Page 46 of Dark Memories
“Maybe they do.”
A low growl would sound from deep in his throat then, and setting down the razor, he would put his hands on her knees, push her legs apart, and invade her space. She would retaliate by tugging off his towel.
He’d always put his mouth at her ear and whisper, “Let the games begin.”
And that was what shaving time had evolved into over the months they’d been together, a sexual game between two people who hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other. God, she missed those days. Missed him.
“Zach,” she whispered against his lips before she could stop herself from revealing too much. Because if he was listening, he would have heard all the feelings she’d just poured into his name. And he was always listening to her.
“I know, Laney. I know.”
Tears burned her eyes. No one had ever shortened her name to Laney but him, and the longing for days lost was too much. She moved away from him. “I can’t do this.”
He reached for her hand, stopping her before she fled. “You can, but you’re not ready yet. That’s okay. I’ll wait.” His fingers tightened around hers. “I’ll always wait for you, Delaney.”
“You didn’t when it counted,” she slung at him before she could stop the words from tumbling out of her mouth. She blew out a breath, trying to ground herself. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.” It was. A child was more important than her hopes and dreams had been. But she was confused. She didn’t want her feelings for Zach resurrected. Yet, she wanted his every touch, all his kisses, and anything else he offered. Did that make her weak? Or a fool? She refused to be either of those things.
“Delaney, stop it.” He stood and put his arms around her, drawing her against his chest. “Stop doubting yourself or me.”
“It’s not that easy.” She stepped back. “Don’t kiss me again.”
“I feel compelled to point out that you kissed me this time… which you are welcome to do again whenever you wish.”
“You made me.” She somehow managed to resist stomping her foot. There was no doubt about it now. She’d spent too much time with a seven-year-old and had regressed to kiddo age. And damn his wicked grin, the one that had her toes curling.
“Mind sharing how I did that so I can do it again?”
“Stop it. I’m trying to be mad at you.”
“And how’s that working for you?”
She might stomp her foot after all. “It would work better if you’d stop smirking.” This was what she’d always loved, this sparring with him, both giving as good as they got. She’d missed that as much as she’d missed everything else about him. He made her feel alive.
“If I stop smirking, will you kiss me again?”
“You’re impossible.” She walked out of his office to the sound of his chuckle, and the moment her back was turned and he couldn’t see, she grinned. Maybe she would kiss him again. She hadn’t decided.
Zach’s amusement faded as he picked his cell phone up from the desk. Damn, he did not want to call Cinda. Letting out a sigh, he punched in her number.
“What’s wrong?” she said on answering. “You only call if there’s a problem. Is Kali sick?”
“No, she’s fine.” Physically, anyway. “How would you like a week’s vacation in Milan?” Where she would spend a small fortune shopping.
Crickets.
“Cinda?”
“I need to have my hearing checked. I could have sworn you just offered me a vacation in my favorite city. Are you sick? You must be running a fever and now you’re delirious and don’t know what you’re doing.”
Zach rolled his eyes. “No one’s sick. But there is a situation. Kali was kidnapped, and—”
“What!”
He held the phone away from his ear, then put it on speaker so she wouldn’t break his eardrum the next time she screeched. “She’s fine. Just calm down and listen, okay?”
“You tell me my daughter was kidnapped, and you expect me to calm down?”
“Ourdaughter, Cinda.”The one you hardly bother to see. “She’s fine, but the police haven’t caught the bastard yet. I want her someplace safe until they find him. Take Kali to Milan, show her all your favorite places. While you’re buying things for yourself, do some shopping for Kali. Let her choose her own clothes.”
