He tipped back the beer and downed a third of the bottle. At first, he’d thought she’d somehow figured out where he lived and had come to get an answer to her request in person.
Honestly, he wasn’t sure if that would have been better or worse.
But then she’d revealed she’d leased the apartment down the hall, and it had taken everything in him not to lose his damn mind. Because there was something about her. About the sweet scent that followed her. The lyrical notes of her voice…all of it toyed with him. And now he could run into her every day.
He checked his watch. Nine. Where the hell was Ethan? He was never late.
He checked his phone to see if his friend had made contact. He hadn’t.
The door to the bar opened, but it wasn’t Ethan who stepped in. It was Bonnie’s brother, Noah. With a couple guys behind him, one being the town sheriff.
Great.
Noah saw him looking, and Zane dipped his head and glanced away, draining the rest of his beer. What Ethan was doing for him wasn’t exactly illegal. But it also wasn’t something Zane needed the sheriff’s office knowing about. Thankfully, they headed toward the back of the bar.
Another few minutes passed and he checked his watch again. Itreallywasn’t like Ethan to be late. He lifted his phone and sent a text.
Zane: Everything okay?
He’d just hit send when someone stepped up beside him. It wasn’t Ethan.
“Hey.”
Zane looked up. “Noah, right?”
The man nodded. “Yeah. How are you doing?”
“All right.”
When the bartender stopped in front of Noah, he ordered three beers before looking back at Zane. “I heard my sister’s asked you to run some self-defense classes for the shelter.”
“She has.”
“Are you gonna do it?”
“I’m still thinking about it.” A damn lie. The less time he spent with Bonnie, the better.
“You should. She’s been through a lot. And you saw what Carlos did to her in The Tea House the other day. She needs some good in her life.”
Zane could have laughed. “I don’t know if I’m the good she needs.”
Noah lifted a shoulder. “You don’t seem like a bad guy. And this is important to her.” He clapped Zane on the back. “Have a good night.”
Shit. Now he felt guilty. The few interactions he’d seen of Bonnie with locals, theyhadbeen awful to her.
He shouldn’t do it. He knew he shouldn’t.
He lifted his cell and sent a text.
Zane: I’ll do it.
The three dots immediately popped up.
Bonnie: Zane?
Zane: Yeah. I’ll run sessions for the women in your shelter. Five sessions, and the women need to come to The Pit.
Bonnie: Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. I’ll call to organize tomorrow.
