Defending Zara (Mountain Mercenaries #6)(84)

“Who else is going?” Meat asked.

“Harlow and Renee. Allye can’t come. She’s been exhausted lately because Darby has been fussy. And Morgan can’t tear herself away from Calinda yet, but I don’t blame her, because she’s so adorable.”

“No Chloe?” Meat asked.

Zara shrugged. “She said she’d try to come if possible. She’s doing an analysis of someone’s retirement account and apparently gets super jazzed up about that sort of thing and doesn’t like to stop until it’s done.”

“You’ll call when you need a ride home?”

Zara shook her head. “No. There’s no need for you to come all the way to town to get me. Renee can drop me off on her way back up to Denver.”

“Make sure she doesn’t drink,” Meat said sternly.

“Yes, Dad,” Zara said with an eye roll.

“I’m serious. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m just going out for dinner with my friends. I was surprised Renee said she’d come at all. I think she’s been feeling a little jealous that I’ve been getting closer with the others, and I hate that.”

Meat frowned. He didn’t like the little things he’d heard here and there from Zara. Renee did seem jealous, but it was more than that. He couldn’t put his finger on it, and he could only hope their friendship would either grow stronger as a result of Zara coming into her own, or it would fizzle out.

“Okay, but call me if you need anything.”

“I will.”

They heard a horn outside, and Zara turned to grab her purse. She had on a pair of jeans and a fitted T-shirt. Both hugged her curves, and Meat did his best not to stare at her with lust in his eyes. She turned and smirked at him. He hadn’t exactly hidden his need for her.

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him, then turned to walk toward the door. “Meat?” she said before heading out.

“Yeah, Zar?”

“I’m wearing a new, matching fire-engine-red bra-and-panty set that I picked up the other day. Maybe I can model it when I get home.”

Meat growled and had already taken a step toward her before even realizing he’d moved.

Zara giggled and disappeared out the door.

Meat headed to the window and watched as she climbed into Renee’s car, and they headed down his long driveway. It dawned on him that he’d never actually heard her giggle since she’d moved in.

As hard as his dick hurt, thinking about taking her against the wall as she wore nothing but the red bra and panties she’d bought, he loved the fact that she was comfortable enough, and felt safe enough, to tease him.



“You gonna tell us what had you smiling so big when I picked you up?” Renee asked when they were seated at the restaurant.

Everly and Zara were drinking lemonade, and Renee and Harlow each had a glass of wine. They’d ordered a plate of cheese fries as an appetizer and were chowing down on the fries while they waited for their meals.

“Yeah, you do seem awfully chipper tonight,” Harlow commented.

Zara tried to hide her grin by taking a sip of her lemonade, but knew she wasn’t successful.

“Spill!” Everly said as she put her elbows on the table and leaned forward.

Zara shrugged. “It’s just . . . things are going really well with me and Meat.”

The other women all smiled huge.

“Let me guess . . . you either got some right before you left the house, or you teased him mercilessly, and he’s gonna jump you the second you get home,” Harlow said with a knowing grin.

Laughing outright now, Zara didn’t answer the question, but instead said, “I had no idea.”

“About what?” Everly asked.

“That being in a relationship could be so . . . satisfying. I mean, yes, the sex is great, don’t get me wrong, but Meat just gets me. I honestly never thought I’d find anyone who would be so encouraging and understanding about my entire situation. We’ve also had a few long and helpful talks about what I want to do with my future, and the money my parents left me.”

“What are you going to do with all that money?” Renee asked.

Zara wasn’t sure what was up with Renee tonight, but she’d been a bit . . . harsher than she’d been in the past. On the way to the restaurant, she’d seemed upset that it wasn’t going to be just the two of them, even though she’d known from the start that Harlow and Everly would be there. And the more she and Renee hung out, the clingier Zara’s old friend got. It was as if they really were still ten years old, and she was jealous that Zara had any friends other than her.

Zara had been through too much to want anything to do with petty shit like that. But since they were already on the way to the restaurant, she’d let her attitude go, telling herself she’d discuss it with Renee later.

“I’m not exactly sure yet,” Zara said, “but I’d like to do something to help families of missing children.” She looked at Everly as she said, “The police do as much as they can, but their resources only go so far. Sometimes a private detective can be much more effective in finding clues, especially after a lot of time has passed.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Everly said with a huge smile and nod.