Read Online Bennett (Bourbon & Blood #1) by Seraphina Donavan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Seraphina Donavan
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divorce and Quentin, well, she didn ’ t know what the hell was going on with Quentin. In the midst of all of that, she couldn ’ t afford the added drama of an affair with Bennett. But still, it tempted her … it tempted her strongly.
Memories long buried stirred to life, of him sneaking into her bedroom in the dark of night, of hot, drugging kisses in the backseat of his daddy ’ s car. She wanted him as much as she ever had, but she ’ d made a deal with the devil, or in her case, a deal with her father. If he found out, everything would come crashing down around her.
“ So don ’ t let him find out, ” she whispered to the empty room.
A frisson of excitement burned through her at the thought. Just for a little while, she ’ d get to live again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bennett put down the planer and ran his hand over the wood. The doors on the old cabinet were being stubborn, but finally, after about a million small adjustments, they were closed and flush to the base.
“ There, ” he said and pointed to the near perfect seam. “ That, little sister, is craftsmanship. ”
“ That, big brother, took you almost the whole day, ” Savannah replied smartly, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. “ Your head isn ’ t in the game today, Bennett. ”
That was certainly true. He ’ d forgotten half his tools at home and had to go back for them. Then he ’ d mixed up the addresses for deliveries and sent Carter to the wrong house. Sleep had been in short supply. It had been two days since the scene in his kitchen with Mia, two days and she was still wreaking havoc on him.
Thinking about Mia, and about whether or not she really was in danger from someone, had kept him awake. A part of him wanted to dismiss the accident as just a fluke or aberration. But his gut wouldn ’ t let him. It didn ’ t feel right to him. Or maybe it was wishful thinking on his part. Maybe, he thought, he just wanted her to need him.
“ Everyone has an off day, ” he replied to Savannah.
“ Umm hmm. ” It was a noncommittal response murmured as she quickly drew out a design in her always present sketchbook.
Bennett shook his head. She ’ d been all set to poke into his business and then got distracted by her own designs. It was typical Savannah.
“ I ’ m taking off early, ” he said, packing up his tools.
“ Drop off those two ladder-back chairs to Ruby Thompson? She wants them for her Christmas display this year. ”
Bennett nodded his agreement as he headed out the door. With his tools stowed in the front, he put the chairs in the back and secured them with bungee cords. Just as he was tightening the last one, he felt a prickle of unease. Glancing across the street, it was impossible to miss the black SUV with the deer guard.
Casually, Bennett started across the street, ready to confront them. Before he ’ d even crossed the first lane of the street, the engine roared to life and the SUV peeled out. Horns blared as it merged onto Main Street in front of oncoming traffic.
“ Goddammit! ” Heading back to his truck, Bennett considered the implications of what had just happened. If they were watching him, it wasn ’ t random. Whoever was after Mia knew about her life, about her past. He needed to see her, to warn her.
It would be another exercise in self-inflicted torment. Being in her presence was just too damned hard. Of course, the other option, of not passing the information on and the having something happen to her — yeah, that wasn ’ t really an option. Climbing into his truck, Bennett headed west, towards Fire Creek and the distillery.
*~*~*
Mia emerged from the distillery, keys in hand. She was exhausted. Between the caregiver interviews, the full day’s work she ’ d put in, and being torn up inside by the temptation of Bennett Hayes she felt completely drained. But, she reminded herself, the last interview had panned out. She ’ d hired the former nurse who would start the following
Memories long buried stirred to life, of him sneaking into her bedroom in the dark of night, of hot, drugging kisses in the backseat of his daddy ’ s car. She wanted him as much as she ever had, but she ’ d made a deal with the devil, or in her case, a deal with her father. If he found out, everything would come crashing down around her.
“ So don ’ t let him find out, ” she whispered to the empty room.
A frisson of excitement burned through her at the thought. Just for a little while, she ’ d get to live again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bennett put down the planer and ran his hand over the wood. The doors on the old cabinet were being stubborn, but finally, after about a million small adjustments, they were closed and flush to the base.
“ There, ” he said and pointed to the near perfect seam. “ That, little sister, is craftsmanship. ”
“ That, big brother, took you almost the whole day, ” Savannah replied smartly, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. “ Your head isn ’ t in the game today, Bennett. ”
That was certainly true. He ’ d forgotten half his tools at home and had to go back for them. Then he ’ d mixed up the addresses for deliveries and sent Carter to the wrong house. Sleep had been in short supply. It had been two days since the scene in his kitchen with Mia, two days and she was still wreaking havoc on him.
Thinking about Mia, and about whether or not she really was in danger from someone, had kept him awake. A part of him wanted to dismiss the accident as just a fluke or aberration. But his gut wouldn ’ t let him. It didn ’ t feel right to him. Or maybe it was wishful thinking on his part. Maybe, he thought, he just wanted her to need him.
“ Everyone has an off day, ” he replied to Savannah.
“ Umm hmm. ” It was a noncommittal response murmured as she quickly drew out a design in her always present sketchbook.
Bennett shook his head. She ’ d been all set to poke into his business and then got distracted by her own designs. It was typical Savannah.
“ I ’ m taking off early, ” he said, packing up his tools.
“ Drop off those two ladder-back chairs to Ruby Thompson? She wants them for her Christmas display this year. ”
Bennett nodded his agreement as he headed out the door. With his tools stowed in the front, he put the chairs in the back and secured them with bungee cords. Just as he was tightening the last one, he felt a prickle of unease. Glancing across the street, it was impossible to miss the black SUV with the deer guard.
Casually, Bennett started across the street, ready to confront them. Before he ’ d even crossed the first lane of the street, the engine roared to life and the SUV peeled out. Horns blared as it merged onto Main Street in front of oncoming traffic.
“ Goddammit! ” Heading back to his truck, Bennett considered the implications of what had just happened. If they were watching him, it wasn ’ t random. Whoever was after Mia knew about her life, about her past. He needed to see her, to warn her.
It would be another exercise in self-inflicted torment. Being in her presence was just too damned hard. Of course, the other option, of not passing the information on and the having something happen to her — yeah, that wasn ’ t really an option. Climbing into his truck, Bennett headed west, towards Fire Creek and the distillery.
*~*~*
Mia emerged from the distillery, keys in hand. She was exhausted. Between the caregiver interviews, the full day’s work she ’ d put in, and being torn up inside by the temptation of Bennett Hayes she felt completely drained. But, she reminded herself, the last interview had panned out. She ’ d hired the former nurse who would start the following
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