Page 5 of Our Promise
“You’re just jealous!” Jo was damn near in front with them, her seat belt long forgotten.
“Of what?” he asked, stealing glances at his sister. “I can have a best friend. Shit, I could take yours.” He winked at Lorielle.
She rolled her eyes. But on a night like tonight, he probably could steal her away.
Jo snorted. “My girl would never switch up. Right, Elle?”
“R-right.” That’s what her mouth said, but her body was saying something different. The smirk on Benny’s face let her know he knew it too. Now, she would never try to replace her girl, but maybe there was room in her heart for someone else.
Lorielle choked. She couldn’t believe she was thinking thoughts like that. She had vowed to be single for the rest of her life.
I got to get it together. Damn alcohol.
Jo patted her back. “You all right, girl?”
“Yeah, you good?” Benny stared at her with a frown. “What are you choking on?”
Concerning thoughts. But she wouldn’t be revealing that to them.
“Yes, I’m fine. Just a little choked up.”
“Let me hurry up and get y’all to the house. Y’all stressing me out.”
For the rest of the ride, music and light conversation carried them until they pulled into Lorielle’s driveway. She had a cozy, newly renovated cottage home with three bedrooms and two and a half baths. She was so proud of the house she had made a home. It was exactly what she wanted from the simplistic brick exterior to the unique, yet modern interior.
“Stay right there. I’m grabbing Jo first, then I’ll help you out,” Benny directed.
Lorielle sat back with a goofy smile, doing what she was told.
One thing she loved about Benny, he was a true gentleman. She wasn’t at all surprised when he said he would help her.
He opened doors and let women enter first. Always kind and not just to her, everyone he encountered and that damn eye contact... When he wanted to, Benny could look into someone’s soul. It was scary but attractive at the same time.
Jo and Benny fussed as he collected her from the car. He held his sister in one arm, then pulled the door open for her with his other hand. She unbuckled her seat belt and climbed out on legs that felt unstable. She propped herself on the hood of the car to get herself together.
“You good?” he asked as he shut the door and locked it.
She felt a little dizzy, but she would be good after a minute. “Yes, I just need a second.”
“Man, come here.” He put his arm around her waist. A strong hand gripped her side, making it hard for her to breathe, and it wasn’t because of the tightness of his hold.
Trying to take her mind off the man holding her up, she felt around in her purse for her keys.
She found them once they made it to the door. “I’m only letting you unlock the door because my hands are full with the two of you.”
See, gentleman.
“I know. I know.”
When the door was unlocked, they all stumbled in.
“Whew! I have to take these shoes off!” Jo dropped to the floor right in front of the door. She began removing her heeled, thigh-high boots.
Lorielle watched Benny from the living room as he moved around her space. He hadn’t been there since having work done on her kitchen and hall bathroom. She wondered if he was impressed. He was damn near a millionaire if he wasn’t already. His house was three times as big as hers, but there was no shame in her game. She was well off and put in her house what she liked, not what cost the most.
“I’m impressed. It looks good. I was unsure when they started stripping out everything, but I can say they did an amazing job.”
“Thank you.”
