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After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded and headed toward the doorway. Just as he started to leave, he
slapped his hand on the frame and muttered a curse.
“Is it always going to be this push-pull between us?” he asked, throwing a glance over his shoulder. “Because I don’t want you hurt. You have to know that everything I’m doing, I’m doing to protect you. I won’t hurt you again, Sophie. It would kill me. I know you said this doesn’t have to be anything more than what we desire, but that’s not fair to you. I won’t be that man to you.”
She said nothing. What could she say? She’d never heard such vulnerability in his tone before, let alone heard him utter such heartfelt words.
She didn’t get to respond. Zach was gone and the front door chimed as he exited the office building. Easing back, she sat on the edge of her desk and stared at the doorway where he’d just been.
In the span of thirty minutes, so much had happened. Zach had opened up more than ever before, revealing that he truly did want her. Between the house going on the market, the untimely call from his neighbor, and Zach’s comments on her sketches, Sophie really didn’t know how to process all of this.
She did know one thing, though. She was done making this situation between her and Zach so complicated. It didn’t have to be that way. They didn’t have to be that way.
Now he could either listen to her or he could truly be alone, because he had one more shot.
Chapter Thirteen
If he were a drinker, tonight would be one of those nights Zach could get lost in the bottle.
But the bottle was what got him into this damn mess to begin with.
Zach fed the baby puppy, noticing the little guy was finally bulking up. He needed to take them into the vet’s office for an official checkup and to get shots scheduled. That would be time away from work, but these fur balls had no one else, and he couldn’t just abandon them. He knew what that felt like all too well.
Great. Now not only was he angry with himself over Sophie, he was equating himself to a stray dog. He was definitely sleep-deprived.
He had no desire to do anything but crawl into bed. Wow, it wasn’t even eight o’clock yet. Wasn’t he just a party animal?
Zach squatted down and played with the pups. One nipped at his wrist with those sharp baby teeth, another tugged on the shoelaces of his boots, while another tripped over the other boot and squatted to pee.
“Seriously? I just let you guys out and you piss on my boot?”
He stood up and glanced at the mom in the corner. She looked back at him as if to say I can’t control them.
After Zach cleaned up the mess, washed his hands, and put out fresh water for the urinaters, he climbed over the child gate and figured he’d try to find something for dinner.
Nothing appealed to him, so he opted to make a list of materials he’d need Macy to order for him for the immediate bathroom remodel. He needed to run by her store anyway and apologize for his asshole brother interrupting the other night, and tell her he had some new ideas for her house.
Just as he’d settled onto his couch with pen and paper, someone knocked on his door. And not just a knock, but a pounding, like it was urgent.
Oh no. No, no, no. If this was Ms. Barkley again, he was seriously going to have to just be rude. There was no other way he knew to manage her.
Gearing up for a confrontation, and practicing a speech in his head, Zach flicked the lock and jerked the door open . . . and his guest wasn’t his annoying neighbor.
Sophie stood on his porch, her eyes wide, her hand over her chest. “I wasn’t expecting such a rough greeting.”
“I wasn’t expecting an FBI knock.” Zach’s shoulders relaxed as he gripped the door. “What are you doing here, Sophie?”
Seeing her over and over was both a blessing and a curse. It hurt to look at her, but he’d die if he had to go without seeing her.
“I-I’m not sure now.” On a soft exhale, she closed her eyes. “I was fine until you opened this door.”
Confused, Zach opened the door wider, reached out to take her hand, and eased her inside before closing the door behind her.
“You were fine before I opened the door,” he repeated. “So tell me why you came and why you look terrified now.”
Those bright eyes came up to meet his as she shoved her hair away from her face. “I talked myself into coming here and seducing you, and I wasn’t taking no for an answer. I wasn’t going to beg, but you admitted that you want me. This doesn’t have to be any more than what it is.”
Her words registered quickly and Zach had to take a second and really think, because they were teetering on the point of no return.
