Razed (Barnes Brothers #2)(30)

A fist settled in her chest. She had to force the words out around it. “I think maybe we can do dinner.”

“Good. Then I can do this.”

Her heart started to stutter as he slowly, oh, so slowly, kissed her.

It absolutely wasn’t the kind of kiss he should be doing in the middle of a coffee shop, she thought. Because it was the kind of kiss that made her want, made her crave so much more.

And then, all thought ceased and all she could do was curl as close to him as she could possibly get. It really wasn’t close enough.


*

Twenty minutes later, she hoped she’d managed to plaster a calm look on her face as she walked with Zane into Steel Ink.

Javi glanced up and then he was on his feet, storming over to her.

“Are you okay? Why the hell didn’t you call me? What the f*ck happened—”

Knowing from experience those questions would just keep on coming, she stopped him with the most expedient means necessary. She clapped her hand over his mouth.

Dark brown eyes narrowed at her over her hand and she cocked a brow. “Let me answer a question before the next barrage starts,” she suggested.

There was a familiar tread of boots and she glanced up, saw Zach in the doorway. His eyes had that guarded look, one she was too familiar with these days, but she tried not to let it bother her.

His gaze moved to Zane and she dropped her hand, focusing on Javi as Zach moved to greet his brother.

“I’m fine,” she said, addressing Javi’s first question. “I would have called, but there was a phone mess-up and I didn’t have my phone and I couldn’t remember your number. And to what happened . . .” She grimaced, her words trailing off.

That was when she noticed Zach’s curious stare.

The tension that still lingered between them grew heavier. Maybe she’d just explain this all later—

“What’s going on?” Zach asked softly.

Blowing out a sigh, she shrugged. “It’s no big deal. Ani had me set up on a blind date and it kind of tanked. He was a jerk, tried to get physical.”

Zach’s brows dropped low over his eyes but before he could say anything, she held up her hands. “I handled it. Both of you know I’m pretty good at taking care of myself. But it wasn’t even necessary.” She jerked her thumb at Zane. “Clark Kent here showed up. Zach, how come you never told anybody that your brother was some kind of kung fu master or something?”

Zach crossed his arms over his chest. “Let’s back the train up a little. I’m still trying to get past the he got physical part. Just what does that mean?”

“He put his hands on me.” She jerked a shoulder in a shrug, recalled the bruising strength of the man. Everything else was a blur of adrenaline and lights and nerves as she’d slammed her booted foot into his head. She thought she might have smashed her elbow into his face—there was a bruise there so it was very likely.

Blowing out a breath, she said it again. “He got physical. He didn’t like that I was blowing him off. Said I was too uptight and why couldn’t I chill out and I told him to get out of my face and I’d chill out when I wanted to. So he grabbed my arm and I shoved him. He grabbed me again and I just . . .” She blinked, frowned. “I reacted. I don’t even entirely remember what all happened. Then Zane was there, the guy was on the ground. I’m fine, okay?”

Zane placed his hand on her back, stroked up.

That light touch somehow managed to calm her frazzled nerves.

She would have liked to turn to him, press her lips to his neck. But even that was more than she felt comfortable with. She did stay there, enjoyed the warmth of that long-fingered, elegant hand on her back, his thumb stroking back and forth over her skin.

Zach shot Zane a look, a demanding one. Tell me. Now.

That look said a lot even though he never opened his mouth.

“You heard what she said,” Zane said, his voice level. “I’d swung by here yesterday. We bumped into each other, dropped our phones, mixed them up. I figured it out after she’d left, called her. Since she had plans, I said I’d swing by with the phone. I show up and hear her in the parking lot. Come up while the guy was coming at her.” He finished with a shrug.

“Tell me you took him apart,” Zach said, his voice tight.

“I handled it,” Zane responded.

“Ugh.” Keelie’s groan was loud, full of irritation and disgust. “He’s in the hospital, Zach, if that satisfies your manly need for violence. The guy had a knife on him, pulled it on Zane. And that’s when I discovered your brother is like Superman or something.”

Zane felt blood rush up the back of his neck as she shot Zach another sidelong look. “How come nobody ever let any of us know that Zane had a secret identity?”

A few taut seconds passed. Then Zach sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Hell. Z’s the one who taught all of us how to fight. Everybody is so busy being fooled by the buttoned up shirts and the glasses, they just think he’s the nice one.” Zach speared Zane with a sharp look. “Sometimes I think he should have been the actor.”

“No, thanks,” Zane said, his voice dry. “You and Seb want to spend half your life strutting around like peacocks in front of a camera? Knock yourselves out. I got better things to do.”