That was it. First? She was taking a hard look at her money and figuring out her future as a single woman. Only then would she entertain the two dinguses giving her the runaround.
They do give me a good runaround…
No! She had to focus. It was about Eden’s future, not whatever the hell thoseboysoffered. Monetarily. Emotionally.Sexually.
She quivered at the thought.
Chapter 16
Benson
The only thing that kept him going that weekend was Drew’s visit from Brown. She was in town for a short break and staying in her dad’s guest room through Monday, which meant he erroneously assumed he would part ways with Eden on Saturday and spend the rest of his weekend with Drew, who bounded into his apartment to find her father nursing a hangover and staring at his empty chat box.
By Sunday morning, the hangover was gone, but his daughter still needed him.
“Daaaaad!” she called from the guest room while he made them coffee and heated some eggs and hashbrowns. “Do you have anything healthy? Like vegetables?”
“I’ve got bananas and oranges,” he bellowed back at her.
“But maybe like a head of broccoli?” She bounded out of the guest room still wearing her pajamas. While Benson would never see anyone but his sweet little girl, he remained gratefulthat she wasn’t going outlike that.Because, good gracious, he could see everything. “I could really use some broccoli.”
“Who the hell are you?” he asked while flipping eggs. “No daughter of mine ever asked forbroccoli.In fact, I have this distinct memory of you screaming at the dinner table because your mother wouldn’t let you go play video games until you ateonebroccoli floret.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Drew ripped a banana off the bunch and dumped the entire peel into the garbage before taking a bite, much to her father’s composting chagrin. “I’ve always loved broccoli.”
“Okay, but forbreakfast?”
“It goes great in omelets.”
“Whose daughter are you, again?”
They were about to sit down for breakfast when somebody knocked at the door. A feat, considering this was a private abode that required a list of pre-approved people to get by.I wonder if it’s Sydney.It also could have been Oliver or Desmond, since they both lived nearby and sometimes dropped things off on Sundays, of all days.
It was none of those people. It was someone whoshouldhave been left off the list.
“Hell, no.” Benson almost shut the door in Liam’s face. “Go away.”
Naturally, it was Drew who noticed Liam and bounded forward to say hello. “Uncle Liam!” she shrieked right in Benson’s ear, making him lose his grip on the door handle and create too much room for Liam to enter. “What are you doing here? Oh, my God!” Drew hopped on both feet. “Daddy! Are you two…?”
“Don’t get too excited, kid.” Liam loosened his grip on the insufferable bag strap hanging across his chest to open his armsto a big hug. “I’m just dropping by to talk to your dad about something. Did he tell you I was back in town?”
“Yes!”
“Drew!” Benson was about to peel his daughter off the man who once called him a“witless wonder who lets his two balls duel to decide which speaks first.”“Go put some clothes on. Look at you! Hanging out like that in front of company.”
His daughter rolled her eyes while Liam politely looked away. “He’s the last person to ever creep on me, Daddy.”
“Don’t even put that in my head! Put on a hoodie!”
Drew rushed back to the guest room to do just that, leaving Benson to contend with his unexpected guest on a Sunday morning. “Don’t think you’re staying.”
Liam raised both hands in mock defense. “No worries, big guy. I was on my way to a meeting nearby. Left early so I could go out of my way to say hi. Had no idea Drew was here.”
“I bet.”
“She’s grown quite a bit, huh?”
“Don’t be talking about my daughter’s—”