Page 28 of The Last Love Song
When he returned, she was alone, watching him with guarded eyes.
“All set.” He patted the bag of ice. “Should we weigh your catch?” His step slowed as he saw a sign about weigh-ins.
“That’s more for the boaters who are competing.” She slid a hand around his elbow and steered him away from the noise and foot traffic near the scales. “Besides, if the universe grants me only one blue ribbon this month, I’d rather hold out for theAmerica Voiceprize.”
“Who knew you were the superstitious type?”
“Not usually. But I’ve waited a long time for this dream, Zach. I’m not taking any chances.”
Guilt had him by the throat, and tonight’s dinner loomed even more ominous. He should have just let Sam Reyes give Heather the bad news this morning, but he’d wanted to wait aslong as possible, hoping he’d find proof of her dad’s innocence in the town computer system. But his data-analysis program had been running for hours with no luck, or he would have received a notification on his phone. So far he had no lead that might signal good news.
It sucked to think the attraction he felt—an attraction he was damn sure went both ways—would come to such an abrupt end. Before he’d even gotten a taste of her. He knew he’d be ten kinds of ass to push things further without her knowing what he needed to tell her.
And still? He’d have to pray for restraint.
Chapter Seven
“Thanks for the ride, Zach,” Heather said, unlocking the front door to her house. Her home was an old potting shed that her father had expanded into an office, complete with plumbing, a loft and a front porch. Later, Heather had reworked it into a tiny home so she could stick close to her mom while giving them both some privacy. The bungalow was hidden from view of the main house—no doubt why her father had chosen it for his work space—and the “driveway” was scarcely more than a car’s length, and yet Zach had walked her to the door.
A gentleman.
Albeit one who’d cooled off toward her sometime this afternoon. She should be glad he’d reined in the flirting and the touches since she’d be leaving town soon. Besides, she was pretty sure Zach wasn’t being completely forthright with her about his reason for spending time with her. But honestly, the man had lit her up inside hotter than some former boyfriends had managed to do with a full range of physical intimacy. To have him withdraw that electric spark now, before they’d even kissed, left her feeling a bit hollow. And more than a little confused.
“I should be thanking you.” His amber eyes were serious, the teasing light muted. “Being with you made a ribbon-cutting event fun. Something I would have once said was impossible.”
“Glad I could help.” She slid the key to her house back in her purse, the front door open, but she didn’t move to enter. “And if you want, I can take the fish off your hands and sort out dinner. I didn’t really mean to suggest you should cook, when you must be exhausted from not sleeping last night.”
She was curious about the work that had kept him awake. He’d been cagey on that point.
He shook his head, sunlight picking up blond strands among the brown. “I’m looking forward to cooking for you.”
That intense gaze of his made her feel as if he’d just said something a whole lot more intimate.
I’m looking forward to kissing you,is what her ears heard.
No need to be ridiculous.But her cheeks warmed.
“I might need a ride.” The words caught in her dry throat.
“Can I pick you up at seven?”
“Sure.” She was ten kinds of idiot to feel as breathless as a teenager on her first date.
Move awayfrom this secretive, handsome man.But did her feet listen? No. She gazed at him and thought about how she never took chances. About how she’d promised herself she would start living in the moment.
Stop being so damn practical.
“Heather.” If he meant to warn her away, the deep timbre of his voice didn’t exactly get the message across.
If anything, she drew closer. Zach didn’t step back. Her heart pounded so hard it made her light-headed. She had zero experience making moves on a man. But Zach had touched her. Flirted with her. Insinuated he wanted more from her…
Her lips parted, her eyes never leaving his. She knew the exact moment he got on board with the plan. Something shiftedin his expression, a subtle softening that served as her only warning before his hands slid around her shoulders and his mouth met hers.
His kiss was warm and soft, the gentleness at odds with all that hard male strength banded around her where he held her against him. She closed her eyes and fell into the sensations, letting the whisper-brush of his lips tantalize her as she melted into his chest.
No thinking. Only feeling. Surely she deserved that after the hellish few weeks she’d had. She could afford to savor the sweep of Zach’s tongue along her lower lip, the increasing pressure of the kiss ramping up and reminding her she was a woman and not just a frustrated daughter, wannabe singer and victim of an exhausting disease. Right now, with Zach’s hands skimming down her shoulders to land inches above her hips, she was hot. Wild.
Desired.
