Page 391 of Not Over You

Rising on tiptoes, she dusted her lips over his. “Thank you.”

“Nothing to thank me for. You’re my girl, and I’ll spend the rest of my life taking care of you.” He chuckled. “No getting rid of me now.”

She summoned a smile, but as the door closed, leaving him on the wrong side, a river of tears built behind her eyelids.

“’Night, my love.”

CHAPTER 14

Zane stood outside Lori’s parents’ place, a spot he hadn’t set foot on since Lori left for India and rubbed his palms on his jacket. Stupid really, that he felt so nervous, yet the evidence was there in his clammy hands and churning stomach. These people had once been family to him, a second mom and dad that he’d cherished and missed like hell. He clung to the hope that they’d find a way to bridge the gaps caused by more than a decade of absence.

He needn’t have worried. The front door flew open, and Maisie wrapped him in a hug so tight he struggled to breathe.

“Oh, Zane. How we’ve missed you.” She let him go, only to grip his upper arms and give him the full head-to-toe appraisal. “My goodness, how handsome you are. You were always a good-looking boy, but now? Well, now you rival any of those models strutting the catwalk.”

“Mom.” Lori’s groan sounded from behind Maisie. “Stop stroking his ego.”

Zane laughed, dropping a kiss on Maisie’s cheek. She smelled the same, looked the same, was the same. His nerves melted away.

“Ignore her, Maisie. Keep going. And I’ve missed you, too. Very much.” He shook Jim’s hand. “Jim. It’s great to see you, sir.”

“You, too, son. Come on in. Let me get you a beer.”

Zane hung back, tugging Lori to his side, where he stole a kiss that was far too quick for his liking. He ran his hands up her sides and brushed her breasts. Great, now he was sporting a semi. Terrific way to ingratiate himself back in with his future in-laws. “How are you feeling? Any more dizzy spells?”

“None. I’m feeling perfectly fine. I am sorry about how Friday night ended, though.” She blinked up at him and ran her hand over his pecs. “And I had such plans, too.”

Terrific. Now he had a full-blown hard-on. “I told you. No apologies necessary. We have all the time in the world.” He dropped his gaze to her tits, the view not helping to deflate the bat in his jeans. “I like this sweater. Tight in all the right places. You look good enough to eat.”

She chuckled. “Let’s start with Mom’s pot roast and see where the day takes us.”

Within five minutes, it was as if the intervening years had melted away and the typical banter made a return. They talked over one another, teased, made jokes, and Zane copped several feels of Lori’s thigh beneath the linen tablecloth. Life was good, better than good. And if Lori was up to it, he planned to take her back to her place right after lunch and make love to her for the rest of the day. Although he doubted hours between the sheets would cut into the growing urgency to be inside her.

Full to bursting after Maisie insisted on piling his plate with two helpings of pot roast, Zane rubbed his stomach. “Give me five minutes, and I’ll help you clear away the dinner things, Maisie.”

“Absolutely not.” Maisie stood and began stacking plates. “You’re a guest. Lori will help me.”

Maisie fixed her attention on her daughter, and they shared a look. Something passed between them, almost as if they were having a silent conversation. Lori didn’t appear too happy, and if truth be told, neither did Maisie. Odd. He didn’t have time to pay it much attention, though, as the second they disappeared into the kitchen, Jim pulled him into a conversation about the next Mets game and what Zane thought their chances were of beating the Cubs.

When Jim excused himself to use the bathroom, curiosity got the better of Zane. Under the pretense of grabbing another beer, he picked up his and Jim’s empty bottles and wandered over to the kitchen. Whispered voices, low and urgent with a hint of annoyance, pulled him to a stop. He hung back and cocked his ears, keeping an eye out for Jim. He’d sensed an undercurrent between Lori and Maisie for the last half an hour, which was unusual for them. They’d always gotten along so well, almost sisters rather than mother and daughter. Then again, a lot of years had passed. Maybe their relationship had hit difficult times.

Maisie’s voice rose an octave. “Enough, Lori, you’re not being fair to Zane.”

He stiffened, squaring his shoulders. What’s not fair to me?

“You’ve made your point, Mom. Several times.” Lori’s voice sounded strained. “I will tell him. I will. Just give me time to find the right words.”

“You said that when I spoke to you last week. Just how much longer are you planning to keep him in the dark? I love that boy like my own, and if keeping this from him hurts me, it should hurt you.”

His chest tightened, an uncomfortable sensation swirling in his stomach. He rubbed it, the bloated feeling from dinner fleeing in the face of a much larger threat. That of a secret which affected him, but he wasn’t party to.

“It is hurting me,” Lori hissed. “But it’s not easy, Mom.”

“That’s because you’ve left it too long. Tell him, Lori.”

He’d heard enough. Clearing his throat, he entered the kitchen. “Yeah, Lori. Tell me.”

The flash of sheer horror that crossed Lori’s face coupled with Maisie’s gasp and slack jaw sent tingles racing across his skin, like a million ants were crawling over him. Whatever Lori was hiding, it was bad. Really bad. A part of him wished he could turn back time and keep his ass firmly in the dining room chair and remain oblivious to the drama unfolding right before his eyes. But a far greater part of him wanted—no, demanded—to know what the fuck was going on.

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