Defending Zara (Mountain Mercenaries #6)(65)

She was nervous for this first meeting with Renee, and Meat hadn’t exactly done much to assuage her anxiety. She was aware he wasn’t all that enthused about her meeting face-to-face with her childhood friend, but when he couldn’t find anything in her background to be worried about, he’d relented and tried his best to be happy for her.

But it was more than just worry on her behalf that she’d been noticing. She also found him staring at her at odd times, and when she asked what he was looking at, he’d simply smile and say, “You.” When they made out, Meat was suddenly more intense. He still let her take the lead in their physical relationship, but the look in his eyes made goose bumps break out on her arms and her belly do flips. He touched her more often. A caress on her arm here, a long hug there.

And he was constantly kissing her. Touching his lips to her shoulder, her temple, the top of her head. Not that she minded . . .

He was acting just like she remembered her father acting toward her mother. Loving. She remembered how her dad always held her mom’s hand. Zara had complained about them kissing in front of her when she got old enough to understand it. She hadn’t really hated it—it was just embarrassing for a ten-year-old.

She’d never felt for any man the way she felt about Hunter Snow. He was the first person she thought of when she got up and the last person she thought of before she fell asleep. He hadn’t pressured her to do anything she didn’t want to do. He’d been patient and kind, even when gently urging her to step outside the safety his home represented.

As far as that went . . . the truth of the matter was, she was scared. What had happened to her down in Lima had been a statistical anomaly, and she wasn’t ready to test her luck just yet.

Meeting Renee today was the first step in gaining back her independence . . . but the confusing part was, Zara wasn’t sure she wanted it. She’d technically been independent for most of her life, and it hadn’t been much fun. She liked cooking for Meat. Liked when he told her where he was going and when he’d be back. It wasn’t that she was afraid to live on her own, exactly . . . she simply didn’t want to.

“I’m just going to sit over there at the bar,” Meat told her, staring into her eyes. “If anything makes you uncomfortable, all you have to do is gesture to me, and I’ll be there in a heartbeat. Okay?”

“It’s going to be fine,” Zara replied, not sure if she was reassuring him or herself.

Meat kissed her once more, not quite a short brush of his lips against hers, but not a thorough claiming either. “Have fun,” he said quietly before turning to head to the bar.

Zara followed the waitress to a high-top table near the bar and settled in to wait for Renee. She felt bad that her friend had to drive down from Denver, but Renee had reassured her that it was no problem.

After ten minutes, Zara slipped off the stool as a tall blonde headed straight for her. Recognizing Renee from the picture she’d sent, Zara was still surprised at how tall she was. She towered over Zara’s own five-foot-one height as she gave her an enthusiastic hug.

“You’re so tiny!” Renee exclaimed.

Zara laughed and awkwardly climbed back up onto the barstool at the table.

“Shit, do your feet even touch the rungs on the chair?” Renee asked with a laugh, leaning over to see for herself. “They don’t! That’s hilarious. I didn’t realize you were so short! Were you this short in the fourth grade?”

Zara forced a smile. She knew she was petite. Living with someone Meat’s size brought that home to her all the time. But Meat didn’t harp on it. He’d actually adjusted things to accommodate her height. The bed frame he’d made her was lower. He’d made a stool for her to use in the kitchen so she could reach the cabinets, and he hadn’t said a word when she’d scooted the coffee table closer to the couch so she could put her feet on it.

“Probably,” she told Renee. “Although I’m sure the lack of proper nutrition over the last decade or so didn’t exactly help.”

Renee frowned. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say something offensive.”

“You didn’t,” Zara hurried to reassure her.

“It’s just so surreal to be sitting with you,” Renee said. “I mean, no one ever thought we’d see you again. It’s a miracle you survived.”

Zara nodded. Jeez. Things seemed much more natural—and a lot less awkward—when they’d talked on the phone.

“So . . . tell me what you’re up to. What are your plans now that you’re back? It’s good that you don’t have to worry about money. I heard your parents left you a trust. That’s so lucky!”

Lucky? Zara wasn’t so sure about that, but she simply smiled again and took a sip of her water. “Honestly, I’ve been acclimating. Trying to decide what to do with the rest of my life. I’ve been reading a lot and trying to figure out when I want to try for my GED. There’s a lot I have to study, especially math.”

“Girl, school sucked so hard after the fifth grade. I’m kinda jealous you didn’t have to suffer through it.”

Zara gaped slightly, and Renee seemed to realize what she’d said almost immediately.

“Shit, I did it again. I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean that the way it came out. You suffered through your own hell. You would’ve been glad to be living your old life and going to school, wouldn’t you? How about we order and I keep my mouth shut for a while and let you talk? Tell me more about the guy who rescued you and was responsible for bringing you home.”