Sebastian hesitates, then spills it all out, and I already make a fight plan.
"I'll handle this," I assure him, even though it's a bit late in the game to kill a story.
"Blake-" Sebastian begins, but Logan puts his hand up.
"You go ahead with whatever you're planning," Logan tells me, interrupting him. Then he points at Sebastian with his thumb. "This one needs saving from his own too-democratic ways."
I grin. "Consider it done."
"By the way, since you're here, we also wanted to talk to you about something else," Logan says. "Clara."
"What are your intentions with her?" they ask in unison. I choke on nothing at all, then cough up a lung. This took an unexpected turn.
"You've got to be kidding me," I exclaim once I stop coughing. They are not. That's the Bennett clan, versatile as ever, effortlessly jumping from planning our attack on the press to cornering me, because why not kill two birds with one stone?
"She's practically family," Sebastian insists. "And you two have been going at it for a while now."
"Going at it?" I ask blankly. "Who says that? You're getting old, Sebastian."
Sebastian looks at me sternly. I know for a fact this is his boardroom stare, and it would intimidate a lesser man, but not me.
"Stop messing with us." Logan's tone is hard. I could explain it all, but hazing them is more fun. Besides, this is between Clara and me.
"Easy, Logan. I was getting used to you not riding my ass anymore. I need some time to get back in the saddle."
Logan gives me his own boardroom stare. What is it with these two today? Did they have a drink or ten and forgot this stare has zero effect on me?
"Where do you see this going?" Sebastian insists.
"This is between Clara and me," I placate him, flummoxed to be getting the talk from my own brothers. "My own blood cornering me. I can't believe it."
"Being our brother means we get to give you advice even when you don't want it," Sebastian says.
"Don't feel much like a brother right now, more like a barely tolerated neighbor."
"Look," Sebastian interjects. "When you find a good woman, you do everything to keep her."
"Clara's a good woman." That was Logan, helpful as ever.
"She's the best woman," I correct him. "And that's all I'm saying on the subject."
Logan looks as if he'd like to say more, but through some miracle, remains silent. So does Sebastian. Then they both grin.
"Our job here is done," Logan says.
Sebastian nods. "Yeah, that's as good a confession as any."
I groan. Can't believe I fell for their good cop, bad cop routine. Come to think of it, they both played bad cop today.
"Right. Next time you corner me, be good lads and make sure there's at least beer around. Whiskey would be even better."
"After the fallout with her boss, I assume she's looking for a job," Sebastian says. "We can always find a place in Bennett Enterprises for her."
I shake my head, telling them both about her possible career in illustrating children's books. She applied for the position Charlie told her about and is waiting to hear from them.
"You've made it clear to this Charlie that not hiring Clara isn't an option, right?" Logan asks. I grin. Clara explicitly asked me not to interfere because she wants to receive the job only if she's good enough. Logan usually tries to solve everyone's problems even when they don't want his help, which got him in hot water with Nadine before they were married.
Privately, I agree with his mode of operation, but I already pushed my luck by arranging the meeting with Charlie in the first place, and I also empathize with her desire to succeed on her own.
"When you get between a woman and her independent ways, prepare for a tsunami-sized blowout. I learn from other people's mistakes."
"Don't worry, you'll make your own," Logan deadpans. Sebastian chuckles.
"Take that back." I point a finger at him. "Your words have the nasty habit of being prophetic."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Clara
Straight or undulating?
After blinking hard several times, I shake my head, then decide to call it a night. You know you've been working on an illustration too long when you can't even tell if a line you drew is straight or undulating.
Stretching, I tilt my head to the left and to the right, attempting to dislodge the stiffness in my neck. No such luck. I'll need a hot bath for this, using my favorite bath bomb-vanilla and lavender. I barely form that thought when there is a knock at the front door.