Page 67 of Words We Didn't Say

“Must have slipped my mind.”

“What else slipped your mind, I wonder?” Zach cocked his head, a slight tug to the corner of his lips. “Perhaps how you told him you’re head over heels for another man?”

“M-Maybe.”

“Maybe.” He grunted. “You’ve had your fun making me jealous, Denny Dee. This isn’t a game I want to play all the time, okay? I know you’re beautiful. I’ve always known I’m not your only option.”

He was right. I had plenty of options to be lonely, dance to the same old tune, and chase chaos. I hiked up my big-girl pants. “Zach, I’m sorry—”

He raised his palm to stop me. He wasn’t fishing for an apology. He wanted us to be honest with each other—and he was already light-years ahead of me.

“I’d like to renegotiate our terms,” Zach said.

Smirking, I flipped my hair off my shoulder. “You going all bossy lawyer on me?” My stomach fluttered. Now,thatwas a sexy thought. Even sexier than Zach, the uncorrupted monk.

“The. Bossiest.” A playfulness bounced in his eye I wasn’t sure I’d seen before. “If it’s you and me, it’sjustyou and me, okay? No more rugby players.”

I blasted him with my best finger guns as confirmation.

“No other men you or Yvette dream up to torture me either, agreed?”

“Agreed. Anything else?”

“Yes.” He beckoned me with his finger. “Come here.”

I glanced left, then right, and took a hesitant step.

“Closer, little schemer.”

A shaky smile curved my lips, and I took another step.

“Turn around.”

I slowly rotated on the spot. “Why do—”

A firm but gentle smack landed on my booty. I squealed, and with my brows speared down, I snapped a furious look at him over my shoulder.

He grinned. “Now, we’re even.”

18

He said, “I’d give anything to kiss you.”

Zach

The suit was toomuch.

I glanced around the restaurant. The intimate space was crammed to the ceiling, people talking over the jazz floating in the background, a melting pot of different styles, but a couple of guys were suited up. Okay, I wasn’t overdressed, but I could take it down a notch or two. Keep it more casual. Maybe that would help with the nerves.

Who was I kidding?

Nothing was going to help with the nerves.

I shucked my jacket, yanked down my tie, and folded my sleeves to my elbows. I fumbled open another button on my shirt, and another, and attempted to lounge back in the chair, my ankle propped on my knee. Better.Socasual.

But my calm veneer vanished when I spotted Eden at the door. I jumped to my feet, bumping the table, water sloshing out ofthe glass and snaking along the wood until I sopped up the mess with a napkin.

Eden arrived in front of me with a raised eyebrow.

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