“Thanks for the tip,” Zane said.
“Is he one of your coaches?” I asked as the man walked on into the park.
“Only in his own mind.” Zane laughed, rubbing his jaw. “If he’d noticed all the elbows I caught in the face last night, maybe he’d understand why I had to play with aggression.”
My gaze was drawn to where he rubbed his face. I gasped when I saw the discoloration beneath his fingertips. “Oh, my goodness! Your jaw,” I said, gently pulling his hand outof the way so I could get a better look. “What happened?”
He shrugged. “It was a rough game last night.”
I ran my fingertips lightly across his jaw and asked, “Are you all right?”
He looked down at my hand still holding onto his and grinned. “Better now.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m serious, Zane. Your jaw is probably going to be black and blue by tonight.”
He laid his free hand on top of mine, sandwiching it between his palm and the stubble along his jaw. “Maybe not. I’m feeling better already.”
I suddenly realized what I was doing and slipped my hands away. “We’d better get in there. We’re going to be late.”
“How can we be late when we’re already here?”
I unhooked Percy’s leash from the tree. “I don’t know if you’re in thewedding party, but Percy has a pretty big role to play.”
“Lead the way. I’d follow you anywhere.”
My heart squeezed. Ever since I met Zane, my heart and mind had been in an epic power struggle. The heart wanted more of him, but my head knew better. It was time to pump the brakes and stop playing games.
I started walking. “Zane, whatever’s been going on between us since yesterday has been fun, but it’s?—”
“Since yesterday?” he interrupted. “It’s been going on a lot longer than that.”
I froze and looked up into his eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean? We just met yesterday.”
His eyes glinted with untold secrets. “You think I don’t know who my little sister’s friends are?” He reached out to give Percy an ear massage. “Nah, I’ve been waiting to meet you for a long time.” His gaze suddenlycaptured mine. I hardly dared to breathe. “And let me tell you, you haven’t disappointed.”
Correction: Vacation Wren hadn’t disappointed. As for Bookstore Wren…
My stomach twisted into a knot. Flirty, spontaneous, cupcake-stealing—as Zane would call her—Wren was exactly what he was looking for. But the real me was a far cry from all that. I was the kind of woman who had all her activities written in a color-coded planner.
Maybe he’d heard about me from his sister, but that didn’t mean he knewme.He’d forgotten one very important word in his last statement.
Yet.
I hadn’t disappointedyet.
He’d fallen for a woman who wasn’t real, and I supposed it was my job to tell him.
FIVE
Zane matched my stride as I walked into a garden-esque park that oozed romantic vibes everywhere I looked. I had to hand it to Bri; she sure could pick a wedding venue. A tall, wrought-iron fence faced the street, capped with decorative flourishes on top of each spire. It stretched on as far as I could see in both directions. Stone-paved paths meandered through the space, offering views of flowery vignettes, shaped shrubbery, and towering trees. A large meadow bordered by stately pines stretched out to our left. Tothe right was the oversized gazebo where Bri would say her vows the next day.
Zane’s arm brushed against mine as I admired the row of deep-red mums lining our path. My pulse shot through the roof, but I forced myself to focus on Percy’s hulking frame instead. The leash was taut as my faithful pooch lumbered along the path with his nose to the ground, oblivious to the sparks that flew every time Zane’s body came in contact with mine.
“You need some help with him?” Zane asked, eyeing the leash. “Looks like he’s takingyoufor a walk instead of the other way around.”
I shook my head. “No, he’s just excited to be in a new place. He’s a good boy. If he really wanted to go somewhere else, there wouldn’t be much I could do to stop him—he’d be gone already.”
“Who would go somewhere else whenyou’reright here? I know I’d picksticking close to you over going somewhere else any day of the week.”
