Page 81 of Ice Princess

My entire body goes rigid when a man hops out of the car and lopes over to Rebel. At first, I can’t place him. But after a few seconds, it clicks.

It’s the suit from the luncheon, the one who’d looked at Rebel like he couldalsosee her as the mother of his children.

“Benji?” Rebel gasps, her eyes going wide and her smile puttering to new heights.

The guy doesn’t stop moving and I wonder if he intends to plower Rebel down. But he doesn’t.

Instead, the idiot wraps my girl in a hug that instantly has me seeing red.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FIVE

REBEL

Benji’s handscome up to rest on my shoulders, giving them a squeeze. His friendly smile brings out a smile of my own.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, pleased. I’d enjoyed our conversation at the Kinsey’s luncheon, so it’s good to see him again.

He pushes up his glasses. “I saw a video of you joining the Lady Luck Society.”

“What?” I blink in confusion. “Oh, you mean the announcement on the Jumbotron?”

He nods.

“So you drove all the way here to congratulate me?” In the corner of my eye, I notice someone hovering around the food truck.

It’s Gunner. His pale blue eyes are glaring at Benji’s hands on my shoulders.

“I had business in town as well,” Benji explains, looking in the direction of my stare. He notices Gunner and his forehead furrows slightly.

“But how did you know I washere?” I wonder.

“I stopped by The Pink Garage and your mechanic friend gave me directions.”

That makes sense.

My eyes stray to Gunner again.

He takes the both of us looking in his direction as permission to approach because he stomps over. My heart pinches at the stormy look on his face. When he’d held Gordie, he’d been so soft and sweet. It felt like I was seeing another side of him.

But there’s no sign ofthatGunner now.

He swats Benji’s hand off and drapes his arm around my shoulders, marking his territory.

Benji’s lips tighten and he sizes Gunner up. He’s not as broad-shouldered as Gunner, but he’s fairly tall. I remember him mentioning that he played baseball in high school.

His past sports history is about as close as the two have in common. Benji has nothing on Gunner’s six-five height or his muscles hewn from constant hockey training.

I step between the two men, already smelling the testosterone battle on the horizon. “Gunner, this is Benji. Benji, this is Gunner Kinsey.”

“Kinsey.” Benji gives Gunner a tight smile.

Gunner’s hands fist at his side.

“Gunner is Carol Kinsey’s son,” I say. “She’s the chairwoman of the Lady Luck Society.”

Benji nods and immediately dismisses that information. Looking eagerly at me, he asks, “Now that you’re in the Society, I’m assuming you’re single?”

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