She should not sleep with Zach Ashley.
Kiera lay in bed that night thinking about those seven words. One corner of her brain knew they were true. But it was the only part of her body that agreed. Everything else was all tingly and jumpy and let-me-at-him.
She rolled over and stared at the clock. Damn Zach for keeping her up late, all hot and bothered, mooning over the things he’d said. Damn him for wrecking her sleep with just a few hot looks and hot kisses and those hands. She could still feel his touch on the back of her thigh.
He was so…unexpected.
And she wanted to help him. Which was making her crazy. She didn’t fix other people.
But tonight, watching him watch Aimee in the kitchen, Kiera had realized that Aimee wasn’t the one who needed healing after her sister’s death. Zach did. And that meant Kiera should avoid getting in any deeper with him.
Then another thought occurred, one even worse than the ones about getting involved and helping Zach: I wonder what he would do if I showed up on his doorstep right now.
Of course, it would actually be in thirty minutes, after she got to the train, rode it downtown, and then got to his apartment down by the wharf. Which she wasn’t doing at midnight. Not even for a booty call with Zach Ashley.
He might come to her, though…
She picked up her phone and pulled up his number. She lay staring at it for nearly two minutes. She just wanted to connect with him somehow. She wanted him to know she was thinking about him. And yeah, she wanted him to be thinking about her.
So she’d text him. That was enough. She wasn’t really interested in having a phone conversation. It just kind of felt that way. For some reason.
Kiera considered her message. If he was already asleep, then she wouldn’t be bothering him. He’d just see the message in the morning. Which meant it needed to be something innocuous.
You still awake?
There. That was definitely vague and harmless. She hit send before she could rethink it.
In the next few seconds, she realized she was not going to ask him to come over for a booty call. That would be ridiculous. And if he said no, she’d be crushed. And if he said yes, she’d like him even more.
Yeah, this was a bad idea.
You okay?
Her heart melted a little that his first response was concern for her.
You weren’t sleeping?
Doesn’t matter. I’m here anytime.
I was just thinking about you, she told him honestly.
Maybe I should come over and ensure you’re not thinking about anyone else for the rest of the night. Or tomorrow. Or ever.
Oh boy.
Her thumbs hovered over the Y, the E, and the S. And the exclamation point.
Then a thought occurred to her. Zach was a hands-on guy. He probably didn’t like texting, but he was doing it because she wanted to. She also knew it wouldn’t last. He was going to want to get real-life with her…and she was going to let him. So maybe she needed to show him how fun texting really could be while she had a chance.
What I’m thinking about is you lying in bed, in the dark, thinking of me, she said.
Accurate, he sent back.
Naked.
She held her breath waiting for his response.
How did you know?
Her breath whooshed out.
Letting my imagination run, she told him.
I’m calling you right now to tell you all about what my imagination has been doing to me.
No calling. She wanted to draw this out. Text only. Tell me what you’ve imagined.
I want to hear your voice.
She decided to be honest with him…and to show him how this was going to go all at the same time. I’ll come too quickly if you talk me through it. Just type.
There was a longer pause before he responded, and Kiera pictured his expression, a combination of surprise and heat.
In my imagination, the princess of Leokin is a dirty talker. Please tell me that’s true.
Definitely true. How about you?
Are you asking if I will, at some point, say something like “I want to lick you from head to toe and make you come on my tongue?” Yes. Definitely.
Heat slid through her, settling low and deep. She moved her legs against the sheets restlessly as she typed, Pretty good. What else do you have?
Pretty good? You prefer “I want to lick you from head to toe and suck on your clit until you beg me to make you come?”
Holy…She was possibly in over her head. Already. Yeah. That was better.
Okay, big talker, how about you?
She took a breath. She had never typed the word cock or anything related into a text message in her life. But now that word and many others were clamoring in her mind. She channeled a little of her inner warrior princess who faced everything head-on with confidence and typed, Wrap your hand around your cock.
It felt deliciously dirty to even type the word cock, knowing that Zach was going to be reading it.
Done.
Kiera grinned. Now imagine me on my knees next to you, my mouth open just above it.
