Page 28 of Engaging his Enemy
Davina winked at Zach as she reached for another bowl. “Glad you like it, Ben.” She ladled some into the bowl and tore off a piece of crusty bread, handing it to Zach before leading the way back into the living room and settling beside him on the sofa.
The soup was amazing, with spicy hot sausage, bits of bacon, and cubes of potatoes. Sitting with her like this, it was easy to imagine more nights just like this one, more time spent in her company. He couldn’t keep her at arm’s length. He never could.
Being with Davina didn’t have to be all-consuming. He planned to be in town to see Wyatt. There was no reason he couldn’t see Davina, too. Have quiet dinners just like this one. Share her bed if she’d have him. Wyatt wouldn’t even have to know they were seeing each other, and Moto would have all the time he needed to secure his relationship with his son.
When he was done eating, he set his bowl aside, ready to share his plans with Davina. “I’ve been doing some thinking.” He took her hand, staring at it wrapped in his own, liking the way it looked there. “I want you in my life. Both of you. I’ll help support Wyatt financially, of course. And I’d like to visit once a month, spend some time getting to know him.”
“That sounds fine.”
“I’d like to spend some of that time with you, too. Keep the focus on Wyatt, but there’s no reason you and I can’t be together if that’s what we both want. I do think it’s best if we keep my relationship with him separate from my relationship with you.”
She cocked her head. “Well, you’ve got it all planned out, don’t you?”
“I thought I did.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “I thought I could keep you at arm’s length and act like you didn’t matter to me anymore.” He chuckled. “But that plan didn’t work out so great.”
“Will we be sleeping together?”
The first warning bell went off in his brain at her direct and forward question, but he didn’t see where the danger was coming from. “If that’s what you want. I know it’s what I want.”
“Hmm. Interesting. And what about feelings? Are those allowed in your little plan?”
Now the alarm bell was ringing crystal clear, but it was too late to get out of his predicament. “I wasn’t implying I had everything worked out.”
“No, you weren’t implying it. You very specifically told me exactly how this was going to go.” She pulled her hand away from his. “You can’t justdecidehow relationships will go. You can’t just plan them like you’re planning a military attack, and you can’t dictate your relationship with Wyatt any more than you can dictate your relationship with me.”
“Of course not. I was just—”
“You were just doing everything you could to keep people out of your bubble, isn’t that right?”
“No, you’re misunderstanding me. I care for you. I’d like to keep seeing you. That’s what I’m saying.”
She crossed her arms. “When you’re in town, when it suits you, as long as I don’t get too attached, right?”
He wanted to backtrack, to start this scene from his entrance and try again, but it was far too late for that. He was suddenly very tired. “I didn’t say that.”
“You need to control everyone and everything. You always did. Back when we were kids, I didn’t know any better. I would have followed you to the moon and back if you’d crooked your little finger. But that isn’t what I want anymore.”
She shook her head. “Where do you breathe, Zach Sato? Where do you let your chest rise and fall as it might, rather than forcing each inhalation into a predetermined rhythm?”
Ben walked into the room from the kitchen and immediately came up short. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Yes,” said Zach.
“No,” said Davina.
“I’ll just, uh, head on upstairs to the guest room.”
Moto watched him go, suddenly sure he would be sleeping on the couch tonight and none too happy about Ben having claimed the extra bed. When he was gone, Moto said, “That wasn’t what I meant, Davina. I care about you. I just worry a relationship between us could be confusing for Wyatt.”
“Confusing.”
“That’s right.”
“You know what I think? I think a relationship between us would be confusing for you.” She stood. “And on that note, I’m going to clean up and go to bed. There are blankets in the hall closet.” She walked into the kitchen.
He looked into his empty soup bowl. At least there was more zuppa toscana. He could nurse his wounded pride with bits of bacon and potatoes. Tiny leaves of kale.
The loud whirring of the garbage disposal had him turning his head. Davina walked out of the kitchen with a smile pasted on her face. “There. Sweet dreams, Zach.” She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and pointed to the couch. “Oh, and watch out for the loose spring. It gets you right in the back.”
