Page 11 of Ice Princess

His eyes shine with interest as he looks me over. “They should have screeched a little harder.”

I snort out another laugh. Something about Benjamin’s clumsy attempt at flirting is endearing to me.

He clears his throat, blushing a little. “Having a good time? Aside from the jealous heckling?”

“The food is good. I do like it tart.” I take another bite of the pastry.

“But the company is dreadful.” Benji laughs softly. “Present company not included.” His brown eyes dart around. “I’ve never liked these things.”

“I haven’t attended enough of them to know whether I like it or not.” I look at the three bleachers in the middle of the arena that’s shrouded in white. The sign on the pillar says ‘Reserved for the Lucky Falls’s Lady Luck Society’.

Benji shakes his head, “It’s a world I know too well. Trust me. You don’t want to be a part of it.”

My eyes narrow on the high society tables. At the women who smile and laugh and clink champagne glasses. At the women who hold so much power over Lucky Falls.

“What ifIdo?”

“Huh?” Benji startles.

“What if I want to be a part of that world?” I ask, staring at the VIP tables in thought.

Benjamin inhales sharply, but before he can ask me anything, a voice rings out. “Thereyou are!”

Mr. Rodney appears in front of us.

“And look, you found our star mechanic. Let me make the introductions. Benji, this is the lovely lady I was telling you about.”

Benji stares at me with astonished eyes. “She’sthe mechanic?”

I glance between Mr. Rodney and Benji. “Wait… is this…?”

Mr. Rodney brandishes his hand in a proud wave. “Yes,thisis my son.”

CHAPTER

FOUR

GUNNER

Rebel has never smiledat me the way she’s smiling at that stodgy-looking man in the glasses and suit.

I dislike him already. Who wears a suit to a monster truck competition?

There’s another, older man with them now. He’s touching the arm of the one with the glasses and Rebel is nodding, looking between the both of them with a pleased expression.

The older guy says something that makes her grin genuinely.

Rebel Hart has many smiles and most of them are just a stretch of her pretty lips to show off her white teeth. There’s no feeling behind those plastic smiles, no warmth, it’s just that she’s so pleasant to look at, any smile of hers seems convincing.

But when her eyes crinkle like that… yup.

The older man must be someone she genuinely likes. Her eyes toward him are full of friendly affection.

Best case scenario—they’re her uncle and cousin.

No, that’s not right either. The glasses guy isnotlooking at Rebel like he’s related to her. In fact, he’s staring at her as if he’s seeing his future rolling out in front of him in high definition.

Rebel, covering her mouth with glee after he proposes. Rebel, walking down the aisle to him in a white dress. Rebel, announcing she’s pregnant with their first child—a boy who wears the same dumb glasses straight out of the womb…

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