Her Grave Secrets (Rogue River #3)(11)

“Help me take the stuff outside,” she requested. For a small apartment, she had a huge deck, and it had a lovely view of the river. It’d been the selling point for her. She could overlook a cramped bedroom and minuscule bath because of the awesome outdoor space. Zane grabbed the tequila bottle and balanced all the taco fixings in his big hands. She followed with the shrimp and spicy coleslaw. They sat in quiet companionship as they loaded up their corn tortillas. Zane took a bite and sighed.

“How did I not know these existed two months ago?”

“I know, right? One of the few things I miss about LA is the variety of food and, of course, the sunshine.”

Zane cleared his throat and opened his mouth. Then closed it.

“What?” Stevie asked. “You were going to ask me something.”

He looked slightly sheepish. “You still haven’t unpacked your boxes. It looks like you’re not sure if you’re staying.”

Stevie glanced around at her cluttered place. “I’m not going anywhere. Yes, I miss the sun, but not enough to balance out the crowds and cost of living down there. Solitude is home. I see that very clearly now.”

“Your mother once told me she knew you’d have to leave Solitude to see this is where you need to be.”

Stevie tried not to choke on a bite of taco. “You two talked about me? She said that?”

Zane gave her an easy grin that made her heart skip. “She loves you. I do too. Why wouldn’t we talk about you?”

She didn’t know what to say and settled for another bite.

“But my question about your boxes was more self-centered. What would you think about moving into my place?”

The question was casually delivered with his eyes on his food, but Stevie knew he’d laid his heart out on the table. She put down her taco and slid her hand into his, waiting until his blue gaze met hers. “I love you and I love us together, but I’m not ready for that yet. That feels a little too fast for me right now.” Images of the apartment she’d shared with her ex-boyfriend flooded her mind, and she shoved them away. When their relationship had crumbled, she’d felt homeless and desperate. She’d had to bunk at a friend’s until she’d packed up to move back to Solitude. Her current apartment stood for independence, something she still needed to cling to.

He broke eye contact. “I knew I’d asked too soon.”

“But I’m thrilled to know you want it. I just need more time. It’s only been a few months.” She gripped his hand harder, hating to disappoint him, but the insecurity from her last relationship was too fresh. Zane wasn’t overbearing like her ex. Not one bit. But she couldn’t take the step yet.

“I’ll wait. I’ve got all the time in the world,” he said. “Especially when I’ve got something worth waiting for.”





CHAPTER FIVE





“Stay away from my family!”

Zane stepped out of his office, listening for the source of the loud male voice. He’d been hearing low voices rumble from the mayor’s office for the last few minutes, but had tuned them out as he tried to get through some paperwork before everyone else showed up for the day.

He opened the back door that led into the small offices of the attached building. The mayor’s office and a small city business and tourist info center filled the ancient space. The carpet was thin and patched. The tourist info was sadly sparse. A large forestry map of the southwest corner of Oregon hung crookedly on one wall. There were pamphlets for a struggling winery, jet boats further down the Rogue River, and the animal safari over an hour away. There wasn’t much directly in Solitude to attract tourists and entice them to stay. Including this tourist information center.

Zane had high hopes but low expectations for Faye O’Rourke’s resort.

“You know you don’t want this to end!”

Oh, crap. Katelyn O’Rourke. Zane pushed open the door to the mayor’s office. Sure enough. Stevie’s brother James was face-to-face with Katelyn. She was dressed for yoga. Tight pants, tight top, and a high ponytail.

If yoga classes were taught in Solitude, Zane hadn’t heard about it.

“You two are loud for seven in the morning,” Zane announced.

James looked away, but Katelyn whirled around, her chin up. “This doesn’t involve you.” Faye’s daughter was attractive; that was a fact. But her attitude rarely was.

“No, it doesn’t. Unless you’re harassing someone, and then it’s my business. Did I hear James tell you to stay away from his family? That sounds like something I might need to be involved in.” He held Katelyn’s gaze.

James stepped up. Which was a good thing, because Zane’s estimation of James had dropped ten points for every second he’d been in the room. “Katelyn was just leaving.”

She turned to look at James. “You started this.”

“No, you started this,” James said. “I made some bad decisions, and I immediately told you months ago this had to stop. I don’t know what your goal is, Katelyn, but you’re simply digging yourself a bigger hole. Go hit on some single guy and stay away from my wife.”

Katelyn swallowed hard and looked coolly at Zane. “How’s it working out with Stevie, Zane?”

“Time to focus on someone else, Katelyn.”