“The shirt? For work?” The question in his tone makes it clear he’s as confused by my behavior as I am.
“Right. Of course. I’ll be right back.”
Practically sprinting from the room, I run upstairs, find one of the polo shirts I was given with Summit’s name and the Ricochet Ridge logo on it, and I take a deep breath, trying to pull myself together before facing Zeke again.
Standing outside the bathroom, I stick my arm through the doorway, holding the garment out for him without stepping inside.
He takes it from me and sighs.
“I don’t like looking at them, either,” he says.
The shame in his voice has me pushing my way into the bathroom a second time, my obnoxious perusal of his body be damned.
“Hey, that’s not why I was giving you privacy. No, they aren’t easy to look at, but they’re a testament to your strength and bravery,” I remind him. “I hope to God you’re never used as a canvas like this again, but they aren’t the reason I…” I trail off, recognizing I’m about to say too much.
Zeke is already struggling with being here and having to rely on me. The absolute last thing I want is to make him uncomfortable with my attraction to him, on top of everything else he’s dealing with. Not to mention, I’m still coming to terms with it myself. I need to be extremely careful to ensure my feelings aren’t wrapped up in some savior complex.
“The reason you what?” he asks, obviously not wanting to let me off the hook.
“The reason I didn’t barge in this time.”
Zeke leans against the doorframe, bringing his face within six inches of mine.
“Whatisthe reason you didn’t barge in?” When I stay silent, he continues. “Mycomfort-level has nothing to do with my state of undress, Talon…but, maybe yours does?”
“I’m not the one who’s half-naked,” I point out, making him smile.
“No, I mean maybeyou’reuncomfortable becauseI’mhalf-naked.”
I swallow hard.
“I’m…um…I’m not…uncomfortable,” I stammer as my eyes dart back and forth between his, my breathing growing labored.
“If you say so,” he says quietly, pulling the shirt from my hands.
I really have to watch myself. With every laugh we share, meal we eat together, movie we watch, I feel myself crave more of him. But he hasn’t had enough time tohimselfyet. Asking him to share himself with me already is so fucking selfish.
By noon,I’m starving.
Good thing I own an entire restaurant at the top of this mountain.
I silently laugh at myself for how eager I am to see Zeke when I step off the gondola. His shy grin mirrors my own as I make my way toward him.
“Have you eaten?” I ask as I approach the host stand.
He shakes his head. “It’s been busy.”
I would crack a joke about making eating mandatory or playfully threaten to fire him if he doesn’t take his breaks, but I’m always acutely aware that Derek ruined playful threats as an option.
“Will you eat now? With me?” I ask. “You know Rebecca will cover.”
“Talon, now that people know who you really are, don’t you think they’ll find it odd that we’re eating together?” he asks.
“I’m starting to not care about that at all.Please?” I ask again.
“Okay, but I’m eating off the employeemenu.”
I scowl. “You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Hastings.”
