Chapter 28
Heloise’s heart skipped a beat as she locked eyes with Benedict, who spoke in a calm voice, “Lindsay said you haven’t been back to the Harrington Mansion for a few days, she misses you.”
“I’ll give you a ride,” Kyrell offered.
Heloise shook her head, catching Benedict’s ring–twirling out of the corner of her eye, “Thanks for tonight, but I need to ask you for another favor.”
Kyrell didn’t want her to be so formal with him, “Shoot.”
“Don’t spill the beans to Jenkin about tonight’s mess; his hot temper might mess with training, and I’m fine anyway,” Heloise said, giving him an easygoing and open smile.
Kyrell nodded, “Alright, get some rest. You’ll probably feel more at peace at your mom’s side.”
Heloise wanted to say that was unlikely; her mom was more likely to give her a headache than any peace of mind. But Kyrell didn’t need
to know all that.
At the restaurant entrance, Kyrell drove off first.
Beverly said, “Benny, it’s still early, and I kinda wanna drag by the Harrington Mansion to visit your Grandpa.”
She tried to cling to Benedict, but he pulled out a cigarette case from his coat pocket. She aimed to link arms with him, but out came his lighter, and she missed her chance.
Standing tall against the wind, Benedict lit his cigarette with one hand. The flame flickered, casting a seductive glow on his chiseled profile.
Beverly’s heart raced; this man always had a way of drawing her in from different angles.
She hadn’t planned on settling down so soon, thought of playing the field a few more years before getting serious. But laying eyes on Benedict, she couldn’t wait to tie the knot with him. What woman wouldn’t fall for such a guy?
Benedict exhaled a plume of smoke, his voice cool, “Grandpa’s feeling a bit under the weather and went to bed early. You won’t be able to see him if you go now.”
“But I miss your mom too.”
“My mom’s been with Grandpa all day and hit the hay early too,” Benedict flicked the ash.
“So, you’re heading back?”
Benedict’s brow furrowed ever so slightly, his tone noticeably dropping, “Today’s the fifteenth.”
Beverly paused, then remembered it was the fifteenth of the lunar month. Benedict always spent that night at the Harrington Mansion, a family tradition.
And Heloise, since getting into college at eighteen, had never spent a night there. She was an ‘outsider‘ to the Harrington family; even Evander didn’t press her.
“I’m about to become a Harrington too, right?” Beverly blushed, a bit embarrassed.
Benedict took the cigarette from his lips, the light flickering, looking down with a half–smirk, “Why are you so eager to visit the Harrington Mansion?”
Beverly’s heart thumped wildly; Benedict’s slight smile couldn’t hide his overbearing presence.
She felt slighted, “Sorry, Benny, don’t be mad. I just feel like we’re about to get engaged, and I’ve only been to the Harrington Mansion once.”
Meanwhile, Heloise couldn’t stand Beverly’s act any longer. She made her way down the steps and into her car first.
Beverly was being utterly foolish, thinking she was about to head to the Harrington Mansion with Benedict, clinging to him, trying to prevent them from having some alone time.
Little did she know, it was Benedict’s possessiveness kicking in; he simply didn’t want Heloise hanging with Kyrell.
This thought made Heloise laugh at the absurdity, but then a tightness gripped her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Heloise left without saying goodbye to Benedict, that triggered Beverly even more.
Beverly wouldn’t dare treat Benedict that way. Heloise sure knew how to keep a man on the hook, playing her cards right!
“Good thing Lise wasn’t hurt, or I wouldn’t know how to explain it to you,” Beverly said, her eyes reddening at the thought.
Benedict tapped his cigarette on a trash can, hands in pockets, “Explain what to me?”
“Lise is your family,” Beverly finally got to link arms with him, feeling his strong bicep against her.
14:48 07
Chapter 28
“Fortunately Kyrell got there in time to save her. They seem like a good match, Kyrell’s young and handsome; no wonder Lise looked happy in his arms,” Beverly giggled.
She sneakily glanced at the silent Benedict and went on, “When Kyrell said he was Lise’s boyfriend, man, was that cool or what? I bet Lise was head over heels.”
Quad pulled up with the car, and Benedict stubbed out his cigarette, “Take her home in her car. I’ll drive myself.”
“Benny!” Beverly silently seethed, torn between disappointment and resentment.
Benedict got in his car and drove off. Quad approached Beverly, “Ms. Miller, I’ll take you home.”
Beverly wanted to chase after Benedict, but Quad blocked her way. She moved left, he did too; she stepped right, so did he. It was unclear if it was intentional or coincidental.
By the time she pushed past Quad, Benedict was already gone.
Fuming, she stomped her feet and shot Quad a glare!
Quad respectfully asked, “Ms. Miller, the car keys?”
Beverly, flustered, dug them out of her purse and threw them at him!
Heloise didn’t drive back to the Harrington Mansion. If Lindsay really missed her, she’d have called directly, not send a message through Benedict.
Deception may work on others, but she was not one to be fooled so easily.
Her new ride’s been breaking in pretty smoothly these past few days, but man, the traffic on this road during this time is a real pain in the neck. She’s not the best behind the wheel, so it’s all stop–and–go until she gets off the overpass and through the intersection. Only then does the traffic start to ease up.
Kyrell shot her a message, letting her know he’s hit up the fencing club.
While stuck at a red, Heloise snatched a moment to shoot back a reply.
Out of the corner of her eye, a car pulled up alongside her.
It’s like she could sense it, and she turned her head.
The trees lining the road were in full autumn mode, their leaves tapping against the car window with a crisp sound.
Benedict gripped the steering wheel one–handed, his fingers pale and well–proportioned, the knuckles rising in a sculpted arc, yet tinged
with a certain sternness.
The orange glow of the streetlights fell on his profile, his lips slightly pursed, slowly turning his gaze towards her.
Heloise felt her heart skip a beat like back in her younger days, and once again her heartstrings were pulled taut with a pang.
Ever since she found out Benedict was getting hitched, the emotions she’d been trying to keep under wraps seemed ready to burst forth. Just the slightest bit started to crazily invade every fiber of her being.
It hurt so much she almost teared up in a flash.
Someone honked from behind, snapping her back to reality. She noticed the green light, her heart in a flutter, and quickly shifted gears
to drive off.
Once she rounded the corner where the cars were scarce, Benedict forced her to a stop without breaking a sweat. She was crawling along, and he blocked her effortlessly.
“Come here,” he said, just two words.
Heloise stayed put in her car, and Benedict, ever the patient one, didn’t press her.
She started the car, intending to back up.
“How can you drive with your injured feet?”
Heloise’s heart skipped. How did he know her foot was injured?
She had hidden it so well, even Kyrell hadn’t noticed.
Benedict held the steering wheel one–handed, the street deserted, with only the occasional car passing by, and the sound of the wind rustling the fallen leaves.
His voice blended into the night, dangerous and utterly enchanting, “Come here.”
