Page 23 of Powerless

“You can do this,” I whisper to myself as I lower my head and stare at my trembling hands. I take several deep breaths before finding the courage to leave the car and walk to the front door.

Fiddling with tendrils of my hair, I quickly dart my hand out to ring the doorbell and take a small step backward. The door opens and I’m greeted with Bennett wearing a gray t-shirt and loose jeans that somehow look amazing on his tall, muscular body. Nope, don’t look.

“Kathryn,” he says in a low husky voice. “Come in, please.” Bennett steps aside to grant me access.

I swallow the nervousness sitting at the base of my throat and hesitantly enter the beautiful house. I look around as I rub my right hand up and down my left arm. I feel like I’m going to be sick. “Liam’s house is beautiful.”

“I’m sorry we have to do this here, but with my parents and Jen—”

I lift my hand to stop him. “I think it’s best we talk,” I start. I can’t seem to calm my hammering heart. “I’ve been thinking about this and maybe if we—”

Bennett cuts me off by saying, “Let’s have dinner and we can talk about anything you like.”

“Bennett.” I lower my chin as I shake my head.

“I cooked. Given, I’m not sure if it’s edible, but…I cooked.” I look up to his tall frame and smile. That’s cute. “I’m so going to guilt you into staying here and eating with me.”

“You’re doing an exceptional job.”

Walking backward, he gestures for me to follow. “This way.”

Hesitantly, I follow where Bennett leads and find myself in the dining room which is set with plates, flatware, two burning candles, and fresh roses in a crystal vase. Great, now I feel even worse because I’ve come to break it off with him. “Wow.”

“I did that.” He puffs his chest out and points to the table.

“Is this what being in a relationship with you means?”

“Absolutely.” My smile fades as I stare at the effort he’s gone to. “Sit, please.” He pulls a seat out for me and waits until I’m seated before pushing it in. “I’ll be back in a second.”

When Bennett disappears, I loll my head back and close my eyes. How have I gotten myself in this predicament? I should’ve said what I had to say, gotten into my car and left. It would’ve been over by now. But noooo. I decided to let my heart lead me. I’m such an idiot.

“Now, I hope you like meatloaf.” I turn to see Bennett walking out of the kitchen holding a tray with oven mitts.

“Sure.”

“And, I also made a Cobb salad.” He places the meatloaf in front of me, and I’m blown away by how good it looks and smells. “Hang on.” He rushes back to the kitchen, and when he returns, he’s holding a bowl. “Cobb salad,” he announces with pride. He places it beside the meatloaf, then sits and gestures for me to begin. “Please.”

There’s a pressing need in the pit of my stomach to talk to him, tell him how I’m feeling. But like the coward I am, I push that aside and slice into the meatloaf. “This really is quite impressive. I had no idea you could cook.”

“Oh, I can’t. I Googled easy recipes and found the ones that looked least complicated.”

I chuckle at his honesty. “You could lie and say you’re a master at everything.”

He wags his finger at me. “I’m not keen on lying.”

“But that’s exactly what we’re doing when it comes to you and Jen.”

“That’s different,” he says as he piles the food onto his plate.

“How so?”

“I’m doing that because it’s the right thing to do.”

I crinkle my forehead, unsure what he means. “Again, how so?” I repeat.

He looks at his food, and picks at the salad before laying his fork on the side of the plate. “You don’t come from a political background, do you?” I shake my head. “My father is a senator, my grandfather was one, as was my great-grandfather. Jen’s family is the same. Old political blood.”

I screw my mouth up as I watch Bennett intently. “So, generations of politics. Check—got it.”

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