Done. And your gorgeous ass is toward my head, and you’re leaning over just enough so I can see how wet you are.
Her eyes widened. And she’d thought she would be in control here?
She typed, But you can’t touch. You can only look or I won’t get any closer.
You don’t want me to slide my fingers inside you, deep and slow?
Kiera’s heart was thumping, and she became aware she was breathing hard. She squeezed her legs together. I want to take you in my mouth first. Lick you and suck you. Take you almost to the edge.
I’m on the fucking edge right now.
Ah, he was losing a little of his cool. She liked that. So let me lick you. Just for a little bit. Move your hand and imagine my mouth. Hot and wet.
You’re pushing me, Princess.
I know. She hit send with what she was sure was a mischievous grin. I want you to lose control.
Not in your mouth. I won’t come until I’m inside you.
She hesitated. Did he mean literally? He wouldn’t come tonight while they were sexting? Oh, that wasn’t an option.
I’ve got my vibrator right here but I’m not turning it on until you come.
It was in her bedside table. Close enough. Kiera sat up and stripped her pajama top and shorts off, tossing them to the side. She was all in here, and he’d better be too.
Run your finger over your clit.
She wanted to be the boss here. But if he insisted…
She ran the pad of her middle finger over the bundle of nerves. The touch shot a current of electric need through her. She circled and pressed a few times, the coil of craving winding tighter.
You’re good at this, she texted back.
Damn right I am.
She really did love his cockiness. At times.
Stroke your
Her message was cut off by the next one he sent. Your mouth is like heaven. Straddle me so I can get my tongue on you. Let’s do this together.
Her mind instantly moved her into the sixty-nine position with Zach, and she reached for the drawer holding her vibrator. She pulled her pink friend out and pushed the button to start the low hum.
I’m with you, she sent back.
Are your nipples hard? I swear I can still feel them against my palms from the other night.
The other night. Her nipples remembered him too. They tingled and tightened from that simple reminder.
Yes. She couldn’t really elaborate on that, could she?
I wish I could suck on them. Pinch one for me.
Okay, so he could elaborate.
She did as he asked, moaning at the sensation and suddenly wishing he were there doing it instead. Maybe he’d come over after all…
Her phone dinged with another message. Are you doing it? Tell me how it makes you even wetter for me.
On second thought, if he were here in person, she’d be a melted puddle of goo already.
I was already wet. But I’m doing it.
Now rub the vibrator on your clit. Imagine it’s my finger.
She moved her hand to pick up the vibrator. She had to keep a hand free for the phone and was now regretting the texting-and-not-calling thing. Still, she could practically hear his voice as she read his words. This wasn’t going to last long.
Are you still stroking yourself? she asked. Imagining my mouth or my hand?
Both. You can’t take me fully with your mouth. You have to use your hand too.
She sucked in a breath and turned the vibrator up.
But I told you I’m not coming this way. Ready for your ride?
She so was. You mean, am I ready for the rogue pirate captain to pillage me?
There was another long pause. Then he sent back, No pirate captain tonight. No princess warrior. Just you and me, Kiera. The real you and me.
She realized that she’d thrown the pirate in there for some distance. And he knew it. This was intense. She had as much distance as she could have and still be connected to him. And yet she was feeling overwhelmed.
She pulled in a deep breath, her body begging her to finish what they’d started. Okay, the real you and me, she typed back.
Slide the vibrator into that sweet pussy where I wish I could be. Imagine it’s me filling you up, making you moan and come.
She did what he said, sliding the vibrator lower and into where she was aching.
Her eyes closed, and she imagined Zach there with her, his big hands gripping her hips, saying all these naughty things in that rough, low voice, heat in his eyes as he watched her take him in. She started climbing, the need tightening low and deep.
She fumbled for her phone, needing to know that he was there with her, as consumed by all this as she was. It took her forever to type with one thumb, and thankfully the auto-correct gods were on her side. I’m almost there. Tell me you are too.
Oh, I am, Princess. In my mind, you’re gripping me hot and tight.
