Bang(22)

BENNETT LEAVES TODAY to go back to Dubai to start an overhaul on the production plant, gutting it and replacing everything with the same equipment that is used at the other plant he has here in the States. When I told him that I was meeting with the caterers today, he had his assistant call and hold his plane so he could go with me. The idea of having him and Declan in the same room causes my nerves to go a bit haywire. Especially when I just saw Declan for coffee yesterday.

He continues to press me about Bennett, and I’m confident with my performance as he seems to be under the assumption I’m not all that happy and that I’m only keeping up the fa?ade for the sake of appearance. But I don’t want there to be any awkward exchanges today when we meet up with him at his hotel, so this is where it turns tricky. I’d like to keep both men apart from each other, so the added fact that Bennett is linked with Cal, Declan’s father, isn’t optimal. It was never in my plan to target a man like Declan, but so far, he’s the one that has taken the bait. I just need to be careful with handling this situation. One little slip could be disastrous, and I’ve invested too much time to make a fatal error.

“Are you ready, honey?” Bennett asks as he walks into the living room where I’m sitting.

I stand, straighten my pencil skirt, and walk over to him. “Yes. I just need to grab my coat.”

“We’ll drive so that you’ll have the car with you when you leave. Baldwin will pick me up to take me to the airport.”

“I hope it wasn’t too much trouble to delay the charter,” I say as I slip on my coat and grab my purse.

“No trouble at all. I just hate that I have to be gone again with it being so close to Christmas.”

We leave the apartment and head down on the elevator.

“By the way,” he says. “I spoke with my parents. They want us over Christmas Eve for a dinner party they’re hosting.”

I cringe inside at the thought of spending time with those *s, but I smile anyway, saying, “Okay. I’ve been meaning to call your mother, I’ve just been a little scattered with everything else going. And now you’re leaving again.”

He takes my face in his hands and kisses my cheek. “It’s only temporary.”

“I know.”

“It’ll be busy for a while, but once everything is up and running, it’ll slow back down.”

The elevator opens and we make our way to the parking garage. We take the Land Rover, and when we pull out, we’re greeted by more snow.

“It’s supposed to get bad later,” Bennett says.

“I’ll be sure to get home before it does.”

“I can hire another driver if you need me to.”

Cocking my head at him, I smile, saying, “I survived before without a driver, Bennett. I’ll be fine.”

Baldwin will be accompanying Bennett on his trip this time, so he won’t be around to drive me. One less person I have to worry about.

“With me gone so much and this brutal winter we’ve been having, it worries me knowing you’re driving around in this mess.”

Laying my hand on his thigh, I assure him, “I’ll be fine. You worry too much.”

He takes my hand in his, kissing my knuckles, and says, “I just don’t want anything to happen to you. I can’t help but worry when I’ll be a world away.”

I lace my fingers with his and relish in the fact that this new purchase will have him so far away for a longer span of time, allowing me to work on Declan. It couldn’t be a better situation. With Bennett and Baldwin gone, I’ll be able to come and go as I please without having to explain.

When we pull up to Lotus, the valet opens my door and helps me out.

“Watch your step, miss.”

“Thank you,” I say before Bennett walks around to take my hand and lead me inside.

I show him to the private dining room that Declan had the flowers in earlier this week, and when we walk in, Declan is there talking to the chef.

“Nina,” he says with a smile, and my nerves float to the top of my stomach. He takes my hand, giving me a chaste kiss on the cheek, and then greets my husband. “Bennett,” he says with a firm handshake. “It’s good to see you again.”

“I hear my wife is keeping you busy.”

“She knows what she likes,” Declan chuckles and Bennett joins him. “But she hasn’t fired me, so I guess I’m doing something right.”

“Don’t get too high on yourself just yet,” I add with the sass I know Bennett loves but, at times, can irritate the hell out of Declan. He takes it well, never losing his grin. I want to make him jealous, but it’s a fine line with Bennett here, so I’ll make sure to gauge Declan’s body language and not push him too far.

Declan introduces us to Marco, the chef I’m considering for the party, and we then take a seat at one of the tables.

“So, Bennett, Nina tells me you’ve been slammed with work lately.”

“That’s a massive understatement, and to be happening this time of year is less than ideal,” Bennett says and then reaches over to hold my hand that’s resting on the table. “Fortunately for me, I have an understanding wife.”

Just as I give him a smile, we are presented with a sculpted Caprese salad.