Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
Bennett’s House
Aubrey
The Mercedes climbed the final curve of the mountain road.
Aubrey barely noticed.
Her hands rested lightly on the steering wheel of Mabel’s old convertible.
The car was nearly thirty years old. Cream-colored. Immaculate.
Mabel had bought it new and treated it better than most people treated their children.
It felt ridiculous driving something so beautiful. She’d fallen completely in love with it.
Aubrey parked beside Bennett’s truck. Turned off the ignition. And sat there.
The engine ticked softly as it cooled.
She made no move to get out.
Instead she stared through the windshield.
Vanessa.
The name immediately irritated her. The memory was worse.
The easy laughter. The familiarity. The way she’d touched his arm. Followed him into his office. The way Bennett had closed the door behind them.
Aubrey groaned and dropped her forehead against the steering wheel.
Oh my God.
This was ridiculous.
She was thirty-three years old. Not sixteen.
They weren’t dating. They hadn’t made promises. They hadn’t discussed exclusivity.
They’d slept together. One time.
Well. Technically, more than one time. But that wasn’t the point.
The point was she had absolutely no right to be jealous.
And yet here she was.
Sitting in a vintage Mercedes in a driveway halfway up a mountain, acting as if she’d just caught her boyfriend with another woman.
The thought made her cringe.
“Get a grip.”
The words echoed inside the empty car.
They didn’t help.
Because every time she closed her eyes she saw Vanessa smiling when Bennett asked her to stay.
My office. If you’ve got a minute.
Aubrey squeezed her eyes shut.
Unbelievable.
She was becoming her mother.
The realization horrified her.
Anne would’ve marched downstairs. Picked a fight. Made a scene. Demanded attention.
Aubrey had spent her entire life promising herself she’d never be that woman.
So why did she suddenly understand exactly how that woman felt?
A sharp rap against the passenger window nearly made her jump out of her skin.
Moose.
The giant dog stood outside looking at her expectantly.
Aubrey laughed despite herself.
“You’re judging me, aren’t you?”
Moose wagged his tail.
She grabbed her purse. Opened the door. And climbed out.
Bennett looked up from the kitchen island when she walked in.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
Moose trotted straight to his water bowl.
Aubrey set her purse on the counter.
Bennett studied her. Something felt off.
“What’d you get into today?”
“Work.”
“That’s exciting.”
“It was.”
Interesting.
Bennett leaned back against the counter.
“You hungry?”
“Not really.”
“We could run into town.”
“No.”
The answer came too fast.
Bennett blinked.
“No?”
“No.”
She opened the refrigerator. Stared into it. Closed it again.
Still no idea what she wanted.
Definitely not food.
“Okay.”
Silence settled.
Aubrey grabbed a bottle of water. Twisted off the cap. Took a drink. Refused to look at him.
Bennett watched all of it.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
She glared at him.
“Nothing happened.”
Now he knew something had definitely happened.
“What’d I do?”
“You assume it was you?”
“I assume it usually is.”
That almost earned him a smile.
Instead, Aubrey looked toward the windows.
“I wonder when I can move back into the Victorian.”
Bennett straightened.
“What?”
“The crime-scene tape is gone.”
“You aren’t moving back.”
“Why not?”
Because somebody murdered your aunt. Because I sleep better knowing you’re here. Because I like you here.
Instead he said,
“The investigation isn’t over.”
Aubrey nodded once.
“Right.”
The answer felt strangely final.
She headed toward the back door.
Moose followed immediately.
The door shut behind them.
Bennett stared after her.
“What the hell?”
Outside, Aubrey crossed the yard. Moose lumbered beside her.
She stopped near the fence. Folded her arms. And immediately started arguing with herself.
This is stupid.
Yes.
Then stop.
I can’t.
Why?
Because he took her into his office and closed the damn door.
Aubrey groaned.
Moose looked up.
She pointed at him.
“Don’t.”
The dog sat down. Completely unimpressed.
Inside the house, Bennett watched through the glass.
His fingers drifted automatically toward his wedding band.
The gold ring rotated once. Twice. Three times.
