“Just now? Where did your head go?”
“Kind of nowhere and everywhere all at once,” I admit with a sigh. “I’ve been pretty busy with Dane gone, and I miss Mads.”
“Hear they’re doing pretty good out on the road,” Zane nods but I catch a slight shadow cross his eyes.
“What? What was that look?”
He shakes his head with a laugh. “It’s nothing, Darlin’. Just hope Maddox is keeping his nose clean is all.”
I bristle at his statement. “What is your problem with him? He’s a good guy, and he tried to take care of Zoey.”
“He’s in love with Zoey, Tori. And I don’t have a problem with him. We’re straight now, but we have history.”
I cringe a little at my reaction.I wonder if Zane realizes what I'm doing? I wonder if it's working at all?
“It’s not, you know?” he says with a smirk. “Working I mean.”
“Wh – what?”
“You trying to piss me off or brush me off. It’s not working. I’m not easily deterred, Tori.”
“I – I’m not -.”
He leans forward with a twitch to the corner of his lips. “You are. Look, I know I was an ass after what happen with Zoey. And an even bigger ass in Vegas. I am sorry for all of that. I’m sorry I held you to an impossible and unfair standard and I’m sorry I lost my shit about you and Maddox.”
“And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about what happen at the party,” I tell him sincerely. “I really am. I didn’t know what I should do because Zoey was so panicked. After what you and Mads told me, I didn’t want to do anything that would cause her to run away again, and I wanted her to be able to confide in me. But a few days after I got home, with a little help, I realized I needed to tell you. I was going to call you, but Jax beat me to it. I’d literally just decided I was going to tell you that evening when I walked into the shop to find Jax and his brother waiting for me.”
“He was desperate. Fuck, I was too. I didn’t know he was coming here. He was gone and back before I even knew. Rory came with him to make sure he kept his cool.”
I tilt my head a little in question. “Kept his cool?”
“Jax has absolutely no restraint when it comes to Zoey. I have seen him break a guy's nose for calling her hot. Fuck, Maddox had to leave River City altogether after what happen with him and Zoey. Jax would've killed him if he stayed. He wanted to when he came back. Zoey is the only reason he didn't. After that party,he thought he was losing her again. He was fucking losing her again.” His eyes grow infinitely darker and tight. This is hard for him to talk about, and I understand why.
In a moment of sympathy, forgetting that I’m trying to keep my distance from him, I reach across the table for his hand. Instantly, my skin heats at the contact. I want to yank my hand back, but I internally groan and grit through the stupid attraction and focus on the comfort I’m trying to project.
I don’t have to pull back, though. Zane shocks me when he pulls back instead. He isn’t comfortable with his emotions and vulnerability. Not over this anyway. Which, honestly, is also a shock considering he is so laid-back and comfortable in his own skin and about nearly everything else.
He clears his throat as he looks out the window. The waiter appears with our food, and we eat in silence. After a few minutes, his shoulders have relaxed, and his smirk has reappeared. “Enjoying your Cajun snapper?” he quips sarcastically.
“Maybe you should try it before you judge,” I offer.
“Lay it on me, baby.”
I feel myself heat and flush at the innocent and meaningless term. I keep trying to remind myself that this can’t go anywhere. It’s completely pointless.
My head has gotten the memo. My heart and body not so much.
I don’t let myself linger on my body’s reaction, though. Instead, I cut a piece of my fish and bring it to his lips. With that smirk that never stops he wraps his lips around the fork.
And. Oh. My. God.
How is it possible that lips around a fork from a guy could be so damn hot?
I’m starting to think it has been way too long since I’ve had sex.
But it is not happening with Zane. Nope. Not. Happening.
He takes a few seconds to really taste it then shakes his head. “It’s not bad, but, Darlin’, when I get you to River City, I’m taking you to Maw maw’s.”
