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He came around the table and looked her in the eye. She knew he was trying to read her, but she didn’t care.
“Sitting alone in this house isn’t what you need today. So either you go upstairs, shower, get dressed, and we go out, or I’m spending the entire day here with you, and we can talk.”
That wasn’t appealing to her in the least. She’d done more talking last night than she’d wanted to. All she really wanted was to get some sleep. The past few days had been very stressful. With the party over, she could relax a bit. But with Bennett around, relaxation was never going to happen.
“I’m not going anywhere with you unless you tell me what the plan is first.”
“How do you feel about bowling?”
“Bowling? Really?”
“Yup.”
“I’ve never done it.”
He arched a brow. “Never?”
This was going right back to where they left off last night. Her childhood was not like others. “No, never. No roller-skating, no bowling, or anything like that. I was always home.”
“Then I guess beating you won’t be a problem.” He laughed and continued, “Go get dressed. And make it causal because you’re about to experience my idea of fun.”
She knew he wasn’t going to back down, but that wasn’t the reason she turned and headed for her room. Zoey wanted to learn more about Bennett. What better way than to spend time with him? Not at one of the pretentious events taking place in the city, but to see fun through his eyes.
As she stripped off her pajamas and showered, she realized something. For the first time in her life, she was looking forward to going out. It wasn’t so much where they were going, but who her companion was that excited her. She liked him, and that thrilled and scared her. Bennett was only going to be around temporarily; once he finished the job, she wouldn’t see him until her brothers hired him again. That seems to be frequent, but not often enough.
She found herself laughing. It’s probably wrong that I wish more people would get angry at my brothers so I can see more of Bennett. I’m sure there’re easier ways than pissing people off, I just don’t know any of them.
It was ironic that she had a reputation as a whore, but had no experience when it came to dealing with the opposite sex. I’m not even sure I’d be able to please him sexually. The only thing I’ve mastered is how to please myself. She could do what she did for everything else in her life, Google it. But the Internet didn’t understand who she was. There was no way it was going to be able to guide her on how to flirt and attract his interest. No time for books, so maybe I might need to reach out to Lena. She seems to stay attuned to life’s little challenges. Maybe she could help with mine.
She heard the doorbell ring and had been daydreaming, so she wasn’t even dressed. Zoey opened her bedroom door and called down to Bennett.
“That must be the cleaners. Can you please let them in? They’ll know what needs to be done.”
“You got it, sweetheart,” Bennett’s deep voice shouted back up the stairs to her.
Sweetheart. If only he meant that. But even knowing he doesn’t, my heart still melts when he says it.
Zoey went to her closet and searched for just the right outfit. Causal wasn’t something she often did. She didn’t think she owned a T-shirt. It was a good thing that it was still cold. She could get away with wearing a long-sleeved sweater with her jeans.
She didn’t take time to dry her hair. Instead, she pulled it into a ponytail. He wants causal. Then I’m not putting on any makeup. She grabbed her purse from the top of her bureau and went downstairs to check on the cleanup progress.
Zoey fully expected to hear people packing things in boxes and carrying them out. Instead, she could hear Bennett speaking to someone in the living room. Standing around the corner to eavesdrop wasn’t her style. Besides, it was her home. She didn’t need to lurk anywhere.
When she came around the corner, she was shocked to find Logan standing there. He’d never just stopped in. Heck, it’s hard enough to get him to come by when invited. “Good morning. What are you doing here?”
Logan looked at her and said, “I didn’t know I needed a reason to stop by and see my kid sister.”
Okay. What’s going on here? Maybe I should’ve eavesdropped just a little. “The door is always open.”
“I’m more surprised who opened it. Bennett, do you think you can give Zoey and me a few minutes alone?”
Bennett nodded, turned to Zoey, and said, “I’ll be in the kitchen, sweetheart.”
Oh, he’s going to play this to the end, isn’t he? But I’m the one who’s stuck facing Logan by myself, thank you. And will be stuck facing my brothers when Bennett’s finished.
Once alone Zoey said, “Logan, what’s going on?”
“That’s what I am here to find out.”
