Page 35 of My Brother's Best Men
I mean, I know it’spossible. There are plenty of men out there who wait for marriage, but Matthew’s not really the religious type—at least from what I can remember. Plus, he’s gorgeous. He looks like a bona fide Disney Channel heartthrob with his surfer blond hair and tan, and his deep brown eyes. He’s not big and bulky like Benny or polished and pretty like Elijah, but he has the sort of boyish charm where you justknow, beneathall the sweetness and humor, he’s probably a freaking animal in bed. I’d have bet my red bottoms that he would have been snatched up by some girl by now…
I’m not judging anyone for their sexual activities—or lack thereof—but after the shock of Benny’s words evaporates, I realize how personal that dig was. Benny didn’t just take a cut at Mattew, he stabbed him. He pulled out a piece of Matthew and laid it bare for the rest of us to see, because he wanted to hurt him.
Which doesn’t seem like Benjamin Anderson at all.
Elijah was right to ask what his problem was.
“Go,” Elijah says as Matthew storms off. I look at Matthew, then turn to see Benny staring at me. Atus.Elijah and me.
“But—”
Elijah shakes his head, his gaze falling to my lips as he purses his own. Then he meets my gaze. “No buts, I’ll take care of Matt. He’ll be okay.”
I want to argue with him, but before I can, I open my mouth and a deep yawn escapes me.
“Go. Get some rest. I’ll…text you later?” Elijah asks carefully, and I realize he’s closer than he was a moment ago. So close that I can breathe in his spicy scent.
“Yeah,” I say, suddenly feeling the heaviness of my heartbeat against my chest.
“Still have the same number?” he asks, making no point to move.
“Come on, Soph,” Benny says.
I nod at Elijah. “Yeah. You?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
I turn to look at Benny, his fiery blue gaze heating me like a flame. And when I turn back around, Elijah is already on his way to the other side of the room, leaving me alone with no other choice. So I head over to Benny.
“Good girl,” he says, and the moment he says those two words, something inside of me switches. And it isn’tgoodby any means.
“What the hell was that about?” I ask as he leads us toward the elevators.
“What was what about?” he says, pretending to be oblivious, but I know he isn’t.
“Why did you have to embarrass Matt like that?”
Benny shoots me a glance. “I wasn’t trying to embarrass him. If he’s embarrassed, that’s his problem. I was just saying I’m not the only single guy here. There’s plenty of opportunities to explore if hewantsto.”
I huff out an aggravated breath. “Maybe he doesn’t want to,” I defend.
Benny chuckles. “Trust me, Soph. He wants to. He’s wanted to for years, he’s just scared to pull the trigger.”
“Maybe he’s waiting for the right person,” I say, feeling more on the spot than ever. Benny presses the button for the elevators, standing by my side, not looking at me or giving any indication he heard me.
But I know he did.
The numbered lights blink, slowly counting down to our floor.
“Are you listening to me?” I ask as the elevator doors open. Thankfully it’s empty, so when we get on, we fit with all our luggage. But as Benny shifts next to me, crowding my space with his lumbering presence, sinful scent, and some strange air I can’t explain, I growl in frustration. “Benny, I said?—”
Benny carefully, calmly turns his head toward me. “I can hear you just fine,” he says, and I hate how smooth his voice sounds, how even now in this space, it makes my insides heat. How his vicious stare makes parts of me I thought I’d buried come alive.
Bad idea, Soph. Really bad idea.
Worse than kissing Elijah.
“Then say something!” I say as the elevator dings, opening the doors onto our floor.
