Page 91 of Bene

Whatever it was.

She continued playing with that phone as he took a step back to lean against the wall opposite to her in the hallway. Right next to her chair was the opened doorway to his father’s office—rarely did Gian leave it open, but sometimes, he did.

Had it been open?

“Where did you go?” he asked.

Vanna sighed, and let out a tired laugh. “Just … needed a few minutes.”

“You looked like you were having a great time.”

“I was—I did, Bene.”

So, what was this, then?

He didn’t think she wanted him to ask.

And really, he didn’t want her sad.

Never with him.

All at once, Vanna glanced up, her stare meeting his. He swore a line of water wet her eyes, but when she blinked, he couldn’t be sure because those long lashes of hers made it all disappear. She gave him another one of those smiles.

Soft, and sweet.

Still somehow sly and sexy, too.

“I came looking for you,” she said.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“I heard you with your mom.”

Bene stilled.

Vanna swallowed hard, her throat jumping when she added quickly, “Did you mean what you said to her—that you could love me?”

Well, damn.

“I did—do,” he murmured.

She dropped her gaze back to her hand, and the phone. “Even if I’m a liar?”

“What are you talking about?”

Vanna didn’t answer.

Bene just waited her out.

Eventually, she shook her head, and glanced up with another one of those smiles. “Maybe I just got stuck in my head … this place, all these people, your family, and you. It’s a lot to take in, that’s all.”

Was that it?

Or was it something else?

“Why come up here?”

“I got lost,” she said, laughing under her breath as she stood from the chair, picking up her clutch from the floor at the same time. “Sorry, did your parents think I was being rude? I didn’t mean to—”