It feels so intimate. So right. My emotions and my desire expand in my chest until I can barely breathe.
“Zander…” I whisper.
He dips his head, lips hovering so close to mine that our breath mingles. My knees weaken, my body aching to close the distance.
It would be so easy for me to rise on my tiptoes and press my lips to his. Find the comfort in his body that I always found with him.
Then I remember reality—he doesn’t do relationships. I have more than me to think about now.
I press my hand against his chest, pushing back just enough to break the connection. “We can’t do this.” Although my voice doesn’t hold the conviction I wish it did.
His eyes search mine, yearning swirling in them, but he doesn’t argue. He nods once and steps back, allowing more space between us.
The song ends, and we separate as people shout out drink orders and laughter echoes through the open air.
Even though we didn’t kiss, the almost part might haunt me just the same. It’s a stark reminder that no matter how hard I try to push him away, part of me still wants him.
What if that never goes away?
Keeping my distance from him romantically might be the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Zander
Plain Daisy Ranch has brought a peace to my life I haven’t had in a long time, maybe ever, but even as quiet as it is, I need to get out of here again before I go stir-crazy.
The last few days leading up to the actual filming, every time I step outside the lodge, there’s some crew member waiting with a clipboard full of questions. Thank God I had decided to bring Jack on as co-director. Romy is proving to be a big distraction. A good one, but I still need to make sure the bases are covered as far as the video goes.
After breakfast, I let Beau go do whatever he does during the day, and I head to The Knotted Barn.
Romy is in her office as usual.
I’ve been trying not to think about our almost kiss, but that feels impossible now that I’m standing in her doorway.
She looks up from her computer. “Oh, hey.”
I grab the trim of the door above me, needing to do something with my hands so I don’t head across this room, pull her up from her chair, and tell her she made the wrong decision last night. That she shouldn’t have pushed me away.
“I need a really big favor.”
She leans back and runs her hand over her stomach. “I feel like I’m already doing you a big favor.”
I chuckle, staring at her stomach. God, I can’t wait to see that swell. “This one’s much easier, I promise.”
“Good, because the one I’m doing for you now is giving me horrible heartburn.” She opens a drawer, takes out a bottle of antacids, pops two in her hand, and puts them in her mouth.
“What do I have to do to get you to take me out of here?”
“Take you out of where?” she asks, mumbling around the antacids.
“I need to get off the ranch.”
“Again? Oh, well, I’m not?—”
“No, no, no, listen to me. I know we can do it. I have a hat and sunglasses.”
She laughs. “I was told a hat and sunglasses would not disguise the magnificent Zander Shaw.”
