Chase rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms.
She laughed. “Tough crowd. And it’s fine. The door code’s zero two five eight, and the alarm code’s one zero two nine. I trust she’ll rearm it on her way out.”
Chase nodded. “I’ll remind her. Also, Foster called. They’re on their way back. Atticus lucked out with only a sprain. He’ll be more ornery than usual, but that’s nothing new. They should be here with dinner in about twenty. If you’re interested. Though, based on how I found you two, you might have other plans.”
Zain scoffed. “And have you spin the narrative on this? I don’t think so. Besides, Saylor needs to eat something.”
She tiptoed up. “Yeah, you.”
Chase coughed. “And that’s my cue to leave, as soon as I check that bandage.” He walked over, examined her wound, then nodded. “It looks fine. Just do me a favor? Try not to get into another gunfight for a few days.”
Zain groaned. “You just had to jinx it, didn’t you?”
“Guess you’ll need to stay close, then, just in case.”
“Jackass.” Zain waited until Chase left before glancing down at her. “I swear, he did that on purpose.”
Saylor sighed. “His timing was pretty impeccable, and I’d be more frustrated if your lips weren’t blue. You haven’t even gotten out of your wet clothes, yet.”
“You got shot. That trumps whether I’m a bit cold.”
“And I thought Chase had a flare for the dramatic. I’m fine, which means, it’s your turn.” She held up her left hand, then pushed past him. “No more excuses. We can’t go on our third date if you pass out from hypothermia.”
“I hadn’t realized the second was over, yet.”
“I’d say that kiss was a good place to end it. So, this…” She crossed back over and pressed her lips against his. Not as intense as before. More of a promise of where she wanted the night to go. “Can be the start of our third. And I think you know exactly where I’m hoping it’ll end.”
Zain leaned against the counter, looking so damn sexy it made her chest hurt, right in the center. “I’m hoping with breakfast.”
“Then, get cleaned up. We can’t show up at Foster’s with our teeth chattering, and I’m starving so…”
She grabbed the clothes, then backed out of the room, just like he’d done earlier, bracing her weight against the closed door as she brushed her fingers across her lips. He’d tasted better than she’d imagined, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d spontaneously combust when they finally got down to business. If spending the night with Zain would set a bar so high, no one else would ever meet it, let alone exceed it.
She hadn’t been in a relationship in what felt like forever, too focused on her job to make the time.Getting assaulted by that asshole, Keith Watson, had only worsened the situation. The beginning of the end of her career with the Coast Guard, the tragedy on theVigilantsealing that fate. She’d already had her honor questioned once, and being the only survivor of that damn incident had cast a shadow so large, she’d had no other recourse but to leave. It hadn’t mattered that she hadn’t been at fault in either case, only that she’d challenged the old norms. Had somehow pulled through when more experienced crewman had died.
That she’d failed her mission. Failed Maddox.
That’s what had hurt the most. Losing family. The guy had been like a surrogate father. Had been just as invested in her career as her own dad. Knowing Maddox had lobbied for her to be part of his security detail in the hopes of repairing her reputation had only added to the loss.
She glanced back at the door. Zain wasn’t like anyone else she’d ever met, other than his teammates. He was confident and smart and had never treated her as anything other than his equal. With the way she’d reacted to that kiss…
It was time to stop hiding in the shadows. To make the most of her second chance. All she had to do, was put the past behind her.
CHAPTER SIX
Saylor sighed as she followed Chase up the path to Foster’s backdoor, Zain’s hand resting on the small of her back. Her body still hummed from the way he’d kissed her in the bathroom — from the promise of how the night would end. While she loved hanging with Mackenzie and Zain’s teammates, the unrelenting need burning low in her core dampened her usual enthusiasm.
Zain leaned in once they reached the door, holding it ajar after Chase had sauntered inside. “You, okay? You seem a bit preoccupied.”
Saylor shrugged. “Nothing an all-night tumble between the sheets won’t fix.”
Zain coughed. “We’ll make this quick.”
She stopped short of going inside, tiptoed up and ate at his mouth. No preamble, just her lips crushed against his, her fingers sliding into his hair.
He wrapped his other arm around her waist, tugging her flush against him before resting his forehead onhers once she’d finally come up for air. “Is that your way of saying you’ve changed your mind about dinner?”
She eased back and brushed her thumb across his mouth. “I just needed something to hold me over.”
