Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(76)

“I brought BLTs and fries.” He balanced six white Styrofoam containers against his chest.

Bryn hopped off the couch and took the top two boxes, which were in danger of falling. “I eat a lot, but I think you went overboard.”

“I’m sure you could take care of this by yourself, no problem.” He set the boxes on the coffee table. “But you won’t have to. Clint and Ivy are joining us.”

Miss Enid stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a lunch date. I’ll return in an hour.”

Zavien waved Bryn toward the door. “Let’s hit the vending machine for sodas.”

Stepping outside of her room felt like freedom. “Being cooped up all day is starting to wear on me.”

“Get used to spending time in your room. Until we find out who was behind the attack, your freedom will be limited.”

“I should get credit for not complaining about the babysitter.”

“What did she bring you to read?”

They reached the vending machines. He fed money into the slot, and Bryn grabbed the cans as they emerged.

“She brought me a legends book. The Directorate wanted to ban them because they’re about dragons who were free to live life as they chose.”

“Miss Enid is a troublemaker?”

“You’ve no idea.”

On the way back to her room, he said, “I thought I was leaving you in the care of a well-mannered bookworm. Maybe I should read one of those books.”

“No.” The idea of Zavien reading one of the romantic scenes caused her panic.

“Why can’t I read them?” He opened the door with the key and allowed her to enter first.

“The books make me happy.” She placed the sodas on the table. “If you read them, you’d make fun of them, and then I’d have to hurt you.”

The book she’d been reading sat on the couch. The cover depicted a woman with auburn hair pointing a sword at a dark-haired man. The woman’s dress showed a deep V of cleavage, and the man didn’t appear to own a shirt. Bryn was thankful they weren’t in the middle of a passionate embrace.

She eased around the table, intent on retrieving the book and hiding it in her room. Zavien blocked her way, nabbed the book, and checked out the cover.

He groaned. “What are you reading?”

In a quick move, she snatched it from his hands. “It’s a respectable library book.”

He attempted to grab it.

She dodged and turned her back to him. He tried to reach around her, which resulted in his body pressing against hers from shoulder to thigh. Her heart rate kicked up a notch.

“What’re you trying to hide?” His longer reach almost allowed him to pull the book from her grasp.

The sensation of his warm breath on her ear combined with his chest brushing against her back made it hard to answer. “It’s about rival dragons falling in love and ending a war.”

“Why are they half naked?”

“It takes place in a desert,” she lied.

He leaned right and peered at the book. “Isn’t that a forest behind them?”

She shuffled left and managed to put the coffee table between them. “They travel.”

Zavien drew himself up in a haughty pose. “You realize now I must read the book. It’s a matter of honor.”

“You won’t like it.” She hid the book behind her back. “It’s about falling in love and romantic stuff.”

He stepped on the coffee table, walked over it, and landed inches in front of her. Staring straight into her eyes, he said, “I don’t mind a little romance.”

Holy crap. Bryn sucked in a breath as her nerve endings went on high alert. Electricity thrummed through her veins and seemed to charge the air between them.

Zavien’s eyes darkened. His breathing became audible. Ever so slowly, he leaned in, closing the distance between them.

Knock, knock.

Zavien jerked away from her like he’d burned his hand on a hot stove.

Flustered, she retreated to her bedroom, leaving him to answer the door. Had he almost kissed her, or was it wishful thinking? Why did he run when someone knocked? Was he ashamed to be seen with her?

She growled in frustration. So many questions and no answers.

Clint’s and Ivy’s voices drifted in from the other room. If only they’d arrived a few minutes later. Her shoulders slumped. There was nothing she could do about it now. Maybe she’d tell Ivy about this later and get another female’s perspective.

Returning to the living room, she plastered a smile on her face and tried to make it look like her world hadn’t turned upside down.

“Hi, guys. How were classes?”

“I’m glad it’s Friday.” Seated on the couch, Ivy opened a take-out box and squeezed ketchup onto her fries.

“I’m ready to go camping,” Clint said.

Bryn sat on the floor and bit into her sandwich. A piece of tomato made a break for it and landed in her lap.

Acting like nothing had changed between them, Zavien passed her a stack of napkins. Maybe she’d imagined the whole thing. If someone wrote a book about her life, it would be titled Desperate and Delusional.

“Why are you frowning?” Ivy asked.

The truth wasn’t an option, so she improvised. “I’m wondering what Zavien has planned for the camping trip. I keep imagining bears eating our tent.”