Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
J enna steals the last bite of tiramisu. “That was delicious.” She wipes her lips.
I’ll never finish a meal again without thinking of the glorious noises coming out of her mouth. “I can tell you enjoyed it.”
A blush stains her cheeks. “I didn’t want you to have any doubts.”
She’s sweet. All of a sudden, I remember the birthday card and gift I have for her. I signal for the server, ask for the dessert plates to be taken away, and a couple of glasses of champagne brought over.
“Why on earth did you order that?”
“Because it’s your birthday. You need to celebrate.”
She motions toward the table. “Isn’t that what we were doing? Dinner with Ma. The tiramisu?”
“They were merely a precursor.” I reach into my pocket and hand her my card. “Happy birthday, beautiful.”
“Shhh, keep your voice down. Don’t want to tip off the other diners.”
The idea of serenading her holds a lot of appeal. “I wish I could, but I’m trying to keep a low profile out here. Besides, I don’t do a capella .” The one and only time I did was when I was five and rehearsing a song for Father’s Day. Mom put her hand over my mouth, saying my voice could make my sister roll over in her grave. Over the years, I’ve gotten over her criticism, although I refuse to sing without instrumental backup.
“Oh, right.”
She looks at the envelope in her hand, which I urge her to open. She takes her time reading the thoughtful message written by the card company. Wish I could do it half as well as them. Next, she opens the gift card to the arcade and starts laughing. “No way!”
“Cut me a break. I was limited in time and location.” I pull out my phone and tap a few things. “There. Now your birthday is programmed into my calendar forever. I’ll never miss another one of your birthdays.”
She shakes her head. “You’re crazy.”
“Seems like you’re going to have a blast at the arcade with a crazy person then.” I’m proud of my gift to her. I rented out the entire arcade for a few hours on a date of her choosing, figuring we can use it in between my therapy sessions.
“Bennett, I haven’t been in there for years.”
I rub my hands together. “Then you better be ready for me to whoop your ass!”
Her eyes turn to slits. “Don’t be so sure of yourself.” Her palm brushes over her shoulder. “I have skills.”
I laugh. “Oh, it’s on!”
I motion for the server to bring the bill and pass her my credit card without looking at it. Jenna huffs, “You didn’t have to do that. I invited you to join us.”
“For your birthday,” I supply. “Not letting the birthday girl pay for her own celebration. What kind of guy do you think I am?”
Her hand rubs her throat. “I’m not sure.”
I don’t respond to her quiet words, which provide me with a ray of hope. Standing, we walk over to the coat check, and I help her pull hers up her shoulders. My hands rest on them for a moment before taking my new winter coat and sliding it up my own arms.
She turns and places my scarf around my neck, tugging on the ends. I have the sudden urge to taste her lips, which I bet are better than any of the amazing food we enjoyed here.
I reach out to caress her cheek.
A teenage boy wearing a jacket proclaiming him to be the valet approaches. “Can I get your ticket?”
Her lips purse, as if she’s holding herself back from something we both want. She turns from me, her hand slipping into her purse and retrieving a small piece of paper. “Here you go. I’ll wait for my car. Take your time.”
Before I can object, she’s out the door. Perhaps running from the feelings swirling between us?
I huff a breath and ready myself for the ride home. I know Darren placed her on the Do Not Fuck list, but does it really still apply now? I mean, it’s not like I’m stealing her away from him. When we arrive at my rental, maybe I can invite her in for a nightcap?
Smirking, I open the restaurant’s door to a feeding frenzy. Paparazzi swarm Jenna at the valet stand, screaming at her.
“Are you out with Bennett Hardy?”
“How do you know the rock star?”
“Where did you meet him?”
I step forward and the vultures latch on, screaming my name. Asking more questions about what I’m doing in Aroostook and who the blonde with me is. At least they haven’t figured out Jenna’s identity. The need to protect her swells within me.
Raising my hand, I address the crowd. “I’m in the Hamptons for some R&R before Untamed Coaster goes out on our new tour.”
My words don’t seem to satisfy them, though, as they continue pummeling me with more questions. At least I drew their attention away from Jenna. How did they know she was with me, anyway?
