of my finger across Claire’s cheekbone. It’s so soft I have to school my own gasp at the wonder of it. I move my fingers to the back of her head and neck. I love touching her.

She keeps her eyes trained on the dog wandering around the room, nose to the floor. “How have you been?”

“I’ve missed you.”

She meets my gaze. “I’ve missed you, too. ”

“And I’ve had a bit of a shake-up in my life.” I breathe in and out before continuing. “My father asked me last night to take over as CEO of Foundations.”

Her jaw drops open. “Congrats! You’ll be fantastic as CEO.”

I chew on my lip. “I had a restless night. I’ve never had a job like this before. But now with Peter gone and the damage mitigated, my father thinks I can do it.”

“You’re not just going to do it, you’re going to kill it.”

“I’ll certainly try. I’ll officially start next month.”

“That’s so cool…Bens…” she hesitates.

“I like it when you call me that,” I whisper. I move my fingers so I can touch the shell of her ear.

She closes her eyes and moans so softly I’m not even sure it happens. “You do? I like calling you that.” She takes in a breath and opens her eyes.

“I got some bad news about my grandma.”

My hand drops. “Oh no. What’s wrong?”

“Well, first of all, I told them all the things that have been building inside of me. Like how I was disappointed that they’re in league with the Schillers. I told them I wasn’t going to run for office.”

“You did? You said those words?”

Her smile is bright. “Those actual words, yes. And they said they needed time to work through that.” She swallows hard. “But then…I told them that you and I are dating and that you’re a part of the Tate family.”

“Ah.” My jaw clenches “How did they take that?”

“Could have been worse.” She lifts a shoulder. “But I was clear on how I felt.” Her green eyes sear into me, heavy with meaning. I feel her gaze all through me. Before I can respond and get into exactly how I feel about her, she continues.

“There’s more.” Her brows draw together. “Benson, my grandma has been diagnosed with dementia.”

I blow out a slow breath. “That’s really sad. I’m so sorry.”

“Me too. So many things make sense now, though. And now that I’m aware of it, I can show up better for her, you know? With appropriate boundaries but with a lot more compassion.”

“Come here.” I gather her into a hug and rub my hand up and down her back. It’s amazing to have her in my arms again. She tells me more about the treatment plan and about the evening she spent with Sophie trying to process things.

Then, “So about what you were saying earlier?” she asks. “About Cinnamon? That’s—”

I pull back so I can see her. “I’ve come to some conclusions.

There are unknowns. There are hard things about blending families, and we are different in a lot of ways.

But I realize now, I’m willing to put in the work for this dog.

And I’m more than willing and excited and honored to put in the work to build my relationship with you. ”

“I’ve outlived my mother, Bens.” It comes out in a rush, like she’s breaking away a dam.

I wasn’t expecting that, but I nod and take in her gaze.

“I can’t even begin to explain how odd that is,” Claire continues.

“By the time my mom passed away, she’d already been married and had two kids.

She really lived, you know? I’ve been so scared that I’ve held back.

I’ve pretended I didn’t want what she had.

It was easier to go along with my grandparents’ plan for me than take the risk of falling in love and getting married.

What if the man I marry leaves me like my father left her?

And motherhood has scared me. I thought if my mom could be taken from us, what’s stopping that from happening to me?

What if I have kids and then I’m taken like that? ”

Her eyes brim with tears. Cinnamon waddles back to us and wants to return to the sofa. I nudge her away with my foot and she complies with an irritated groan, finding the dog bed I still have in the living room.

I gather Claire in my arms. “There’s nothing better than this. I’ve needed you in my arms so badly.” I breathe in her scent. “Claire, life is a risk. That’s what makes us human. We take a step forward and another one, and then we try and fail and try again. It’s messy but it’s living.”

“I want my life to matter, Bens.” She pulls away, her green eyes searching mine.

“It does. You do.”

She tugs me close again. “It does. But I want more. I want Dax and Indie. I want…us.” She shudders against me and lifts her fingers to brush a tear from her eye. Then she leans back, taking me in. “I want you. I love you, Bens.”

I take in a short breath. “You’ve never said it before.”

She gives a watery laugh. “Nope. Not to Chad or Tad or any other man.”

I take her face in my hands. “Claire. I love you.” I kiss both cheeks, slowly, tenderly, her warmth filling me up. “I love you completely.” I find her lips and slowly move mine against hers. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she says again, this time against my mouth. A few more kisses and then another whisper. “I love you.”

We pull apart to breathe.

“It’s fun to say.” Her gaze is teasing and thrilling .

“Rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?”

“Only for you.”

I kiss her again. “Loving you is the easiest thing in the world, Claire. It’s the easiest, best, most exciting gift I’ve ever been given.”