“That wasn’t a routine.”
“Looked real coordinated from where I was standing,” he smirked in a charming way that made the hairs on her arms stand up.
Meadow threw her hands up, exhaling sharply through her nose. “Oh my God. Don’t get on my nerves today.”
Zaire stepped closer, not crowding her but letting her feel his presence. He wiped a thumb across the seam of his jacket, eyes dragging across her face with quiet curiosity.
“I’m not trying to get on your nerves,” his voice dropped to that calm, hood-born rumble. “I’m just trying to figure out which room I’m supposed to be in.”
“This one,” she muttered, fixing the edge of the sheet so she didn’t have to look at him directly. He was too fine for her to look into his eyes. “This is your guest house?
Cool.”
Meadow shot him a quick glance, her eyes lingering just a second longer than she intended.
Up close, he was even finer.
Tall with wide shoulders, and solid forearms under the sleeves of his jacket. His skin was smooth and his beard was lined to perfection. She swallowed hard as she admired the way coarse hairs curled around his lips. His lashes were wild and long enough to make her envious. He carried himself like a man who had grown up with both chaos and structure. He was hood enough to survive it and disciplined enough to outgrow it. Everything about him felt quiet but intentional.
Finding her voice, Meadow said, “Didn’t expect you so early,” as she busied herself by folding a towel even though it didn’t need folding.
“Didn’t sleep last night,” he answered, his fingers running along the edge of the nightstand to check the finish. “I figured I’d come early instead of pacing around.”
“Hmmm,” she murmured, nodding slowly, “Makes sense.”
“You don’t gotta say it like I’m lying.” Zaire didn’t like her tone or the way her lips crinkled.
“I didn’t call you a liar.”
“You didn’t have to.” His eyes met hers daring her with a rebellious stare?
Meadow’s lips twitched. “I don’t know you enough to call you anything.”
“Well,” he said, leaning his weight, posting up, “guess that means we’ll figure it out.”
They studied each other openly for a second. His eyes held depth, hers held fire. It was the first moment neither of them felt the need to defend or joke.
“Anyway,” she murmured, clearing her throat, “you good?”
Zaire nodded, the chain on his neck catching the light when he inhaled. “I’m all right. Just…trying to settle my head.”
“Yea, I get that.” Meadow rested a hand on her hip. “You’re safe here. Nobody gon’ bother you.”
His gaze softened in a way that felt rare. “Good to know.”
“Anything else you need?”
“Just your name.”
“Meadow.”
He nodded, repeating it under his breath like he was testing how it felt. “Yeah, fits you.”
She tilted her head, genuinely curious. “Why’s that?”
Zaire lifted his eyes to hers, full of a quiet edginess and something like appreciation. “You look like fresh air.”
Meadow cleared her throat again because her heart dipped and she wasn’t about to show it.
