Feels Like Love by Jenna Hartley

Chapter Eight

Ireached for the pastry box, but Bennett pushed it away from me. I tried again, and he slid it farther out of my grasp. By this point, I was leaning halfway over the table.

“Bennett.” I clenched my teeth. “I want my pastry.”

“Not yet.” He glanced at me briefly, then returned his attention to the computer, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “We need to finish your profile.”

I rolled my eyes and sank back down in my chair, trying to break the tension. I’d noticed that happening more often lately. He’d look at me, then look away, anger clouding his features. I didn’t understand it.

“Why is everyone else so invested in my love life?”

His fingers stilled on the keyboard. “Like who?”

“You, Liam, Harper.”

“First of all, you asked me for help. And Liam’s your overprotective—”

“I think you mean overbearing.”

He chuckled. “Maybe, but he loves you.”

“Does he really have to be so protective all the time? Even my dad is more chill than Liam.”

“It comes from a place of love.”

“Mm-hmm.” I crossed my arms over my chest, mostly so I could adjust my bra. It had been digging into me all afternoon, and I couldn’t wait to take it off.

“And Harper?” he asked.

“She convinced me to try LoveBirds.”

“Ah.” He tilted his head back. “You two seem close.”

I nodded. “She’s like the cool older sister I always wanted.”

“I can see that. I’m glad you brought her on. You make a good team.”

“Me too. It’s great because we both have our own strengths, and there are things each of us likes and dislikes doing. It’s been so nice to get to do more of what I want because I no longer have to do everything.”

He stared at me, mouth agape.

“What?” I asked.

“Did you—” He looked away and then back to me. “Did you, Wren Beaudin, just admit to accepting help?”

“Yeah. Yeah.” I rolled my eyes. “I know you think I can’t accept help, but you weren’t around for all the years I was on the receiving end. I am beyond grateful for the support, but I’m so glad I can stand on my own two feet.”

“Are you…okay?” he asked, his tone hesitant.

“I am now.” Mostly, anyway. I just had to listen to my body. Stay aware. “Anyway.” I waved a hand through the air, not wanting to dwell on it. “Bringing Harper on was a great decision.”

“That’s great. I’m really proud of you. When you’re a business owner, it can be hard to know when to bring more people on. But it can be a game-changer.”

“For sure.” I nodded, thinking about how many hours I’d agonized over hiring someone. I’d had the business to justify it for a while, but I needed someone who understood my vision for Little Bird Studios. Who had a similar aesthetic and work ethic. And Harper definitely fit the bill.

“What does Harper like doing that you don’t, and vice versa?”

“I love photographing kids, especially newborns. Though, both can be challenging.”

He laughed. “I imagine there’s lots of bribery involved.”

“Like you wouldn’t believe.”

“And Harper?” he asked. “What does she like doing?”

My cheeks were on fire. Legit on fire, when I said, “Boudoir-style shoots.”

“Boudoir—like in the bedroom?”

“We usually shoot them at the studio. We have a space set up just for that purpose.”

“And you take pictures of people naked?”

“I don’t,” I said. “Harper does. And they’re not naked. Well, not completely.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Have you ever done a boudoir shoot?”

“Once.”

He jerked his head back. “What?”

“What do you mean, what? The client asked for it, and I was willing to try. At a reduced rate, of course, since I lacked experience.”

“Oh.” He relaxed. “Oh. You meant as the photographer.”

“Yeah.” I cocked my head to the side. “What did you think I meant?” And then my eyes widened, understanding dawning on me. “Oh. As the subject? Oh, heck no!”

He laughed, so I decided to turn the tables on him. “What about you? Would you ever do it?”

“Pose in my underwear?” He laughed. “Maybe only if I was really desperate for money.”

“What about your underwear and a lab coat?” I asked, thinking of how commanding and professional he looked when he was at his clinic. How sexy he was, conveying both an air of authority but also calm. He burst out laughing this time, which prompted me to say, “Oh, come on!” I pushed his shoulder. “Harper’s had stranger requests.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. I’m just saying—she does all sorts of things to get a great shot. Sometimes she’ll rip up a plain white T-shirt to make it look sexy. Or other times, she’ll have them use a prop. The end results are amazing.”

“Is it always women?” he asked.

“Not always. We’ve had one guy, and a few couples.”

“How does she…you know, focus, while they’re getting it on?”

“They’re not ‘getting it on,’ Bennett.” I rolled my eyes. “I mean, yes, they’re in very intimate positions. But I’m sure Harper’s focused on getting the best shot, not taking mental images for her spank bank.”

“You did not just use the words ‘spank bank.’”

I shrugged. What was it about Bennett that made me shed my inhibitions?

Maybe because I knew I didn’t have a snow cone’s chance in hell with him. He was so out of my league, out of my zip code, out of my orbit, it wasn’t even funny. A man like Bennett… He was smart and funny, kind, generous. He was good with animals and children. He was sexy as hell. And one day he would make some woman very happy. I envied his future wife, whoever she was.

