And just like that, Zane felt like the universe might be telling him to salvage the romance that had started at Rose Cove. It was at least worth trying. “Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too.”
Zane grabbed the bottle of Chateau Musar he’d brought, which was Scott’s favorite wine, and hopped out of the car. He strode up the long driveway and couldn’t ignore the way his pulse picked up at the thought of seeing Allison again. Maybe this could actually work. Of course, there was a lot standing in his way. He’d have to find a way to sort things out with Scott. And he’d have to hope that there weren’t other guys in the mix. He’d also have to smooth Allison’s ruffled feathers. He’d been a jerk when they left the island. Allison deserved so much better than that. As to how difficult it would be to convince her to accept his apology, he wasn’t sure. He was prepared to grovel. It was difficult for him to set aside his pride, but he’d overcome worse.
He rang the doorbell, and Scott quickly answered, waving him in. When Zane handed over the wine, Scott unleashed a mile-wide grin. “You’re the best friend a guy can have. Let’s get this decanted.”
Zane followed him inside. He was looking forward to spending an evening with these people he cared about so deeply, but coming to dinner at Scott’s house felt a bit like returning to the scene of the crime, given the kiss with Allison at his birthday party. He wished he could find a way to rewind the clock to that moment when her luscious lips first met his. If only he’d known then that she hadn’t done it on a lark. She’d spent years building up to it.
They wound their way down the wide central entry and into the newly remodeled gourmet kitchen. Scott’s wife, Brittney, was cutting up vegetables at the center island. “Look who’s here,” she said, taking a kiss on the cheek from Zane. “I’m glad you could come over on such short notice. Scott was eager to express his thanks.”
“He keeps saying that, but Allison would’ve been fine without me. Seriously. She’s tough as nails.”
She swept the contents of the cutting board into a large bowl. “I agree. But you know how he is. Super protective. Is there such a thing as a helicopter brother?”
“Hey. I’m standing right here.” Scott sniffed the wine cork, then emptied the bottle into a decanter.
“Well, the kids and I are thankful if nothing else,” Brittney said. “I swear the only thing that kept Scott from freaking out about Allison was knowing that you were down there with her.”
“Did I hear my name?” Allison poked her head into the kitchen.
Zane’s heart did a veritable flip when he saw her. There had been countless moments on the island when he’d been taken aback by her beauty, but right now, with her sun-kissed skin glowing and the stress of their life-and-death situation during the storm no longer showing its effects, she absolutely stole his breath away. “There she is.”
Allison grabbed at the kitchen counter and dragged one leg into the kitchen, followed by the other. Zane peeked around the island and saw what was slowing her down—Scott’s five-year-old daughter, Lily, had wrapped herself around Allison’s ankle. “Sorry. I’m having some trouble walking today,” Allison said. She gave her eyebrows a conspiratorial bounce.
“I noticed there’s a large growth on your leg. I’d better take a look at it and make sure it’s not anything contagious.” He crouched down and looked Lily in the eye. The little girl was already giggling. “I might need to administer the tickle test.”
“Noooo!” Lily unspooled herself from Allison’s leg, rolled across the floor and scrambled off behind her mother.
“Miss Thing,” Brittney said. “You and Franklin need to go get washed up for dinner.”
“Can we eat in front of the TV?” Lily asked, warily peering at Zane.
“Yes. I think the grown-ups would enjoy some adult conversation anyway.”
Scott scooped up Lily into his arms. “Come on. Let’s go hunt down your brother.”
Brittney nodded to two empty wineglasses on the kitchen counter. “Why don’t you two grab a drink for yourselves? We’ll be ready to eat in a little bit.”
“You sure we can’t help?” Allison asked.
“I’m sure. Cooking is one of the only things that relax me,” Brittney said.
“Wine?” Zane glanced at Allison, wondering how she was feeling about being around him. She had every reason in the world to give him some steely attitude. And he was going to have to find a way to work through it. “We can go out on the balcony and catch up.”
“About what? Not much has happened since yesterday.”
He knew then that he was going to have to try a little harder. “You can tell me how your meeting with your client went.”
Allison found it impossible to swallow and not much easier to breathe. Zane had picked the one topic of conversation she did not want to explore, especially not when he was looking good enough to eat. Damn him. It was one thing when he was wearing a pair of board shorts, but there was something about Zane in a pair of perfectly tailored flat-front trousers and a dress shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, that absolutely slayed her. He would always have her number. Even when he’d been a jerk to her. Even when he was going around picking uncomfortable things to discuss. “Wine sounds great, but I’d rather skip work talk. It’s been a long day.”
“Whatever you want.”
He poured them each a glass of wine, and she tried to ignore the pull he had on her. It came from the vicinity of her belly button, although just being around him made the more feminine parts of her body quake and yearn, as well. They stepped out onto the patio overlooking the back of Scott and Brittney’s beautiful wooded lot. The early-evening air was warm
