Page 12

September

W e’re running late this morning—shocking, I know. By the time I dropped off Gemma and Gunner, I was nearly twenty minutes late to my coffee date with Spencer.

My coffee date which was a complete disaster, might I add. And that doesn’t bode well for me considering the news my grandfather shared with me less than a month ago. News that I still haven’t come to terms with. A stipulation I can’t even fathom.

“Knock, knock.” Looking up, I lock eyes with Bennett’s captivating hazels. He’s the picture of relaxed with his shoulder resting against the doorframe, one ankle crossed over the other, and his hands in the pockets of his dress slacks.

“Bennett. What can I do for you?”

“Nothing, I was just meeting with your grandfather.”

“I wasn’t aware we had a meeting this morning, my apologies for missing it.”

“Joseph called me in to discuss a possible fundraiser for the local dog rescue—a players and puppies calendar. He also wanted to go over the first regular season away stretch; it’s one of our longer ones this season.

Thankfully that isn’t until next month. But I hear you’ll be flying with us to Chicago next week. ”

My world comes to a screeching halt—my heart stops beating and panic seizes my lungs. Bennett is still talking about the details of the trip, but I can’t focus on anything he’s saying as my mind replays one word. Flying.

In the past five years, I have not traveled anywhere that I can’t drive to. Getting on a plane has been completely out of the question after what happened to my dad and Angela.

When the ringing in my ears finally subsides to a dull buzzing, I hear Bennett ask, “Scarlett? Are you okay?”

No. Nothing about this is okay. I’m twenty-seven and have spent thousands of dollars on therapy over the past five years, only for each one of the coping mechanisms I’ve learned to fly out the window simply because of one word.

How could my grandfather do this to me? He knows I haven’t flown, that I’ve refused to since their accident.

“Scarlett,” Bennett says, gently tilting my chin up to look at him. I hadn’t even noticed he moved across my office to where I sit at my desk. “Did I say something to upset you?”

Clearing the raw emotion from my throat, I shake my head. “No. It’s not you. It’s just, I haven’t—” I close my eyes, afraid he’ll see the panic in them. “Not since—” Biting my lip until I feel a sting of pain, I blink back the tears trying to make their escape.

“You haven’t flown since your father’s accident?”

My head shoots up so quickly, it’s dizzying. “How did you—”

Instead of replying, he places his hand over the one I have gripping the arm of my desk chair and squeezes it. The gesture is so delicate, so sincere, it takes me by surprise.

“I can’t imagine the devastation you, Gemma, and Gunner have gone through due to their loss. ”

The tears welling in my eyes make their escape and I stand abruptly, turning my back to Bennett because this moment is entirely too much for me—especially at eleven in the morning. Grabbing a tissue from my desk, I dab my eyes, careful not to smudge my winged liner.

I take a calming breath and turn back to face him, offering him a soft smile. “It seems I’m full of apologies this morning. I’m sorry about that. Now, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Bennett doesn’t say anything, moments tick by as he stares at me expectantly. I square my shoulders in anticipation for, what, I don’t know.

“May I have a seat?” he asks.

“Of course,” I gesture to the set of armchairs in the corner of my office and follow him to take a seat beside him.

Bennett breaks the silence first. “Did Gemma say if she liked her first few lessons?” he asks softly before dipping his head, playing off as if he’s adjusting the cuff of his dress shirt.

Bashful Bennett is making another rare appearance, and it’s unsettling how much seeing this side of him affects me.

He’s come over each night for the past three days to give Gemma lessons, with another planned for tonight.

Watching him interact with her and Gunner has quickly become the highlight of my day.

I didn’t realize he was so good with kids, and I have to admit seeing that side of him does things to me.

“She said she had a lot of fun and she’s up for the challenge of learning a new instrument. I heard you even helped her put a few chords to one of the songs she’s been working on. Thank you for doing that—she told me she can’t wait to get her own guitar so she can start practicing.”

“No need to thank me. It was fun teaching someone to play the guitar again. I hadn’t done that since my brother and sister were little.”

“How old is your sister? I know Jax is about the same age as me, but do you just have one brother and one sister? ”

“Yeah, just the two. Jax is twenty-eight and Walker turns twenty-one early next year, god help us all,” he says, shaking his head and I can’t help but chuckle at the exasperation in his tone.

“Such a stereotypical older brother response,” I tease.

“Yeah, well, if you met her, you’d understand. And I know I don’t have any gray hair, but if I do get any in the next few years, she’ll without a doubt be the cause.”

