Chapter 24
TORI
The second Bennett leaves for practice, I start spiraling again.
I can’t believe I agreed to this. Me traveling with the team right now is a very bad play. Being in such close proximity to him — all eyes on us — is the last thing in the world either of us needs.
Instant pressure cooker.
Even if Bennett manages to keep himself under control, his brothers will know something’s up in less than five minutes. Guaranteed.
And if we survive the brothers, there’s the rest of the team. Plus my dad. Coach Keller. Assistant coaches. The PR staff.
This is an awful idea.
Not to mention my actual job, the one I’m paid to do.
I grab the stack of file folders and a legal pad off my desk, shove them into my bag with my laptop. I guess I’ll be working remotely. Again. The plane better have good Wi-Fi.
Heart racing, I hurry to the bedroom to pack my suitcase. I throw in way too much stuff, stress-overpacking. Jeans, blouses, several dresses, heels, leggings. Shoving all the clothing into the bag, my pulse slows down a bit. At least I’ll be prepared in the wardrobe department.
I’m finally zipping up my suitcase when my phone buzzes with a text.
Doorman: delivery sent up
I head to the door and swing it open. Another huge bouquet of flowers, this one all-white peonies. Bending down, I pick up the vase and carry the arrangement into the condo. I set the flowers on the island with the others and pluck out the card.
Good night, Tori. Try not to think about me. — B.
Jerk.
Because of course I’ll be thinking about him.
The man sent me three bouquets of flowers in one day. He has no chill.
And I kind of love that about him.
Oh shit. I need to stop thinking like this.
The next week is going to be hockey, hedge funds, and as much distance as I can possibly put between us.
Because I don’t trust myself to be near him and act normal anymore.
There’s too much between us now.
There’s no way this situation’s going to turn out fine, no matter what Bennett thinks.
Tomorrow at 7:30 AM, my father’s car will pick us up and the real test begins.
Now, it’s no longer about keeping Bennett contained. It’s about keeping us out of the spotlight.
“Morning, Sunshine.” Bennett’s standing at my door in his team sweats, fresh, energized, and hot as hell.
“Off to a good start. You’re ten minutes early.” I step aside to let him in, fumbling with the clasp of my necklace.
“Don’t want to keep Mr. Prince waiting.” He drops his duffel on the ground. “Here. Let me.”
I spin around and his fingertips brush mine, sending hot sparks skittering through me. Taking the ends of the necklace, he easily hooks the chain around my neck. He rubs a light circle at my nape with his thumb before leaving my skin, and my body betrays me, going warm and weightless.
It’s going to be a long day.
“Thanks.” My words come out breathy, and I’m unsteady.
“No problem. You ready?”
“Almost. Give me five.” I rush to the safety of my bedroom as Bennett sinks down onto the sofa, unfazed.
I have no idea how he’s so calm. Meanwhile, I’m crashing out, anxiety ping-ponging through me. From my throat, to my chest, down to my gut, and back again.
Ping, ping, ping.
On an endless loop.
My phone screen lights up.
Daddy: Here
Wonderful.
He’s early too.
With a shaky breath, I throw my toiletries into my bag and zip it up.
It’s showtime.
“He’s here.” I wheel my suitcase out of my room. Bennett’s still on the sofa, legs outstretched, totally calm.
“Okay.” He rises, automatically grabbing for my bag. His gigantic hand covers mine and I freeze. “Breathe, Sunshine. It’s gonna be okay.”
Leaning down, he presses his lips to mine for a brief second. Long enough to make the world tip sideways and leave me dizzy.
“Last one. Now I’ll be good.” He hoists his gear bag over his shoulder, balancing his duffel on my suitcase and rolling the luggage out of the condo. I grab my work bag and lock the door behind us, following in the wake of his cologne.
The elevator pings open and we crowd into the space.
I’ve never had a descent take longer.
Heat creeps up my neck with each passing second and I don’t dare glance in Bennett’s direction. Gripping the strap of my bag, my knuckles turn white. At least that stops the shaking.
“Sunshine — you gotta relax.” He’s smooth, controlled. Relaxing against the railing, like nothing happened between us yesterday.
As the doors start to slide open, Bennett leans over. Dropping his lips to my ear, he murmurs, “Just don’t think about the island.”
He shoots me a cocky wink and a grin, then strolls out of the elevator with all the luggage.
Oh my god.
Heat flushes my chest, my neck, spreading all the way through me. The only thing on my mind is that marble island, cool against my bare skin, thighs spread wide while Bennett licked and sucked at my clit.
Damn him.
Wetness floods my panties as I walk through the lobby, trying to regain some semblance of composure. At least it’s early enough that the foyer’s empty.
The black SUV idles at the curb. The driver’s stacking our luggage in the trunk and Bennett waits for me on the sidewalk.
“After you.” He waves his hand at the door and I climb into the vehicle.
“Morning.” My father grunts at me from the front seat. “Good to see you’re on time.”
“Morning, Daddy.” I force a friendly tone, although the words come out clipped. Bennett slides into the seat next to me, stretching his legs out as much as he’s able.
“Morning, sir. Thanks for the ride.”
“No problem. Safest bet. Hope you got good rest. This is going to be a tough series.”
“I sure did. Tori made sure of it.” Bennett smirks at me, rolling his wrists. Heat flames my cheeks and I’m positive I’m bright red right now. Mercifully, my father hasn’t bothered turning around. I fish my phone out of my bag and check email. Anything to get my mind off the man sitting next to me.
