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“He tells me pretty much everything.” He arched a brow. “Although he glosses over some details.”
“That’s a relief.” She smiled, then let it fall. This wasn’t the time for glib comments or belittling what she’d done, even if the reasons she’d done it were selfless ones.
“Breaking things off with Zane was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. The fear of dying, the surgery, the agonizing recovery, and the constant anxiety I live with every day that my transplanted heart might fail without notice all pale when I think of the pain I caused him.” She gripped Calum’s biceps and held his steady gaze. “He’s the love of my life, and if I have a defense, it’s that I did what I thought was best for Zane. Because it wasn’t best for me, that’s for sure.” She let out a bitter laugh.
“It can’t have been easy, and I’m not going to disrespect you by saying that what you did was wrong, or isn’t what I would have done, because I’m not you, and I didn’t have to make those decisions.”
“But you disagree?”
He twisted his lips to one side. “Like I said, I wasn’t in your shoes. But I will say this. To me, Zane always seemed happy. With Necron. With Brie.”
Lori winced, and Calum noticed, acknowledging her anguish with a curt nod. “But the Zane that’s chatting to my girlfriend and, in all likelihood, plotting my painful demise, and the Zane I grew into adulthood with, are two very different men.”
She canted her head. “How so?”
“It’s hard to find the words to explain, but he’s… almost euphoric. He walks around the office as if he’s floating on a cloud, and he wears this permanent secretive smile, like he’s won the lottery but is determined to keep the news to himself. He’s always had a sunny personality. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that. But it’s like the lights have been turned up to full blast, and his happiness is blinding.”
“And you think that’s because we’re back together?”
“I know that’s the reason. Which is why I’m only going to say one thing and then I’ll never mention it again: don’t hurt him. Not ever. Because if you do, I swear, you will live to regret it.” He paused for a beat and then hit her with a dazzling smile. “Lecture over. Zane is family, and now you’re family.” He clasped her face and kissed her on the forehead. “Welcome to the madhouse.”
She swallowed, a groundswell of relief loosening the knot in her stomach. “I hear you, and I promise never to hurt him. And thank you. For looking after him when I couldn’t.”
Calum winked, or at least she thought he did. “It’s been a thankless task, but someone had to do it.”
CHAPTER 17
The bronze and golds of fall morphed into bare branches on trees, and the crunch of snow underfoot that signaled winter had well and truly arrived. Lori moved through each day in a kind of utopia, snatching moments of time in her hectic work schedule to reflect on the perfect life she’d somehow created.
And it was all down to Zane. Wonderful, amazing, perfect Zane who had revived her faith in hopes and dreams and given her a multitude of reasons each day to grasp all that life had to offer.
Despite Dayton’s excessive and ever-growing list of demands, they’d committed to carving out time for each other, ensuring they blocked out one weekend day where they’d do little other than laze around at either her place or his, too exhausted to do much of anything. Apart from sex. They kept enough energy in reserve to quench their appetite for each other. Their hunger was never truly sated, but they gave it a damn good try.
But this weekend, they had both Saturday and Sunday where nothing work related was calling to them, and Lori planned to make the most of it. While cold, the weather was crisp and dry, the sky a brilliant blue. The perfect day to get out into the fresh air and blow away the cobwebs of another long week. She adored working for Dayton, but heck, he took demanding to a whole other level. She was learning so much just from being around his business and watching the way he handled a multitude of priorities, spinning plates without dropping a single one. And Zane felt the same. It made the five a.m. starts, long days, and bleary-eyed, late-night conference calls worth every ounce of bone-weary exhaustion.
A knock at the door sent her into a flurry, her stomach somersaulting in a mixture of excitement and anticipation. She opened it, flinging her arms around Zane’s neck and hooking her legs over his hips. He caught her, supporting her ass with his large hands.
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
“That’s a welcome and a half,” Zane murmured, bending to capture her lips. “If this is what an entire weekend off does for you, I shall demand more of them.”
“I’ve got the whole big thing planned.” She slid to the floor, brushing his dick on the way down.
“Rub my dick with your pussy like that, Miss James, and the only big thing you’re going to see for the next two days is what’s in my jeans.”
“No.” She wagged her finger in front of his face. “I am not letting you distract me with your sexy talk. Have you eaten?”
“I have.”
“Good. Because we’ve got a lot to pack in.”
“Am I worthy of bringing up to speed with your plans?”
“Well…” She nibbled on her thumbnail. “I want to play tourist.”
“Tourist?” He frowned. “You were born here.”
“I know that. But I was away for so long, and since coming back, I’ve been so busy. I know we went on that boat trip on our first date, but since then, we haven’t had time to explore. I love New York, and I love you. And I want to rediscover the city with you by my side.”
