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My heart melted out of my chest and onto the floor. Liam was telling me the truth. Bennett would sacrifice his dream for us. He was selfless enough to do it and not feel bitter or remorseful about it.
“Oh my God,” I said softly. “I’ve ruined his career.”
“No, you haven’t. I went into Orion’s office after Bennett left and asked him to give me some time to change his mind. But it’s really your mind that needs changing.”
I felt Charlie squirming as he finished eating, so I pulled him out from beneath the poncho and put him on my chest, patting his back gently.
“You think I should go to Chicago with him,” I said.
“Don’t you think you should? The guy’s willing to give up the motherfucking NHL for you, and you won’t give up the county prosecutor’s office?”
I had to smile at my brother’s sudden and complete change of heart.
“Well, when you put it that way . . .”
“Look, I was a prick,” he continued. “I kind of knew it then, and I completely know it now. I feel like it’s my job to be protective of you.”
“I know.”
“But the truth is, Bennett’s one of the best men I’ve ever known. He used to chase women, but hell, we all did. He was single and never promised any of them anything more than he was willing to give. And with you . . . he changed. He loves you and Charlie more than anything.”
“I love him, too.”
Liam looked at me hopefully. “So, will you go?”
I swallowed hard, trying to create a quick mental pro/con list. But I came up short on cons.
“You don’t think I’m like Mom, chasing him because I’d feel incomplete without a man?”
Liam cracked a big smile. “You’re nothing like Mom. And it’s not just any man we’re talking about here; it’s the one who’d take a bullet for you. He deserves all of you.”
Slowly, I nodded. “You’re right. Liam, you’re so right. Can you come to the lumberyard with me?”
“Right now?”
“Right now.”
My heart raced as soon as I saw Bennett. He was in the lumberyard parking lot lifting long boards onto a flatbed cart, his gray T-shirt soaked with sweat.
“There he is,” I said to Liam. “Wish me luck.”
“Whoa, wait a minute. What do I do with him?” He gestured at Charlie’s car seat.
“If he cries, get him out of his seat and rock him.”
Liam’s eyes doubled in size. “The fuck? I can barely hold him when I’m sitting still and you put him in my arms. I don’t want to drop him or something.”
“Okay, so just push those two green things to unlatch the carrier from the car and walk him around the parking lot if he cries. I won’t be long.”
Liam nodded uncertainly. “Walk him around. Okay.”
I got out of the car and walked toward Bennett. When he stood and saw me, he pulled his brows together and gave me a lopsided grin.
“Hey, babe. You lookin’ for some wood?”
I laughed and gave him a suggestive waggle of my brows. “Maybe. You got any?”
