Page 34 of My Brother's Best Men
“I mean, I’ve had a lot on my mind,” I snap, not missing the way Matthew frowns at me.
“Sorry, Matt, I didn’t mean to?—”
“Unfortunately, Ms. Martin, we cannot change your reservation, as you confirmed within the forty-eight hour period and we have no available rooms to accommodate you.”
I squeak out a terrified sound as I realize what this means. I can’t stay here tonight. My reservation is for tomorrow, so I’m going to need to find another hotel, and booking a hotel last minute like this, the chances are?—
“You can stay with me.” Benny’s voice cuts through my panic, and Elijah, Matthew and I all turn in unison to stare at him as my mouth falls open.
“Are you serious?”
“As a funeral, princess,” he says. “What’s the problem?”
“You want her to stay. With…you?” Elijah asks, and I can hear the surprise in his voice, mixed with something else I can’t quite place. Jealousy, perhaps?
My cheeks flush as I meet Benny’s harsh blue gaze.
“That’s what I said. Pretty sure I was speaking English.”
“I…” I try to find the words to speak, but apparently I’ve forgotten English.
“It’s just one night,” Benny says with a shrug. “And I don’t bite.” He looks me over with a knowing appraisal, his smirk as mischievous as it is devilish. “Much.”
“No,” Elijah says, shaking his head. “There has to be another…” He turns to Matt. “You can stay with Benny and Sophie can stay with me.”
“What? That’s absurd, I’m not sleeping with Benny,” Matthew says. “He snores!”
Eli huffs out an annoyed sound.
“Damn right you’re not.” Benny nods to the concierge. “Benjamin Anderson. Reservation for two,” he says carefully, and the concierge taps hurriedly.
Two…
Was he planning on bringing a date?
A strange flush of heat pans through me at the thought, as well as jealousy I don’t want to acknowledge.
“Where’s yourdate?” I ask bitterly.
“With her husband,” he says cooly. “I’m nobody’s second fiddle.” He shoots me a glare that’s equal parts heated and alluring.
“Well, at least you get to live it up like a bachelor in paradise,” Matthew says, and the tension in the air thickens.
“Same goes for you, Matt,” Benny says. “Maybe you’ll actually get to swipe your V-card on this trip.”
I don’t miss the flush of scarlet in Matthew’s cheeks or his wide eyes. Elijah’s eyebrows furrow in anger as he bites out, “What the hell, Benny? What is your problem?”
The concierge hands Benny his key cards, looking me over in judgment which only makes me feel worse.
“No problem here,” Benny says, nodding for me to follow him. “Come on, princess. Your castle awaits.”
Never in my life have I ever felt so torn, so unsure what to do. Follow Benny—who was nice enough to offer to let me stay with him until tomorrow—or go comfort Matthew because it looked like he was pretty upset.
And then Benny’s words truly settle. V-card.
Matt is a virgin?
He’s like…twenty-five. How is that even possible?
