Page 52

Bennett grabs my hand and shakes it rapidly. “I swear, I’ll keep your secret.”

I pat his shoulder. “I knew I could count on you.”

Before I can say anything else, the back door opens. And Eden walks in.

Fire-flushed cheeks. Bare feet. Her tank top hanging off one shoulder revealing she forgot – or didn’t care – to wear a bra. Her hair’s twisted into a messy bun, and she smells like lemons and soap and whatever shampoo she keeps using in my guest bathroom.

My entire body reacts before my brain can catch up.

Bennett turns, his eyes lighting up. “Is that?—?”

“Eden.” Her name leaves my mouth like a warning. She freezes, eyes catching mine, widening slightly when she sees Bennett sitting at the table. “My wife.”

There’s a beat. Her gaze bounces from him to me, and back again.

Think fast.

“Darling,” I say, injecting warmth and love into my voice. “This is Bennett. He’s going to be staying with us for a little while. And…” I pause, letting the silence hang before stepping closer and sliding my arm around her waist. “Babe, he knows.”

Her brows scrunch at the softness of my voice. “Knows… what?”

I lean in, mouth close to her ear, and murmur just loud enough for Bennett to hear:

“Everything.”

Then I kiss her.

A soft, slow brush of our lips that I promise myself is all for show. I pull her close, until her body is molded against mine, her breasts soft against my chest, her mouth warm as I deepen our embrace.

Her breath catches – sharp and warm against my mouth. Just enough for me to feel it. For my body to react in a way I’m not exactly delighted about.

When I pull back, her wide, startled eyes tell me she feels it.

“Bennett, meet Mrs. Abbott,” I say, my voice low and thick, my eyes not leaving hers. “Sweetheart, don’t worry about a thing. Bennett’s promised to keep our secret from everybody.”

EDEN

My mouth is on fire from his lips being against mine. God, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to his kisses. I run my tongue along my bottom lip, trying to get my mind straight. But all I can feel is the incessant pulse between my thighs and West’s arm around my waist, like he can’t bear to let me go.

Somewhere behind the thudding in my ears, I hear him say my name. Introducing me as Mrs. Abbott.

The words slide off his tongue like they’ve always belonged there. Like this is normal. Like I didn’t almost trip over my own feet running up here five minutes ago.

After West escorted Bennett up to the house, all I could think about was my brothers finding out the truth. Being disappointed in me.Again. It was like waiting for my execution without being able to lay out a defense.

So I decided to come to the house and find out what was going on.

West squeezes my waist, like he’s reminding me of something.

Oh yeah. I should say hello. I take a deep breath, forcing a smile on my face as I hold my hand out to Bennett. He shakes it weakly.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say with a husky voice.

“I’m going to be your Friar Lewis,” he blurts out.

“Laurence,” West corrects smoothly. He looks down at me. “Like Romeo and Juliet.”

Bennett beams at me like he’s just been introduced to the Queen of England. “Your story is so romantic,” he says, eyes shining. “West told me everything. About how you’re soulmates and how you ache when you’re apart and how he can’t live without you?—”