Bennett (On the Line Book 2)(13)

“No, there will not. And that doesn’t even make sense because we don’t share a bedroom.”

James grinned, undeterred. “Who you knockin’ boots with?”

“Oh, geez. The nineties called and they’d like their slang back.”

Our doorbell rang and James and I locked eyes. He was closer to the door. I rushed over, but he got to it first. I cringed at the image Bennett must be seeing—James, with a chocolate milk mustache, wearing a T-shirt that said, “Born for Porn.”

“Hey, James. Is Charlotte here?”

I stepped around the back of the door, my mouth open with surprise.

“Riley? What are you doing here?”

He wore khakis, a sweater, and loafers and carried a brown paper sack, which he raised up.

“Brought Chinese. I heard you telling Sara you don’t have plans tonight, so I thought we’d hang out.”

“No. I can’t.”

Riley frowned. “Come on. I miss you. You’re my best friend, Charlotte.”

I was about to respond when Riley turned to someone who was approaching my front door. “Who are you?” he asked.

“Bennett Morse. Who are you?”

Bennett walked the last couple steps and I took him in. Jeans, a flannel, and the black leather jacket I remembered so well from our first night together. Instead of his usual easy smile, he had a serious look on his face.

“I’m Riley Beaumont. Charlotte’s, uh . . .”

“My ex-boyfriend,” I finished for him. I grabbed my purse and stepped out the door. “Riley, I appreciate the gesture, but I have plans.”

“Yeah,” he said, sounding defeated.

“Let’s go,” I said to Bennett.

I took his hand and tugged. He followed me, and I heard James say, “Dude, I like Chinese. Wanna watch Teen Titans with me?”

“Did he just drop by unannounced?” Bennett asked as we stopped next to his Jeep.

“Yes. We broke up . . . well, the night you and I . . .”

He smiled and opened the door to the Jeep. When I got in, I noticed his leather smell. A package of breath mints sat in the cup holder and a John Mayer song was playing.

“You look nice,” he said as he got in and closed his door.

“Thanks.”

“It’s good to see you,” he said, his gaze lingering on my face. “Is pizza okay for dinner?”

“I love pizza.”

He gave me a sheepish smile. “Liam’s gonna be at a sports bar tonight, so no worries we’ll run into him.”

I sighed softly. “My mom told him I’m pregnant. He tried to call me earlier but I missed him. I’ll call him tomorrow.”

“What’re you gonna tell him?” Bennett asked as he pulled away from the curb.

“Just that I’m pregnant and I don’t want to discuss anything more than that about it with him.”

“He’s gonna be pissed. Not that you’re pregnant, but that you won’t tell him who the father is.” Bennett had a crease of worry between his brows.

“I can handle my brother, don’t worry about me.”

“If you decide you’re ready to tell him, let me know.”

I smiled at him. “So you can request a trade to another team right before?”

“Nah. I know it’ll be a shitstorm, but Liam and I have fought before. I’ll survive. I get that you can’t keep this from your brother forever.”

Bennett had a sexy coating of stubble on his cheeks. I eyed him and wondered what it would feel like to run my fingers over his cheek.

“Where are you from?” I asked him.

“Orland Park. It’s a suburb of Chicago.”

“What about your family?”

“I’ve got two sisters and a brother. I’m the next to oldest. My mom’s a pediatrician and my dad’s a history professor.”

We’d arrived at the restaurant and he’d just parked the car.

“What will they think about . . . you know, you having a kid?”

He grinned. “They’ll be thrilled. No grandkids yet.”

“They won’t be upset that it was a one-night stand thing?”

“No. My parents are very liberal. If the baby’s healthy and happy, they’ll be happy.”

There was something about his words and even his warm, deep voice that wrapped me in reassurance. Bennett was so solid. He made me feel like everything would be okay.

“Stay there,” he said. “I’m coming to get your door.”

I smiled to myself. Did he know how cute he was? I had a feeling he didn’t.

He opened my door and offered me his hand to help me out. I took it, liking how small my hand felt in his big one.

Why was I feeling this way? We weren’t on a date. I’d thrown away his phone number, and we never would have seen each other again if not for the unplanned pregnancy. I had to keep my head about me and remember what Bennett and I were—and weren’t—to each other. The last thing I needed right now was a relationship with a man.

I’d seen men come in and out of my mom’s life as a kid. They’d made lots of promises, but none of them had ever come through for her. She’d busted her butt working two jobs to support us, and it had been hard for Liam and me to see her let down by men time after time.