Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
F uck. How much did Jenna overhear?
I take my time removing the ice pack and placing it on top of the platter on the coffee table. “My thigh feels a little better.”
She comes over and picks up the ice, then disappears into the kitchen. I take this moment to get to my feet, spying her oversized purse on the floor. Looks like a laptop case. Smart.
Jenna crosses the threshold. “No matter how much she tries your patience, you can’t replace your mother.”
She doesn’t know what that woman has put me through my entire life. “Your mother is great, Jenna. Mine is not.”
She crosses her arms across her chest. “Every mother deserves respect, Bennett.”
“Growing up, Dad used to say something like that to me.”
“Would he be proud of your last conversation with her?”
I drop my head. No, he wouldn’t. My hand goes behind my neck. “Probably not,” I mumble. Jenna remains silent. “I suppose I could send her a little gift to smooth things over. ”
“Smart man.” She picks up my cell, where I had dropped it after Mom disconnected our call. “Start now.”
“Bossy.”
She shakes my phone at me.
“Fine,” I grumble and take my cell from her. Dad used to give her chocolates on the regular when I was growing up, which seemed to mellow her out. She could use some mellowing now. I search for the best chocolates in the world and place my order. “There. Done.”
“Good job.”
Somehow, I know the kudos from Jenna will far exceed any thanks I get from the woman who birthed me.
“I want to call King and Angie to confirm everything’s a go for us to hit up Secluded Rest.” At her nod, I hit send on my phone and am connected with King.
“Hey, King. Jenna and I are ready to go to the mansion, if you got the permission?”
“Sure did. I figured you didn’t care about the price.”
My eyebrows raise. “Of course not.” I don’t even ask how much, as it doesn’t matter. All that’s important is getting us away from the reporters. He says he’ll meet us there to get us situated.
“King will meet us there to let us in. Are you all set?”
She nods and picks up her “purse,” adjusting the strap over her shoulder. “Yup.”
“No. Wait. I should carry that for you. The press will have a field day if I don’t.”
She tugs on the straps. “No, it’s not necessary. If you carry it, they’ll think it’s luggage. This way, I can keep up the ruse it’s my purse.”
Damn. She’s brilliant. “You know, you’re right.” I motion for her to proceed me. “Lead the way.”
She giggles and my cock takes notice. Down boy . My eyes fasten on her ass as she opens the front door and we face the media gauntlet again, which has grown since we’ve been inside. She tosses her “purse” into the backseat and once again takes the driver’s side. After closing her door, I make my way over to the passenger side and get in, extending my leg to its full length.
Jenna backs up and the reporters rush to their cars. Her palm contacts the steering wheel. “Why can’t they give us a break?”
I repeat what the PR team says all the time. “It’s their job.”
“Their job sucks.”
“Yeah. Wouldn’t want to be them.” I chuckle. “You don’t have to drive like a bat out of hell this time. The mansion is in a gated community, remember? They won’t be able to get past the front gate.”
She relaxes in the seat. “You’re right.” A slow grin takes shape across her face. At the top of her lungs, she screams, “Follow me, boys!”
My head bounces on the headrest as we drive at a normal pace, stopping at stop signs and obeying traffic laws. She turns into the community and we approach the gate.
“Hi. We’re going to Secluded Rest.”
The guard behind the desk asks, “Name?”
Jenna glances at me, to which I tip my chin. I’m sure King gave them her name. “Jenna Westfield.”
A beat passes before the guard scribbles something down and hands Jenna a piece of paper. “Keep this on your front dash. From now on, all you’ll have to do is show this and you’ll be let in.” It’s an extended stay pass.
Jenna puts it down in front of her. “Great. Oh, and see all those cars behind me?” She waves behind us.
The guard peers out. “Hard to miss.”
“Don’t let any of them in. They’re reporters.”
“You got it. Have a good day.”
With that, we enter the community and drive toward the mansion overlooking the water. “You have a devious streak in you, don’t you Miss Westfield?”
Her teeth worry her bottom lip. “Only when it’s called for.”
“Remind me not to earn it. ”
“Keep up with your exercises and treat your momma with respect, and we’ll be good.” She turns into the long driveway.
One out of two will have to do.
