Page 45 of Sheltered By Love

I can’t exactly say it felt wrong taking a bedroom meant for couples.

His lip curls into a smile. “Interesting.”

I don’t really think it is, but Zane walks back into the kitchen and stops the conversation completely. “How’s the knee?” he asks.

“Fine. Just a bump,” I croak out.

Zane seems to feel as awkward as I do, and Levi suddenly looks like he’d rather be anywhere else but caught in the middle.

“I better book it. Thanks for the food, darlin.”

Zane frowns at him then turns it on me as he picks up his phone.

“You don’t need to feed him. He’s a bottomless pit.”

I shrug. “I fed you last night.”

He disregards what I said and holds up a tattered piece of fabric.

“This is going to have to do until I can get a better one.”

I squint at it. “You took an old curtain of Viola’s?”

He looks at me like I’m a simpleton. “Where else did you think I was going to get a curtain from? If I go into Maude’s looking for one, she’ll ask me too many questions.”

“And not all of them about the curtain?” I guess.

He rewards me with a half-smile. “You’re not the only one who values privacy.”

A warning sounds in my midsection. One I’ve learned never to ignore again.

“About last night…” I start to say.

He doesn’t make it any easier by telling me I don’t need to explain. Instead, he stares directly at me, making his scrutiny even more unbearable.

“I was…half asleep, and disorientated,” I say.

Aside from his eyebrow lifting, his expression stays painfully blank adding to my embarrassment.

“Anyway, it wasn’t a big deal, I was just…” I say.

His chest moves and a barely audible grunt escapes. “Lonely.”

Crimson scolds my cheeks as I push my chair away. When he doesn’t say a word, I grab the dishes and with tears stinging my eyes toss them in the sink. “You’re a jackass,” I say.

He shifts his weight and for a moment I think he’s going to apologize but music starts to play from his pocket distracting us both.

He growls as he pulls it out as the chorus of Carly Simon’s ‘You’re so Vain’ plays and I belatedly understand why Levi was messing with it.

Despite how annoyed I am, it’s impossible not to stifle a giggle as Zane tries and fails to look nonplussed. “Levi,” he mutters.

He’s still scowling at me as he answers. His expression switches from irritated to alert in seconds. “I’ll be there in five,” he says.

“What is it?”

“Search and rescue.”

He reaches into his pocket and places an old phone on the table. “No arguments. I need to be able to reach you at all times.”

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