Page 25 of Flirt Away

He brushed her cheek. “I seem to have made you cry. That is never my goal.”

She smiled. “These are happy tears. And this is the most beautiful gift anyone could have ever given me.”

“You won’t be thanking him when we land,” one of the boys said. “It’s not always fun.”

“So not cool, dude.” Zane arched his brow.

“Hey, young man. Apologize right now,” the mom said as she tugged at the boy’s ear.

“It’s okay,” Dixie replied. “Thanks to this guy. A bad landing is not only worth the view, but it’s worth the risk.” She palmed Zane’s cheek and gave him a more PG-13-rated kiss—tongue and all.

9

Zane sat outside of Dixie’s office building and tapped the photo icon on his cell. He couldn’t go an hour without looking at a picture of her. How had he gotten so lucky as to land such a sweet and sexy girl?

It had been nearly two months since they’d started dating, and he knew she was the one.

The only one.

He’d fallen head over heels in love with Dixie Gaynor.

Zane:Hey, babe. How’s your day going? Almost done?

He glanced at the time. He was fifteen minutes early, and it was possible she was with a patient. When the bubbles appeared immediately, it shocked him but excited him more.

Dixie:Just finishing up paperwork. Did you hear from your brother?

Zane:Still at the hospital. Still no baby. He said it could be a while.

Dixie:Are you sure you want to go to this party? You don’t have to come with me if you’d rather go be with your family.

Zane:I want to come. I want to meet your friends now that we are all official. Besides, there is nothing I can do at the hospital but sit in a waiting room. As soon as Gayle has the baby, I’ll go visit them.

Dixie:Okay. But you can back out at any time. However, I have to warn you that my cousin is like a big brother to me, and he can be overprotective. He’s been weird about me ‘hiding’ you all this time. His wife isn’t any better. So, be prepared for some obnoxious questions.

Zane:I’m sure I can handle the big-brother type. I’m in the parking lot. Ready whenever you are.

Dixie:On my way down.

Zane leaned against his pickup. He preferred his Harley, but it was supposed to rain. Besides, Dixie wasn’t a huge fan of his motorcycle, and he was all about pleasing his girlfriend.

Girlfriend.

Wow.

He didn’t think he’d be thinking in those terms after his last one plastered their failed relationship all overPage Six. Of course, that’s what he got for dating an actress, but still. His sexual tastes didn’t need to be exposed to the world. Not that he cared if anyone knew he’d once dabbled in bisexuality. That was his business, not anyone else’s.

In actuality, his only grievance with Rebecca had been that she’d made public their private life, and only because she wanted to hurt him. In the process, she did a world of damage to other innocent people who had nothing to do with their problematic romantic entanglement.

The building’s front door swung open, and the most amazing woman in the world stepped into the sunlight. Her bright-copper hair bounced over her shoulders, and she smiled.

“Hey, good-looking,” he said as he pulled open the passenger-side door. “Your chariot awaits.”

“Mmmmmm. Aren’t you sweet?” She patted his chest.

He pulled her close, pressing his mouth to hers, slipping his tongue between her lips. Shamelessly, he squeezed her ass. God, he loved everything about this woman. He never wanted to go a day of his life without her in it. “This might not be the best place to do this, or the most romantic, but I need to tell you something.”

“Oh. That sounds slightly ominous.”

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