Page 31 of Defeated

I need to remember the reason I’m here. To pack up Colton’s apartment and deal with any troublesome shifters. Not to kiss a beautiful woman in the street.

The best I can do for me, for Zoe, for everyone, is keep things distant between us. She’s not interested in me, and I’m not interested in her.

My wolf’s amused snort fills my head.

Probably because he knows exactly what effect Zoe is having on me.

“We should get inside before those shifters come back,” I say, leading the way back into the house.

After a moment, I hear Zoe’s soft treads follow.

I head for the kitchen, park my ass on the edge of the counter, arms folded, spine stiff, and tell myself to focus on what’s important. Keeping Zoe safe, not wondering when I can kiss her again.

Zoe stands on the other side of the dining table, as if she needs a barrier between us, also crossing her arms.

“You kissed me,” she repeats, sounding a lot firmer than before. But not angry.

I nod.

Her eyes narrow as she cocks her head. “I thought you were in the habit of running away from women.”

So did I.

“It was to protect you.” The words sound so ridiculous I almost laugh. If Penny was here, she’d be rolling around laughing.

A faint glimmer of amusement flashes across Zoe’s deep brown eyes. “Right.”

We study each other in silence.

She clears her throat. “You’re taller than I am.”

Where is she going with this?

“So?” I prompt.

“All you needed to do is step in front of me.”

“Yes,” I agree.

“So, technically, I’m not sure you needed to kiss me at all.”

I know all that.

And I think that’s all I’d intended to do.

I’m not sure what made me follow Zoe outside, but I’d suddenly thought something could be wrong. My instincts had been right.

I’d stepped outside, clocked the two shifters idling at the end of the street, and immediately moved to hide Zoe from them. The second she was in my arms, I’d known I would kiss her.

And I know, without a doubt, that if she finds her way into my arms, I’ll kiss her again.

“That’s true,” I agree.

What else can I say?

I’m almost disappointed Penny isn’t here. She’s never hidden her desire to pair everyone together. If she thought for a second I might like Zoe, she’d be doing everything humanly possible to shove us together, including locking us in a room.

I’d make a token complaint, but I wouldn’t be as unhappy as I should be about being locked in a room with Zoe.

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