Razed (Barnes Brothers #2)(13)

It would have been easier . . . cheaper. The trip back and forth between here and Albuquerque wouldn’t break him, but he was going to have to start being more careful about money in the future. None of that mattered, though.

He was here because he had to try. Again. Try to get Keelie to give him the time of day.

Behind him, he heard Anais talking to Javi, but he didn’t hear a word they said. His heart beat in heavy, dull thuds against his ribs and he kind of hated the fact that his hands had gone a little damp. She made him feel like a damn high school kid again. She made him feel stupid. And she made him want more than he’d ever imagined wanting.

Now if he could just get her to admit she felt something, too, then maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.


*

Phone in hand, the strap of her purse hanging between her breasts, she shot Javi a narrow look. “Remember, you promised to bail me out if this goes to hell.”

“Relax. You said you’d give him a fair shot. So do it. But if you have problems, just text me, okay?” Javi slumped in the chair behind the counter, staring at the TV. It was damn slow for a Friday. Which was good since Zach was off for the day and she was bailing.

She turned around just as Zane started to push through the door.

She really wasn’t in the mood for this date. She glanced at her phone and tried to think up an excuse—Stop it. She kicked herself mentally. She’d said she’d go through with it.

She started to follow Zane out the door, focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Just do it. Just get it over with.

She never even noticed that Zane had turned around until she slammed into his chest.

Her phone clattered to the floor and his arms came up to steady her. Wide-eyed, she stared up at him as a slow blush started to crawl up her cheeks.

Man. She really got clumsy around him.

Sensory memory slammed through her. Her hands automatically gripped his arms, her nails biting into his biceps. Her heart started to race and her breathing sped up.

He’s so damn pretty . . .

Zane grasped her arms in return to steady her, and his body pressed close to hers. That was all it took to have her libido flare to burning, aching life. It had been dormant up until he’d kissed her a few months ago, and now, here she was, practically ready to tackle him and rub herself against him, and hold him tight.

Long legs pushed against her own and she had to tip her face back to see him. The thick black fringe of his lashes hung low on his blue green eyes, half shielding his gaze. His hands remained on her arms, steadying her, and it was embarrassing as hell to realize she actually needed that for a minute because her knees felt just a little too weak.

Sucking a breath, she eased back from him. “Sorry about that,” she said.

“My fault.” A muscle pulsed in his jaw and he let go, stepping back. “Since you’re done for the night, why don’t we grab something to eat?”

He’d asked her, a dozen times over the years. And in the past few months, it had been probably at least half that. She’d never once said yes, although recently, she’d been more and more tempted. It was just that . . . he scared her. So much.

Keelie didn’t even know why.

The word yes danced on the tip of her tongue.

Yes . . .

Reality crashed in before she could give in. “I can’t.” She swallowed and looked away. “I’ve . . . I’ve got a date.”

Tension slammed into the air. She backed up, looking around and spying her phone, her purse on the floor. She grabbed her phone, shoved it into her back pocket, and hooked the strap of her purse over her shoulder.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Zane watching her.

“A date.” He drew the word out slowly, almost like he wasn’t familiar with it. “You’re seeing somebody.”

A muscle pulsed in his jaw.

“No.” She closed her eyes, rubbed at her temple before looking back at him. “Ani set it up . . . it’s a blind date. I was . . . shit. It’s just a thing.”

“A thing.” He nodded, bent down. She saw another phone on the floor and realized he’d dropped his as well. He pocketed it without even looking at it. “Sounds like a blast.” Without saying anything else, he headed off down the street.

She thought of the times before, not even six months ago, when he’d drop by and tease her, flirt with her, ask her out . . . she thought about his hands on her at the wedding, the way he’d kissed her.

She thought of the question Anais had thrown at her.

When was the last time a guy knocked you off your feet?

That guy was walking away from her.

“Zane!”

He glanced back at her.

“I’m sorry. I’d . . .” She blew out a breath. “I’d rather be going out with you. I just . . .”

A faint smile quirked his lips. “Yeah. Sure.” Then he shrugged and kept on walking. “Some other time, maybe.”

Then he was gone, turning the corner and disappearing out of sight.

But did he mean it?

She just didn’t know and suddenly, that thought bothered her. A lot.


*

It had been twenty minutes since he’d walked away from Keelie.

Parking was shit around here on a Friday night and it had taken him close to ten minutes just to get to his car, but had he left?