Page 73 of Bennett

Now, she was soft, open. Happy.

Pride mixed with a spark of possessiveness, knowing he was the one who put that look on her face. The one who’d caused the change in her.

And some dangerous part of him didn’t want that to end.

“Besides,” she added, licking sauce off her thumb, completely unaware of how that simple gesture was melting every brain cell in his head, “you’re one to talk. You survived how long on MREs and caffeine alone?”

“Too long,” he admitted, reaching for his drink that she’d carried over and set near hers on the coffee table. “But at least those MREs didn’t try to seduce me into starting a bookstore.”

She blinked at him, then narrowed her eyes. “Have you been talking to Rylee?”

“Rylee? No,” he replied, setting his glass down before turning to face her. Why? Should I?”

She shrugged. “No.”

“What does Rylee know that I don’t?” he asked, lifting a hand to brush her arm with his finger. Goosebumps immediatelyappeared, reigniting the pride, once again, swirling through his chest.

Laurel chewed slowly, clearly savoring both the bite and the suspense, then swallowed before meeting his gaze. “Let’s just say Rylee may have picked up on a few things.”

“Such as?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “That I might’ve spent the last ten years daydreaming about opening a cozy, slightly quirky bookstore-slash-coffee shop. With trivia nights, and banned book bingo. Maybe a secret nook for reading smut with zero shame.”

Bennett blinked. “That’s…oddly specific.”

“Told you she picks up on things.”

He leaned closer, his voice low. “And is that what you want? A little bookstore in a quiet town?”

Her gaze softened. “It’s starting to be.”

Bennett watched the way Laurel’s fingers curled around her drink, the faintest smudge of pizza sauce still on her hand. He didn’t think, just reached out and let his thumb scrape lightly across the inside of her wrist. Her skin was warm and soft, the pulse there a subtle thrum beneath his touch. “You should do it,” he said. “Open the bookstore.”

She set her glass down then met his gaze, hers narrowing in delight, tinged with something deeper. “You giving life advice now?”

He shrugged, and a smile tugged at his mouth. “Just being supportive.”

“Well, thank you.” She smiled sweetly.

Then, because he couldn’t help himself, he added, “Also, I’m not opposed to this reading smut idea. Especially if you read some to me out loud. Preferably with dramatic voices.”

Color flared in her cheeks, but she laughed, amusement dancing in her eyes.

God, she was beautiful.

“You are dangerous.”

He grinned and picked up another slice. “And yet, you invited me to use your shower. I’d say we’ve crossed the line into fully compromised.”

She bit her bottom lip, clearly fighting another smile, and something in his chest tightened.

“You’re not wrong,” she murmured.

Bennett set his pizza down and leaned in close enough to see the tiny gold flecks in her eyes. “Good,” he said quietly. “Because I don’t want right. Never have.” His gaze dropped briefly to her lips, then back up. “I want real. And this? You? This feels real.”

The shock rippling through him wasn’t because he meant every damn word. No, it was because he’d spoken them out loud without any hesitation. The incredible woman not only rocked his world in that shower, she’d also blasted away his damn braincells, and now, he was currently operating on instinct.

She arched a brow, that teasing glint slipping back into her eyes. “Careful, Vaughn. Say too many things like that, and I might start thinking you’re secretly romantic. Next thing I know, you’ll be quoting poetry and building me bookshelves.”

---