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The violent man from the first night I’d met him was back.
I was nearly to the third floor when Joni said, “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Well, I do,” Zip rasped.
I paused mid-step, knowing the right thing to do would be to turn around and go downstairs to give them privacy. Or interrupt them by continuing my ascent.
I didn’t do either.
Instead, I decided to stop where I was and eavesdrop like a reality TV drama addict.
“You can’t go on a date with that doctor,” Zip stated.
Joni snorted in dry amusement. “You can’t tell me what to do. You can’t tell me who to date.”
“I’m not telling you who to date. I’m telling you whonotto date.”
“Why do you even care?” she demanded.
Apparently Zip didn’t appreciate her sass because he said, “Last night in your apartment you threw yourself at me.”
She gasped.
“You not only threw yourself at me, you took off your shirt and pressed your tits against me.” His voice was a low, sexy growl.
Joni didn’t reply.
“You pressed your tits against me and then you ground your body against mine.”
“Yeah,” she said, suddenly sounding tired. “And being the gentleman that you are, you didn’t even touch me.”
“Babe—”
“Which is why I’m going on a date with that doctor. You don’t see me, Zip. You’ve never seen me. And every time I put myself out there, you reject me. There’s only so much of that I can take, you know?”
“It’s complicated. Colt’s my president. My best friend. You’re his little sister.”
“It’s not complicated. Actually it’s really simple. You don’t want me enough to risk Colt’s wrath. To risk what it will do to your friendship.”
“Darlin’—Joni—please.”
She sighed. “Leave me alone, Zip. I’m begging you to leave me alone. Give me a chance to be happy with someone else. All right?”
For a moment I wasn’t sure he’d answer her and then he said softly—so softly I almost didn’t hear him, “All right.”
The disappointment in the air was palpable. I heard Zip’s heavy booted footsteps coming toward the staircase and I immediately began hiking up the stairs again, hoping that when I ran into Zip I could play off that I was just coming up now.
He turned the corner and came down two steps before stopping. “Mia,” he said, surprise coloring his voice. “What are you doing up here?”
Blazes of color trailed up his neck.
Anger? Embarrassment?
I forced a small smile. “Hey. We just got back. Colt’s in the office.”
He nodded. We moved past each other on the stairs and when he was on the second floor landing, said, “I’m sorry about your house.”
My throat tightened with emotion. “Thank you.”
