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A few of the lights had been turned off, and I thought it was strange he hadn’t said goodnight.
“You’re being ridiculous, Sadie,” I hummed to myself as I washed my hands. “Everything’s fine. You’ll be fine.”
“Hey, there.” Zack’s gruff voice wrapped around me like a comforting embrace, and the tension nearly vanished. “You okay?”
I turned around slowly, drying off my hands, and smiled. “Actually, no. I wouldn’t say I’m doing great. It feels like every nerve in my body is on high alert. I can’t even get my shoulders to relax. My mind can’t stop racing. I’m even conjuring up crazy thoughts about Melanie and her involvement in some abstract way. So, no… I think I have to admit I’m not okay.”
Tenderness weaved through Zack’s expression as he raised both hands and slowly ran them over my arms. “It’s okay to not be okay.”
“You always know the right things to say, Zack.”
He winked at me, and the familiar flutter of anticipation flew through me. “Not always, or you’d still be mine.”
“I really appreciate everything you and your brother have done for me. I didn’t mean to add this complication. I thought Carmella was enough.”
“She’s more than enough,” Zack agreed, slowly sliding his hands along my arms to my back. “But you have nothing to apologize for.”
He took a step forward, closing the space between us. My body hummed with the pull to Zack I always felt as I looked into his eyes.
“I still love you, Zack.” My confession took me by surprise.
A flitter of heat ran through his gaze. “I’ve never stopped loving you, but I’m sure you know that.”
My heart hammered in my chest as his lips hovered near mine. “I’m just so sorry I can’t move on from my past. I’m sorry I’ve hurt you and made promises I can’t keep.”
“I told you that you never have to apologize to me, and I mean it.” Zack shook his head. “You’ve never made me a promise you couldn’t keep, Sadie. I’m the one who couldn’t keep my promises. I wasn’t there for you enough.”
I shook my head, hating that he carried guilt for how things had worked out between us. “You were always open with me. I knew from the beginning that your job took you away for long stretches. I didn’t expect my mind to betray me. I thought I was strong enough to be… alone.”
And that alone scared me for my future. Carmella would get out of jail.
Which was why I had my plan.
To land in a place where no one could ever find me.
The idea pressed heavily on me as I looked into Zack’s beautiful eyes.
“Let’s just get through this without any promises but with hope.” His voice lowered. “And don’t forget about your dreams, Sadie. Even if I’m not your partner, I’d love to help you fulfill them.”
His words sank deep into my soul, and the heat of need pummeled through me as I leaned against him, feeling the strength behind the man.
“Thank you, Zack,” I whispered, running my hands along his arms.
His mammoth size towered over me and made me feel protected, and most of all, heard.
Zack’s eyes dropped to my lips, and I felt warmth pool in my belly, sinking deeper with every passing second.
Right when I was going to ask him to kiss me, his mouth came down to mine, and he pulled my body into his as tightly as possible.
He let out a low growl of need as my lips parted, and I felt his tongue slide against mine. The way his hand curled through my hair while his other softly slid along my neck made me wish for so much more.
“Sadie, you taste even better than I remember,” he whispered between kisses.
His mouth stayed over mine, and I couldn’t push away how right things felt in his arms. It was like nothing else mattered, as if the world were right again.
I tugged on his shirt, and he smiled against my mouth as my hand skittered underneath the fabric. His chiseled physique felt warm but solid like he always had.
Without thinking, I pulled away and broke our kiss as his eyes fluttered open.