The attendant drives her car up the drive, inching forward so as to avoid the media gaggle. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing a few of them run down. Or at least jumping out of the way.
Finally, the harried valet leaps out of the car. I glance at Jenna, who’s surrounded by reporters, like I am. Unlike me, all the color’s drained from her face and her eyes have glazed over. Despite knowing how much this will suck, I brush past them and walk—faking a normal gait through clenched teeth—toward the driver’s seat. She’s in no condition to drive up the street, let alone all the way to my rental.
Ignoring the paps, I approach the valet and pass him a good tip. “Help her into the car.”
“Yes, sir.” The kid glances at the money I handed him. “Will do, right away sir.”
At least one problem solved. With a final wave to the media, I slip into the driver’s seat, blocking the stabbing pain emanating from my muscle pull. Seated, I close the door, push my seat backward, and click my seat belt while the noise raises by decibels when the passenger side door opens.
Paps continue to throw questions at Jenna, who remains immobile. I need to get her out of here, so I honk the horn four long times. My distraction works because she hops into the car and slams her door shut, despite reporters’ hands trying to keep it open. I push the button and lock them all out.
“Ready?”
My question isn’t met with any answer—snarky or otherwise.
This is bad . I put the car into drive and move forward at an even pace. Several of the reporters jump out of my way, which gives me a small bit of satisfaction.
When we turn onto the main street, I let out my breath and place a hand on my thigh, where I massage the throbbing pull. The adrenaline from dealing with the paps is replaced with the agony I’m putting my groin pull through. Driving requires me to use my right leg, and my thigh protests.
The need to protect this fierce, formidable, fragile woman outpaces my own injury. “How are you doing, Jenna?” I dare not switch my eyes from the road since I haven’t driven in...months. This task, combined with my spasming leg, requires all of my attention.
We drive for a couple of blocks before I realize I have no idea where I’m going. “Jenna?”
Her head swivels toward me, which I count as a win. However, her distant expression warns of her mental state. “Can you please set up the GPS?” While I don’t want to waste a moment of driving any place we don’t have to be, now’s not the time to admit this fact.
When she doesn’t speak, I shut off the headlights, turn down what’s marked as a “Dead End,” and stop on the side. I want to pull her into my arms and tell her this will pass. Hell, I simply want to hold her. But my leg hurts too fucking much for me to do anything other than focus on getting us home. Satisfaction rumbles through me when a passel of reporters drive by on the main road.
“Jenna, listen to me. I’m a big story in this small, sleepy town during winter. If I were here in the summer, I’m sure I wouldn’t be a blip on their radar.”
Her grey eyes blink. “I froze out there.” She licks her lips. “I was surprised.”
Over my complaining leg, I reach over and brush her hair off her cheek. “Anyone would be shocked when a pack of wolves descends without warning, Sweetheart.” Sweetheart? I’ll unpack this term later.
“Yeah.”
“Please know this will blow over. I’ll speak with Luke about the best way to make them go away.”
She opens her mouth and a stream of air comes out. Shaky hands corral her hair into a ponytail, which doesn’t stay put. I place my finger on her bottom lip over the protests of my thigh. “They’ll go away. I promise.”
“Thank you. I trust you.”
I puff up at her words. When has any woman ever trusted me other than to give her an orgasm? “I won’t let you down.” I glance at the screen on the console. “Now, can you set up the GPS so we can get out of here?”
“I can do that.” She gathers herself and hits various buttons on the dash.
I return to sit properly, massaging my thigh. My head follows my progress rather than hers.
“There. All set.”
The disembodied GPS voice instructs me to return to the main road, so I make a U-turn and off we go. We make small talk on the way back to town, going through windy roads that challenge both my driving and physical abilities. When a deer leaps across the road, I come to a fast halt, which brings about another bout of pain that I hide from my physical therapist. She doesn’t need to deal with my issues after the ambush at the restaurant.
At long last, we stop in front of a traditional two-story house. In the summer, I bet it has a nice lawn and flowers. “Uhm, Jenna. I know the GPS says we have arrived, but this isn’t my rental.”
Her hand flies to her mouth. “Oh no. This is my house.”