Chapter Sixteen
He’d awaken hours earlier, but this time he wasn’t going to leave her side. He wanted to make every single moment with her last.
She’d opened up with him more than before. Each time he hated her father more than he thought he could hate another human being. The words human being are too damn good for him.
Bennett had seen many evil people in his life. Hell, it had been his job to seek them out. James Henderson was up there in the top five. What he’d done to his family, to Zoey, was despicable. Consider yourself lucky that you’re already dead, Henderson. Otherwise, I’d make you wish you were.
He continued to replay Zoey’s words that she didn’t want to know her mother any longer. It was one major concern off his plate. That didn’t change the fact that he had information about her family that he’d not shared. And once I speak to Jon, I’m going to have even more.
She stirred beside him, and he knew he had to wake her. Telling her he was still going to New York was going to be a blow. There was no way she’d understand without him telling her everything. Instead, he was going to need to leave out some important details and hope she’d forgive him if she ever found out.
“Sweetheart, I need to leave,” he murmured against her ear.
“Leave? Why?” Zoey asked without even opening her eyes.
“Because I need to be in New York.”
Her eyes flew open, and she looked puzzled. “I thought... last night, I... when I said I’m not looking for her any longer... I thought you’d stay.”
“I know. But the person who I requested to help has still done his job. I won’t be long.”
“Can’t you call him?” she asked as she snuggled her naked body up against him.
That’s not playing fair, young lady. “Some things are best handled in person.”
Zoey kissed his jaw then said, “Let me go with you. They are my results, after all.”
Fuck. Not just yours. Bennett knew he could reach out to Jon and make sure he only divulged the information for Zoey while they were there. But how was he going to explain the piano store to her? This is one fucking tangled web I wove. And I think the only thing that’s going to get caught in there is me.
“I’m driving, meeting with him, and coming right back. Besides, he doesn’t want anyone to know who he is.”
She raised herself onto her elbow and looked down at him. “Bennett, I trust you, but I’m not sure you trust me.”
He could see the hurt in her chestnut eyes. Reaching up, he moved her hair from her face and said, “I’m not good at the words you need to hear, but I can tell you, I do trust you.”
“Then let me come. No introductions are needed. Just let me be there with you.”
He laughed. “It’s not him I’m protecting, silly. He has no idea who these results are for. If you haven’t figured it out by now, you’re a face people will recognize. Which means this potentially could make it back to your brothers. Or worse, the tabloids.”
Zoey’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. I never thought of that.”
“And that’s why you have me,” Bennett said and kissed her lightly.
She smiled down at him. “And I’m more grateful than you know.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow for breakfast. How about I pick you up bright and early?”
“The food was great, but please tell me we’re not going back to the truck stop,” Zoey teased.
He could tell she was smiling on the outside only. She wasn’t happy with him still going to New York. Bennett knew how to change that—a hot, sweet distraction that’d please them both.
“How about I give you a proper kiss goodbye before I go?” Bennett asked as he pulled her down to capture her lips.
“Hmm. I think you can talk me into that.”
He spent the next hour doing just that, every single inch of her. When he finally left her, she was curled back up in the sheets and fading off to sleep.
Bennett had a lot of time to do some thinking during the trip to see Jon. He didn’t actually meet him in his office. Instead, they found a quiet bar outside of the city where they could discuss matters privately.