“Tabitha Ann Handcock. You’re twenty-two.” Her name rolled off his tongue. She wanted to hear it again.
“That’s me.”
“Well, tabby cat. Shall we get back to it?” Those dark brown eyebrows waggled seductively again, but this time, they were accompanied by a wolfish grin.
“See? I knew you had the wrong idea.” She didn’t need this. Shouldn’t have even come out to the bar, but she had wanted to be around other people her own age. People who were out to have fun rather than talk about personal records or how hard they climb. The goal was to have a chill, laid-back night. But she drew the line at hooking up with a stranger. No matter how cute and charming he was.
“And what was my idea?” he challenged with a head tilt.
“To go somewhereprivate.”
“Mm . . . pretty sure I said quiet.”
“Like your house?” Tabitha engaged as much sarcasm as she could muster.
“Like here.” Zac chuckled that addictive chuckle again as he stepped back a few strides and grabbed a door handle. “This coffee shop stays open late. Since you weren’t drinking alcohol, I thought you might want a latte or something.”
Well, shit.
Embarrassment blazed Tabitha’s neck. She’d assumed, but honestly, any other woman would have done the same.
“They make a fresh batch of scones at midnight on the weekend,” he said, trying to lure her with caffeine and baked goods.
“I guess I could hang out for a little while.” She sighed while walking through the door he held open for her. “On one condition.”
“Anything.”
“Don’t ever call me tabby cat again.”
Zac settled a hand on her lower back and guided her to the counter. Then, just as the barista came to take their order, he leaned in and murmured, “No deal.”
Chapter six
Present day, Sunday evening, Leavenworth: Zac
Herpaleblueeyesand mouth widened with shock as Zac murmured the nickname he hadn’t repeated in what? Ten? No, more like fifteen years. The last time he’d seen Tabitha, her lovely features had been so full of love and lust that the image had flitted through his mind from time to time since then. They’d shared so much in their short time together, and what had developed in those four weeks had been life-altering.
But then again, so was making the choice to leave her.
Zac watched the half-nibbled onion ring fall to the floor as Tabitha coughed and sputtered from her gasp. He stepped closer and swept her auburn hair onto one shoulder so he could pat her on the back without snagging the silky strands. Flashes of those red layers tickling his face and trailing down his torso had his belly clenching. He silently scolded himself and rubbed circles between her shoulder blades as her coughing subsided into throat clearing.
“You all right?” he asked, shock and concern still vying for top emotion. He glanced over at her friend. The curvy blonde wore an amused expression as her eyes flitted back and forth between his face and his hand as he gently stroked Tabitha’s back.
Tabitha took the glass of water Kendrick offered and drank a few sips. She dabbed at her face with a napkin before looking back at Zac.
“I’m fine.” She shrugged off his touch and shifted far enough away that Zac half expected her to fall off that stool.
“You remember me.” It wasn’t a question because while Zac knew he had an effect on the ladies, usually they didn’t choke on their food because of his good looks.
“Zac, right?” She squinted a little, pretending to try to recall exactly who he was.
Oh no you don’t, tabby cat.
“Don’t play it that way.”
Tabitha nodded and looked back down at her dinner.
Her blonde companion snickered as she took a bite of her sandwich, observing the exchange like it was on display specifically for her entertainment. Zac returned his attention to Kendrick, who stood nearby wiping down the beer taps in an effort to hide his eavesdropping.
