Page 74 of One Unexpected Kiss

“But…” It wasn’t often that the woman was at a loss for words. Under other circumstances, I might have been proud of myself for rendering her speechless. But the clear disappointment on her face prevented it.

“Mom,” I said gently, “we’re still only friends.”

She arched a brow. “Friends with benefits?”

I cringed. “Jesus, Mom.”Why does she even know about that phrase?Those words should never come out of her mouth in that order.

“That’s what it is, though, isn’t it? I want to know so I don’t get too attached.”

“You already are attached,” I pointed out. “You were attached from the moment she walked into the house for Paul’s last supper, which was only last week, by the way.”

That dinner felt like it was in the distant past. It was wild how at ease I felt with Claire, considering I could count on my fingers the number of days we’d been together.No, not together.I sure as hell didn’t want to slip up and use that terminology. We were merely spending time in one another’s company, like…

Hell.Friends with benefits.The term made me cringe because it made whatever this was between Claire and me seem cheap when it was anything but. I respected the hell out of her, but more importantly, I cared about her. If things were different, I could see myself falling for her. All the more reason to end this conversation as quickly as possible.

“Can you blame me?” my mom asked. “Claire is smart, sweet, kind, and—”

“I know how awesome she is, Mom.” My arms were starting to ache with the weight of the groceries, but I wasn’t going to put them down, because that would indicate I was open to continuing this conversation. “Can we go inside now?”

She blocked my path. “Bennett, you know I don’t like to meddle…”

I laughed. “That’s a lie.”

“I didn’t say Idon’tmeddle,” she snapped. “I said I don’t like to, but the men in this family are just so stubborn that—”

“Let me save us both some time. You are in support of Claire, and you think I’m being a dumbass.”

She bobbled her head back and forth. “More or less.”

“Your opinion has been fully noted. Now, can I carry your bowling balls inside?” I pointedly hefted the bags a few inches.What the hell is in these things?The plastic was digging into my skin.

Sighing, she stepped aside. “You heard me, but you’re not going to listen, are you?”

I walked past her. “Nope,” I called over my shoulder.

***

Claire

PAUL PEERED THROUGHhis glasses at the metal appliance, his tongue barely visible between his lips. “You see this little spring here?”

I looked to where he was pointing and nodded, even though I had no idea what he was talking about. I had many talents, but I wasn’t mechanically inclined.

“It’s out of alignment. She probably stuck a knife down here trying to clear out these crumbs, see, and knocked it out of place.” He fiddled with this screwdriver a few more seconds. “There. Good as new.”

I held my hands out. “Do you want me to take it to the kitchen for you?”

He set it on the table and pushed it out of the way. “No, no. It’s okay.”

“Knock, knock!” came a raspy voice from the front door.

“Come on in, Charlie!” Paul called. “Bennett and Annette are unloading groceries in the garage.”

Chuckling, an older man who bore a striking resemblance to Bennett appeared in the doorway. “Lucky I came through the front door, then, so they don’t put me to work.” He lowered himself into the chair across from me and held out his hand. “We haven’t formally met. I’m Charlie, Bennett’s maternal grandfather.”

I shook his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Claire.”

He nodded. “Oh yes, I know who you are.”

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