The driver slams the trunk shut and a few minutes later we’re driving toward the private airport. Bennett’s knee bobs up and down in tune to the music and he hums along under his breath. The rest of us stay silent the entire drive.
Finally, we pull through the airport gates. The plane’s on the tarmac and gear’s being loaded. Some of the team’s already boarding and my anxiety ratchets up even higher, chest tight.
We pull to a stop and the driver’s out of the car, unloading our luggage and handing it off to the ramp agent. The bags disappear on a cart as we’re waved over toward the airstairs.
“Good morning, Mr. Prince.” A flight attendant greets my father, handing him a bottled Perrier.
He nods at her, then stalks to the front of the plane and takes a seat next to Coach Keller.
Lucky guy.
“Hey, Cammie. Good morning.”
Bennett’s on a first-name basis with the flight attendant. Of course he is.
He flashes her a wide smile and her cheeks turn pink.
“Morning, Mr. Steele. Water?”
“Perfect, thanks.” He accepts the bottle of water and boards, leaving me.
“Good morning, Ms. Prince. Water? Juice? Coffee?” She offers me a wide array of beverages from the cart.
“I’ll take a water, thank you.” I gratefully take the bottle from her as I step onto the plane, my throat bone-dry from nerves.
Glancing around, I quickly calculate the best place to sit. Probably with the support staff, far away from Bennett and his brothers. Also, the watchful eyes of my father.
I head toward the section at the back, but the flight attendant stops me.
“Sorry, Ms. Prince. But your father assigned seats today.” She hands me a paper ticket. “You’re in 5B.”
She points at the first aisle seat, just beyond the bank of chairs where management sits. I’m literally facing both my father and Coach Keller.
Super.
Nowhere to hide. I glance over at the plush leather seat, my stomach swirling as I clock my seatmate.
Bennett grins up at me, patting the chair.
“Don’t look so nervous, Sunshine. This’ll be fun.”
Obviously, we have dramatically different ideas of fun.
Holding an eye roll in check, I slide into the seat next to him.
My hip lands an inch from his thigh and my body acts like it’s an invitation.
I’m acutely aware of my father’s eyes on us and I move as far over as possible, careful to keep my distance.
Which isn’t the easiest of tasks, given how much space Bennett takes up.
“Could you scoot over a little bit?” I hiss, our knees brushing. I ignore the slow burn in my thighs and instead focus on the cold stare of management. Bennett doesn’t pull away—just lets the contact linger, his mouth twitching at the corner. He knows exactly what he’s doing right now.
“I am over.” Bennett sets his elbow on the armrest, a cocky smile quirking on his lips.
“More.”
“Fine.” He huffs out an aggravated sigh, moving his knee about an eighth of an inch.
I hate that I instantly miss the warmth.
“Gee, thanks. I have so much more space now.” I pull my laptop out, then tuck my bag under the seat.
“Ms. Prince, we’re taking off in about five minutes. You probably want to stow your laptop for the moment.” Cammie the flight attendant motions at my computer.
“Fine.” I shove the laptop back into the bag and slam everything under my seat. I’m halfway under the seat when Callum shuffles onto the plane, along with Weston.
“Hey, look who beat you two here.” Bennett chirps at his brothers and Weston scowls.
“Only because your babysitter gave you a ride.”
Bennett bristles at the comment, his jaw ticking. “For your information, I was ready first. I’m a damn model citizen.” Bennett polishes his knuckles on his hoodie and Weston shakes his head as he slides into the window seat across the aisle from us.
“Yeah, something like that.”
Callum sits down in the aisle seat across from me just as the pilot’s voice fills the cabin.
“Good morning, team. Everyone’s on board and we’re next for takeoff. Fasten your seatbelts and for your safety, please keep them on until we reach cruising altitude.”
I reach over and tug my seatbelt tighter, as if I can strap down my self-control.
Cammie walks past us, collecting trash, before taking her seat at the back of the plane for takeoff. The floor of the plane vibrates as we taxi down the runway.
“Here we go.” Bennett’s thigh presses into mine for half a second as the plane picks up speed.
The vibration rolls through the seat, all the way through me.
I squeeze my thighs together hard. Useless.
My body doesn’t care about the rules we set.
I work to ignore the butterflies in my stomach, unsure if they’re from takeoff or the man next to me.
I have a sneaking suspicion it’s the latter. And the less time I spend thinking about that, the better.
The engine rumbles, the loud noise filling the cabin. Bennett leans over, his lips inches from my ear.
“Did you get any sleep last night?” He drops his voice low, so only I can hear.
I clasp and unclasp my hands, not sure where to look. Straight ahead and I’m staring at my father. Beside me, and I’m drowning in Bennett’s ocean blue eyes.
“Yes.” The word catches in my throat, thick with nerves, and there’s zero percent chance Bennett believes me.
He tilts his head closer to mine, his breath dusting over my skin. “That wasn’t very convincing, Sunshine.”
My traitorous pussy clenches, his alpine scent assaulting my nostrils and triggering the memory of the kitchen island.
“Stop,” I hiss under my breath, as quietly as possible.
“What? We’re just chatting. Totally innocent.” He shifts in his seat, his foot tapping against my stiletto. I curl my toes inside my shoe, furious I can’t win at this game.
Not now.
Probably not ever.
Bennett Steele has completely flipped the roles on me.
And my duplicitous body loves it.