His thumb caught beneath the edge. Lifted it slightly. Not enough to remove it. Enough to feel the weight.
The metal settled back against his skin.
Outside, Aubrey stood staring into space.
Inside, Bennett stared at her.
Neither one of them looked particularly happy.
Eventually the back door opened.
Aubrey stepped inside. Moose squeezed past her.
The silence followed.
Bennett waited.
Aubrey walked to the sink. Set down her water bottle. Pretended to be fascinated by absolutely nothing.
Then—
“What did Vanessa want?”
There it was.
Bennett stared.
Then slowly smiled.
“Oh.”
Aubrey’s eyes narrowed.
“Oh what?”
His smile widened.
“That’s what this is.”
“No.”
“It is.”
“It isn’t.”
“You’ve been mad at me since noon.”
“I’m not mad at you.”
“Princess—“
“Don’t you call me that.”
The smile disappeared. Immediately.
Because suddenly Bennett understood this wasn’t teasing.
This had actually hurt her.
The realization sobered him.
“Okay.”
Silence stretched.
“You slept with her.”
“Yes.”
“You were together.”
“Yes.”
“You took her into your office.”
“I did.”
“You closed the door.”
“I did.”
Her frustration finally broke free.
“Then what exactly am I supposed to think?”
Now Bennett got it.
All of it.
The office. The attitude. The Victorian house. The short answers.
Every bit of it.
And despite himself—
A smile escaped.
Aubrey stared.
“Don’t.”
“I can’t help it.”
“Bennett.”
“You are jealous.”
Her jaw dropped.
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I am not.”
“You absolutely are.”
“Bennett McCrae.”
His grin became impossible. Infuriating.
And somehow incredibly attractive.
Which only made her angrier.
“Look,” she snapped. “I know you and Vanessa are a thing.”
“We’re not.”
“You were.”
“We were.”
“Fine.”
She threw up her hands.
“You were.”
Bennett stayed silent.
Aubrey folded her arms.
“If that’s still what this is, then I get it.”
His expression changed.
“What?”
“If you’re trying to figure things out. If you’re not over her. If you’re deciding what happens next.”
“Aubrey—“
“I’m serious.”
The words came faster now.
“If that’s the case, then fine.”
“No.”
His voice was quiet. Certain.
“Fine isn’t what this is.”
“Then why?”
Bennett frowned.
“Why what?”
She stared at him.
And there it was.
The real question.
The one she’d been carrying since noon.
“Why did you sleep with me?”
The room went completely still.
The smile vanished. Gone.
Aubrey immediately wished she could take the question back.
Not because she didn’t want the answer.
Because suddenly she wasn’t sure she did.
“If Vanessa was still in the picture...” Her voice softened. “If there was still a chance...” She looked away. “Then why did you sleep with me?”
Bennett simply stared at her.
Then something shifted in his expression.
She thought she’d been temporary.
Slowly he crossed the room.
This time, when he reached for her, she didn’t pull away.
“Baby.”
The word slipped out naturally.
His hand closed gently around hers.
“I didn’t sleep with you because Vanessa wasn’t available.”
Aubrey looked up.
“And I sure as hell didn’t sleep with you because I was lonely.”
His voice was low. Steady.
“I slept with you because I wanted you.”
Silence.
“I’ve been trying not to think about you since the night we met.”
A faint smile touched his mouth.
“That worked out about as well as you’d expect.”
Despite herself, a tiny laugh escaped.
Bennett stepped closer.
“You should’ve told me,” she said quietly.
“You’re right.”
No argument. No excuses. Acceptance.
“I should have.”
Aubrey looked away.
“I...” She laughed once. Embarrassed now. “I saw the two of you together and—“
“And what?”
She rolled her eyes.
“Don’t make me say it.”
A slow smile touched his mouth.
“Aubrey.”
She groaned.
“I hated how comfortable she looked.”
The admission hung there. Mortifying. Honest.
Something warm replaced the teasing in his eyes.
“Baby.”
She looked up.
“You don’t understand.”
“I think I do.”
“No.” Her voice dropped. “I saw her standing there and I thought...”
She stopped. The words suddenly feeling ridiculous.
“What?”
Aubrey sighed.
