Page 38 of Extended Bridge

No matter how many times I tell him—and myself—we’re in a strictly professional relationship, this moment feels different.

My entire being calls out for him. It’s a physical yearning.

It doesn’t matter that all of UC is right around us. I can’t stop myself.

I launch my body at him, wrapping him in a big embrace and kissing his hurts away.

With no hesitation, his arms close around my waist.

I’m lost in the battles he’s fought and lost and won and is still fighting. Our mouths meld. Our tongues duel. He’s offering me the same sort of comfort that I’m giving him. It’s intoxicating.

A flash goes off behind my eyelids.

Noise intrudes from outside my bubble where only Bennett and I exist.

Luke’s angry voice yells.

Bennett breaks our kiss. Forehead to mine, he murmurs, “Istilldidn’t hug you first.”

Chapter Ten

My alarm goes off, waking me out of a deep sleep I only fell into perhaps three hours ago. I need more sleep. And tea. Lots of tea.

After Bennett kissed me last night—whoa, if I’m being honest,Istarted it—all hell broke loose. Luke kicked the paparazzi out of The Closet. A new member of the Garden’s security team confessed to letting them enter, thinking it was routine protocol. The whole incident has been labeled a misunderstanding between the Garden and UC.

In the melee, I slipped out and hopped into a cab to the hotel, where I’ve hidden out ever since. Ignored knocks on my door. I’m aware of Bennett’s upcoming physical therapy session, but it’s not in the hotel. This morning, we’ll be doing it on his tour bus as we travel down to Philadelphia. Thankfully it’s only a short ride—can’t deal with the possibility of riding on his bus overnight right now.

I’ve beaten myself up a million times over initiating the kiss last night. Bennett’s story simply speaks to me on such a deep level. He’s been through hell. Is still going through it. I jolt upright realizing he may consider me to be the closest person to him.

All this is compounded by the fact that he sees my warts and doesn’t judge me for them. The way he held me when I confessed my deepest truths over my guilt about my grandmother’s death. And Darren’s. He understands me. This realization makes me fall even harder for this amazing man.

The need to help him overcome more than his groin pull almost drags me down. To make him understand he is loved by the band. Show him through my own parental relationship that other mothers don’t treat their children the way his has.

As if I conjured her, my phone rings. “Hi, Ma.”

“Jenna, so good to actually hear your voice. I know you only are starting with Untamed Coaster, but how are things going?”

I can only hope this means the reporters haven’t published anything about our kiss last night. Ourveryinappropriate kiss. Bennett could charm underwear off a nun, I swear.

Grinning, I reply, “It’s good. I’ve been working with Bennett and he’s doing well, although I’m worried he’s going to mess up his progress with how he moves around onstage. Other than that, I’m enjoying meeting the crew and the massive amount of people working behind the scenes to put on an Untamed Coaster concert. I’d forgotten how many are involved.”

“I can only imagine. Have you made any new friends?” I tell her about Nese, and the process of replacing Chico with Kieron as the guitar tech. When she asks, “How’s the press treating you?” I know she’s buried the lede.

“How bad is it?” I Google Bennett’s name and am rewarded with a full page of different views of our kiss last night. The headline “Black Widow Strikes Again!” says it all. I bang my head against the padded headboard as I create a protective bubble around the beauty of that moment.

Ma doesn’t say anything, merely lets me process. A minute later, I say, “I hate the media.”

“Can’t imagine why.”

Her sarcasm isn’t lost on me. “I know you don’t approve ofBennett, but it’s not what it seems. Yes, I gave him a kiss last night after his show, but it was more of a ‘you can do it’ encouragement.” Actually, more like we were swept up in the concert high.

“From theotherphotos, it looks to me he’s perfectly capable of bringing all of Madison Square Garden to their feet.”

“Well, true.” I play with my hair, which is messy around my head. “It’s more personal stuff. Things he shared with me that I can’t repeat, not even to you. It’s his story to tell. Just know he’s not led a perfect life like you might expect. And he has valid reasons for distancing himself from his mother.”

“I’ll take your word for it, Jenna. However, the media’s turning this into a circus. I’m not sure how the banks will appreciate their investment being portrayed as a rock star groupie.”

My shoulders slump. “I’m most certainly not a groupie. I’m a licensed physical therapist on tour for a reason, which is to get the lead singer healthy again.”

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