Anya bit her tongue and then grimaced. “I guess that’s a fair question since I just grilled you.”
“Well?” Zara tapped her foot. “He has had some serious tension, and I’m hoping it all exploded into ecstasy.”
“Nicely put. We got very busy.” Nothing in the world could’ve stopped the smile that spread across Anya’s face.
Zara grinned. “Oh man. You’ve got it bad.”
“It was incredible,” Anya whispered. Then she gave in to the nagging voice in the back of her head. “But I think he held back, you know?”
Zara nodded vigorously. “They have hang-ups about hurting people, and Heath totally has issues with any woman being harmed.” She leaned forward a little. “If you care for him, if you want a future, you have to do two things.”
“I just got out of a relationship,” Anya protested. Yet her curiosity kicked in. “What two things?”
Zara set down the spoon. “First, you have to get the whole truth from him about his life. There’s no going forward without that.”
Anya had already figured that one out, and she hadn’t needed her degree in psychology to do it. “I’m not saying I want a future with him. But just in case. What’s the second thing?”
Zara glanced at the empty living room and then back at Anya. “You have to show him it’s okay to lose control and be himself with you. That he won’t break you.”
Anya’s mouth gaped. She quickly shut it. “That totally makes sense. How would I do that?”
Zara bit her lip. “Heck if I know.”
Wonderful. Just wonderful. Anya cleared her throat, not wanting to push too hard. But she had to ask. “Is Heath in danger? I mean, I can tell he’s running from something or somebody. Is he in danger?”
Zara studied her for a moment, her gaze intelligent and knowing. “Yeah. Danger is coming from several directions. Soon.”
CHAPTER
23
Zara had been kind enough to cook a late breakfast for the brothers after they finished shopping, and now she’d disappeared into her bedroom. His belly pleasantly full, Heath glanced over at Ryker, seated with him at the small kitchen island. When was his brother going to pop the question? By the strained look on his face, he was trying to figure out a good time.
The room felt empty without Anya. She’d gone into their apartment to shower pretty much the second Heath had arrived.
Sweat dotted Ryker’s forehead.
“Are you all right?” Heath asked, leaning back on his stool.
“Yeah.” Ryker used his sleeve to wipe his head. “I’m fine.” His hand shook.
Denver’s eyebrows rose as he stood near the sink on the other side of the island. “Dude.”
“I’m fine,” Ryker snapped. He shook out his shirt. “Is it hot in here? It feels really hot in here.”
Heath coughed away a laugh when Denver turned around, his shoulders shaking.
“You’re dicks,” Ryker said without any rancor.
Denver turned back around, his face in calm lines. “I don’t know what you mean.” His voice had risen a little on the last words.
Amusement bubbled up again, and Heath burst out laughing.
Denver joined in.
Ryker took a deep breath and stopped shaking his shirt. “She’ll say yes again. It’s not like she’s waffling. I have no idea why I can’t breathe. She’ll say yes.Again.”
Heath forced himself to stop chuckling. “Not necessarily. I mean, you are the ugly one.”
