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Zane’s gaze stayed on the beach. “Actually, you’re the first person I’ve brought here.”
Her stomach flipped, like a fish out of water. He turned and their eyes met. She swore she saw the sea rippling in the depths of opaque blue that kept captivating her.
He was hurting. Deep down, something troubled him, and if he let her, she’d help him. She might have little experience in the way of men, but she’d always been good with strays, and that, she realized, was how he looked. Like he had no home.
Except for maybe this beach.
She waited. If he didn’t want to tell her what was up, she’d let it go. She had no right to ask him. She had a feeling it stemmed from his father, though. Last night she’d done some more research and read about their strained relationship.
He cupped her cheek and she leaned into his touch. Nerves skittered down the back of her neck. A swallow worked its way down his throat.
Oh, how she wanted him to kiss her so she could kiss him back.
“Come on,” he finally said, dropping his hand and jumping out of the car.
Disappointment swamped her. She put her hands on top of the passenger door so she could push off and jump over and out. If he didn’t need to open the door, neither did she.
Only her flip-flop got stuck on the windowsill and—“Oh snap!” Her knee hit the side of the carhard, her arms flailed. She reached for something to gain purchase on before she landed in an embarrassing heap on the ground.
Oomph. She landed against something solid. Warm. And delicious smelling.
“I’ve got you,” Zane said, pulling her body against his before she smacked the dirt.
She clambered up his body until her arms went around his neck, and he held her so her feet were off the ground. She looked up, and the top of her head hit his chin.
“Ow,” he said, his hands loosening their hold on her waist as he gently put her down.
“I’m sorry!” She took a step back. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
He rubbed his jaw and then he laughed. “I may have to rethink my klutz remark.”
The one about his sister being worse. Sophie sighed. Even with all her understanding of neurobiology, her limbs still didn’t always get the right message. “Sorry again.”
“No worries. I’m glad I was here to catch you.” He grabbed the towels out of the backseat and started toward the sand. His steps ate up the pathway, and she had to hurry to keep up.
Which alerted her to pain in her knee. She stopped and bent at the waist to check it out. Bright red, but nothing more.
“You okay?” Zane knelt so they were eye level.
“Yes.” She straightened.
Zane’s fingers pressed along the top of her kneecap left to right, moved down, then continued right to left, leaving no spot untouched. His gentle manner made her legs shake. “It feels okay. Probably just bruised.” He stood.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Turning, he looked over his shoulder and said, “Hop on.”
“On?” Her heart stuttered. He didn’t mean—
“My back. Come on, the water’s calling.”
Her feet didn’t move, a funny thing considering every cell in her body moved at warp speed, making her skin buzz.
“Piggyback? Let’s go, sweetness.”
She blinked herself back down to earth. Wrap her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck? Press her front to his back?Sweetness?This was not her reality.
So she’d better hurry up and take advantage. She put her hand on his shoulder. He dropped a little lower and stretched his arm behind him to help her latch on. Once her bottom sat atop his forearm, he started walking.