She let her eyes slide closed again for a moment, moving the vibrator in and out, but after only a few strokes, her phone buzzed. She opened her eyes to see, Come for me, Kiera.
There was no stopping it. The image of Zach coming at the same time spiraled her to completion. She let out a soft cry as pleasure rolled over her.
For a moment she lay motionless, with no sound other than the thundering of her heartbeat and the low hum of her vibrator. The can’t-be-beat contentment of a great orgasm followed shortly after, and she almost laughed.
She wasn’t sure she’d had that great an orgasm ever before, and this one had been via text.
She clicked the vibrator off and tossed it onto the bed beside her, both thumbs now free to text Zach back. See? Technology isn’t all bad.
You just wait until I get you alone in person. Hands-on is always better.
Kiera felt goose bumps erupt over her entire body. She covered her eyes with one hand. Putting her thoughts and wants in writing was an intimate act. She hadn’t really thought about that before. And he could keep those thoughts and wants and reread them again and again.
She quickly texted, You better delete this whole conversation.
Not on your life. I might just start at the top again before I go to sleep.
Kiera felt her cheeks burning, but she couldn’t deny her smile. No, just go to sleep. Good night.
Good night, Princess. Thanks for the new dreams I’ll be having tonight.
How could a guy be so naughty and sweet at the same time?
But as she started to reach for her phone charger, a thought occurred to her.
She could reread the conversation from the top again before she went to sleep too.
* * *
Saturday morning was bright and sunny. Almost as bright as the smile Aimee gave Kiera as she met her in front of Zach’s building. He was at work, and Kiera and Aimee were headed to the coffee shop where Aimee was meeting her clan in person for the first time.
“How are you going to know who they are?” Kiera asked Aimee as they entered the busy shop a few minutes later.
Aimee looked around, then held her hand up over her head, her index finger and thumb extended in the shape of an L for Leokin. Two girls at a table across the room held their hands up with L’s.
Aimee smiled at Kiera. “Like that.”
Kiera laughed, but she had to admit that her throat got a little tight too. Seeing the Leokin L used like that was surreal. It was the classic “loser” L that everyone knew from middle school, but the Leokin fandom had given the sign a new, positive meaning.
“But we know what everyone looks like. We’ve live-chatted in Leokin too.”
Of course they had. Kiera wasn’t sure why she hadn’t thought about them using the cameras in their computers to chat face-to-face. Maybe because she’d never used hers. She still preferred the text-type chatting. Like texting with Zach. Or sexting. She felt her whole body grow warmer. She was still able to recall every word of the sexting from three nights ago. Probably because she’d reread them all half a dozen times since.
Aimee pointed to the counter, indicating she was going to get some coffee before joining her new friends. The girls nodded, and Aimee and Kiera moved into the line. It was long but seemed to be moving steadily.
“Are you nervous?” Kiera asked.
“About meeting them? Not at all. Excited.”
“Really? Not even a little?”
Aimee laughed. “I know them. I’ve seen their faces, heard their voices. I’m more comfortable with them than I am with anyone.”
“No kidding.” Kiera hadn’t realized how close Aimee really felt to her clan.
“They know things about me no one else does,” Aimee told her.
“Like what?” It was nosy, especially for Kiera, but she couldn’t help it.
Aimee shrugged. “They know everything about me, really. I can talk to them about Zach and how he drives me nuts. And my parents.”
Kiera’s heart stuttered a little. “Things about your parents that Zach doesn’t know?”
Aimee chewed on the inside of her cheek as she met Kiera’s eyes. Kiera could tell that she was worried Kiera would tell Zach whatever it was.
“Just between us,” Kiera said.
Aimee took a breath. “My mom’s an alcoholic.”
Kiera frowned. “Zach doesn’t know?”
“He knows, but he thinks she’s going to AA.”
Kiera chose her words carefully. “I can’t imagine Zach wouldn’t know she was drinking.” She had never met a person more involved in other people’s lives than Zach Ashley.
Aimee seemed surprised by Kiera’s words, but finally she gave a little nod. “I think you’re right. That he knows, I mean. But we don’t talk about it.”