King opens my car door. “Glad to see you made it.” He gives me a light punch on my shoulder.
“Yeah, well, looks like a nice neighborhood...” We chuckle.
Jenna joins us with her oversized purse over her shoulder. “I popped the trunk with your luggage, Bennett.”
“Thanks.” I turn toward the back of her car, King in tow, and grab my backpack. “Would you mind grabbing those for me? I hate this.” I point to my leg.
“Understood.” He lifts my luggage out of the car and looks around. “Where’s the rest of Jenna’s stuff?”
“Because the paparazzi were all over us, we decided she couldn’t take anything bigger than what she has. Otherwise, the rumor mill would get worse.” I slam the trunk closed.
“Oh, man. That sucks.” We roll my bags to the front.
King addresses Jenna. “I’m sure Angie could help you get anything you might have forgotten.”
Grey eyes dart between us. “I was thinking I could go home and get a change of clothes tomorrow. Maybe even stay there.”
“No way.” I stop. “You saw the press staked out at your house. I won’t let you go back there while I’m here. It’s not safe.”
Jenna’s left arm covers the other. She rubs up and down the strap. “It’s not me they’re after.”
“You heard them. They’re just as rabid for intel about you as they are for me.”
King stays silent, observing.
I continue, “At least I gave them a plausible story about looking for properties. What’s your angle?”
She straightens her shoulders, her lips in a thin line.
“That’s what I thought.” I turn my head toward King. “Let’s go in.”
The three of us go to the front door, where King produces a key from the lockbox and hands it to me. “I’m removing this while you’re here. You can drop the key off to the agency before you leave, or give it to Jenna to do so after you’ve left.”
His words pinball through my body. I don’t want to leave her here. All alone to handle the press. Who am I trying to kid? Even though I’ll be the one leaving, it still feels like she’s the one abandoning me. Like everyone else in my life.
King ushers us through the front door. I’m once again hit with the massive foyer, high ceilings, and open concept. Not to mention the view of the ocean through the wall-to-wall windows in the family room. It’s breathtaking.
And big. I don’t need such a huge place.
Jenna points to one side of the staircase. “I’m going to put my things in a bedroom.” Without waiting for a response, she runs up the stairs.
King says, “Let’s take the elevator.”
“I hate this fucking muscle pull,” I grumble as we wheel my luggage down the hallway. Pressing the button, the door opens and we get into the cab with my luggage—with room to spare. “Shit. This thing is big.”
King smirks. “I hear that a lot.”
I like this guy. “Yeah, me too.” Although not from the one woman who I’d like to hear it from. I bet Jenna... A needle scratches across the record .
King asks, “What was that out there?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
The doors open and we walk toward the primary suite. In a higher voice than his usual baritone, King imitates me from outside the car. “‘I won’t let you go back there while I’m here. It’s not safe.’”
I flinch. “Jenna’s my responsibility. She wouldn’t be in this predicament but for my stupid injury.” I pound on my right thigh.
“Uh huh.”
We wheel my luggage into a huge walk-in closet.
“Between you and me, that’s not the only reason.” I shrug off my backpack and place it on top of the quartz-covered closet island. Why am I confessing all this to King, whom I barely know? Perhaps that’s why?
“We thought we saw sparks between you two.”
“It’s complicated. She used to date one of my bandmates.”
We enter the main bedroom. “The one who overdosed?”
I nod. “Darren. He was a good guy. His overdose was a mistake, not intentional.”
“I hear you. Happened to my father’s original drummer back in the eighties. None of Hunte touches the stuff anymore.” He turns his head. “Me neither.”
There’s more to this story, but I remind myself we’re not friends. No one is. I’m not in a position to dig deeper into his story. Instead, I say, “Darren’s the reason I didn’t take the doctor up on prescription pain killers.”
“How’s your leg, anyway?”
I take his off-ramp. “Rehab is going well, but sometimes it hurts like a motherfucker.” I pause. “Don’t tell Jenna that, though.”
He laughs. “You’re secret’s safe with me.” King holds up the lockbox. “Well, I think you have everything you need in here. Let me know if I can help you out in any other way.” He walks toward the doors. “And good luck with your girl.”
I open my mouth to argue that she’s not my girl, but he’s already gone. Just who am I trying to kid?