Something dark flashed in Zac’s eyes.“I didn’t say that.”
She shivered again.There was so much going on underneath the surface, so many things that neither of them were saying.The emotion and tension were there, though.She could feel them bubbling over her skin and slithering down her spine.The two of them might be talking about the accident, but that wasn’t the reason why he’d come here.
Yet she was nervous to talk about anything else.“Becky missed that bit of info.”
Zac’s eyes narrowed, and he folded his arms across his chest.He knew she was stalling.
Maxie bit her lip and gestured to the phone.“The dangers of texting.”
His head cocked slightly.“Sometimes face-to-face communication is best.”
Her heart began beating unsteadily.That was why he’d come, then, to have it out.She wanted everything out in the open too, but he seemed so big and intimidating.He was dressed in his uniform, armed, and he took up most of the space.She shifted and bumped against her empty teacup.It clattered as it rolled around on its base, going faster and faster until it settled back down.
She stared at him.The time was here.It was now or never, but like a thousand times before, she couldn’t summon any words.She knew what the plan was.She knew what she’d been told to do, but her body had become leaden.
What if he didn’t want her anymore?
The room was deafening in its silence, and she yearned to bump the teacup again.Anything.A cough or a sniffle.If only she knew where to start.
“It’s awfully quiet around here.”His gaze didn’t drift from her.
She licked her lips, and they pulsed when he stared.“Everyone’s staying at the Blue Morning tonight.”
“Did something happen?”
She wrapped her arms around her waist.Her robe felt slick and thin under her fingertips.Her body was still warm from where she’d pressed against him.“They thought we should have some privacy to talk.”
A muscle in his jaw clenched.“What do you think?”
She’d thought they were right, until now.Now, she was under the spotlight, pinned in its glare and heat.It was where she was weakest and most vulnerable.
“Because you’re not talking,” Zac said flatly.
Maxie’s nerves were singing.She tried to let out a long breath to calm them, but she had barely enough oxygen in her lungs as it was.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”He raked a hand through his hair, and his breath was deep enough to lift his chest.The air came back out in a low curse, and he turned on his heel.“I’ll see you around town, Beauty.”
“Wait.”She took a step towards him but stopped when he looked over his shoulder.Her hand was reaching out towards him.She curled her fingers into her palm.“Why did you come here tonight?”
“Hell if I know.”
His tone was dispassionate, and her hopes dipped.
“I was about to drive over to your place,” she admitted softly.“I wanted to apologize.”
“Apologize.”He planted his hands on his hips and stared at the ceiling.“An apology is not what I’m looking for, but if that’s all you’ve got—”
“No, I…” God, that hand of fate was clawing at her throat and closing like a vise around her chest.Her voice dropped to a whisper.“You know how much trouble I have putting myself out there, Zac.”
He wouldn’t look at her.“But you have no problem letting me flap around in the wind.”
“Yes, I do.Believe me.I…I just freeze up when things are important to me.”
Muscles in his back jumped.
“And this might be most important of all.”The only way she got the words out were by digging her fingernails into her palms and curling her toes against the floor.
He turned around, but the look on his face did nothing to encourage her.His eyes were blue ice, and his jaw was made of granite.“I asked you if we had something going, Maxie.That’s a simple enough question, but you couldn’t answer.”
