Doing the opposite, I follow his lead, finishing the rest of my glass in a few gulps, smiling defiantly. “Go on,” I say, my throat burning as I rasp.
“Fine.” Zane scratches his head, and my eyes zero in on the tattoos peeking out from his sleeve and the ring adorning his pinky. Without permission, my head fills with memories from our past, and my heart picks up speed.
“There, that’s better.” Zane spins the ring around his finger and smiles. “No one will ever know I got burned. They’ll never know we were together.”
“God, this is always so hard. Maybe we should tell them. It’s not like this is new. We’ve been…” I trail off, not wanting to call ‘us’ something we’re not.
“Exclusively seeing each other,” Zane fills in the blanks. “And I know. But I’m not ready for our bubble to burst. Both your dad and brother are likely to kill me. Especially after that.” He points to the almost identical burn on my wrist and his lips thin. “Let’s not forget how hysterical you got when I saved you just now, thinking we were going to get busted because of our matching scars.”
“You didn’t save me.” I roll my eyes. “You make me sound like a damsel in distress. You reacted without thinking.”
Zane raises his hands in the air. “I would never call you a damsel. Princess is much more fitting.” He winks, teasing, and I dive across the blanket, tackling him to the ground.
“I amnota princess.”
“I know. You’re more like a queen.”
“Blair?” Zane questions, bringing me back to the present. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” I wave him off, my heart racing as I pretend Iwasn’tthinking about the time I stupidly reached for my bag on the other side of an open fireplace and burned my wrist on thescorching metal. Only to have Zane rush to save me, burning his finger in the process.
“No more alcohol for you.” Zane chuckles while I frown.
“What does that mean?”
“We haven’t even started the conversation and you’re already in your head.”
“Wouldn’t you prefer me to drink then? So you don’t have to speak?”
“Good point. Yes. Drink away. Here.” He gets up and reaches for my glass. “I’ll even pour it for you.”
I roll my eyes, shaking my head as I tell him to sit. “I’m fine. Come on. It’s time to talk. And you’re going first. Why are you here?”
“Fuck.” He groans, this time raking a hand through his already mussed hair. “I was planning on giving you space for a little while, so you could make up your own mind about the job without me influencing your decision…either way.”
“Either way?” I bite back a smile, having a feeling I know what he means.
“Well, knowing you, having me around was more likely to discourage you from wanting to move closer to me. You can be stubborn like that.”
I bite back my smile. “Guess we’ll find out. Since you’re here.”
“Figures.” He laughs and I get lost in the light of his eyes, my mind drifting to the last time I saw him truly smile.
“Anyway,” he continues, once again bringing me back to the present, making me blink a few times as my mind whirls. “Iwasplanning on staying away, until Cade shared the news of your breakup.”
“Wow.” I shake my head, trying to focus. “You’re really just throwing him under the bus these days.”
Zane shrugs. “He told you I was coming, so we’re even.”
“Fair point. So, you heard I was hurting and rushed to my side. Like I’m a dam—”
Zane dives onto the bed and slams his hand over my mouth, making me squeal. “Let me make one thing clear.” His deep voice seeps into my mind, and my body goes weak. “I haveneverandwill neverthink of you as a damsel in distress, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to protect you. There’s a difference and you know it.”
I swallow a thick lump in my throat as emotion wells in my chest, my head pounding like nobody’s business.
Zane’s brows rise, seeking a response, so I nod, unable to give him anything else.
“Thank you.” He pulls his hand away, and I miss the feel of him against me. “I came when I heard you’d broken up with thedickwadbecause I thought you might need a friend, and because…like I said, I can’t seem to stay the fuck away. I left my team in Phoenix and came straight here.”
