Chapter 309
Chapter 309:
That level of certainty caught her off guard. Still, as his brother, Quentin would know him better than anyone.
She was still thinking it over when Benny suddenly sat upright. His face still showed irritation, but there was a new edge in his eyes she couldn’t quite read. He rubbed at his nose and spoke with clear impatience. “Did you really have to stop the car just because I stretched my legs p>
“It wasn’t necessary,” Kailey said evenly as she slipped her phone away. “But this is my car. This is our first time meeting, and I went out of my way to pick you up. Instead of a thank you, all I got was attitude. Why is that? Did you somehow miss basic manners growing up p>
“You p>
“I know you spent years overseas, so I’m letting that slide,” she continued, not giving him room to finish. “But you’re back now, which means you follow the rules here. Is that such a difficult concept p>
“You p>
“I can tell you have a bad temper. Funny thing is, I do too. So here’s how this works. Sit properly if you want to ride in my car. If not, you can get out and walk p>
𝘙𝖾𝗮𝖽 f𝗋𝗈𝗆 у𝗼𝗎𝘳 р𝘩𝘰nе 𝘰𝘯
Benny pressed his lips together, cut off twice, anger burning in his chest. He stared at her hard, as if daring her to push further. Kailey met his glare without flinching and rested one hand on the steering wheel. “So — are you fixing how you’re sitting, or are you getting out p>
A second passed. Then another.
Benny held his expression steady, as if he planned to outlast her. Kailey didn’t blink or back down, and that quiet pressure finally got to him. With a tight, annoyed motion, he dragged the seat forward until it was upright, then snapped the seatbelt across his chest.
He spoke through his teeth, each word stiff. “Is this good enough p>
Kailey gave him a polite little smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Thanks for cooperating.” She turned the key, eased the car back into motion, and drove on.
Benny’s defiant attitude brought Dagmar to mind — and to her surprise, handling him the same way actually worked.
The sense of victory, however, didn’t last.
Kailey had assumed dropping him off at the hotel would end the chaos. She helped him check in and was ready to leave when he casually threw out another problem. “I’m too scared to sleep by myself, so I want you to stay here with me p>
Kailey froze, convinced she had heard him wrong. “What did you just say p>
Benny stood with his hands shoved into his pockets, chin lifted as if stating a simple fact. “I don’t trust strangers. I’m afraid of the dark. I need someone familiar nearby to fall asleep. You’re the only person I know here p>
“We barely know each other.” Kailey let out a slow breath and rubbed her temples. A headache was already forming. “How about I call a male coworker instead p>
“I don’t want anyone else. I want you p>