Zach expected her to run off. To lengthen the stride of those long legs of hers and do her best to leave him behind.

She didn't.

Haley kept pace with him, staying right beside him as they left the bar and headed up the block. Maybe not right beside him—there was a good two feet separating them. But she didn't try to get ahead of him, didn't try to take off. And it wasn't just because he was carrying her duffel bag. If Haley had been that anxious to get away from him, there was no doubt in his mind that she would have ripped the bag from his hands and done just that.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his jaw clenching in anger when he noticed how tense she was. Her hands were jammed into the pockets of her coat and her shoulders were hunched around her ears.

Angry? Yeah, probably. But it was something more than that.

It was almost like she was afraid to go home. Afraid to get too far ahead of him. Afraid to be out on the street by herself.

His own anger flared to life again and he ruthlessly pushed it back. Zach had questions. A lot of questions.

Starting with who the hell had pissed all over her door. Who the fuck would even do something like that? And why?

He'd have a better chance of getting an answer from the tattered duffel bag slung over his shoulder. There was no doubt in his mind that Haley knew exactly who had done it—or, at least, had a pretty good idea of who. It was just as obvious that she had no intention of telling him.

She turned her head, her eyes clear beneath her frown. "Tell me again what you're doing here."

"Told you—I was in the mood for some pool."

"Bullshit." She stopped and turned toward him, impatience flashing in her eyes. "Why are you here, Mummert? This isn't exactly your neck of the woods."

"Yeah? And how would you know that?"

"Because nobody in their right mind would choose to live here if they didn't have to."

Did she know how much she had just given away with those few words? Not just the words, but the frustration and bitterness that laced them? No, she didn't. Haley didn't volunteer information about herself, period. That more than anything let him know just how upset she really was.

Zach adjusted his grip on the bag and looked around, taking in the rundown buildings, the trash lining the street, the feeling of desolation that permeated everything around them. He blew out a quick breath then looked back at Haley.

"This isn't much different from where I grew up."

Her eyes flared in surprise. The emotion quickly disappeared, replaced by disbelief. "Yeah, right. You expect me to believe that? Try again."

Zach shrugged and started walking again. "Believe what you want. It doesn't matter to me."

"You, uh, you really grew up in a neighborhood like this?"

"Yeah, I really did. Does that surprise you?"

"I guess, yeah."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I just—I guess I thought all you hockey boys had it easy or something."

Zach laughed, the sound void of any real mirth. "Not even close. Hockey was my way out. There were a lot of nights when my mom didn't eat just so I could play."

"Oh." Haley looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Sorry. I didn't know—"

"Well, now you do."

Haley frowned then started walking again, her steps slowing as they turned the corner. Zach noticed the way she kept looking around, her gaze darting across the street, behind them, ahead of them.

"Looking for someone?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course not."

She was lying. Zach didn't push her though, not yet. There'd be plenty of time for questions once they were inside her apartment.

They reached her building. Haley pulled a set of keys from her pocket then turned toward him. "Can I have my bag now?"

"Sure." Zach lowered the bag then held it out to her. Surprise crossed her face, replaced by a flash of anger when he swiped the keys from her hand. He motioned toward the door, a smile on his face. "After you."

"I'm a big girl, Mummert. I don't need you pretending to be a gentleman and walking me to my door."

He let the insult slide past. "Too damn bad."

Zach was expecting an argument, especially when he noticed the muscle jump along the side of her clenched jaw. But Haley didn't say anything, just tossed another cautious glance around, looking for something.

Or someone?

Yeah, she was definitely worried about something.

He followed her up the stairs, the sound of their steps echoing around them. The dim light from her phone barely cut through the darkness, a poor attempt at keeping the encroaching shadows at bay.

"You should say something to your landlord about getting this light fixed."

"Yeah, right. Good luck with that." She stopped in front of the door, her nose wrinkling in distaste as she stared at the mostly-dried puddle in front of her door. "I'll replace it in the morning, just like always."

"It goes out a lot?"

She laughed, the sound filled with sarcasm. "You could say that. I just replaced it the last time you were here."

An odd little tingle crept along his spine. He stepped past Haley and reached up, his hand closing around the naked bulb. He gave it a little jiggle then twisted it, blinking against the sudden light that flared to life around them. Haley ran a shaking hand through her hair, her face paling in spite of the brief smile.

"I guess it just came loose."

"Yeah. Or maybe someone deliberately loosened it."

Worry flashed across her face, just for a brief second. She jammed the phone into her back pocket and glanced around. Tension tightened her shoulders and formed a bracket around her mouth. "It looked better in the dark."

