Bennett on the ice (Boston Bay Vikings #2) - Lexi Buchanan Page 0,3

getting a guy to like me. Molly had said sexy underwear would work. Show skin, she’d said. I’ve shown more skin to Bennett than I have my doctor, and still, he turns away from me.

I quickly change out of my comfy, fluffy pajamas into leggings and a University of Boston sweatshirt before I follow Bennett out of the apartment.

The small diner is cozy and serves comfort food that I haven’t eaten in forever. There aren’t many places to hold my attention, so I find my eyes back on Bennett, who has been watching me. I tilt my head and ask, “Why were you so relieved to find me that day? You wouldn’t leave me alone. You slept curled around me once we got home. You made me feel safe. Then morning arrived and you couldn’t look at me. You’d leave the room when I walked into it. That’s why I’ve felt like you were getting ready to ask me to leave.”

Bennett holds my stare. Even when the young server places food in front of us, his gaze never wavers. “I was scared, Scarlett.” He swallows and picks up his cutlery, moving the food around his plate with no sign he’s about to eat any of it. “You’re like a sister to me.” He quickly glances up and back to his plate while I hold back my tears at those words. “I thought I’d lost you.” He clears his throat. “The following day, I remembered we weren’t related and didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.” He shovels eggs with his fork and adds, “So, I left you alone.”

I blink quickly and blindly start to eat, not tasting the food as my appetite no longer exists.

Bennett continues to eat while I play with my food, shoveling it back and forth around the plate. Something is off with what he’s just said, and I can’t put my finger on it. He eats everything on his plate before he finally lifts his gaze to mine. His lids narrow as he tilts his head and searches my face. I don’t give my feelings away like I did when I lived at home. Sighing, I admit to myself Bennett’s apartment is home, and he’s also told me numerous times it’s my home. I swallow around the lump in my throat, and say, “I think it’s time I unpack my room, huh?”

Seconds later, Bennett grins. “I think it’s beyond time.” His eyes lift over my head, and then I feel a large presence beside our table.

I look way up and grin when I find Carter Nelson, a forward with the Vikings, hovering. “Glad you’re here,” he says to me as he squeezes his fine form in beside me. “I don’t like eating alone.”

“We were having a discussion,” Bennett says, a frown crosses his brow.

“The only mouth I saw moving was yours, as you shoveled food inside.” Carter shakes his head. “I’m better company for Scarlett, anyway.”

“How’d you work that out?” Bennett glances at my face before glaring at his teammate.

“We’re closer in age.” Carter grins and sends a wink my way. “I’m also better looking.”

I chuckle and quickly slap a hand over my mouth as I feel more laughter working its way up inside of me.

“See, even Scarlett agrees,” Carter says.

“Leave me out of this.” I shuffle into the corner so Carter’s elbow stops nudging into me as he talks.

“Trouble,” the Russian enforcer on the team grumbles as he shoves at Bennett to make room for him.

“What the hell is wrong with you two?” Bennett states. “Scarlett and I were having a nice breakfast until you two buffoons joined us. You weren’t invited.”

I cringe at Bennett’s bluntness.

“Nyet!” Ivan shakes his head. “I like pretty girls’ company.”

I burst out laughing at their teasing. They’ve certainly got Bennett worked up.

Mumbling under his breath, Bennett shoves at Ivan until the man moves out of the way, and Bennett follows him out of the booth. “You can have the table to yourself; we’re leaving.”

Carter laughs and moves out of the way for me to slip by him, getting a glare from Bennett for his troubles. “Scarlett is like a sister to me, which means she’s off limits.”

Ivan tilts his head and frowns. “Does she agree with that?”

“Yes!” Bennett takes my arm and marches me out of the diner to his car, where I finally catch a breath.

“You do know they did that on purpose, right?”

“They still pissed me off.”

“Bennett?”

“Get in the car, Scarlett.”

Humph!

“What is wrong with you?” I mutter