They moved up in line, and Kiera thought about dropping it. But she couldn’t. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to make him feel bad,” Aimee said. “He already feels bad about so much. If he knew Mom quit AA, and his attempt to get her sober didn’t work, he’d be pissed. At himself. If he knew how much her drinking bothers me, he’d try to fix it. But there’s no way for him to do that. Mom has to do it.”
They moved up in line again, and Aimee took a deep breath before she went on. “Just like he can’t make me stop missing Josie. It’s just how it is. Yes, it hurts. But he can’t change it so that frustrates him and makes him feel bad. And I don’t like him feeling bad so I don’t talk about this stuff with him.”
Kiera’s heart squeezed. Aimee was trying to protect Zach. She was trying to make things better for him too, at least in her mind.
“He feels bad that you don’t leave your room and seem depressed and withdrawn,” Kiera said.
For a second Aimee looked sad. “Yeah,” she agreed. “Me moving in helped him with some of that, but I thought it would help more than it has.”
Kiera frowned again. “What do you mean that moving in helped him?”
“Zach didn’t like how things were at home after Josie died. Mom was drinking more, Dad was never home, so I just stayed in my room all the time and tried to avoid everything. Zach insisted that I move in with him. I agreed, because I knew that would help him.”
“Because that would make him feel like he was doing something to fix things?” Kiera guessed.
Aimee nodded. “I mean, it did make things easier for me in some ways. But ultimately it still couldn’t fix the problem—Josie being gone.”
The line moved again, and Aimee began perusing the bakery case.
“I’m sorry about your mom,” Kiera said. “I’m sure losing Josie was horrible for her.”
Aimee nodded. “But she always drank. Even before Josie died. Sometimes it’s Irish cream in her coffee or vodka in her orange juice. It’s not like she passes out on the couch every night or anything. But she’s tipsy a lot.”
Kiera’s heart ached. Aimee was right that it would have hurt Zach to think that his attempt to help had failed. She knew how hard it was to know someone you loved was doing things that would hurt them and that your influence wasn’t enough to help them.
They moved up again. There were now only two people in front of them in line.
Aimee turned to her. “You can’t tell Zach that my friends have been the reason I’m out and feeling better, okay?” she asked. “Or about Mom. I just want him to be happy too.”
“I won’t tell him,” Kiera said. She felt a similar temptation to protect him. She wanted to wrap him up and keep him from the news of his mom’s drinking. She wanted to see him smiling and happy and relieved that Aimee was doing better.
Kiera had kept herself out of other people’s business so she wouldn’t be hurt by their decisions. She now kind of wished Zach felt the same self-preservation instinct and that he wouldn’t worry so much about everyone else.
“Zach thinks that I’m the reason you’re getting out more,” Kiera told Aimee. “So that’s not really him helping you either, is it?”
Aimee gave her a smile that was far more mature than her seventeen years. “But he brought you to me, and he’s the reason you’re staying around. So indirectly he still feels responsible.”
Kiera thought about that. “He’s not the only reason I’m staying around.”
Aimee smiled and leaned in to give her a quick hug. “Thanks. I’m glad to hear that.”
Kiera hugged her back, but her stomach was in a knot as she finally placed her coffee order. She wasn’t going to be around after their parents’ party. That was the agreement. She and Zach were going to break up, and then it would seem that she really had been in all of this because of him.
By the time Aimee had picked up her cup of coffee and muffin from the end of the counter, a boy had joined the two girls at the table.
“He’s cute,” Kiera commented.
Aimee blushed. “That’s Cody. And yeah, he is.” She grinned at Kiera. “He’s also a fifth-level wizard and is one of only six people to make it through the Dilirion Desert.”
Kiera was impressed. “Well, I hope this meeting is everything you want it to be.”
Aimee gave her another quick hug and then headed for her friends.
Kiera claimed a table by the window where she could keep an eye on Aimee. She opened her laptop and prepared to work. But she couldn’t focus. She couldn’t keep her thoughts from Zach.
