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Istood under the spray of water and closed my eyes. Images of the night before flashed through my mind and I felt myself smile. I’d been on dates before, but nothing could compare to my evening with Zach. He’d thought of everything, from the flowers and the food, to the blanket and even the fishing. I’d told him once that I’d never fished before and not only had he remembered that, he planned a way to give me that experience.

That right there was what got to me the most. The thought and consideration he had put into the planning of our date. It made me feel special, like I was as important to him as he was becoming to me. The way he’d felt in my arms, the expression on his face as he came in my hand, it was all absolutely perfect, and I couldn’t wait to do it all over again.

Over the last few weeks, I’d gotten to know Zach better and I felt myself falling for him. The night before, there had been a definite shift in our relationship and I knew that I wasn’t falling anymore, I’d already fallen as deep as any man could go. I was completely and totally in love with him. And it didn’t matter that I didn’t know his name for sure or that he hadn’t told me everything about himself. I loved him, the heart and soul of him. I loved the way he laughed and the way he smiled and the smell of his skin and the taste of his lips. I loved his sharp mind and his compassion for animals and other people.

I loved him.

I lowered my head under the spray and sighed, letting the truth of my feelings enter my heart and travel throughout my blood stream until it had filled every cell in my body, down to the marrow of my bones. My head spun with the knowledge and my heart raced, but something deep inside me settled, like finding the final piece to a puzzle.

I switched off the faucets and pulled a towel from the rack to dry myself with. As I stepped out of the bathroom, my phone began to ring with a familiar ring tone, and I hurried into my room, wrapping a towel around my waist. Grabbing my phone off the charger on the table beside my bed, I swiped across the screen.

“Hey, man!” I said, feeling a smile stretch my face.

“What’s up, Jer?” Brandon asked.

“Not much,” I replied. “You? Are you home or on a job?” Brandon had started working for Micah around the same time I had, and we’d quickly become friends. Out of all the men I worked with, I’d have to say that Brandon was my best friend and I’d missed him terribly while I was gone.

“I’m in California actually. Some big-wig Hollywood producer has been making enemies. Apparently, he’s slept with most of the actresses that have worked for him, including the married ones, and now somebody wants him dead,” he explained.

“Sounds interesting,” I said.

“I wish it were,” he moaned. “So far it’s been one boring meeting after another. I’m about ready to take a shot at the guy myself just to liven things up.” I didn’t even try to hide my laugh. Brandon was a great guy and I knew he was only joking.

“You better not. I don’t have time to go there and bail your ass out,” I teased.

“You’d do anything for my ass and you know it,” he purred through the phone.

I barked out a laugh. “You wish,” I shot back. Brandon and I loved each other, but there had never been more between us than brotherly affection.

“So, talk to me,” he said, suddenly sounding very serious. “What’s going on with your assignment? You’ve been gone a long time. Getting any closer?”

I let out a sigh, trying to decide how much to tell him. “To be honest, I really don’t know. I mean, I’m almost positive it’s him; my gut tells me it’s him, but he still hasn’t told me anything that would help me confirm it.”

“Have you tried breaking into his place when he’s not around? Maybe there’ll be something there that’ll clear things up one way or another,” he suggested.

“No!” I shouted before I could stop myself and Brandon grew silent. I clenched my jaw as soon as I realized I’d yelled at my best friend.

I knew that Brandon had only said it because he wanted to help, but I didn’t want to do that. I already felt guilty enough for not telling Zach why I was really there; I didn’t need to add to it by snooping through his personal space. I had always been willing to do whatever it took to follow through on my assignments, no matter who was involved. But with Zach it was different. I still wanted to find out who he was, but I wanted him to be the one to tell me. As ironic as it was, I wanted to keep the trust I’d earned with him.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

“What’s going on, Jer?” Brandon asked seriously. I could hear the worry in his voice.

I pursed my lips and let out a long, slow breath. “He’s a good guy, B. A really good guy, and I just feel bad for lying to him,” I explained.

“Oh my God! You like him, don’t you?” Brandon gasped.

“Yes. I think he’s a nice guy and I don’t want to see him get hurt,” I insisted, bending the truth.

I told myself I wasn’t completely lying to my best friend. Zach was a nice guy and I really didn’t want to see him get hurt by all of this. I knew I hadn’t told him the whole truth though and it felt strange. Brandon and I usually shared everything with each other, but I just wasn’t quite ready to share this yet. It was all still so new, but it was real. Without a doubt, whatever was happening between me and Zach was real.

I heard him sigh through the phone. “I know you better than anyone, Jer, and I know there’s more to this than you’re telling me. Just promise me you’ll be careful, alright?”

“He’s not dangerous, B. I don’t know why Micah wants him found, but I know for sure that he’s not a dangerous criminal,” I assured him.

“I wasn’t talking about being a dangerous criminal. I was talking about him being dangerous to your heart. What happens when he finds out why you’re there? You think he’ll be able to forgive you?” Brandon asked gently. I knew he was only watching out for me and he made a good point, but I didn’t want to think about any of that just yet. Imagining the look of betrayal on Zach’s face when he found out why I was really there made my chest ache and my stomach roil, so I pushed it to the back of my mind to be dealt with at a later time.

“I am being careful. I promise,” I whispered.

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