“Oh, quit it. She can’t be that bad. She made it through the teenage years.”

“Walker is wild at heart, and I love that she’s free-spirited, but I’ve lost countless hours of sleep worrying over her now that she’s out on her own.”

“Is she in college?”

Shaking his head, he answers, “No, much to my protest. She lives in LA—she’s a professional dancer and does some modeling.”

“That’s amazing! What style of dancing?”

“She’s a trained ballerina, but she’s always loved ballroom and contemporary as well. She was just promoted from apprentice to dancer at the Los Angeles Ballet. I’m really proud of her.”

His beaming smile reveals a new layer of himself.

“You’re also the oldest, so I’m sure you know how it is.

I want the best for both of them, but I’ll also never stop worrying about them, even when things are going seemingly well.

” He lets out a big sigh. “I do sound like an overprotective older brother don’t I?

” Bennett chances a quick glance at me, and I fail to hide my bemused smirk.

“I think it’s cute, how much you care for them,” I admit before I can stop myself.

A sly smile spreads across Bennett’s face and I can’t deny the reaction my body has to the devastating sight. My stomach pools with heat, and a dull ache surges to life in my core, causing me to clench the muscles of my thighs and abdomen.

Bennett leans forward in his chair, his large frame suddenly taking up far too much space. “That’s the second time in only a few days you’ve called me cute or pretty. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you actually like me, Little Red.”

My breath hitches hearing him call me that again. “That would be highly inappropriate, not to mention extremely unprofessional,” I murmur as I sit back to create some distance. His tone sounded flirtatious, but that can’t be right.

His answering chuckle is downright sinister. “I said ‘like,’ as opposed to hating me.”

Bennett stands and buttons his suit jacket before turning to face me.

“Oh, I almost forgot to ask, how was the hot date this morning?” he asks as he places his hands in his pockets, the picture of nonchalance.

Well, he’s not fooling me. As much as I’d love to tell him it went amazing, and I’ve got a second date lined up, I’m not going to lie to the man.

“It went about as horribly as it could’ve gone,” I admit.

He frowns for a second before schooling his features. “Wait, really? Why was it so bad?”

“Well, for starters, I showed up about twenty minutes late because morning drop-off was a bit hectic. Gemma forgot to charge her phone last night so I turned around to grab her Dexcom receiver in case the little phone battery she had didn’t last throughout the day. Then, when I explained that to Spence—”

“Spence? What kind of name is that?” he interrupts.

“A name. His name. Now, can I continue or are you going to interrupt me again and then lecture me like my date did this morning?”

His brows furrow. “Wait, he lectured you? ”

“Yes, he told me that ‘the early bird gets the worm,’ and that had I been more prepared, Gemma wouldn’t have needed to be tardy to school and I wouldn’t have been late to our date. Needless to say, I was ready to dump my iced latte on him and leave.”

“Tell me you did,” Bennett says, fighting back a smile.

My cheeks heat with embarrassment. “I did, but only after he told me our relationship wouldn’t be going anywhere because he wasn’t interested in having children that weren’t his own.

I stood up, told him I wasn’t aware a coffee date meant we were in a relationship, told him I’d be finding a new coffee shop, and poured my latte over his head. ”

“Oh my god. You’re savage,” Bennett mutters through his chuckles.

“I could’ve told him I hoped he was sterile so no woman or kids had to be stuck with his sorry ass, but I kept my composure,” I point out in a sticky sweet voice.

“Yeah, sure. Composed,” he deadpans. “Either way, I’m glad you dumped your latte on that dickwad’s head. It was well-deserved. And, hey, at least it wasn’t a hot drink or you would’ve been fresh out the slammer.”

“Oh my gosh, are you a Swiftie? Gemma will lose her shit when I tell her.”

“I mean, I’m not not a fan of hers, but between you and me,” he leans in and lowers his voice. “And I mean this has to stay between the two of us, I’m more of a Taevin Gray fan.”

“Stop, really? She’s my favorite artist. Gemma’s too!”

“I’m serious, I keep that close to the chest.”

“Your secret’s safe with me, scout’s honor,” I say, crossing my heart.

Bennett lets out a sigh and rolls his eyes. “You were clearly never a scout, they don’t cross their hearts like that.”

“Alright, you got me, but I can keep my mouth shut. So long as you tell me your favorite song of hers. ”

“‘Martyred,’” he replies and my jaw drops.