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“You heard me today. I can talk about surfing and the water no problem, but when the conversation turns to things that really matter, I can’t think straight. I can’t…speak.”
“You’re worried people won’t think you’re smart enough?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve got intelligence in spades, Zane. I’ve never once thought you weren’t smart. The passion and knowledge you have for the ocean is incredible. SHE is no different. Feel that same intensity, and whatever you have to say will be worth hearing. What youfeelmatters more than what facts you get right. There’s your gut and your heart and if you listen to those, everything up here”—she let go of his hand and touched his temple, brushing away his hair—“will follow beautifully.”
He took her wrist and brought it to his mouth. Her pulse leaped for probably the hundredth time since she’d met him as he dropped a delicate kiss there. When his lips moved to her palm, her hand went limp. If that spot between her thumb and pointer finger cured stress, then that fleshy part of her palmunderher thumb triggered lust.
She knew this because she was suddenly very hungry and very thirsty and it didn’t have anything to do with food.
Also, she was tingly. Everywhere.
His gaze dipped to her chest.
And now he knew about the spot on her hand, too.
“What do you want, Sophie?”
He’d tossed out that loaded question on purpose. She could tell by the twinkle in his eye. But he also looked sincerely interested in knowing something about her that wasn’t connected to her sexual appetite. And didn’t that just make her lose a little bit more of herself to him.
“I, uh…” She slipped her hand back and tucked it under her thigh. “I want to do a good job here in White Strand so I can prove to my boss that I’m capable of more events on my own. But ultimately, I’d like to get into fund-raising. Since I already volunteer with the ACS, I’m thinking I’d like to pursue a full-time position with them.”
“They’d be lucky to have you.” If he looked at her with any more intensity, she’d permanently attach herself to him.
She shrugged and cast her eyes down to the wood floor. “I guess. There are a lot of people out there with more experience than me, though. Better ideas and more—”
“Not more feeling,” he interrupted.
As the girl always overlooked, she felt her spirit soaring at Zane’s compliment.
He lifted her chin and turned her head. All this eye contact was new for her, too.Must be the contacts.
“Ahem.” Bryce cleared is throat. “Sorry to interrupt.”
Sophie pulled back. Bryce and Danny strode into the room, both of them focused solely on her. “Oh, you’re not interrupting.” She stood. “I was just heading back to the kitchen to help Elena.”
“Great, thank you,” Bryce said, looking at her funny.
With a quick nod, she walked away, careful to put one foot in front of the other so she didn’t trip over her own feet. Those three men in one room equaled the ultimate hot guy trifecta. As soon as she turned the corner, she sagged against the wall to give herself a minute to gather her wits before she saw Elena.
“Dude, I knew you liked her, but what the hell was that?”
Sophie didn’t move a muscle. She should hurry into the kitchen, since eavesdropping wasn’t polite, but her feet didn’t get the memo.
“What was what?” Zane said. She’d committed the sound of his voice to memory.
“You guys were making googly eyes at each other.”Bryce.
“And you had her chin in your hand.”Danny.
“Okay, first off, what are you? Ten? Men don’t say googly. And second, I can put my hands wherever I want.”
“Don’t we know it. But since you’ve been notably absent from the party scene, word’s spreading that you’re turning over a new leaf. Getting serious about SHE and things that matter. Getting into Sophie’s pants, or rather under that hot dress, could hurt the progress we’ve made,” Bryce said.
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“No? Don’t toy with her, man. She’s not like the other women you associate with. You’ll break her heart.”
