Page 1 of Flirt Away

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Zane leaned against the railing and inhaled the salty air. Birds flew over the massive yacht where his cousin and her new husband had tied the knot. It had been a beautiful ceremony and Zane couldn’t be happier for the couple. They had been through so much to find each other again and they deserved some smooth sailing.

He tilted his chin, closed his eyes, and let the rarity of the sun blazing in a blue sky warm his face. Only Darcie could summon such a spectacular day on the Puget Sound.

“Watch ya doing, cuz?” the sound of Darcie’s voice startled him. His champagne sloshed over the rim of the flute and landed on the side of his hand.

“Shit. You scared me.” He licked the side of his hand and took a hearty swig.

Darcie smiled, resting her hands on her baby bump. “You’ve been unusually quiet the past few weeks.”

He jerked his head. “You’ve been a little busy getting married.”

“That’s true, but it doesn’t change the fact that you and I haven’t been communicating like usual. I know it’s been sucky ever since you and what’s-her-face broke up.”

He chuckled. “She has a name. It’s Zoe.”

“I never liked her.” Darcie lowered her chin. “No one does. Including Xavier and don’t get me going on what your parents think of her. Besides, since that whole kerfuffle with you, Rebecca, and Erik, you haven’t been the same.”

Zane reached behind his head and undid his bun. He ran his hand through his thick, wavy hair before securing it back in place. The breakup with Zoe had been necessary, and he knew it, but that didn’t mean it didn’t still hurt. Zoe wanted him to quit his job. To leave Club Allure. He was sure he could find a new position somewhere else easily enough, but he enjoyed the people he worked with and he’d recently been promoted.

That meant something.

Zoe took it as he liked hanging around the sex club more than being with her, which wasn’t true.

“Erik and I are in a good place. I’m truly happy for him,” Zane said.

Darcie reached out and squeezed his biceps. “I know. I watched your heart break, and I saw how you came back from it. You’re a good man with a wonderful soul, but you have shit taste in the people you date these days.” She lowered her chin. “Both genders included.”

He laughed. Most of his family had come to accept his sexuality, though some still held on to their judgments but didn’t voice them to him directly. Darcie, however, had always supported him no matter what. Same with her siblings as well as her parents. Growing up, Zane spent a lot of time with his favorite aunt and uncle. He and Darcie were about the same age and often got in their fair share of trouble as kids. “I’ve been a little gun-shy since Rebecca.”

“She’s a bitch and a half.”

Zane wasn’t one for name-calling, but he wasn’t about to defend Rebecca with his family. What she had done was unforgivable. But it was in the past and he didn’t want to live there anymore. He wanted to find someone who rocked his world the same way Reid had turned Darcie’s upside down and sideways. They were so in love it was almost disgusting, and he thought Jag and Callie were bad. “I don’t want what happened to rule my life anymore.”

Crystal Morning, a close family friend, strolled across the deck with a smile on her face and two cupcakes in each hand. “What are we talking about?”

“Zane’s love life.” Darcie snagged one of the tasty treats and immediately dug in.

“Last I heard, he didn’t have one.” Crystal shoved the sugary cake under his nose.

“Thanks.” How could he refuse the best baker in all of Seattle? He’d gotten used to seeing people he knew in and out of Club Allure. At first, it made him blush to see some of his friends or random people he’d known, like Crystal and her cop husband, at Allure. It only affected him because he didn’t have the sexual appetite for what the club offered, but he respected those who did and what Allure had to offer. He, of all people, certainly didn’t judge, especially when it was his brother who had helped him get the job.

“Are we looking to fix Zane up? Because I know a few women who would be perfect.” Crystal rested her forearms over the railing and stared out over Puget Sound. Her hair caught the wind and blew over her shoulders.

“No. I’m good,” Zane said quickly.

“Oh. I think you should absolutely set him up.” Darcie poked him in the shoulder. “And when she does, you need to accept. It’s not like you’ve been able to pick the right person, so why not let someone else give it a go.”

“Maybe I like being single.” Zane arched a brow.

“And maybe I’m not utterly terrified of being a mother.” Darcie patted her belly. “I will probably drop this kid on his head.”

“Hey, Troy dropped you on yours, and you turned out okay.” Zane had always loved spending time with his cousins. He loved his brother and his parents. He had a great relationship with them; they were as thick as thieves. However, the Bowie side of the family always seemed a bit more his style.

“Let’s stay focused here,” Crystal said. “If I find you a date, will you promise me to go out with him or her?”

Zane thought about it for a moment. He couldn’t say that he was lonely. His life was full. He loved his job. He had his family and good friends.

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