Is this it?
Is the jig upnow?
“I’m guessing Fresno was a bust,” Benny says evenly. The man is unflappable. I’m reeling, yet he’s taking in this new development like he’s carrying on a conversation with the flight attendant coming through to take his drink order.
He doesn’t…did Bennyknowhis cousin was coming tonight?
Colby shoots him a tight smile. “You could say that.”
“We were about to head to my place and make dinner. You hungry?”
“Starving.”
Maybe he had no idea? I can’t get a handle on what’s happening here, and I’m trying to grasp it before I lose my mind. My career took a nosedive today and all of a sudden someguy shows up on my porch, recognizes me, and knows where I’m staying? I glance between them, my eyes lingering on Colby for a moment before sliding back to Benny. “Are we not going to address…”
Benny slides his hands into his pockets. “Bree’s hiding here.”
“Benny!” I scold.
“He knows who you are, and you’re staying in his house.” Benny sucks a breath through his teeth. “What else should I have said?”
He’s right. We’re backed into a corner. I used an alias to book the house, but there are enough context clues that we’re stuck.
Benny continues, keeping his attention on my face. “Besides, you can trust him.”
My gaze narrows on the stranger. His eyes look tired, but he’s otherwise intrigued by this conversation. That’s not promising. “The more people who know, the more likely it is that someone will slip.”
“Let’s take this inside then,” Colby suggests, nodding toward Benny’s house. “I’m hungry, and I can tell there’s a story.”
Bold of him to assume he’s going to hear it.
Benny unlocks his door and leads us to the kitchen. I hop onto the counter stool while he rummages in the fridge and pulls out ingredients. He puts a knife and cutting board on the counter and rinses red and green peppers while Colby helps himself to a glass of ice water. He knows exactly where everything is, which proves how close these men are.
They exchange a loaded glance that I can’t decipher.
“Anything to drink, Bree?” Benny asks.
“Water, but I can get it.”
“Got it,” Colby says. He fills a glass and slides it in front of me before stepping back and leaning against the counter beside the sink, crossing his arms over his chest. “Bree Belacourt.”
“Colby…Rhodes?”
“No. The Rhodes were my mom’s side.” He doesn’t elaborate, but I don’t miss the past tense. “You guys having a little reunion?”
Benny’s knife pauses for a beat before he continues to slice the red pepper. He moves on to a green pepper, expertly removing the pith and seeds before speaking. “You know how Bree’s first night went.”
Colby’s eyebrows shoot up. “So, total coincidence that you’re here?”
“Total coincidence,” I confirm.
“You justhappenedto book the rental house next door to the guy who’s been pining for you for a decade?”
The ice water in my mouth sprays over the counter, dousing the onion, sliced peppers, and Benny’s hands. He grows still, but his knuckles are white on the knife.
“Sorry!” I jump from my chair and circle the island, picking up a dishrag to wipe the mess.
“What is it with you and water?” Benny mutters, rinsing the cutting board and his knife. He tosses the veggies in a colander, sending me a mildly exasperated look.
