Rushing the Goal (Assassins #8)(148)

Lucy set him with a look. “I hear you, but don’t employ Benji to step up. It’s not his job.”

Before Benji could argue that, say that he wouldn’t mind, and it would be his life’s greatest pleasure to be a father to Angie, Jace said, “Can’t we just hire someone to get rid of him? Or can we not now that it’s been brought up? Shit, I should have just hired someone.”

“Or can we pay Benji to beat him up? He’s a big dude,” Jude added and Benji smiled.

“It won’t do anything. He’s an idiot. We just have to deal with him,” he said as the waiter came up. “Can I get the check?”

“Benjamin! No! We’re paying,” Autumn said, but Benji waved her off.

“Our gift to you,” he said, bringing Lucy into his side.

“But it’s your birthday.” Autumn frowned as Benji smiled at the stack of presents the Sinclairs had brought for him.

“But I want to do this for you,” he said, sending her a pleading look, and thankfully, she agreed, shaking her head.

“Fine, fine,” she said, waving him off. “But we are taking you to dinner one night this week.”

“Done,” he agreed, holding his card up, but the waitress shook her head.

“Actually, Mark Sinclair paid for dinner and told me to tell you guys merry Christmas and congratulations.”

The table went quiet as Benji smiled. “Well, thank you, then.”

“Absolutely. Can I get anyone anything else?”

Everyone declined as Autumn cleared her throat. “Well, that was nice of him.”

No one really agreed as Lucy leaned on her forearms. “Yeah, it was, Mom.”

“Lucy, really?” Jace said and she shrugged.

“He is honestly going above and beyond for Angie. Really. Maybe he’s trying to mend fences.”

But the boys didn’t look convinced. Jayden announced, “Well, if he gets that guy gone, then maybe I’ll consider thinking that. But until then, he’s dead to me.”

“Me too,” Jace and Jude said. Benji looked to Lucy, her face full of apprehension. He knew the upcoming court date wasn’t for another three weeks, but it was weighing heavily on her. He wished he could alleviate some of the burden, but she wasn’t like that. She only leaned when she needed to, and so far, she was good.

But when she wasn’t, he’d be there, and he’d bear the burden of all of it as long as Lucy would let him.





“My mom thought you were going to propose to me.”

Wrapping his arms around Lucy’s waist as Angie played with the new indoor hockey set Benji had gotten her, he kissed her shoulder. “Did you want that?”

She shook her head. “God, no, we aren’t ready.”

“No?”

“No, crazy. Jeez,” she said, gawking at him. “Plus, I love my new bracelet and earrings. I’ve never had diamonds before, I didn’t even have an engagement ring.”

He made a face. “No?”

“Nope, we were poor,” she said with a grin. “Plus, I never needed it. Angie was my main concern, or maybe I knew that Rick wouldn’t last. I don’t know,” she laughed, leaning her head against his as she drank in the stunning set he had gotten her. When he saw it, he knew she’d love it, and while she thought it was too early for them to be engaged, it hadn’t stopped him from picking out a ring for her.

Not that anyone knew that.

He hadn’t bought it, but he found the one he wanted for her. It would fit her hand perfectly, a simple three carat diamond in a platinum band. He knew she’d love it, but he’d wait until he knew she wouldn’t say no.

Kissing her jaw, he said, “Well, I’m getting you a ring.”

“Later.”

“Later? Like, how later?”

“Why do you need times for everything?”

He grinned. “So I can do it before then,” he said with a wink and she laughed.

“I don’t know, a year?”

He made a face. “No.”

“No? You can’t just say no.”

“A year is too long.”

“You are crazy. It’s been little over two months, Benji. That’s like ten weeks,” she stressed and he shrugged.

“When you know, you know.”

She made a face. “So you’d marry me tomorrow?”

“Hell, I’d marry you right now. I mean, it would be an excellent bonus birthday present…” he said and she made another face.

“You’re insane.”

He grinned as she cuddled into him. “But I’ll admit, it’s sorta cute.”

“And hot, right? You want to bang me?”

She sputtered with laughter. “I always want to do that.”

Smiling against her hair, he kissed her head as he held her. He wasn’t playing. He’d marry her that second; all she had to do was say yes. Until then, though, he’d hold her, he’d love her, and life would be good. As they watched Angie bat the ball with her stick into the wall, he held her tightly. She whispered, “Benji?”

“Yeah, baby.”

“I’m worried about court with Rick.”

“Don’t, it’s three weeks away.”