“Okay,” he said. “I think we’ve had enough coaching for one evening.”

I pouted. “But we didn’t even do anything. I still don’t know how to flirt or sext or anything.”

“We completely revamped your profile. That’s a good start.” He spun the computer toward me.

“Does that mean I can have my pastry now?” I walked my fingers toward the box.

“Hm. Seeing as I did all the heavy lifting, I think I’m the one who should get the pastry. Consider it a signing bonus.”

“I thought you said you were blackmailed. You can’t have a signing bonus if you’re blackmailed. And I had a crappy evening.”

“It wasn’t all crappy,” he said, standing, stretching.

When he reached toward the ceiling, a sliver of his toned stomach peeked out from beneath his shirt. I blinked a few times, distracted by the trail of hair that led beneath his jeans.

“You’re right.” I stood, feeling a sudden urge to move. “I always enjoy hanging out with you.”

“Because I’m awesome.”

I elbowed him, but then I said, “Yeah. You are pretty awesome.”

“Which is why I should get the pastry.” He opened the box and pulled it out. Like the others, it was absurdly gorgeous.

An éclair, perfectly shaped. No doubt filled with something “scrummy,” as former GBBO judge Mary Berry would say. Then topped with a cheerful yellow cream, strawberries that had been sliced with precision, and what looked to be passion fruit coulis.

He held it up to his mouth, and my own watered. Though, this time, I wasn’t sure it was entirely due to the pastry but rather the man holding it.

“Bennett,” I warned when he licked his lips. He was just being annoying now. Taunting me like my brother would. “Don’t do it. Don’t—”

He took a bite and moaned with pleasure, really playing it up. Suddenly, my body’s reaction to him was anything but sisterly. My annoyance was at an all-time high for an entirely different reason.

Liam hated the idea of me dating. The only thing he would abhor even more was if I dated one of his best friends. I’d never felt a pull toward Tristan. Besides, he was happily married to Tessa. They were the golden couple. High school sweethearts. Do-gooders.

Asher had only recently moved back. And while I would’ve dated him for the pastries alone, I didn’t think I could handle his brooding. He’d always been intense, but especially so since returning from LA a few months back. I could only guess at the reason.

Then there was Bennett. I’d always secretly harbored a crush on him. How could I not? While my brother’s other friends treated me like the annoying little sister, Bennett had been kind, sweet. When we were younger, he’d hung back with me, never making me feel rushed. And as I got older, he helped me with my science homework, always taking an interest in my life. It would’ve been impossible not to fall for him.

“Mm. That is good.” He hummed around a bite.

My mouth watered at the sight, and I craved his touch. His mouth. I wanted him to devour me like he did that pastry.

“Jerk.” I turned and headed toward my bedroom so I could change. And so I wouldn’t stand there any longer, drooling over a man who would never be interested in me.

“I was going to share.” When I glanced back over my shoulder, he was holding out the éclair to me, the inside oozing with creaminess. “But if you don’t want any…” He turned it back to himself again, as if to rub it in my face some more.

I marched over to him, and he smirked. For a minute, I didn’t think he was going to share, but then he turned the pastry to me, holding it out for me to take a bite. We had a silent conversation in which I glared. He grinned. Then I responded by planting a hand on my hip, the other extended to take the pastry.

He barked out a laugh. “Right. Like I’m going to trust you not to take it and run.”

Damn. He knew me too well. That had totally been my plan. Take the éclair. Make a run for it. Lock the bedroom door. Ditch the bra. Devour the dessert.

“Ugh. You’re so…infuriating.” I leaned forward and bit off a huge chunk.

Ha! That would show him!

But it was so big and so creamy that I was positive I looked like a chipmunk as I chewed and chewed and finally swallowed.

“Oh. Oh, wow. That is good.” I wiped some of the cream from the corner of my lips then licked my finger. “I think I like that even better than the first one. What do you think?”

Bennett was watching me with a dazed expression. “Mm-hmm. Yes. I like it very much.”

He shook his head, and I turned for my bedroom once more.

“Are you going to bed already?” he asked. Was that disappointment, or did I just want to hear it?

“Just changing. Don’t worry. I’ll be back to harass you some more.” I grinned.

It wasn’t long before I returned to the living room, my silk pajamas swishing with every step. Bennett glanced up, swallowing hard. “What are you wearing?”

I glanced down at my PJs, which were a blush color with blue magnolias printed on them. The pants had me completely covered up, so I assumed he was referring to the silky camisole.

“They’re this crazy thing called pajamas. Though I’m wondering if you know what they are since you never seem to wear any,” I teased. Though, really, I’d given it some thought. More than I should’ve. I only ever saw Bennett in jeans and a T-shirt, workout clothes, scrubs, or business casual attire. And I saw him a lot.

“Ha-ha.” But he didn’t answer me, instead grabbing the remote.

“Did you have fun tonight?” I asked as he navigated the menu on screen.

He nodded. “Yeah. It’s always good to get together with the guys.”

“I think it’s really cool that you’re still so close after all these years.”

