“My brother.”
“His name is Scott. And he’s in the other room. And we’re here. And I’ve missed you.” He kissed her hand again, except this time, he closed his eyes and seemed to savor it.
She nearly passed out, but she had to keep her head straight. “You’re being so goofy. You missed me? I just saw you yesterday.”
He opened his eyes. “I know. And I was an ass by the dock.”
Hard to believe that had only been thirty-six hours ago. It felt like a lifetime. “Yes, you were. I get it, but it doesn’t change the fact that I wasn’t a fan.”
Scott’s voice came from the hall.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.” Zane tugged on her hand.
“What? Now? Where?” Her vision darted to the kitchen entry, then back to Zane.
He rolled his eyes. “So many questions.” He pulled her back into the dining room, where they could buy a few more seconds of privacy. “Come to my place, Allison. I want to be alone with you. I need to be alone with you.”
Her pulse went to thundering in her body the way it had during the storm. “What about what you said to me at the dock?”
“I was an idiot. I’m sorry.”
“There’s more to it, and you know that. What about Scott?”
“Now you sound like me.” He again raised her hand to his lips and delivered a soul-bending kiss. “No more excuses. Let’s get out of here, spend some time together and we’ll deal with him later. I need to be alone with you, Allison.”
How in the hell could she say no to that? She couldn’t, even when there was a small part of her that wanted to press him for more. For an explanation. For clarification about everything. But the reality was that she’d been waiting forever to hear him saying something so desperate, especially unprompted. So she’d take Zane’s offer. Even if it ended up being only sex. One more time. “What do we tell Scott?”
Zane pulled his phone out of his pocket and tapped away at the screen. He showed it to her. Taking your sister for a drive. Thanks for dinner.
“That’s it?” she asked.
“That’s it.” He tapped at his screen one more time, took her hand and out the door they went.
Just like Allison had always wanted.
Eleven
This was crazy. Absolutely certifiable. But something about the impetuousness of stealing away from her brother’s house with Zane, like a couple of brazen teenagers, made it so thrilling. Perhaps it was because at this time yesterday, when they’d been on the plane back to New Jersey, she’d been convinced this was never going to happen again. It might be foolish and stupid, but she had a glimmer of optimism. She hoped like hell Zane wouldn’t end up quashing it again. If he did, the disappointment would be of her making. She’d said yes to this. She’d gone with him because her heart had convinced her to take another chance.
Zane was showing off with the car, taking turns a little too fast, changing lanes when he had a whisper-thin margin of error and generally acting as though he didn’t care about repercussions. Allison sat back in the seat and allowed him his macho moment while she studied his grip on the steering wheel and counted the seconds until they would be at his place and those glorious hands of his could be all over her naked body.
The trip probably clocked in at under twenty minutes, but all of that anticipation made it feel as though it had been a cross-country trek. She’d never been to Zane’s place before, which was in one of the newest and most exclusive neighborhoods in town. The street was lined with stately houses, but Allison found Zane’s to be the most beautiful. Tucked away on top of a hill, a long stone driveway leading to it, the sprawling home was an oasis in this bustling town. She couldn’t help but think about how it was so much like Zane—on its own, standing apart, quietly magnificent.
He opened one of three garage bays and pulled the car inside. Two other gleaming sports cars and a motorcycle were already parked there. Zane had done well for himself with his business. That much was clear. He turned off the ignition, and they were both noticeably rushing to get inside. He opened the door for her, shut off his security system via a keypad and took her hand, marching through the mostly dark house. They traveled through an unbelievable kitchen, nearly three times the size of Allison’s back in LA, then down a central hall toward the back of the house. Allison was busy trying to look at everything—she wanted to soak up every bit of Zane’s tastes. She wanted to scrutinize the artwork and try to speculate about what had drawn him to the pieces he’d chosen. She wanted to do the same with furniture and paint colors. She wanted to know him inside and out.
“A tour would be nice,” she said when they’d reached a set of tall double doors at the end of the hall.
Zane pushed them open and flipped a light switch. “I know. Let’s start here.”
Allison stepped into the most stunning, jaw-dropping bedroom she’d ever seen, which was saying a lot since Zane was adjusting the dimmer to a level fit for seduction. The space was like something out of a magazine, with a soaring cathedral ceiling, a spacious seating area to one side with a modern charcoal-gray sectional sofa and a TV, and at the very center of the room, a gorgeously appointed bed. She took her chance to run her hand over the crisp white duvet, the threads silky beneath her touch. This room was nothing short of sheer perfection.
Zane came up behind her, gripping her shoulders and pressing his long frame against her back. He kissed her neck softly, bringing her body to a gentle boil. “Do you approve?”
Allison’s eyes drifted shut,
