“Shush,” Anjali said. “You look hot like always.”
Mabel surveyed Zane’s house. The porch was dark, but there was one light shining through the living room window.
They nicely shooed her out the door of her car and then climbed into Tory’s SUV.
Mabel walked up the stairs, her heart threatening to burst. She turned back to look at her friends.
Hannah was the last one to climb in. She stood there at the door and placed a hand over her heart. “You can do this, Mabel. I’m so happy for you.” Even though she tried to whisper-shout it, Mabel was pretty sure Zane heard it, because just then, she heard Chief bark from inside and the porch light came on.
Tory pulled the SUV around in the large turnabout and began driving slowly back out to the main road, waving out of her window.
Mabel knocked on the door, and within a few seconds, Zane opened it. Chief came bounding out and jumped up on Mabel, licking her face.
“Down, Chief,” Zane said. His voice still sounded raw from the smoke, but his gaze was clear, his expression surprised to see her.
“Can I come in?” Mabel asked, her own lungs feeling sticky as she struggled to get enough air. As sure as she felt about this, her nerves were still there.
Zane offered a small smile and stepped aside to open the door even further. “Please do,” he said quietly.
He seemed hesitant, which made sense. He wouldn’t know what she was there to say or do.
They sat on opposite sofas, and Chief jumped up to place his head in her lap.
“I heard about why Carolina was at the proposal last night,” she said.
“Was that really only last night? It feels so long ago.”
Mabel nodded. “Yeah, with the fireand everything.”
Neither said anything for a moment, and Mabel squirmed in her seat. It was torture being across the room from him, even though it was a small room.
“I wanted to apologize for—” Mabel started.
“No, I’m the one who needs to apologize. I didn’t realize what that photo would look like, and I didn’t communicate—”
Mabel interrupted. “I didn’t either… For the record, the day of the gala? With Doctor Conforth? Terrible.”
Zane smiled and sighed, leaning forward so he could rest his elbows on his legs. “I can’t say I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I made assumptions about Carolina,” she began.
“Mabel, there is only one woman for me. And it’s not her.”
He propelled himself out of his seat, crossed the room to her, and knelt by her side. He reached a finger to her chin and caressed it, his gaze taking her in. “I love these scrubs on you.”
Mabel laughed and covered herself up. “I thought I should change, but it didn’t occur to me until after I’d already gotten here.”
“I’m glad you’re here, but I’ve been talking with the guys and pacing here, trying to figure out a plan.”
“A plan?”
“A plan to get you back. Because things finally clicked for us, and I can’t lose you again, Mabel.”
She kissed him, a lazy, shimmering feeling of excitement seeping through every part of her body.
“Mabel,” he whispered in her hair. “I feel like Rocky when his woman, Adrian, planted one on him after losing to Apollo Creed.”
“Like you’ve been in a boxing ring?”