“For sure. When my parents moved to Florida to be closer to my sister and her family, I considered joining them.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, but this was home. You know?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I do. Though I can’t say I’ve ever left to gain the kind of perspective you did.”

He turned to face me. “Do you ever wish you had?”

I blew out a breath. “You mean if I hadn’t had River?” And then the slew of health issues following his birth.

“Or even if you had,” he said. “Do you ever wish you could live somewhere else?”

I thought about it for a moment, but I already knew the answer. “No. I love it here. I love being near my family. I love the sense of community. And it’s so beautiful. I’d like to travel more—Harper’s really opened my eyes to that. But I always want to come back home to Alondra.”

“It’s a great place to raise a family,” he said.

“You sound as if you’ve considered it yourself.” Bennett was so great with River, I just assumed he’d want children of his own someday. He’d always been very nurturing.

He nodded but said nothing more apart from, “Would you want more kids, or are you done?”

“I’d love to have more kids—with the right person.” At least, if my body could handle it. My doctors assured me that was the case, but I was scared, especially after how difficult River’s labor and delivery had been. “And I know River would love being a big brother.”

“Yes.” He rubbed his ankle. “He’s always been great with kids younger than him.”

I smiled, surprised he’d noticed that, though I didn’t know why. Bennett had always been very observant. Even when we were younger, he’d spot a ladybug when everyone else would walk past. He’d pick up a snake from the dirt and let it crawl along his arm, studying the shapes of its scales.

“I’m glad River has you in his life,” I said.

“It’s my honor. And thank you for letting me live with you. I know it’s disruptive to your routine, but it’s been really nice.”

“It has been really nice,” I said, thinking of how much I’d miss Bennett when he moved out. We stared at each other for a moment, before I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned my attention back to the TV.

“The uh, repairs are coming along on my house.” He shifted. “Now they’re ripping out the floors and walls.”

“Exciting or nerve-racking?” I asked.

“A bit of both, to be honest. Harper’s friend, Lauren, is helping with the redesign.”

“Oh, that’s great! I’m so glad it worked out. Harper has the best contacts from living in LA for so many years.”

We settled onto the couch, and he started the show. He draped his arm over the back of the sofa, and the energy in the room shifted. My stomach pulled tight, and while my attention was focused on the screen, I couldn’t stop wondering what Bennett was going to do.

After a few minutes, he said, “Okay. Now, pretend we’re on a date.”

I stiffened. It was as if the word “date” triggered something in me. But it was more than that. I’d foolishly believed he’d draped his arm over the back of the couch because he wanted to touch me. Because he liked me. Not because he was my dating coach.

“Wren?” Bennett grazed my bare shoulder with the tips of his fingers, and I nearly leaped off the couch from the jolt of it. “Relax.”

I pulled my bottom lip into my mouth and nodded. “Mm-hmm. Yep. Relax.”

Right. Like that was going to happen.

He chuckled, the sound threading deep within me, reaching down to my core.

We fell silent for a minute, crickets chirping outside as a car passed in the distance. It felt as if we were suspended in time—just Bennett and me. I forgot that he was my brother’s best friend. I forgot about my sucky date. About everything on my to-do list, and I focused on him.

We laughed at some of the jokes on the show. Drooled over the desserts. And the longer we sat there, the closer our bodies seemed to drift. I didn’t know how it had happened, but his thigh brushed against mine. I was tucked into his side, his arm around me. His skin on my skin. His lips close to my ear when he spoke.

I was warm and fuzzy—the combination of decadent pastries and Bennett making me relax. I’d lost count of how many episodes we’d watched, but my eyes had grown heavy, and I was struggling to stay awake.

I could remember nights spent like this in middle school. Asher, Tristan, and Bennett crashing at our house. Me sneaking down to watch the scary movies with them after Mom and Dad went to bed.

“Come on,” Bennett rasped, hitting pause.

I yawned, lying down. “I’m fine. It’s fine.” I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to say goodnight.

“Let’s get you to bed.”

I clenched my thighs, need thrumming deep within my core. “Can we stay out here? Just for a little while?” I tugged on his hand so he’d join me.

He didn’t.

“Please.” I scooched toward the edge. “I even made space for you.”

He chuckled. “Um, Wren. I think you’ve forgotten how big I am.”

“It’s fine.” I yawned. “We’ll fit.”

He sighed but did as I asked, lying down behind me. We were so close, and he was so warm. And suddenly, I wasn’t nearly so tired.

He kept shifting, and if he didn’t stop, I was going to end up on the floor. I could tell he wasn’t comfortable, so I reached behind me and draped his arm over my waist.

“There.” It was perfect.

I snuggled against him, remembering a time when he’d carried me as a child. I’d hurt my knee, skinned it on a rock while we’d been playing down at the creek. I had been crying, but he’d soothed me. He’d made me feel safe, just as he was now.

“Thank you, Bennett.”

He leaned in, his lips grazing my ear. “Anything for you, little bird.”

I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face and thoughts of Bennett filling my dreams.