My lips parted on a shaky exhale, and I nodded.
“Say it,” he demanded gently.
“I’m good,” I whispered.
And then he kissed me.
Soft at first. Testing. Like he didn’t want to spook me. Like he needed me to know I could still pull away. But when I leaned into him, he deepened it, and I let him—let him kiss me and hold me like I was something precious…not breakable, not fragile, butworthyof being held that way.
That alone nearly undid me.
I tilted my chin up and kissed him back, slow and open-mouthed, tasting peach and bourbon and the kind of hunger that had nothing to do with pie. His hand moved from the counter to my hip, pulling my body flush with his. Sighing into the kiss, my hands found the fabric of his shirt, and I flattened my palm over his heart—soaking in his warmth and letting myself imagine what it would feel like to strip everything else away and be even closer.
The thought sent a shiver racing up my spine.
Zane felt it. I knew he did, because he eased up immediately. The kiss gentled, then broke, though he didn’t step back. “Would you be honest with me if I asked you something?”
My stomach fluttered as the words left his mouth. A part of me wanted to say yes without hesitation, because something about Zane made it feel safe to answer. But another part, the part that had learned the hard way what it cost to trust too quickly, curled in on itself.
“I promise I won’t pry,” he added. “Not beyond this. Not unless you want me to. But I need to know, Andi…just this one thing.”
I hesitated, then surrendered with a small nod.
“Are you in trouble?”
The silence that stretched between us wasn’t uncomfortable. It was…patient.
I exhaled slowly. “No,” I said, my voice quiet but filled with certainty. “Not anymore.”
Something in him relaxed, just enough for me to feel it. “Okay,” he whispered. And then he kissed me again—just a soft brush of his mouth over mine. When he pulled back, his thumb stroked gently over my cheek. “You don’t need to hide with me, Andi.” His lips dragged over mine in one last, aching pass before he drew back enough to look at me. “I’m not going to ask for anything you’re not ready to give. Just…don’t lie to yourself about what you do want.” His fingers curled into my side as his forehead fell to mine. “Because I’m not.”
Silence hovered between us. The scent of bourbon-laced peaches lingered in the air, sticky-sweet and intoxicating. I could still taste it on my lips—from the pie or the kiss, I wasn’t sure anymore. My heartbeat slowed, but it thudded deep in my chest like it was ten steps ahead of my brain.
God, I wanted this man—wanted him in ways that felt dangerous and deep and far too soon. But that old voice insidemy head, the one shaped by carefully concealed bruises and apologies that came too late, rose up like a reflex.
My thoughts felt all tangled up, and it didn’t help how he just stood there holding me, like he’d wait forever if I needed him to. He pulled back slightly then, brushing a knuckle under my chin and lifting it until my gaze met his. He didn’t say anything, but there was a silent promise in the way he looked at me.
It’s okay. I’ll wait. Let me earn it.
It made me want to cry and kiss him all over again.
But I didn’t get the chance. He just smiled before backing away and turned as he walked back out into the night. My heart thrummed as I watched him go, arms wrapped around myself to fill the emptiness I felt all too suddenly without him near.
I wasn’t ready to hand my heart over to anyone.
But that man right there?
He made me want to try.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Zane
I fuckin’hate peaches.
But if tasting them off her lips meant she’d forget the bastard who hurt her? I’d gladly share a thousand damn peach pies with her…and ask for seconds.
Chapter Twenty-Five