Not that it was a new problem. But since learning about his mom, she’d had the very unfamiliar urge to call him. To ask him how he was and what she could do to help. Kiera frowned. That was so outside her comfort zone she wasn’t sure what to do with it. When Sophie and Maya wanted to talk about something, she listened. But they came to her. Now her fingers were itching with the desire to dial Zach’s number. Not text him. But call him.
She shook her head and opened up her latest files, looking over graphics she’d done a couple of days ago. They weren’t final and wouldn’t be until she saw what Pete and Dalton were working on, but she had some details she could fill in no matter what they ended up doing.
Kiera finished one character, proud of her focus. She saved it and started to open the next, but the sound of someone’s laughter pulled her attention from the screen. She looked up, recognizing Aimee’s laugh.
Kiera’s heart swelled. Aimee’s face was bright, her smile huge, and she was leaning in closer to Cody, who had his arm over the back of her chair. The other girls seemed completely engaged in the conversation too, and Kiera found herself grateful to these three. She didn’t know them, knew only that they were into Leokin, but they were making Aimee happy. And Kiera loved Aimee.
The thought was startling at first, but after only a second, Kiera realized it was true. She was proud of the woman Aimee was and the potential Kiera saw in her. She enjoyed time with Aimee, and, yes, she cared about her. She wanted her to be happy.
The fact that those three people could make her that obviously happy made Kiera care about them too.
That’s how Zach feels about you.
That thought didn’t startle her, however. She knew Zach was grateful to her for making Aimee happier. But Kiera wasn’t concerned about Aimee. She was, however, concerned about Zach.
With a big breath, she picked up her phone. It would mean a lot to him if she called rather than texted. So with her fingers tingling with nervousness, she dialed his number.
Then hung up.
But it had rung once. Dammit. She’d panicked.
Her phone rang a moment later. It was Zach. Of course it was. He wouldn’t not call back. She could let it go to voice mail, but then he’d worry. And probably leave work to come see what was wrong.
She answered quickly. “Hello?”
“Kiera?”
“Hi.”
“Everything okay?”
She loved that he always asked that first. “Everything is great.”
“Oh.” He paused. “You called and hung up?”
“Yeah.” She couldn’t explain it, so she didn’t even try.
“But everything is okay?”
She could picture him, poised for action, ready to take care of whatever she said was going on with her or Aimee. “Aimee and I are having a great time at the coffee shop, and I was just thinking about you and…thought I’d call.”
She didn’t know how this type of small talk went.
“I’m glad you did.”
She could hear that he was relieved, and she smiled. “Sorry to worry you.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I love hearing your voice in the middle of my day, Princess. Just a first for us, you know?”
Kiera felt her smile grow. “Yeah, I know. I should have texted you a warning.”
He chuckled, the sound low and rough in her ear, sending tingles down her body.
Suddenly she wanted to tell him something more. Something significant. Something that would show him that he was not only someone she could talk to, but someone she wanted to talk to. “So, um, Aimee and I were talking a little bit ago,” she started. She now knew something about his parents, and she wanted to tell him something about hers. “She was saying—”
Suddenly she heard an alarm and then a muttered “Dammit” in her ear. “Princess, I have to go.”
Right, he was at work. “Yeah, okay.”
“I’m sorry…Shit. I’m sorry. I’ll talk to you later?”
“Sure, yes, of course.”
And then the phone line went dead.
Kiera sucked in a breath, staring at the phone screen. Wow, that had been close.
* * *
“We’re gonna shoot around for a while,” Troy said to Zach as their shift ended. “You sticking around?”
They’d put up a portable basketball hoop in the back parking lot, and it wasn’t uncommon to find the EMTs there during lulls in the action or hitting the makeshift court for twenty minutes before heading home. They were often joined by other ER staff as well. It was a great way to unwind after a hard day or to keep the blood pumping in between calls. EMT work was unpredictable, and it seemed that either they had busy shifts with one call after another or they sat around on their asses wishing for something to happen.
Zach glanced up from tying his shoe. “I don’t think so.”
Troy stopped halfway out the door and looked Zach over. “You already showered?”
