Bennett (On the Line Book 2)(24)

What was he thinking? How uncomfortable was he right now?

I wished I’d dressed up more. My Flyers T-shirt and yoga pants had felt sporty chic at home. Plus, my jeans didn’t fit anymore. But sharing a table with these women dressed in tall, leather boots and sequined tops made me feel frumpy in comparison.

And we still hadn’t ordered food. I was about to go to the bar and get a menu when a waitress brought a steaming pizza to our table and sat it in front of me.

I glanced up at Bennett, knowing somehow, and he winked at me. He’d ordered me a pizza when he went to the bathroom. Right now that made him my hero, whether he’d slept with the brunette in the past or not.

She whispered something in his ear, and he shook his head and turned away.

Liam was having an animated conversation with some Flyers fans about the game, and Tara was talking to one of the other players. I just ate my pizza in silence, wishing I could get the hell out of here. Bennett and I weren’t together, but pretending I didn’t even know him was just too hard.

But I couldn’t make Tara leave right now. I could tell she liked the guy she was talking to.

I remembered it was Bennett’s invitation that had gotten me into this awkward situation, and I glanced across the table at him. He was looking at me, his coffee-colored eyes warm and intense. I wanted it to be enough that I had his attention. It wasn’t like we could let on to Liam that we knew each other. But when the brunette started laughing loudly and put a hand on his shoulder, I looked away.

“Madison, don’t,” I heard him say to her.

“What?” She gave him a dirty look. “What’s your problem?”

“Just back the f*ck off,” he said shortly.

Liam gave Bennett a questioning look. I didn’t like the tension in the air, and I knew it would get worse if I stayed.

“I’m taking your car home,” I said to Tara. “Can you catch a cab?”

“I’ll give you a ride,” the guy she was talking to said.

She gave me a look that said she was more than okay with that, and I promised to return her car in the morning.

My brother was in a happy, inebriated state, so I just gave him a quick hug and promised to see him soon. I’d slipped out the door when I heard someone calling my name.

Bennett.

“Hey. You okay?”

He looked down at me, concerned, as I slipped into my coat.

“Yeah. Why?”

“You don’t seem like yourself.”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure you know me well enough to know that.”

“Charlotte . . .”

“I didn’t expect to spend the evening watching you get hit on.”

He arched his brows. “What, Madison? Are you jealous? Don’t be. She’s nothing to me.”

“She was at some point, if you watched porn and gave her multiple orgasms.” The frustration that had been simmering inside me was now reaching a boiling point.

“Yeah, before I even met you. Don’t hold that against me.”

My nostrils flared with anger as I pointed at his chest. “Yeah, well, now you’re going back in there to be with her, and the pregnant chick is going home to take off her stretchy pants. I’m so glad you asked me to come tonight.”

He sighed and met my eyes. “What do you want me to do? I’m trying to keep Liam from being suspicious. You said you’re not ready for him to know.”

“I know. It just . . . this wasn’t a good idea.”

I fished Tara’s keys out of my purse and headed for the spot on the street where we’d parked. Bennett followed, stopping me before I could get in the car.

“Don’t leave like this,” he said.

Emotion welled in my throat. “How should I leave, then?”

“I don’t want you to leave at all.”

“Well, I’m tired. Growing another person inside you can have that effect.”

He brushed the hair back from my face and spoke softly. “Do you know how much I like your curly hair?”

“Don’t try to sweet-talk me now, Mr. Smoking Cracks.”

“Charlotte, I will come home with you right now if you want. I’d rather be with you than any of them.”

I sighed with frustration. “I wish you could. Liam will probably come out looking for you any minute now.”

“I don’t even care. I’ll deal with it. Keeping it from him is upsetting you.”

“Not tonight. I just want to go home.”

He stepped closer and kissed my forehead softly. And despite my aggravation with him, I liked it.

“When can I see you again?” he asked.

“When do you want to?”

“I’m leaving for a road trip tomorrow. Can I call you after my game?”

I nodded and stepped away, opening the door to Tara’s car. “Call me before you go out if you want.”

His expression was sober and I knew he felt the dig I’d intended. But really, who were we kidding? We hardly knew each other, and he was a sexy professional athlete who could get with women any night of the week. He wasn’t going to stay abstinent just because he’d gotten me pregnant.

I was about to get in the car when I felt his arm wrapping around the small of my back. I sucked in a breath, surprised, as he backed me against the back door of Tara’s car. I’d barely gotten my face turned up to his when his lips met mine, warm and demanding.