Page 68 of Rescued Duty

His breath tickled her skin, and Naya cocked her head and wrapped her hand around his neck.

She sealed her lips on his and he deepened the kiss.

Naya never wanted to leave. She wanted to stay in this moment where they would choose to fight for each other.

She eased back to catch her breath, and a smile captured Zack’s face.

“Well, that was one way to clear the air.” She swallowed. For the first time in a while, Naya couldn’t breathe for all the right reasons.

Zack stepped back and cleared his throat. The space between them left Naya cold and missing his sturdy frame wrapped around hers. “What did you have to tell me?”

“Why don’t we head back to my place, and I’ll give you the rundown.”

Zack followed behind her car in his white rental sedan. Ten minutes later they pulled into her driveway.

Naya unlocked the door, and paint fumes still hung in the air. “Sorry about the smell.” She dropped her keys on the entryway table. “Guess I haven’t aired it out enough yet.”

Zack peeked into the office space they’d worked on the other day. “The new color looks good.”

“It should be all finished by next week.” The DIY had turned into a fun hobby. Gave her something to do when she wasn’t working. Although, except for right now, when wasn’t she working?

Naya opened the fridge and wrinkled her nose. The smell of rotten eggs was prominent. She’d just gotten groceries a few days ago. Surely they wouldn’t have gone bad already. She’d have to inspect them later.

Naya pulled out a tray of mac and cheese and grabbed two bowls from the cupboard. She heated each one up in the microwave.

“Here you go.” She set the bowl down and handed Zack a fork.

“This looks amazing.” He took a bite. “And certainly not a box mix.”

She chuckled. “Homemade. I make a pan of something on the weekends so I don’t have to cook every night after work.”

“I could eat this every day.” The stringy cheese dangled from his fork. “My mom used to make it from a box, and we’d eat it straight out of the pot.” He smiled. “A Friday night tradition before watching a movie.”

“Do you ever feel like you’re going to forget your parents?” Naya frowned.

Zack set his fork down. “That’s why I think about the good moments whenever I can. Helps me remember life with them. Then they’ll always be in here.” He placed a hand on his chest.

Naya finished chewing. “The festival reminded me of a time like that too.”

“How so?”

“We had what’s called akanaval—it’s Haitian for ‘carnival.’ My dad would take Dominic and me. We’d dance to the music and marvel at all the crafts people had for sale. We always had to get a beignet too.” She laughed. “It’s a crepe-like dessert made with bananas. By the time the sugar set in, my dad probably wished he’d had my brother and me split one.”

“See, they’ll always live on. No matter how much time passes.” Zack reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

Naya wanted to make more memories to treasure.

This time with Zack.

She wanted to admit how scared she’d been about losing him today. Naya swallowed. If she did, he might vanish again. No, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She smiled, then pulled her hand away.

“Your parents’ story deserves to be told. So you can move on and remember only the good times.” She slid her notebook over to Zack. “That’s what I was coming to tell you when the truck went out of control.” She sighed. “I think your parents’ deaths are connected to my water contamination story.”

“Why do you say that?” Zack grabbed a napkin from the holder on the table.

“Remember how you said your dad got a new boss and office? Well, ProEco Plant, the company he originally worked for was bought out. By Ethos.”

Zack’s hand froze. “Interesting.”

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