“Yep.”
“You’re not staying?”
Zach grinned. He knew Troy’s “You sticking around?” hadn’t been a sincere question. He’d fully expected Zach to join them. Zach always joined them. Hell, it was usually his idea.
But he had something better to do tonight.
“I’ve got a date,” he told Troy. And he knew he was wearing a stupid, lovesick smile.
Troy definitely noticed. “A girl? Over basketball?”
Zach nodded.
“What time?” Troy asked.
There was no set time. Kiera didn’t even know he was coming over. They were supposed to go out after his game tomorrow night. But he wanted to surprise her tonight. “As soon as I get there.”
“So you could stick around another fifteen minutes,” Troy said.
“I could. I’m not going to.” Zach stood and slung his bag over his shoulder.
“Okay.” Then Troy turned and yelled down the hallway. “Get your mittens, boys, hell’s freezing over.” He shot Zach a grin. “Have fun.”
He fully intended to. In fact, he couldn’t remember looking forward to something this much in a very long time.
Forty minutes later he was on Kiera’s porch waiting for someone to answer the door. He shifted back and forth and considered, for the first time, that calling ahead might have been a good idea. He’d been excited to see her and hadn’t thought about the possibility that she wouldn’t be home. She loved to be on her computer, and her social calendar had revolved around Aimee this past week. But Aimee was out tonight, so he’d thought…Zach shook his head. What an ass. He’d been caught up in the idea of seeing Kiera, and the elation over the fact that Aimee was out with her friends. He’d also been caught up in the fact that Kiera had called him today. Called. Not texted.
Finally he heard movement inside, and the door swung open. Sophie stood in the doorway.
“Zach! Hi!” She was clearly surprised to see him, but she gave him a big smile.
“Hey, Sophie. Is Kiera home?”
“Yeah, we were just…Yeah, she’s here.”
Sophie moved back, and Zach stepped into the foyer. “Am I interrupting?”
She laughed. “Not really. She didn’t say you were coming over.”
“She didn’t know. Thought I’d surprise her.”
“Well, that would explain it.”
“Does she like surprises?” Zach asked. He hadn’t thought of that either.
Sophie looked up at him. “I think it’s safe to say that Kiera isn’t surprised very often. But I think you’ve been surprising her from the very beginning. And she definitely likes you. So I think you’re okay.” She paused, then added, “Thank you, Zach.”
“What for?”
“Falling for one of my best friends and making her so happy,” Sophie said. Then she turned and headed down the hallway. “Come on, we’re in here.”
Zach couldn’t take that first step for a few seconds. He was making Kiera happy? He wanted that to be true with an intensity that startled him. But the other part…“Falling for one of my best friends.” Was he falling for Kiera? He took a deep breath as Sophie disappeared into the dining room. He was standing in the foyer of the house of a woman who he hoped was in a sexy pirate slave costume in that dining room.
Yeah, he was falling for her.
He followed Sophie. He could hear Maya’s voice and Kiera’s laughter from the hallway, and when he stepped through the door, he saw they were sitting at the dining room table. Kiera was in a chair, her back to him, facing Maya. Maya was leaning in, doing something to Kiera’s face.
Maya looked up at him, and her eyes widened. Kiera turned to see what had caught her friend’s attention, and her eyes also went wide for a moment, just before she jumped to her feet, bumping into Maya and banging her knee on Maya’s chair as she turned.
“Zach!”
And he would have greeted her, but his tongue seemed stuck to the roof of his mouth. Because she was, indeed, dressed up. And it was as something far sexier than a pirate slave. She was dressed as a sports fan.
Of course, with a Kiera flair. She wore a short black skirt and a red tee that had been embellished with a black sparkly basketball. And rather than team face paint like the beer-guzzling guys tailgating on the weekends, she had another basketball shape made out of black and silver sparkly gems on one cheek.
But she was wearing his Sunday night basketball team’s colors.
“Hey, Princess,” he finally managed, his voice gruff. “You look great.”
