Page 43 of The Scenic Route
Slowing to a walk—albeit a fast walk—they headed toward a booth in the far corner, next to the emergency exit and the door to the kitchen. Not wanting to let go of Bennett’s hand, she stayed right next to him rather than moving to the other side of the booth. He didn’t seem to mind, ushering her into the seat before he lowered his considerable bulk onto the bench. Shifting his captive hand into her lap, she grabbed their linkedfingers with her other hand. She felt overheated from their run, but she still wanted to touch as much of Bennett as she could reach.
With his free hand, he placed his phone in front of him and then reached over to grab one of the laminated menus standing behind the syrup containers. Clutching his other hand in both of hers, she watched, fascinated, as he used a stick-straight pointer finger to poke out a text to Ronan.
Pleas com get uss
Then he sent a picture of the address on the back of the menu, and Felicity gave a nod of approval.
“Ronan will rescue us.” Her words were blurry, slurred but comprehensible. At least she was pretty sure Bennett could understand them.
His nod confirmed it. “Ronan’s a good guy.” He also drew his words out too long, as if they were sticky taffy that he played with before putting in his mouth.
The server—young and doe-eyed, with smooth brown skin and a red-and-white-striped uniform that matched the decor almost too well—stifled a yawn before asking, “Coffee?”
That seemed like a good idea, even though Felicity normally hated coffee. Maybe the caffeine would help counteract whatever drug they were given. “Please.” She was proud that the word came out fairly decently.
The server placed a carafe on the table, and Bennett immediately reached for it. “What else can I get you?”
Felicity glanced at the menu, but the words wouldn’t stay still, instead jumping around like little ants running across the laminated surface. Brushing her hand over the menu to check if she could feel the letters move, she searched her brain for diner food. “Pancakes!” Her voice came out too loudly and too proudly, as evidenced by the server’s startled expression.
“Ooookay,” the server said. “What kind?”
Her brain was swirling, making it impossible to hold on to her slippery thoughts. Unable to come up with an answer for a question she’d already forgotten, she looked to Bennett for help.
“Pancakes,” he said solemnly, pointing at a picture on the menu as if the server needed help identifying what exactly pancakes were.
“What kiiind?” The server drew out the word in a different way, not like her tongue was suddenly uncooperative but like she was talking to someone who didn’t understand her language. “Chocolate chip, banana nut, strawberry, boysenberry, or cream cheese? And do you want any sides? We have hash browns, bacon, sausage, ham, or eggs cooked however you want them.”
They looked at each other and both shrugged.
“Just…pancakes,” Felicity said, as if that were the answer. “With syrup.”
Bennett gave a firm nod. “Definitely syrup.”
Feeling a rush of affection, Felicity squeezed his hand with both of hers. “We think so much alike.”
Bennett beamed at her.
With a deep sigh, the server turned away, muttering about drunk people being a pain in the ass.
Turning to look up at Bennett, Felicity was distracted by the way the fluorescent lighting highlighted his dark brown hair, bringing out glints of deep red and blond. Forgetting what she was about to say, she breathed, “You’re so beautiful.”
“You’re the beautiful one.” He used his free hand to trace over one of her brows and then pinch a small section of hair, pulling it gently through his fingers. “I want to touch you all the time.”
“Same, obviously.” She held up his captive hand with a laugh.
“Your hair is so soft.” He kept stroking it. “And you’re so smart and brave and beautiful.”
Humming with contentment, she closed her eyes. Now that her adrenaline had faded, she felt the fogginess settling more firmly in her mind. “That why you stalked me?” The words came out more slurred than ever.
Surprisingly, he seemed to understand her question. “I tried not to, but ever since I first saw you, I couldn’t focus on anyone else. Can I tell you a secret?”
Opening her eyes just a crack, she allowed a slow smile to stretch across her face. “I loooove secrets.”
“I suspected I should’ve followed Charlotte.”
Genuinely surprised, her eyes opened the rest of the way. “You did? But we were so sneaky. She even took Moo’s weedmobile.”
“I still knew she was more likely the one going after Jane.” His hand left her hair and wrapped around the back of her neck. “Then once I got to Simpson and found out you were searchingfor Dino, I couldn’t leave you to chase him alone. Too dangerous. You might’ve gotten hurt. I had to stay and help you. I called my client and told them I needed to deal with an urgent personal matter before I could start work on their case again. Told them if they didn’t want to wait, they could get a different PI, and I’d return their retainer.”
