“Waltzing?” His brows lifted as he produced a screwdriver from his back pocket and began to unscrew the old knob with precise efficiency. “Sweetheart, I don’t waltz.”
She snorted. “Pretty sure you don’t sweet talk, either.”
“Why would I? Seems like it’d be wasted effort on you.” His lips twitched, that hint of a smirk slipping through again as he removed the old doorknob. “You’d just make some smartass comment about how charm is an outdated social construct meant to disarm rather than engage.”
Laurel blinked, momentarily thrown. “Well, damn. Look at you, using actual words. Guess you’re not just a pretty face after all.”
“Don’t spread it around,” he said dryly. “I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
Her lips quirked into a smile even as she tried to keep her guard up. The man had a way of throwing her off balance. And now he was making her laugh when she should be throwing him out.
Or at least pretending she wanted him to leave.
“Just so we’re clear,” she said, watching as he slid the new doorknob into place, his big hands sure and capable. “You don’t actually have permission to stay here.”
“Tough. I’m staying.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Until the system is finished?”
His gaze shifted back to hers, unwavering. “Until the asshole responsible for the damage is caught.”
Her chest tightened at his bluntness. “You think it’s that bad?”
“I think it’s bad enough someone called in the sheriff.” His fingers tightened on the screwdriver. “And it’s bad enough thatyou shouldn’t be here alone. Which is why I’m sticking around until this whole mess is sorted out.”
“Even if that means crashing in an unfinished apartment?”
“Even if that means crashing in an unfinished apartment,” he repeated, his expression unreadable as he turned his focus back to the lock. “I’ve slept in worse places.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
Her gaze wandered over him, unbidden. The broad lines of his shoulders, the way his muscled arms flexed with each precise movement. The man was extremely competent, and she hated that it made him even more attractive.
“And just sowe’reclear,” he said, repeating her earlier words as his gaze flicked back to hers, unwavering. “Idohave permission to be here. Annie asked me to.”
Her stomach did a weird flip. “She what?”
“She asked me to stay in the building and keep an eye on you until we figure out who’s vandalizing this place.” He shrugged like it was no big deal, his focus already back on the lock. “And considering your talent for improvising with cleaning supplies, I’d say she has a point.”
Laurel glared at him, but the edge of her irritation had dulled. Partly because he had a point, but mostly because her aunt had gone behind her back and arranged for this overprotective pain in the ass to babysit her.
Well, that explained Annie’s cryptic,“Try not to let Bennett drive you too crazy”.
And Carter’s note.Don’t strangle Bennett if he gets too bossy.
Apparently, she was the only one who hadn’t known Bennett would be staying in the building.
She sighed. “I’m sorry, Bennett.”
His head jerked back before he turned to meet her gaze again. “What for?”
“For my aunt’s manipulation,” she replied. “Though, you don’t seem like the type to do something you don’t want to do.”
“I’m not,” he said simply. “So don’t let it bother you.”
Laurel wasn’t sure what to make of his admission. Did that mean he actually wanted to protect her? Or was it just part of the job?
Either way, the guy was here, and from the look in his eyes, he wasn’t planning on going anywhere anytime soon.
