Page 64 of Into These Eyes
Fuck, she’s sexy.
“Lovely to meet you …”
“Benny,” I jump in.
“Bennie and the Jets,” she mumbles under her breath as she offers him her hand. “Lovely to meet you, Benny.”
To my horror, he bats her hand away. “None of that,” he says, and wraps his arms around her in a bear-hug. “The way this bloke goes on about ya, feels like I’ve known ya for years.”
If I had the power to disintegrate into a million pieces, now would be the time. As Jamie hugs him back, her eyes finding mine over his shoulder, and she smiles. Her eyes sparkle with a brightness that hadn’t been there the other day. Hope, maybe. Or purpose. I’m not sure, but I like it a hell of a lot.
Giving Benny’s back and affection pat, she pulls away. “Well, the fact that you’ve always believed he’s innocent, makes me like you already.” She glances at me. “Ready to go?”
“Sure.” I make a move toward the passenger door.
“Shouldn’t you let Benny sit in the front?” she asks as she heads around to the driver’s side.
I shoot Benny a death glare that hopefully withers his insides. He’s along for the ride, not to steal my seat beside her.
“Nah. I’m shorter than Gav. He’ll be all cramped back there.”
Once we’re all in the car, Benny scoot across the seat so he’s positioned directly behind Jamie. I glance back at him, and he gives me a smug wink. Which I’m sure Jamie catches in the rearview mirror.
“Now,” Jamie says, flicking her gaze to me, “you’re not going to freak out again, are you?”
Right. Seems I’ll be contending with two smartarses today. I might have made a big mistake introducing these two.
Benny’s head appears between the seats. “You freaked him out?”
I catch the cheeky grin on those perfect lips of hers. “I did.”
Benny smirks. “Looks like we’ve got our first road-trip story, ‘cause I haven’t heard a word about that.”
As we get going, Jamie takes great delight in showing Benny what her modern car can do. Only difference is, she explains what it does before actually demonstrating, preventing Benny from having the same heart failure she subjected me to. They crack up when she tells him all about my reactions, and I laugh along with them. The fact that she’s comfortable enough to rib me, and lights up while doing it, makes me all warm and mushy.
“So, Gav,” Benny says, “I keep meanin’ ta ask what that is on ya neck there.”
My gaze snaps to Jamie. She flicks a look at me, then glances in the rearview mirror as a bright flush colours her cheeks.
“It’s nothing,” I tell him, a warning in my tone. Of course, he’s not deterred. He leans in even closer.
“Doesn’t look like nothin’. Kinda looks like—”
“Caught myself on the corner of a cupboard, that’s all.” I catch Jamie’s eyes for a split second, her relief at my lie evident when she loosens her grip on the wheel.
I know I shouldn’t, but I glance back at Benny. He’s grinning from ear to ear, his eyes darting between us before he gives me an eyebrow waggle.
“You’re a terrible liar, Gav.”
“And you’re a terrible guest,Benny.” My death-stare does nothing to stop his chuckle rumbling through the car as he slumps back in his seat.
When we finally arrive at Liam’s, my chest constricts the moment I lay eyes on him. Seeing that little boy all grown up only serves to cement how much time I’ve lost.
With genuine guilt and remorse on the poor guy’s face, Liam hits me with a firm handshake. “Gavin, man. I’m so sorry. No one’d listen to me and I—”
“Liam,” I say. “Not your fault, buddy. There’re a few people to blame, and you’re not one of them. Got it?”
He gives me a nod, but I don’t quite believe it. “Right, well, hopefully I can set the record straight now.”
