Page 28 of Bennett

Silence grew in the room. No one was willing to admit to something they couldn’t guarantee.

“So, until my aunt’s next surgery,” Laurel continued, “I’ll be staying here. There’s electricity and plumbing. I checked, so don’t try to use that as an excuse.”

“But there aren’t any appliances or furniture.” He pointed out. “How will you eat and sleep?”

Her gaze grew thoughtful before a determined glint returned. “I’ll eat at the diner and sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag,” she replied.

“Do you have one?” Matthew asked.

She shrugged. “Not yet, but if my aunt doesn’t have one, then perhaps Carter will let me borrow the one I spotted in his van outside.”

“Yeah, sure,” the idiot said. “And I have a really great pillow, too.”

Gabe muttered something, Matthew groaned, and Bennett glared at the generous jerk.

Carter frowned at them. “What? It’s Annie’s niece. She’s gonna stay anyway, so there’s no reason to make her buy one when we have plenty.”

“Thank you, Carter,” she said, a warm smile spreading across her face. “I appreciate it. You’re the best.”

“I know.” The guy grinned. “I’ll put it in the master bedroom for you later.”

“That’d be great.” She glanced at him. “So, you see? It’s all good.”

Was she serious? Couldn’t the woman see the danger she was putting herself in?

“No. It isn’t,” he ground out even though he knew it was useless.

Her brows shot up, her expression somewhere between exasperated and amused. “Seriously, why do you even care? I thought you were just here to handle security, not babysit.”

“So did I,” he shot back.

She snorted. “So, you’re going to keep me safe by ordering me around like some kind of drill sergeant?”

“If that’s what it takes,” he shot back.

“Wow. You really are a pain in the ass.”

“Pot, meet kettle,” he replied before he could stop himself.

Carter’s bark of laughter broke the tension. “This is getting good. Should I get popcorn?”

“Nah.” Matthew shook his head, grinning. “Someone’s liable to get knocked out if you take your eyes off them for even a second.”

Gabe scrubbed a hand over his face. “Can you two save the bickering for later? Preferably when I’m not trying to do my damn job.”

Bennett clenched his jaw and bit back the argument still lingering in his throat. The last thing he needed was to get into a shouting match with an unreasonable woman. But he’d be damned if he was going to let her just march in here and plant herself like some stubborn little watchdog and make herself a target.

“Let me be clear,” he said, dropping his voice to a low, measured tone, hoping by some miracle that she’d take notice. “If you think I’m just going to stand back and watch you put yourself in danger, you’re dead wrong.”

“Noted,” Laurel replied, her smile far too smug for his liking. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some arrangements to make.”

With that, she turned on her heel and marched right out of the apartment.

Dealing with her was going to be even harder than catching the asshole responsible for all this mess.

Bennett scowled at the door as if it would somehow will the obstinate woman right back inside. Because clearly, she was out of her damn mind if she thought moving into this place was a good idea.

“Gabe, you’re the sheriff…can’t you order her to stay out of here?” he asked, twisting to face the man.

---