Page 64 of Trust

Zane refilled her wine glass and then pulled out another beer. “This is why entertaining is a bad idea.”

She turned a burner on and slid over a pot filled with potatoes. “Having people over is not ill-advised. Clearly, there’s some kind of boy-girl drama happening, and I bet by the time we sit down to this delicious meal, detente will have been achieved.”

Zane snorted. “Not likely.”

Narrowing her eyes, she shook some salt into the pan. “Feel like sharing what’s got you wound tighter than a clock?” She waved a wooden spoon in the direction of the porch. “It can’t be the company since two belong to your family.”

“They’re your guests, Liv. Not ours.”

“Ooohhhh,” she said quietly. “I get it.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

Here we go, she thought as she lifted her wine glass. “Nothing, Zane.”

“The condescension in the comment tells me it’s goddamn something.”

Frustrated beyond measure, she set her glass down and spun around. “You want to fight with someone? Go to the other room and choose one of your relatives.” She picked up the spoon. “All I did was invite you and your cousin over for dinner. It’s not a sign that I’m interested in some sort of domesticity together.” Slapping the spoon down on the counter, she let out a groan. “As surprising as it might be, your ever-present cloud of doom and gloom isn’t all that attractive.” She waved her hands. “I don’t have you handcuffed to my side, so go home and glower at your dead relatives.”

“Jeez, I’m sorry.” Zane kicked the ground. “It’s just…”

“That you saw a glimpse of what we could be and freaked out. Did pissing me off seem easier than just admitting you’re not ready for anything serious?” She resisted his hand tugging hers for a few seconds and then gave in. He pulled her into his chest, and she wished it didn’t feel so damn much like home.

“I’ve been fighting an anxiety attack since I got here, and…”

“It’s not going well,” she whispered.

“Nope.”

“And starting a fight seemed like a good answer?”

“Believe it or not, that wasn’t what I was trying to do.” He skated his hand along her back. “I have no idea how to deal with this crap. I’m accustomed to dominating every space I enter.”

“You may need some new ammo for your current enemy because your emotions don’t likely have a whole lot of respect for bullets or bombs.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Feel like doing anything about developing new skills so the dragons circling your castle begin to respect your majesty?”

“Believe it or not, I do.”

She pushed at his chest and stepped back. “I’m not asking for me; it’s for you, Zane.” She lifted her hand and ran it over his grim smile. “You are a good person and have more than paid the price for whatever you think you did or didn’t do.”

He let out a resigned grunt. “Does that mean we can stay in the kitchen and eat supper in peace?”

“And miss the show our friends and family are putting on? No way!”

“It’s so damn uncomfortable, though.”

She patted his chest. “If I may be so bold, I’d like to offer another perspective.”

Zane rolled his hand. “Go ahead, babe, because we both know I’m powerless to refuse you.”

Pursing her lips, she smoothed out his shirt. “As it should be.” She saw her sister in the doorway. “More drinks?”

“I’m going home. Headache.”

“Okay,” before she could say more, Lucy disappeared through the door. “My goodness, that’s unusual.”

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