The smell of his aftershave wafted towards her nostrils.
“Sir, I’m going to spill River’s coffee.”Ella said, laughing.
“It’s for him.I need to bring him back to life.We just got called out on a job.”
“So inconvenient of them,” Zee said, his grey-blue eyes twinkling.
Ella passed Carter the to-go coffee cup.
“Carter, drink it.”
The man made a face.“It doesn’t have cream or sugar in it.”
“You’re such a baby.”River flicked Carter’s chin but took the lid off the coffee and blew on it.
Zee reached behind her, stopping her from opening the fridge, pulled her against his chest and brought her top back up, to cover her breasts.
The gesture sent hot tingles across her skin.
She blushed, handing River cream and sugar.
“Thank you, Ella.”River’s only focus was on Carter as he stirred cream and sugar into the cup.“Here.”
“Hey, you want me to be alert.I’m not going to drink the black coffee.”
“Yep, I need your wits, which is the only reason I gave in.”River ruffled Carter’s hair.
“We have energy bars,” Zee offered.
“I’ll take what you’ve got,” Carter said.
Zee reached into the small cupboard behind the bar and tossed four to the men.“Here you are.”
“I thought we were going to have a relaxing night in, but you know, no rest for the wicked and all that.See you at the poker game, Zee.Goodnight, Ella.”River grabbed the energy bars, looped his arm through Carter’s.
“Night,” Ella echoed.
“I’m looking forward to a relaxing night tomorrow with you, my love.”
The way Zee gazed at her with heat and love still made her heart go pitter-patter.
“Someone has a big day on Monday,” Ella mumbled.Her stomach formed a knot of anxiety thinking about it again.
Zee leaned in, pulling her close until she fit perfectly against his chest.
“It’s going to be great.Thank you for not talking me out of it.”
His thumb traced small circles over her back, and the brush of his stubble along her cheek made her shiver.
She tilted her face into him, breath hitching, as warmth pooled low in her belly.
In his arms, her shoulders loosened, her heartbeat slowed, and the world outside melted away.
“Zee, I wouldn’t.”
And before he could respond, Ella went and helped a guest, pinpricks of anxiety flaring along her neck again.
This seesaw between calm and hyper-anxious had to stop, but she didn’t know what to do about it.
