Page 122 of Wrangled

Zeeb ambled over to me, a cup of coffee in one hand. “So how’s your ass after the first day?”

“Why do you think I’m sitting?” I chuckled. “Lord, I ache. No one thought to bring a tub so I could soak in it, however,” I quipped.

He rolled his eyes. “I’ll be sure to bring it up with the management,” he said dryly. “And come morning, we take everything down and move on. At least you’ll get two nights after this before it’s time to head back. My advice for tonight? Get some sleep.”

I was actually too tired to even think about sex. “Sounds like a plan.” When he didn’t make a move, I peered at him. “Something on your mind?”

“I see you followed my suggestion after all.”

“Excuse me?”

He pointed in the direction Robert had taken. “The light’s back in his eyes. He smiles more, laughs more.”

“Thatwaswhat you wanted, wasn’t it?”

“Sure. Exceptnowwhat concerns me is, you’ll go too far.”

I stared at him. “You’ve lost me.”

His face fell. “This is all my fault. I didn’t think it through.”

“What do you mean?

For a moment he didn’t reply. “You obviously give him what he needs. But you’re gonna leave Saturday.”

“I can’t change that. And you always knew that would happen.”

I’d always known it too, but with the day for my departure drawing closer, what surprised me was the feeling of… sorrow wasn’t quite the word. I certainly wasn’t happy about it.

But you’ve decided it’s not going to end. You’re going to be his long-distance Dom, remember? If he agrees.

Maybe I was having second thoughts.

Maybe doubts were setting in that this could work.

“Sure I did. I just didn’t anticipate the effect you’d have on him.”

I arched my eyebrows. “I hate to break up your pity party, but did it ever occur to you we’d have ended up in this situationwithoutyou pushing me in Robert’s direction?” The spark was already there the first day we’d met—we’d just fanned the flames.

He stroked his jaw. “Maybe. Anyway, we’re here now, so it’s no use debating how it got started. But if you wanna make me happy, there’s something youcando.”

“And what’s that?” I was intrigued.

He locked gazes with me, his eyes like steel. “Don’t break his heart.”

I blinked.

Zeeb nodded. “Because you dothat,and I’ll come out to California, and I’ll find you.” There was a hard edge to his voice that made me believe him.

I frowned. “You know, for a man who professes to like me, that sounds like a threat.”

He gave me a cool smile. “Good. I wouldn’t want there to be any… misinterpretation. Now get some sleep. Tomorrow’s another long day.” He wandered off in Matt’s direction.

I supposed it was kind of sweet. And then I realized he was just the first—Butch was walking toward me with a purposeful stride.

Now what?

“Hey, Butch.”

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