Read Cliffhanger (The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries, Book One) for Free Online Page B

Jarrett
materialized next to her, pouty faced and huffy. The band gig. She'd forgotten
all about it in the craziness. And, honestly, she'd never intended to go and he
as much as knew that. But, nevertheless, he was going to give her the
Greenhouse Treatment, as Kyle called it. Jarrett would blast her with guilt to
see if she'd grow useful to him.
    Jarrett deigned
to say hello to her and then stood there holding his bottle of soda, his cheeks
suctioned in from repressing his loathing of her.
    Belinda took a
deep breath. Time to be the adult. "How was your gig yesterday?"
    "You mean
practice?"
    Oops. Of course
she meant practice. "Yes, practice. How did it go?"
    "Awful."
    "Oh. I'm
sorry to hear that."
    Jarrett shrugged.
    So far, not so
good, but he wasn't making any move to leave and Belinda was out of
conversation starters. Just when she was about to come up with some clever out
like, "Well, look at the time," That Guy rounded the corner behind
Jarrett, walking straight toward her.
    That was the good
and bad news.
    His expression
was flat, but not blank. No, not blank at all when Belinda looked closely.
    "I found
them," That Guy said, shaking a box of—granola bars?—over his head.
    Belinda glanced
behind her to look for the receiving end of That Guy's dialogue, and stood in
complete shock when he took her basket and positioned himself next to her like
they were...together. Had she actually known this poor guy and totally
forgotten he existed? Belinda took another look at him. No, she felt confident
she wouldn't forget a guy that good-looking.
    Jarrett got over
his surprise and focused his sulking blue eyes on the man next to her.
    "Ready?"
That Guy said to Belinda. "We're running late." He slipped his hand
through hers, gripping her fingertips. A bolt went through her and she nearly
yanked away, but he kept too tight a grip.
    Still unsure if
it was a rescue or a trap leading to bigger problems, Belinda said a quick good-bye
to Jarrett, who glared with all his might at That Guy, and followed her new
companion across the store. He strode next to her like they walked through the
grocery store together everyday, which she quickly decided had pros and cons.
    Pro: he held her
basket, which she realized too late would be way heavier by the end of her trip
than she wanted.
    Con: she had no
idea how to get rid of him and he was walking super fast. What if he just got
in the car with her and drove off?
    She started to
ask him who he was when he cut her off. "What else do we need?"
    Still stunned,
she glanced at her list and detoured to the refrigerated section, That Guy not
missing a beat behind her. She filled up her basket, now really grateful she
wasn't carrying it, and hustled to the checkout lines. Making it to her car and
the finish line, so she hoped, her Worst Case Scenario actually happened.
    That Guy snipped
her keys from her fingertips and started the car. Belinda ran around to the
other side to ensure he didn't leave without her. As she did so, Second Worst
Case Scenario happened. Only this one never occurred to her before.
    Lily Devore
crawled up out of her silver convertible and looked directly at her, clearly
taking note of the strange man in the driver's side of Belinda's car. Acting
like they hadn't just made eye contact, Lily marched past her and into the
store. Flustered, but with no time to think as her car revved, Belinda buckled
in.
    As soon as they
started moving, he spoke. Finally. "We'll drive around the block and come
back."
    "Why?"
    He glanced at her
like the answer was obvious. "Because of the kid. It would look weird if
we left separately."
    We wouldn't
want that, Belinda thought. "Personally, it looks weird that we left
together. It's quite possible that Lily Devore will know your name before I
do."
    That Guy's lip
twitched, a glint lighting up the back of his eyes. "Bennett Tate."
    Repeating his
name silently, Belinda realized that Bennett Tate already knew her. That
thought unsettled her, especially