Bennett on the ice (Boston Bay Vikings #2) - Lexi Buchanan Page 0,2

get back to it, then.” With an abrupt turn, the sexy woman stomps down the hallway.

Women!

This is all Molly’s fault. If she hadn’t gone and invited Scarlett over to our table, then I’d have never met the girl. I would never have felt a connection with her. I would never have had Molly in my ear about her. Now, not only is Scarlett living with me, but she’s in my head all the damn time. The little scraps of clothing she’s started to wear is not helping my imagination one bit.

I need to talk to her.

Moving the cushion from my lap, I grimace at the stickiness in my shorts and get to my feet.

First stop is the bathroom, where I kick my shorts off and toss them into the laundry hamper. I take a quick shower because it’s the only way to clean up after the mess I made. I purposely don’t think about the girl who’s in the next room while I clean up; otherwise, I’m not going to be able to face her. However, I don’t back down, and I tug on a pair of workout sweats and a T-shirt.

Scarlett’s door is closed, and I gently knock. After a pause, I hear, “Come in. I’m dressed.”

I hope to God you are.

Inhaling a deep breath, I enter and come to a stop when I see her suitcase and belongings scattered around the floor. “Why haven’t you unpacked?” I scan the room and find Scarlett in fluffy pajamas. “Scarlett? Why is your stuff all over?” I frown. “You’re not an untidy person.”

“I figured it would be easier to leave when you asked me to.”

Shaking my head, I move toward her and crouch. I take hold of her hands. “The day I moved you in here, I told you this was now your home. I meant it. Even if we do something to piss each other off, I will not kick you out of your home. You hear me?” I squeeze her hands. “This is your home as much as it is mine. If you want to have friends around, then have them around. You also don’t need to stay in your bedroom all the time. We have a huge living room.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing, Bennett.” Tears fill her eyes. “I don’t want to be underfoot so you won’t get tired of me.”

I grin. “I’ll never get tired of you.” Clearing my throat, I add. “I got you a ticket for tomorrow's game. Molly is going to pick you up from here so you’re not stuck trying to get into the stadium with fans harassing you again.”

“Thank you.” She clears her throat. “From now on, I’m going to cook for us. You refuse to let me pay you back once I’ve finished college, so I can at least cook.” She grins, and I’m startled by how quickly she jumps to her feet that I end up on my ass.

“You are so funny.” She giggles, holding a hand out, which I take and let her haul me from the floor.

“You already clean even when something doesn’t need cleaning. You don’t need to cook for me too. I moved you in here to get you away from all of that shit.”

“That was different.” She smirks. “The entertainment is certainly different.” She cocks a brow, and her smirk turns into a grin before she turns her back. Of course, I see the blush creeping along her cheeks. I don’t miss anything where this girl is concerned.

“That’s why I came in here to talk to you.” I brush my fingers through my hair. “You need to wear more clothing around the house because seeing you in ‘Viking Babe’ panties does things to me.” Fuck! “No more walking around in underwear,” I snap and make a quick exit.

She’s going to be the death of me.

I stop abruptly and curse myself before storming back into Scarlett’s bedroom. “Get some shoes on; I’m buying breakfast.”

I leave her gaping at me as I head into the kitchen and retrieve my keys. We’re not going downstairs to the café; we’re going to a small mom-and-pop diner on the outskirts of Boston.

3

Scarlett

It’s mortifying that Bennett knows I saw him fooling around in his living room. It had taken Molly and Riley’s encouragement to parade around in my underwear, but he still won’t take me up on what I’m offering. I’m not a clueless idiot. I know what I want, and that is Bennett. But I’m also incredibly naïve about