She looked down, then quickly up at him, her cheeks nearly as red as her shirt. She stepped around her chair as she started rambling. “We were just…I told them I was going to your game…” Her hand flew to her cheek and, much to Zach’s dismay, she began peeling the tiny gems from her skin.
He crossed to her quickly and took her wrist, stopping her. “I’ve never seen anything hotter than you cosplaying for basketball as my own personal fanatic.”
Kiera looked up at him, her lips parted as she took a deep breath. “We were just messing around.”
“You weren’t going to wear this tomorrow?”
“Maybe the shirt,” she said quietly.
He looked down, taking in the whole ensemble up close. The sparkly basketball covered the center of the shirt, drawing even more of his attention to her chest. The red cotton top hugged her breasts, and the hem barely touched the top of the skirt. And he knew if she put her arms up to cheer, or to wrap them around his neck, it would show several inches of smooth skin. “I love this shirt.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll give you anything you want if you wear this tomorrow.”
“Anything, huh?”
There was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes now, and he knew she was relaxing.
“But we need to add a few sparkles,” he said. He put the tip of his finger over her heart. “We need the number eleven right here.”
“Why eleven?”
“That’s my number.” And did he want her marked as his? Fuck yeah. Especially if she was sitting in the stands where all his friends would see her. He didn’t want any of them mistaking her for some general fan. She was his.
“Oh, I wouldn’t know that, since you didn’t wear shirts,” she said, the mischief in her eyes now also in her smile.
“It’s on the bottom of the left leg of our shorts too,” he said, grinning back at her.
“Bottom, huh?” she asked. “Guess that would explain it. I don’t think my eyes made it past the top half of the shorts.”
He really loved flirtatious Kiera. He pulled her closer and realized that Maya and Sophie had slipped out of the room, leaving them alone. He also loved Kiera’s friends.
“I really like this outfit.”
“I thought you might,” she said.
They stood just looking at one another for a long moment.
“What are you doing here?” she finally asked.
“I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to see you,” he told her honestly.
Her eyes widened at that. “Really?”
“And I wanted to check on you. After the phone call and all.”
She looked down and fiddled with the front of her skirt. “That was just…”
“Nice. It was really nice,” he told her when she didn’t finish the sentence. She smiled up at him. “And,” he added, “I’m in an amazingly good mood.”
“Oh?”
“Aimee’s out with friends tonight.” He knew he was grinning like an idiot.
Kiera’s smile grew, and she nodded. “I know. You’re happy about it?”
“I’m freaking thrilled about it,” he told her. “She sent me a photo—she has her hair done, makeup on, she’s dressed in something other than sweatpants. It’s a miracle.”
“She didn’t wear sweatpants when we met at the coffee shop last week or today,” Kiera pointed out.
“Only because I made her change clothes that first day. But you’re right,” he admitted, “today she dressed appropriately to see you. You’re having a great influence on her.”
Kiera ducked her head, smoothing the front of her skirt. “She was in a great mood today when I saw her. I think she was really looking forward to tonight.”
“I do too. So I was thinking that you and I should go do something. Celebrate Aimee feeling better. Celebrate—” Damn, he’d almost said us. What was that? Celebrate us? That sounded so cheesy.
“Go do something like what?” Kiera asked.
“I have an idea. But it’s a surprise.”
She seemed to be considering that, but eventually she nodded. “Okay. Let me go change.”
He hated to see her take this stuff off. “But you’ll wear it tomorrow? The whole thing?”
She smiled. “I don’t know about the cheek gems.”
“Yes, the cheek gems too,” he said firmly.
She gave him a funny look. “Really?”
“Princess, I love you all sparkly.”
“You do?”
“You were sparkling the first time I laid eyes on you.”
He must have said something really right. Her eyes went soft, and she moved in and hugged him. Zach wrapped his arms around her, marveling at how good something so simple could feel.
After a moment Kiera slipped out of his arms. “I’ll be right back.” She was out the door and out of sight before he could respond.
Alone in the dining room, Zach looked around. He had no idea what half the stuff in here was called—the various tools and types of fabrics and accessories—but it all made him smile. Even if he didn’t get it completely, he liked it.