“I thought maybe I got it wrong.”
Something shifted in his expression.
Not amusement.
Not anymore.
Understanding.
“What did you get wrong?”
Her eyes met his.
“This.”
The single word landed harder than she’d expected.
“Us.”
For a moment Bennett simply looked at her.
Then he reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“The night I kissed you on the patio at Drift,” he said, his voice gone quiet, thoughtful, “I felt something I hadn’t felt since Claire.”
Aubrey felt her heart stumble.
Neither of them said Claire’s name often.
He shook his head. “That scared the hell out of me.”
“Bennett—“
“No. Let me finish.”
“When I walked into Eleanor’s office and realized you were Aubrey Langford…” A humorless laugh escaped him. “I knew I was in trouble.
“I spent half the drive home from Drift telling myself it was nothing,” he went on. “And then I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
He didn’t seem embarrassed by the admission.
“I’d be working and you’d pop into my head. I’d be in a meeting and realize I hadn’t heard a word anybody said because I was wondering what you were doing.”
Despite herself, Aubrey laughed.
Bennett smiled.
Then the smile faded.
“Vanessa doesn’t even enter into it,” he said quietly. “Truth is, she hasn’t for a while.”
His hand tightened gently around hers.
“I don’t know where this goes, Aubrey.” His gaze held hers. “But I know I want to find out. With you.”
She wasn't sure if that was a good idea or a terrible one.
She only knew she didn't want to step back.
Something caught low in her stomach.
“This scares me,” she said quietly.
Bennett looked at her for a long moment.
“Me too.”
The honesty in the answer hit harder than reassurance would have.
“We should probably talk about that.”
“Probably.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow.”
Then he leaned in and kissed her.
It wasn’t careful this time.
His mouth found hers with a certainty that stole the rest of her objections.
Warm. Insistent. Hungry in a way that felt nothing like loneliness and everything like choice.
Her fingers curled in his shirt before she realized she’d moved.
Bennett’s free hand slid to her waist, tugging her closer until her hips met his.
The kitchen island pressed against the backs of her thighs.
A soft sound escaped her.
He swallowed it like he’d been waiting for it.
“Bennett—“
Her name broke on a breath when his mouth left hers and traced a line along her jaw.
He nipped lightly at the spot beneath her ear, his teeth catching her earlobe enough to make her gasp.
“I like it when you’re jealous,” he murmured.
“Shut up,” she whispered, breathless.
He smiled against her skin.
“Noted.”
His hand skimmed up her spine, pulling her flush against him.
The kiss deepened.
Every place he touched her sparked.
Her jealousy, her fear, her carefully guarded heart—all of it melted beneath the steady, unhurried insistence of his mouth.
He broke away long enough to search her face.
“Is this okay?” he asked.
She thought about the office.
Vanessa.
Mabel.
Her mother.
Then about the way he’d said he wanted to find out where this went—with her.
“Yes,” she said. Her voice came out steadier than she felt. “It’s okay.”
Relief flickered across his face, followed by something that looked a lot like joy.
“Come here,” he said.
He kissed her again, deeper, and the argument slipped out of her hands.
When he finally pulled back, they were both breathing harder.
“Bedroom,” he murmured.
Her pulse stumbled.
“Bossy,” she managed.
His mouth curved.
“Accurate.”
He slid his hands to her hips and eased her away from the island.
She went.
Her legs felt shaky and sure at the same time.
He didn’t let go of her hand as he backed toward the stairs, his thumb stroking over her pulse.
Moose lifted his head from the rug by the fireplace, considered them, and sighed.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Aubrey muttered.
Bennett huffed out a laugh.
“He’s seen worse.”
“Comforting.”
“Come on.”
The word was soft.
He tugged her gently toward the staircase.
Every step felt like a decision.
At the top of the stairs, he paused outside the master bedroom.
She knew what he was asking without him saying a word.
Knew this wasn’t about convenience or distraction anymore.
It was about choosing him back.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” she said.
He lifted their joined hands. Pressed his mouth to her knuckles.
“Yeah,” he said. “You are.”
He drew her into the dim room.
The door eased shut behind them.