Page 183 of Ice Princess

Just then, I hear a knock. I’m surprised to see Benji standing outside with a bouquet of red roses.

“B-Benji, what are you doing here? I said I’d meet you at the restaurant.”

Benji offers me the flowers. “I couldn’t wait.”

The scent of roses overwhelms me. I blink rapidly. “You shouldn’t have.”

“It’s a token of my apology. Dad was truly out of line. I’m sorry, Rebel.”

“You had nothing to do with it.”

“I was worried that I made things weird and you’d never reach out again.”

“Benji, you and I are friends. There’s no need for all this,” I say firmly, trying to give him the flowers back.

He grins and shoves his glasses up his nose. “Come on. There’s a limo downstairs.”

“Alimo?”

“It’smyapology. Don’t fight me on this or I’ll live with crippling guilt for the rest of my life.” He makes a sweeping gesture. “After you.”

I’m no stranger to men ignoring my words and being pushy. Since Rodney Howard truly thought he could ‘buy’ his son a relationship, I sense that Benji—as sweet and polite as he is—may be used to things going his way.

On any other day, I’d shut him down and draw my lines clearly. But I need to talk to Benji about getting the Lady Luck Society back in his dad’s good graces.

“Rebel?”

“Give me a sec. I’ll put these in water and be right out.”

I slam the door in Benji’s face and grab a vase. While the water is filling up, I pull out my phone and search through the contacts.

Benji’s pushing my boundaries a little too much. To get him back on task without offending him will require backup. Preferably someone no-nonsense but well-versed in stroking the egos of obnoxious, rich people.

Someone like…

Carol Kinsey.

I groan, shaking my head. “Anyone but her.”

There’s another knock on the door.

“Rebel? Do you need help?”

“I’m almost done!” I yell.

Water sloshes over the rim of the vase and I turn the faucet off. Flicking out my wet fingers, I worry my bottom lip.

What other choice do you have?

Hating every second of it, I dial Carol.

“What doyouwant?” Carol Kinsey says without so much as a ‘how do you do’.

“I need your help,” I grind out.

She remains silent.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about Rodney Howard by now.”

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