The Playboy's Proposal (Sorensen Family)(19)

 

Now he sat back, his entire plate of fish tacos devoured, looking for all purposes like he belonged here among her family. She got the feeling that Henry naturally fit in any place he went, with his easy and teasing smile, his quiet confidence and way of making everyone like him.

Well, almost everyone. Cruz and Dominic had barely thawed, but no surprise there. Always overprotective.

Dominic was studying her now, his face perplexed. "What have you done? You look  different."

Of course that drew everyone's gaze to her, and she felt her face flush uncomfortably under the attention. "What do you mean? I haven't really done anything different."

Payton was staring at her with more careful scrutiny. "He's right. You look great, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is  "

Benny hadn't wanted to do the whole glamour girl style that she'd been doing at work for family dinner, wanting to avoid this exact scrutiny. But she also enjoyed how she felt and looked when she took twenty extra minutes to brush her hair to a shine before drawing it back to a loose ponytail and slipping in silver hoop earrings, applying a touch of makeup to her eyes and lips so her face felt brighter and more  polished.

She'd never realized before how just taking a few moments could make her feel so much more confident. Not that she'd ever have Payton's stunning prettiness, Kate's strong and beautiful features, or her own sister's natural dark beauty. But Benny was a strong finisher now, and she knew that people noticed her more-men particularly. And she didn't  hate it.

"I like it," Kate said firmly.

"Are you wearing  makeup?" Cruz asked incredulous. "What was wrong with how you looked before? Who are you trying to impress? Did someone make you feel like you weren't good enough as you were?" His gaze, though, was on Henry, and he looked like he wanted to challenge him.

"Enough, everyone. Leave Benny alone," her mom intervened. "She's a professional. A doctor lady now, and she can't stay eighteen forever. She looks like  a pretty doctor." Her mother smiled and nodded toward her.

"Thanks, Mama." Benny glanced again at Henry, who was studying her with his own strange glint in his brown eyes. "The tilapia was seasoned perfectly," she said to distract everyone from her face, and motioned toward the last bite of her fish taco on her plate.

"Lime zest," her mom said, nodding. "You just need a hint of zest and salt."

"Hey, don't I get any credit for grilling the fish?" her dad asked, a faint smile around the edges of his mouth. He winked at her before taking another taco from the platter.

Well, the worst was over. No one was telling her she looked ridiculous. No one said she was trying too hard to be someone she wasn't. And the thing was, right now, with her family surrounding her, the strange swirl of excitement in her belly growing as Henry continued to watch her, she felt exactly like who she was meant to be.

"Okay," she said and tossed her napkin on the table. "I think it's time Henry and I took on the two geriatric brothers in a little game out back. You up for it, Henry?"

"I think I can hold my own."

"We'll see," Cruz and Dominic said at the same time.





Chapter Eleven

"How's your head?" Benny asked and threw a glance over to Henry.

She was back in the driver's seat of his car, a few minutes from home. It was a fair question, considering the possible mild concussion she'd caused earlier that day, but far more pertinent now after the "accidental" elbow to his head when he'd attempted a jump shot during their scrimmage earlier. Cruz and Dominic were denying accountability.

"Not too bad." He opened the visor and lifted the front of his hair to look at the darkening bruise near his hairline.

"You probably should take a couple more Tylenol before bed-just avoid ibuprofen. Sorry about what happened. My brothers tend to turn into complete idiots whenever Daisy or I bring guys home. But I think Kate and Payton have mellowed them a bit-or age. You actually got off easy compared to many who've gone before you."

"Good to know. I feel much better." But he smiled, not looking particularly concerned. "Believe it or not, I liked them. They kind of grow on you. All of your family, actually. They were all so  kind."

"I'm afraid you came away with a little fan club tonight," she said, remembering the way Jenna and Natalie had cheered them-and by them, she meant Henry-on from the sidelines. They were adorable, fawning over him like they had. "Something I'm sure you're used to."   





