“Help. Please.”
Benji brings his hands up to my arms, and my eyes flutter at the touch.
“Where did you last see him?”
“Above the shelf there.” I point to the corner closest to the entry.
He runs his palms up to my shoulders, where he twirls a lock of hair around his finger before stepping away. “All right, buddy, you heard the lady. Time to leave.”
Benji has as much success convincing him to leave as I did, and after fifteen minutes, I’m ready to accept our new friend for good.
“Why won’t he go?” I ask. “There’s nothing for him in here. I don’t want to come in tomorrow and find his little body somewhere.”
“Maybe he was escaping a spider and thought this looked like a nice place to be. I know I do.” Benji refocuses his attention on me, invading my space again.
His boots knock against my sneakers, and I can’t help but like how they fit together. Howwefit together.
I bat his arm. “Don’t say that. Now I’m scared to make him go back outside.”
“You’d let a poor spider starve?”
“You’re supposed to be helping,” I remind him.
“Sorry,” he says, kissing my cheek. His grin marks my skin like a brand. “He’ll want to leave eventually, and once he starts testing the window for a way out, you can open the door and wave him through.”
I hope so.
“Thank you for trying.”
Anyone else might have complained, but he doesn’t even look put out. In fact, he looks … pleased that I asked.
“I’ll always be here for you, anything you need—you know that.”
I suppose I do.
I don’t hike—I prefer the beach to a hill any day of the week—but I’d give anything to climb him right now. God, he used to pick me up like I was nothing. Curl his fingers around my ass, grip my thighs, hold me close.
His pupils are blown out, and I wonder if he’s remembering it too.
Skye’s groan reverberates through the shop. “Is he leaving soon?”
Benji’s eyes burn into mine. “She doesn’t like me much.”
“She’s protective of me.”
His low hum rumbles down my spine. “Makes two of us.” He takes my hand. “Come with me.”
“What? I can’t go.”
He tugs gently, his smile luring me in. “Of course you can. Skye can handle this place while you take a lunch break—I’ve seen it.”
“I didn’t—I mean, she can, but …” My throat tightens.
I want to go. Skye perked up somewhere around her fourth shot this morning and would do it if I asked, butcan it really be this easy? Slipping into old habits like the last year didn’t happen?
I hesitate long enough to be an answer, even though I don’t know what that answer is. Benji uses his free hand to lift my chin, gently guiding my head up so I meet his gaze. All of my senses are firing at once, like the adrenaline that hits right as you think you’re going to fall.
He drags his thumb gently under my lips. “Okay then. If the lady won’t go to food, food will come to you.”
