Page 48 of Just a Plot Twist
“I’ll get us something to eat, okay?”
The waiter approaches with my glass and Benson asks him for food.
Soon, there’s a plate of fancy horsd'oeuvres in front of me. Endives. A blue cheese popover type of thing. A small smudge of glittering black caviar near the edge of the plate with a dollop of something creamy nearby.
I’m not sure my rioting stomach can handle food like this right now.
Benson makes a face. “Nah,” he whispers to me. He flags down a waiter again, one carrying a tray with tiny desserts. Benson lifts a coconut cream pie puff from the tray with a small napkin and hands it to me.
“How did you know these are my favorite?” I ask before I pop one in my mouth. “You were ogling them earlier.”
I hastily chew and swallow. “I didn’t ogle!”
“All I’m saying is I wishIwere a coconut cream puff.” His stare is measured.
Is he flirting?
I think he’s flirting. Regardless, he’s made it his mission tonight to watch over me and spend time with me and that’s just…
…endearing. Kind.
He gently places my foot on the floor, stands, and goes to my chair. “Come
here.” He helps me stand and I let him, not at all sure what he’s doing but not caring in the slightest.
Once I’m standing, he tugs me so close to his side that I barely have to limp and hobble at all. He’s got such a steady hold on me. As he holds my shoe, we make our way to the side wall of the ballroom and take a few more steps until we reach a small group of people. He mutters under his breath.
“Forget this.” He sweeps me up in his arms, cradling me, and begins walking to exit the ballroom.
“What are you doing?” I hiss.
And then he whispers in my ear the sweetest, most glorious grouping of words ever uttered in the English language:
“Getting you a huge, juicy, salty, sloppy burger.”
Chapter 16
Benson
“You can’t keep doing this, Benson,” Claire groans as I heft her in my arms to gather her closer.
“You’re right.”
“Then, why?!”
“I can’t keep doing this if you’re going to wear slippery dresses.”
A sound of surprise escapes her pouty lips.
“I can barely hang on to you. It’s like you’re wearing a slip and slide.”
“Then put me down!”
“If you would have brought your crutches in, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“Then put me down and go get the crutches!”
“Why? This is working fine.” I’m cradling her close, holding her beautiful body in my arms. Why would I ever want to put her down?
