Chapter 15
Even the heavens seemed to be against her.
She stepped back under the shelter, but within minutes, her
clothes were soaked through.
Just as she was about to give up, a black Bentley pulled up in
front of her.
A man stepped out with an umbrella and walked toward her.
Rain blurred her vision, but when he came closer, she
recognized him–Mike.
What was he doing here?
“Ms. Whitmore, it’s pouring. Why are you out here? Come on,
get in,” he urged, shifting the umbrella over her.
Aria didn’t refuse. She thanked him and headed for the back
seat.
Right now she was drenched and miserable. Someone offering
her shelter? She wasn’t going to play stubborn.
Once inside, she noticed another man in the car–Bennett.
Chapter 15
He was leaning back, legs crossed, reading an email on his
laptop.
The warm overhead light cast a soft glow over his side profile.
He turned his head and handed her a towel.
Aria thanked him quickly, sitting up straight and blotting at her
face under his intense, commanding gaze. The man’s presence
was intimidating.
Mike got in and closed the umbrella. Bennett told him to turn
the heat up.
As Aria stole another glance at him, she had to admit–he was
unexpectedly handsome. And, oddly, considerate.
Her impression of him was shifting.
He handed her a thermos. “Water?”
She took it and drank a few sips, warmth slowly spreading
through her chilled body.
April wasn’t cold, but being drenched made her ache all over.
Was she getting sick?
She adjusted her posture, sitting even straighter.
Chapter 15
Suddenly, Bennett glanced at her. “Are you afraid of me?”
She froze. Seriously, does he have to ask that so directly?
Aria shook her head with an awkward smile. “Of course not.
You’re not a tiger–why would I be afraid?”
Her words said one thing, but her fingers fidgeting with her
clothes told another.
Before she could dwell on it, Mike hit the brakes hard. Without
warning, she fell into Bennett’s arms.
For a moment, all she could hear was his strong, steady
heartbeat. It startled her enough to forget what to do next.
Bennett made sure she was unhurt before asking Mike, his voice
low, “What happened?”
“Sorry, sir. The rain’s too heavy, and an e–bike shot out from the
intersection. I almost hit it. Had to brake,” Mike explained.
“See that it doesn’t happen again,” Bennett said curtly.
Aria quickly scrambled upright, hitting her head on the roof in
her haste. Pain shot through her skull.
Holding her head, she apologized. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall on
you, I-”
Chapter 15
Her eyes fell on the damp patch across his chest–her doing. She
grabbed the towel and dabbed at it.
But as she wiped, her hand brushed somewhere she definitely
shouldn’t have. She jerked back, her face flaming.
God what did I just touch?
Bennett looked equal parts amused and exasperated.
Aria wanted to vanish into thin air. Every second in this car felt
like torture.
Finally, the Bentley pulled up to the Whitmore Mansion.
She didn’t care how hard it was raining–she jumped out of the
car.
Mike followed, handing her a white bag. “Some cold medicine
and ointment. Mr. Rhodes thought you might need them, since
you caught a chill and got hurt.”
He pressed an umbrella into her hand before heading back to
the car.
Aria stood in the rain, watching the Bentley disappear.
The medicine wasn’t worth much, but in moments like this, when she had no one else the gesture was priceless.
Chapter 15
The Bennett she knew was ruthless and brilliant, a rare business
prodigy. In her last life, he’d been cold to everyone except Tessa,
the sister he doted on.
But now something felt different.
Just what kind of man was Bennett?
Back home, Aria quickly grabbed some clothes and took a hot
shower.
Coming out of the bathroom, she took out the hair dryer to dry
her hair. Heading downstairs, she noticed the house was empty.
It seemed like, except for Zoe, no one else was home.
Zoe came over holding a freshly made ginger milk. “Today is Ms.
Lockwood’s birthday. Mrs. Whitmore and the others all went to
the birthday banquet.”‘
Chapter 16
