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I suppose the couch would be the safest place for him. “I’m really sorry, Zack. Wait right here and I’ll get you a pillow and some blankets.” I push on his shoulders, so he sits, and I go get what I need. Two seconds later when I return, he’s sound asleep.
I gently lift his head, arrange the pillow and wrap him up in a blanket. Now if I can fall asleep as fast as he just did then I’ll be a happy girl. I shuffle back to my room, jam a chair under the door handle—hey, it works in the movies—and jump in bed. I never had a reason to lock my bedroom door until tonight. I hunker underneath my covers and pray for this night to be over.
I’m jolted awake by some awful noise.
What the hell?
It takes me a minute or two to remember what happened last night. Zack invaded my space.
Banging.
Yelling.
Voices.
Really loud ones to be exact.
My mind and ears must be playing tricks on me right now because that one sounded just like Zane. Is he here?
I fling open my bedroom door and there’s a fucking brawl going on in my living room between Zane and Zack. What’s their problem and why do they always fight when they run into each other? I pry myself in between them and shove Zane in the chest. A lot of good that does, he’s a solid brick wall. “Knock it off before someone calls the police! Zane, what the hell are you doing here?” I grab his arm while they sling obscenities at one another.
“I was just going to ask you the same thing. What the fuck is he doing here?” Zane points a finger in Zack’s chest and the two try and go at it again.
“Knock it off,” I shout. “Zane, go sit on the couch. Zack, sit in the chair. If you don’t listen to me then I’ll personally call the police myself.” Finally, they break apart and reluctantly sit in their assigned spots. I stand in the middle of the room because I don’t want it to look like I’m taking sides. A groan escapes me when I realize I’m still wearing my panties and my sleep shirt. Zane is scrutinizing every inch of me, while Zack appears unimpressed. Apparently, he’s used to seeing women in their underwear and Zane is not. Or Zane just wants something he can’t have.
“Zane, why are you here?” I attempt to cover my chest with my arms because, well, the girls are quite perky this morning. Either that or they are very happy to see him again.
“Truth is I didn’t like the way things ended yesterday. I wanted to take you to breakfast so we could talk.”
“What the fuck?” Zack looks at the both of us. “Did the two of you spend Thanksgiving together?” I suddenly want to leave the room and let the two of them just kill one another.
“What is it about you two? Why do you hate each other so much?”
“He’s my brother,” they both spit out in unison.
Now that explains it. I remember Zack mentioning something about being nervous going to the afterparty. Someone was going to be there that didn’t like him very much. Now I know it had to be Zane. I must have been blind not to see it sooner. They hate one another for reasons unbeknownst to me.
“I think the both of you should leave. How I got stuck in the middle of this is beyond me but believe me when I say I don’t need it and I don’t want it. I can’t even save myself, so how the hell am I supposed to help the both of you?”
CHAPTER 13
ZANE
It’s been a week since I went to Lili’s. It wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done but I needed to see her. I hated how she walked out on Thanksgiving and I let her go. She’s crept beneath my skin and I just can’t stop thinking about her. No matter what I do, she’s always there with me in the back of my mind.
Zack wouldn’t come clean about why he was there that day. And the last thing I wanted to do was have a pissing match in front of her building. Besides, as I was getting into my car, a limo pulled up and whisked him away. Fuck if I know what the hell that was all about, and since no one’s talking to me, I never will.
I don’t think they slept together but I can’t be one-hundred percent sure. It was just odd that he happened to be there the same day she stormed out of my house. There’s no sense dwelling on it.
Being at Club Syn used to be what I lived for. What I was most passionate about. Now, I want to sulk at home like a little schoolboy who had his favorite toy taken away from him. It angers me how one woman could have such a hold on me, when we only shared two fucking kisses. Although, our last make-out session was very memorable. There’s no doubt in my mind that Lili wants me, I just want to prove to her how much. And why we would be so good together.
I’ve been desperately trying to concentrate on spreadsheets, orders, and all the tasks I need to complete for month’s end. And just when I’m finally focused and making some leeway, the phone rings. My office phone. I wait a beat to see if someone else from the front end will pick up, but of course that doesn’t happen.
“Club Syn, how can I direct your call?” Professional and straight to the point.
“Yes, I’d like to speak to Zane Sinclair, please.” Hmm, voice doesn’t sound familiar.
“Speaking. How can I help you?”