 

But he didn't seem to notice her teasing. In a quiet voice, he said, "You're very lucky to have them."

And she was reminded again of what he'd said earlier about living in his mother's house, vying for attention but failing. "Tell me about your family. Is it just you and your sister? Is your dad still in the picture?"

"My dad died a long time ago."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well, you get on. You have to." He was quiet again, and she thought he was done with the topic when he added quietly, "He was a good dad, so I'm glad we got the time together that we did. My parents divorced when I was five, and for a while it was just the two of us. He loved baseball, was a huge Giants fan. The two of us would go to a couple of games a year in San Francisco. After he died, I moved back in with my mother."

"How old were you?"

"Eleven."

"And your sister? Where does she fit in all this?"

"My mother wasn't really much for making a commitment to anyone. Men were always coming in and out of her life. Part of why my dad left-he had already resigned himself to sharing her with her job, but he wasn't about to share her with another man. Or men, as the case might be."

She didn't have words to communicate how sad she thought it all was. A parent should be someone to set an example, or at least try. Someone to hug you and tell you how much he or she loved you each and every day. She was certain Henry hadn't been so lucky.

Without thinking, she rested her hand on top of his and turned to meet his gaze. But she didn't say anything, words seeming unnecessary through this brief connection. And then it was over and she pulled her hand away and back to the steering wheel.

"Anyway," Henry continued, "after my dad and I left, she remarried two more times, and Morgan was a result of one such union    . Like me, she'd been growing up in that huge mausoleum with our distant mother for company, although unlike me, she didn't have the comfort and love of her father. He took off before the ink was dry on the divorce papers. Needless to say, she was starved for affection when I arrived. She was my shadow for so long, so in many ways, as heartbroken as I was losing my dad, in moving back, her attention and need helped fill the void of my dad's absence. I found someone who needed me. We needed each other."

"And your mother? Do you see her?"

"She passed last fall," he said with no inflection.

Benny risked another glance at him. That had to be rough. As much as he had reason to dislike his mother, in death, there was no room for any kind of reconciliation. Or forgiveness. She held her tongue, though, sensing he didn't seek her sympathy.

They'd arrived at the garage, and she punched in her code and waited for the door to open before pulling in.

"Sorry we didn't make it very far in your lessons today. Maybe we can try again next Sunday. You know, if you still want to try and learn a few things."

She nodded as they reached his parking space and pulled in next to her Mini. "I'd like that." Because even if her morning at the club hadn't endeared her to the sport any more than before, the prospect of spending more time in Henry's company had some appeal. Okay, a lot of appeal. But it was only because he was so irreverent and funny and easy on the eyes. "And since I don't think I've said it before  thanks, Henry. For your help."

She reached over to grab her bag, and before she could open the door, Henry was there, already holding it for her. She'd be lying if she didn't admit it was terribly flattering and sent her heart skipping a beat or two.

They walked toward the elevator, neither of them speaking, when the familiar ding of its arrival sounded. Looking over, Benny caught a glimpse of long black hair on a statuesque woman stepping into the elevator.

Lord. That horrible woman again. This time Benny didn't even bother to call out to ask her to hold the elevator. Not only because she knew the beast wouldn't, and there was no reason to give her the satisfaction of ignoring the request, but because she was enjoying the peace that had fallen between her and Henry.

Henry, however, wasn't aware of the woman's predilection toward deafness and shouted, "Hold the door."

And in an act that initially surprised Benny, the woman  did.

The wide smile the woman shot Henry a minute later disavowed Benny of the possibility the woman was maybe not as bad as she'd thought. Which she confirmed when the woman only gave a barely concealed disdainful look at Benny before leaning in toward Henry as they stepped into the elevator.   





 

"Thank you," Henry said congenially. "You'd think with the prices we pay to live here they'd at least have an elevator that didn't run on weights and pulleys. I'd have aged another decade before it returned for us."