Why would a middle-school boy live with his grandparents in a small town like Wishing? That usually meant problems at home. Either he’d been in trouble and his parents wanted to put distance between him and bad influences or Zane wanted to get away from his parents.
If she didn’t ask now, she might never get the chance again. Unable to resist, she said.
“Now it’s my turn to ask a question.”
“Be gentle with me.”
Oh, goodness. Zane’s husky voice wrapped around her. Her breath quickened and her heart fluttered at the images his words brought to mind, starting with her exploring his firm body. Gently, of course to start, but she doubted her need would let her remain that way.
Snap out of it. He’s the wrong man for multiple reasons.
She needed to say something. Should she fire off a snappy comeback? Something like she could be as gentle as he wanted, or should she ignore his double entendre? Deciding on the wiser, safer action, she said, “Here’s my question. Why did you move in with your grandparents?
His eyes darkened and his right eye twitched. “Ask something else.”
She’d hadn’t expected to hit a nerve. Not when he talked so often and fondly about his life with his grandparents on the Lucky Stars. She considered dropping the subject, but he’d asked her a tough question and she hadn’t backed down. “That wasn’t our deal.”
“You’re right. Okay, here’s what happened. My parents were getting divorced. They said they couldn’t work out a custody agreement. They told me to choose who got primary custody.”
“But you couldn’t because you didn’t want to hurt one of them?”
He shook his head. “I asked to live with my grandparents because neither of my parents wanted me.”
Despite his flat, matter-of-fact tone, McKenna gasped, and a heaviness settled in her chest. What? He had to be mistaken. They couldn’t have been so cruel. “They said that?”
“No. They told me them both wanting me was the problem, but I’d heard them arguing the night before. I knew the truth. They both wanted to move on with new lives.”
And Zane was a constant reminder of their past.
Her hand covered his icy one, but he jerked away. “They didn’t deserve you. Some people shouldn’t raise a puppy, much less a child.”
He shrugged. “I survived and got over it.”
McKenna envisioned a younger Zane, listening to his parents’ explanation, knowing they were lying about them wanting him. Knowing it was the opposite. A vise squeezed her heart for the child he’d been. The one who’d been crushed and changed forever by his parents’ cruelty. No wonder she’d glimpsed an old soul in him.
In middle school she’d been awkward and unsure, growing up, but not really understanding how to handle her emotional and physical changes. What would she have done? How would discovering her parents wanted to dump her to move on with their lives have affected her?
Many of Zane’s actions made sense now. His flip answers and diverting serious questions. His distrust and reluctance to let anyone really know him and see who he was. Awareness bolted through her with sharp clarity. She recognized Zane’s behavior because she’d done the same thing. Not because her parents hadn’t wanted her, but because her mother taught her distrust along with her rules.
And yet Zane had let her see who he was when they’d been locked in the chief’s office and more tonight.
How had she earned that incredible honor after all she’d said and how hard she’d been on him? Her heart expanded as emotions swirled inside her. She’d never admired a man more. Warmth spread through her. She wished she could blame the feeling on the champagne, but she couldn’t. She felt this way because of Zane. She’d never felt this drawn, this close to a man. She’d never wanted a man the way she desired Zane. Intensely, completely, enough to overlook all the reasons he was wrong for her.
Had she fallen in love with Zane?
No, she couldn’t have. Could she? If one day she fell in love, she believed it would be with man who shared her interests. Someone average and sturdy with a sensible career, not someone unpredictable and attractive enough to make Hollywood agents fight over him.
She drank the last of her champagne and placed the flute on the table in front of her. The tap of the crystal against the wooden table sounding incredibly loud. And final.
“It’s been a long weekend. We should leave and go to bed.”
He grinned and her heart turned over, making her regret her words. “Is that an offer?”
She paused. All her life she’d followed the rules. She’d chosen the smart path and made sensible choices. What harm would it do to give in to her desire this once if she knew nothing could come from tonight? One reason being, he’d return to California and she’d remain here. She clasped her hands on her lap to keep them from trembling and met his gaze. Desire for her shone in his enticing green eyes.
She licked her lips. “What if it is an invitation?”
Zane shoved away from the table, closed the distance between them, and pulled her into his arms. His lips covered hers, strong and insistent. Her hands clutched his lapels as longing coursed through her, setting off a firestorm.
