Princess Next Door(19)

“Great.” She’d not seen her parents since she moved, and even though she’d been tempted to call them, she just hadn’t.

The point of moving away had been for her to flesh out her life on her own.

“Your parents are worried about you, you know.”

“Not that worried. They could come and visit me anytime if they really wanted.” She hoped they didn’t.

He chuckled. “They’re pissed that your grandparents left you enough money to start over. They feel they undermined their authority.”

She forced a smile. “I really need to get going.”

Wynter turned in time to see Zane’s truck pull into a parking spot. His friends and the man himself spilled out. They were laughing, and she smiled.

Glancing back at Carey, she saw the sneer on the guy’s face. Before she could make her excuses, Zane moved up beside her.

“Hey, Princess,” he said, placing a hand across her shoulders and kissing her head.

Carey looked like he’d seen something crazy.

“Hey. I was just picking up some things.”

“Yeah, I’m about to get some supplies to show you how a mean lasagna is made.” Zane looked toward Carey. “Hey, I’m Zane.”

“Carey.”

She watched as they both shook hands, and seemed to linger on their handshake, which didn’t make her feel uncomfortable at all … not! She’d told Zane about Carey the night she’d had one too many beers.

“You two are together?”

“Yes,” Zane said, answering before she got the chance. She smiled and rested against him.

“He’s my neighbor.”

“Do your parents know about this?” Carey asked.

“You mean the ones that couldn’t even get off their asses to help her move?” Zane asked.

Okay, she was enjoying this moment a little too much.

“I’ve got to head home. I’m going to be cooking your dinner for tomorrow.”

Zane kissed her head. He waited for her to say her goodbyes, and then walked her to her car, taking the groceries from her hands as he did so.

“You don’t like him, do you?” he asked.

“How could you tell?”

“You looked annoyed, as if you were waiting for an excuse or a reason to leave.”

“He’s the guy my parents wanted me to marry. They picked him out in high school, and I had no choice but to date him. Believe me, it wasn’t fun. He’s so full of himself.” She stood by her driver’s side door, and smiled. “You saved me.”

“I’m always here to serve my damsel in distress.”

“Have fun tonight.”

“I could stop by later. My shift ends at eleven.”

“What about performing?”

“The bar’s fully booked. I’m dropping the guys off at home before I head in for my shift. I’m only covering for someone else who left.”

“Then I’ll be waiting.” She suddenly couldn’t wait to get home.

He stepped in close. “This is not about showing who you belong to for that loser. This is about me.” He cupped her face and slammed his lips down on hers. She couldn’t resist wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him close.

Her body ignited as if he alone held the flame, and she kissed him back with a passion that rivaled his.

“I’m not going to want to go to work after this,” he said.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

He stepped away from the car, and he stood watching her as she drove home. The moment she got home, she unpacked her groceries quickly and rushed up to the bathroom. Undressing, she ran herself a bath, and took the time to shave and wash every single part of her. It had been a long day at the school, and also a really warm day.

Once she was done, she settled on a sheer negligee that she’d been saving for something special.

She’d seen it years ago in a store, and she’d picked the last one in her size and hidden it away for only herself. She loved the feel of the silk against her skin, and how sexy she felt. Glancing in the mirror, she pinned her blonde hair up and wondered if she was going too far.

She shook her head. No. This was being herself, and since seeing Carey, she was determined to live life her own way, and that meant being with Zane.

She liked Zane a lot.

He made her laugh and smile, and he’d made living next door to him a pleasure.

She still didn’t like his taste in rock music, even though he kept trying to turn her to the dark side as he kept calling it.

It was just funny to her.

Making her way downstairs, she saw she still had some time before he got home, so quickly putting on an apron, she grabbed some of the shrimp she’d bought for herself, knowing they’d stretch to at least two people.

Marinating them, she assembled the salad, made the dressing to go with it, and then placed a batch of brownies in the oven.

By the time Zane arrived, her nerves were getting the better of her. The moment she opened the door, he pulled her into his arms, and she found herself becoming addicted to his kisses.

They were like a drug, filling her with so much need that she didn’t want him to stop.

“I think your mouth is a skill all on its own.”

He chuckled. “You’ve not seen anything yet.”