Stargazing (The Walker Family Book 2) by Bernadette Marie Page B

orders and brought them a basket of bread. Bethany had a piece in her hand and was slathering it with butter before he’d even noticed it was on the table.
    “Can I venture into asking you what happened today?” he asked cautiously. “I took it you were upset when you left the house. But if you don’t want to talk about it…”
    “Susan fired me.”
    Kent sat back in his chair. “She fired you? Aren’t you family?”
    “Family can fire family.”
    “I suppose. But why?”
    “I deserved it. I was late. I was a mess. I forgot things that were my responsibility to bring. I dropped a tray of food.”
    Reaching across the table he took her hands, which he’d noticed had begun to shake.
    “Calm down.”
    “I can’t. I ruined the luncheon for her. She had other jobs riding on that job. I can’t take that back and make it better. I deserved to be fired. Only now I can’t pay my rent.”
    “Susan doesn’t come across as the kind of woman who holds a grudge. I’ll bet if you talk to her, you two can work this out.”
    Bethany nodded. “I’m just a little worked up over it.”
    “Of course you are. Let’s have a nice meal and I’ll take you back early so you can talk to her about it.”
    She didn’t agree to his proposition. Instead, she stood from her seat and walked around to his side of the table. Taking the seat next to him, she rested her hand on his knee, which managed to ramp up his heart rate to a dangerous level.
    “How about I forget about my horrible day and stay with you for the night.”
    Kent swallowed hard and willed his body to behave as she touched him. “I…of course…don’t you…” He stopped and took a breath because he sounded like an idiot. “Are you sure?”
    “Absolutely sure,” she said, lifting her hand into his hair and raking her fingers through it.
    It was official, he thought as he placed his napkin on his lap. He was going to lose his mind over this woman. He could feel it slipping away every minute he was around her—and he liked it.
     

Chapter Fourteen
     
    Kent sincerely thought it would be best to take Bethany back home after dinner. She’d had three large glasses of wine and had eaten all of her dinner, a few bites off of his, and most of the basket of bread. He certainly didn’t mind. But looking at her in the van, her head rested against the back of the seat and her eyes closed, he thought it was taking advantage of the situation to take her to his hotel.
    “Why don’t I take you back to your place? Something tells me you could use a good night’s sleep tonight.”
    She rolled her head so that she faced him and opened her eyes. “I don’t want to go home.”
    “You need to talk to Susan.”
    “Not tonight. I don’t want to talk to anyone but you tonight.”
    That should have been flattering, he supposed. However, looking at her he wasn’t sure.
    “How about I order us up a pot of coffee to the room when we get to the hotel? Maybe it’ll make you feel better.”
    She only nodded and he was sure she’d then fallen asleep on the ride to the hotel.
     
    Bethany opened her eyes when she felt the van stop. “This is your place?”
    Kent chuckled. “Yeah. It’s ugly, but they do have room service and an outdated gym.”
    She sat up and opened the door.
    “Let me help you,” he offered and she sat still, realizing she had eaten more than she had in months. Add the wine and she wondered why he hadn’t just pushed her out of the car and onto Susan’s lawn.
    Kent hurried around the front of the van, then stood before her with his hand extended. She took it and he helped her out.
    “I’m a mess, huh?”
    “You just look a little lost, that’s all. I know you had a rough day. But we’ll get you some coffee and…”
    “I wanted to have sex with you.”
    He cleared his throat and she could see the flush in his cheeks turning brighter. “That’s quite an offer.”
    “I know. I’m a mess. You don’t have to be nice to me tonight. I’ll sober up