AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’d like to take you home to Idaho as soon as possible, get you out of isolation. I’d like to stay with you, if you don’t mind.”
My face crumples with emotion. “I would like that.” It’s exactly what I need, to be surrounded by the people I love. “But, how can you...”
“I’ll work it out. I’ll stay with you for as long as you need me.”
“That would be forever.”
“Done,” he says, his eyes intense.
I look down at my lap. A burst of happiness rushes through me. The sensation feels foreign, but very welcome. All I had to do was reach out. Help has always been there, waiting in the wings.
He hasn’t moved from his chair or tried to approach me. “You’re very far away.” I long for physical comfort.
“If I move closer, we won’t be talking anymore. And I know we need to talk right now.”
I swallow and I’m pretty sure he hears it from across the table. “We do. I have so many questions.”
“Ask them. Ask them all. I’ll tell you everything.”
I love those words. “But you didn’t tell me anything about what was happening in your life. It was all a surprise to me.”
“I’m used to keeping my dealings with Martel Investments secret. I’ve had to for quite some time. It was imperative that I do so. It’s a hard habit to break.”
“Do I know you, Zane? Who are you? The funny and casual man who loves to wear jeans and t-shirts and dance while he cooks? Or are you the stone-faced businessman who wears fancy suits?”
“Can I be both?”
“If that’s who you are.”
“That’s who I am.”
“And are you a man who wants to steal your brother’s girl? Just to win? To spite him?”
“Do you think that’s who I am?”
“No. It never felt like that.”
“Trust your instincts. I promise, I don’t play games when it comes to love. I would never do that to you.”
“Is this love?” I ask, even though he’s already told me he loves me twice. I want to hear it again, need to hear it again. And again and again.
“Are you ready to hear that answer? Because I won’t hold back anything.”
My heart starts to hurt because it’s pounding so hard. I’m not sure what he means, but I think it means he has a lot more to say to me.
“Okay, we’ll get back to that question. Tell me this, why didn’t you say anything to me that night in Ryker’s apartment? You wouldn’t talk to me. I mean, now that I know everything that was revealed with your father’s video, I understand why you couldn’t say what was going on. But the rest... I don’t understand.”
“I realize how that must’ve looked to you and I’m sorry. I was so worried we weren’t strong enough to survive Ryker’s antics. The look on your face, the uncertainty from Ryker’s accusations, it killed me.”
“I just needed reassurance. I would’ve believed anything you said in that moment.”
I swear his eyes glitter at me. “Thank you for that,” he says in a raspy whisper. He leans forward. “You know what? The last thing I want to do right now is talk. I wanna kiss you senseless.”
There’s the Zane I know, saying the things I love to hear in his own way. I want his kiss, and his touch too. But he was right the first time. Once we start kissing, we won’t be able to stop long enough to have a discussion. There are things I need to know before I can give myself to him in that manner.
“Talk first,” I remind him.
He sits back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest, a picture of restraint. “Of course,” he says in his business tone. “The thing is, I couldn’t explain in front of Ryker. Anything I said would’ve been twisted around and thrown right back at me. Over the years, I’ve learned to respond with silence to Debra and Ryker. It’s my way. It takes two to fight, and if I back away, the fun is over for them. Instead, I listen and learn as they reveal more than they realize. Every time.”
