Page 72 of Just a Plot Twist
I lean closer to him in a whisper, his spicy, clean scent stuttering in my brain. “We should have gotten some hidden earpieces.”
“We’re not spies, Claire.”
I draw back. “I can’t pretend that we are?”
“No,” he deadpans. Yet, he tries to cover his smile by pressing a drink to his lips.
He stands to shake their hands. “Peter and Mandy, I’d like to introduce you to my date, Claire Lawson.”
I stand, too. Well, at least the question of whether or not this is a date has been answered.
Peter and his wife are warm. Either they have no idea that we know what they’re secretly up to, or they’re good at pretending.
It doesn’t take long for them to bring up their daughter. “Lora’s following in her father’s footsteps soon.” Mandy’s smile stretches across her face. “She already has clients signed up, but she’s not even open yet.” She glances back and forth between us. “But they’ll be serving completely different demographics in their clientele than Foundations, so no need to worry about that.”
“Mandy,” Peter warns. He’s got a small smile, but his expression is off.
I exchange a look with Benson.
“Oh, right,” Mandy says. “It’s his birthday. He doesn’t want business talk. I can’t help it if I’m a proud mother, that’s all!” Mandy reaches up togive her husband a swift smooch on the cheek. Peter’s expression is wary, like there’s an urgent need to explain something that he can’t.
“And you’re a proud papa, aren’t you, Benson?” Mandy asks. “You have two kids, right?” She loops her arm through Peter’s.
Benson gives a curt nod. “Yes. A daughter and a son.”
“How are your summer plans shaping up?” Mandy asks. “Anything exciting on the horizon?”
He licks his bottom lip, and there’s a hesitation, as if he wants to bring up the elephant in the room but can’t.
I step in to ease the moment. “He’s dog sitting right now.” I show them a photo of Cinnamon on my phone.
Mandy smiles. “She’s a cutie. We have two dogs ourselves.”
Benson’s not thinking of Cinnamon. His jaw is tight, but his smile is trying not to be. “Have you discussed Lora’s new business with my father, Peter?”
“Nah.” Peter’s smile is wide. “It has nothing to do with me directly.” His tone is low key. Everything about him speaks nonchalance. But maybe his smile is a bit too wide, his gaze a bit too blank.
“Of course. Makes sense. It sounds like a big deal, though.”
“It’s a big deal for my daughter,” Peter amends.
Benson only nods and knocks back the rest of his drink. “Well, I’m sure you’re proud of her. Mandy, are you two planning on going to Cabo again this year?”
Smooth, Benson. Smooth.
From across the pool, I catch a glimpse of Lora slipping into the pool house.
“Excuse me. I’ll be back in a moment.” I step past them, tossing a quick look at Benson, hoping it tells him I’ve gotten a lead on something important.
I make the mistake of glancing back once I’ve passed the pool and he’s still looking at me. His cheeks are round with a small smile, his gaze taking me in. My heart flutters in my throat.
Why is being looked at from a distance by a good, handsome man even better than chocolate? Because it’s sweeter and way less messy.
He’s left the couple and is now stopped by someone he seems to know, and they begin walking and talking along the edge of the pool. Right before I reach the pool house, I look back again.
He’s still looking at me. What’s in his expression? It’s a sense of interest. In how I look? In my own expression?
No.
