Page 28 of The Mechanics of Lust

And if I happened to notice Zach scowling at us from the bar, so be it.

We finished our beers and Doug pushed his chair back to stand. “Well, it’s been nice getting to know you,friend.” He offered his hand and we shook. “I’m up for a beer anytime, with or without the fries.” He winked and I found myself laughing again. After the week I’d had, it felt good, and I was pleased I’d agreed to the drink.

When Doug was gone, I debated the merits of getting sloshed in front of the telly while feeding my face with salty snacks and watching the last day of the Black Caps’ cricket test in South Africa. The answer was a reluctant but healthy no to the first, but yes to the second and third, and I headed to the bar to buy a few packets of potato chips and save myself a trip to the supermarket.

On my way across the room, I stopped to wish Sam a happy birthday, say a quick hi to Holden and Gil while skirting their pointed questions about mydate, and then made a beeline for the bar. I’d paid for my potato chips and was about to leave when I sensed Zach beside me. Freshly showered and lightly doused in the cologne he favoured, I’d have recognised him anywhere.

He leaned across the bar and raised a hand to get Nola’s attention, brushing our shoulders in the process. It was all I could do not to turn my head and breathe him in.

“Just a minute, Zach,” Nola called back as she disappeared into the kitchen.

Zach dropped his hand and rested his arms quietly on the bar, his gaze fixed on the mirrored wall of bottles that faced us. I was debating whether or not to say something and break the ice when he finally spoke, his eyes finding mine in the reflection.

“Did you have a nice date?”

I almost laughed. “You could probably tellmethe answer to that.”

He turned and leaned his elbow on the bar, green eyes blazing. And was it bad that I wanted nothing more than to kiss him and then fuck him senseless over the shiny surface? “What are you implying?”

I buried those images and shook my head. “Just teasing, sorry. And yes, I had a nice time, thank you for asking. Although, as I keep telling everyone, itwasn’ta date.” I gathered my bags of chips and made to leave. “You have a nice evening, Zach.”

But Zach spoke before I could move. “He looked good... tonight. Doug, I mean.”

Was he... fishing? Jealous? Was Doug right?I stared into those guarded green eyes lit with something more than curiosity, and thought, fuck it. In for a penny, in for a pound, right? “No one looks better than you did coming through those doors tonight, Zach.” I let my gaze travel down his body and then back up, noting the fire blossom in his cheeks. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

His pupils briefly flared and he swallowed hard, drawing my gaze down to that tempting dip at the base of his throat that I wanted to taste so bad. “So—” He cleared his throat and drew my attention back to his pretty face. “You didn’t... I mean you’re not going to... you two are just friends?” He glanced over my shoulder and I turned to find Gil watching us from a few metres away.

I raised a brow at my ex but all he did was grin. And when I turned back around, Zach was blushing again. Huh.What was that all about?“You were saying?”

Zach sighed. “I’m sorry, I had no right to ask.”

I frowned at the apology, which was very un-Zach-like, and decided on that basis alone to answer. “Yes, we’ve decided to keep it to friends. I could do with a few, don’t you think?” A little pointed but I was done treading lightly.

“Of course.” Zach sighed and glanced toward the kitchen like he was mentally willing Nola to reappear.

I remained quiet and let him dangle. This was his show, after all.

He scratched his chin and said, “So, how’s the new job going?”

I almost laughed. “Jesus, Zach, are we doing small talk now?”

He bristled. “It’s a simple question.”

It was, but it also wasn’t, at least not from the man who’d spent a year shutting down every attempt at conversation initiated by me. I could pout and get all pissy about it, or I could take the unexpected turn of events for what it seemed—some kind of olive branch.

“Okay then, fine, I’ll play along.” I smiled at his eye roll. “Work is good. I like the flying. It’s different from what I’m used to, and challenging, which I like. Gary Furlong is fun to work for. He’s a straight shooter and I like that in a boss... and a man,” I added simply to see that flush of Zach’s deepen, which it did. Point to me.

“Right,” he flustered, once again looking over my shoulder to where I supposed Gil was still standing, nosey bastard that he was. “The cute Irish accent doesn’t hurt either.”

“True,” I agreed.

“It doesn’t bother you being this close to Gil and Holden on a daily basis? It’s a lot different from visiting.”

It was a valid question and I considered my answer.

“Zach, here you go.” Nola slid a beer along the bar.

Zach caught it with a “thank you,” then turned back to me.

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