Page 36 of Worthy of Sunsets and Second Chances

“Yes, shhh. Please don’t shout it for the whole place to hear. It was bad enough having the guys there,” Eli admits.

“So Keller has tattooed me.” I level him with a stare.

“And I now have a new dick piercing that is still healing. So your sexy, little body rubbing on me, getting me all worked up is just a bit painful,” Eli admits with a cocky smile.

“Oh shit,” I say. “I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not.” Eli leans in to kiss me again, but I stop him.

“Eli, we can’t do this.” I grab the photos that printed out, heat rushing through my veins and striking me right in the heart as I look at the progression of each one. They are hot as fuck, and the chemistry between us is so obvious. “Here.” I hand him the second copy and stand up.

“Please, Kendra,” Eli says. “My mom has Wren for the night. She just took her home. Can we just talk, the two of us?”

“Eli, I have to get back to my—date.” I groan, only now remembering Bennett.

“Why the fuck did you come with him, Kendra?” Eli grumbles.

“Honestly, I didn’t want to come alone, especially when you were bragging constantly about your date.” I probably shouldn’t tell him that, but it’s too late now.

“You were jealous of a baby.” Eli’s grin nearly splits his face.

“Still kind of am,” I say, sliding out of the tiny booth, leaving Eli speechless.

28

Kendra

Islipped the photo strip into my clutch when I got back to the table. Bennett was at the open bar talking to Sutton with lots of hand gestures, probably telling her how important he is, so thankfully he didn’t see it. I watched as Keller moved in, interrupting the uncomfortable interaction and guiding Sutton away with a relieved look toward the crowded dance floor.

Eli walked off and found a group of the fire guys. He’s laughing and acting like he didn’t just toss my heart into a blender with that kiss.

That kiss.

And I have photographic evidence to prove that it truly happened. It wasn’t just some wild dream or wistful fantasy I let play out with a vibrator between my legs alone in the darkness of my bedroom.

The late hour and exhaustion from the day are catching up to me, so when Bennett finally makes his way back over to the table and asks if I’m ready to leave, I gladly agree to let him drive me home. As we walk out of Gino’s, hand-in-unfortunate-hand, I can feel the penetrating heat of Eli’s gaze on my back.

Bennett looks around my chaotic kitchen, shaking his head. “You ladies really did a number on this place today, didn’t you, darlin’?”

“Yeah, we did,” I laugh, tossing some of the trash in the garbage. “But I didn’t want anybody focused on the mess, just the fun. I don’t mind being on clean-up duty.”

I maintain distance between us, trying to keep things light and friendly. Bennett insisted on coming inside with me, and I was too tired to argue.

“Well, it’s a good thing you have me here then, isn’t it? I can help you clear this up in no time. Then we can have a little more fun before the night is over.” His innuendo makes me stiffen. The last thing I want is any kind of fun with him.

Before I can answer, my phone starts to vibrate in my clutch, which I tossed on the table when we came in, close to where Bennett is standing now. I start to walk that way, but he goes for my bag and pops it open.

The audacity.

He pulls out my phone, which is lighting up with text alerts, but I cannot see who they’re from. As Bennett lifts up my phone, the photo strip of me and Eli flutters to the worn tabletop, and my heart starts to race.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Vibrating phone still in one hand, Bennett picks up the pictures in the other. Every muscle in his body tenses as his eyes drag down the line of images, locking in on the last one—the kiss.

Bennett slams my phone face down on the table, surely cracking the screen, and says in a voice laced with malice, “What the fuck is this, Kendra?”

My defensive sarcasm snaps into place, and I say, “How many years did you go to med school? And you don’t know what a picture is?”