He couldn't argue with that. The vinyl flooring of the landing was warped and discolored, yellowed with age and neglect. The edges curled near the wall, dark with years of dirt. Chunks were missing here and there, revealing rotted wood and more stains. At one time, the walls had been painted white; the color had long since turned gray, broken by the darker color of smeared hand prints and long gouges and scratches.

Haley cleared her throat and held her hand out. "I'll take my keys now."

Zach ignored her and thumbed through the key ring, searching for the right one. It was easy enough to guess, since there were only three keys on the ring. "Go stand in the corner and wait for me. I'll clean this mess up first."

Surprise softened the expression on her face, but only for a minute. Or maybe Zach had simply imagined it because the surprise quickly morphed into frustration. Haley jammed a hand on her hip and tilted her head to the side. "Stand in the corner? Really? What are you going to do if I don't—toss me over your lap and spank me?"

Desire, swift and powerful, flared to life inside him. It took more self-control than he thought it would to tamp it down, to banish the image of Haley, naked and excited, sprawled face-down across his lap. He didn't bother to hide his crooked smile as he let his gaze roam over her from head to toe and back up again.

"Sweetheart, I would love nothing better."

"You're a pig."

"Just one of my many charms."

Haley opened her mouth then quickly snapped it shut, obviously thinking better of whatever comeback she had been about to throw his way. Zach laughed when she folded her arms across her chest and leaned back against the wall, watching him through narrowed eyes.

Did she have any idea how fucking sexy she looked when she was pissed? Probably not. And he wasn't about to clue her in, either.

He turned back to the door and unlocked it, then used the same key to unlock the deadbolt. He stepped around the drying puddle and pushed his way inside, his hand sliding along the wall as he searched for the switch. Dim light filled the small living room as the door closed behind him. He tossed the duffel bag onto the worn sofa then made his way to the kitchen on his left.

Like the rest of the apartment, it was small. A few wooden cabinets, worn with age, were mounted above a small counter along the right wall. An old refrigerator sat in the corner next to the small window and a narrow table flanked by two folding chairs was pushed against the left wall.

Like the rest of the building, everything was old. Unlike the building, it was clean.

Zach looked under the sink then pulled out a bucket and a bottle of liquid cleaner. The strong scent of lemon filled the small room as he uncapped the bottle and poured the yellow liquid into the bucket and filled it with water.

Haley was standing right where he left her, the phone clutched in her hand. She looked up with a frown then quickly jammed the phone back into her pocket. Zach didn't miss the worry that pinched her face, or the way her body stiffened.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Fine."

She was lying again. Zach watched her for a few seconds, wondering if he should call her out on it. No, not yet.

He pulled the door closed and splashed some of the water on the front if it, then took the rag and wiped it down.

"I can do that myself, you know."

"Yeah, I know." He splashed more of the water on the floor in front of the door.

"Zach, you don't have to do that."

He looked over his shoulder with a grin. "Easy there, Red. You keep using my real name like that and I might make the mistake of thinking you like me."

"God, you are such an ass."

He laughed again then dumped the rest of the water on the floor, watching as it spread around and ran down the first few steps. He straightened then pushed the apartment door open. "After you, Red."

"I'll get a mop—"

"Just let it soak for a bit. I can mop it later."

She looked like she wanted to argue. Hell, he was expecting an argument. But she surprised him because she walked past him, stepped over the puddle, then turned around with a funny expression on her face.

"Thank you."

And shit, he hadn't expected that. Not even close.

Zach hesitated for a few long seconds—probably because he was still stunned—then followed her into the apartment. Haley was standing in front of the refrigerator, her back to him, when he entered the kitchen. Her body tensed and for a second, he wondered if it was because he was standing behind her. Hell, it wasn't like he could go anywhere else, the kitchen wasn't that big.

But it wasn't because of him.

She reached for the phone in her back pocket and stared down at it, her profile etched from granite. Then she jammed her finger against the power button and threw the phone onto the table. It slid across the surface and hit the floor.

Zach rinsed the bucket and rag and sat them to the side. Haley was still standing in front of the refrigerator, staring at the mostly empty shelves. He leaned against the counter and folded his arms in front of him, watching her.

"Your phone fell."

"I know."

"Don't you want to pick it up?"

"Not really."

"Why not?"

She slammed the door shut then spun around to face him. "Because I don't."

"So who was it?"

"Who was who?"

Zach glanced down at the phone then looked back at Haley. "Whoever it is you're trying to ignore."

"Nobody." She stepped away from the refrigerator and tried to push past him. Zach reached out and caught her arm then spun her around, trapping her between his body and the counter. Her eyes widened in surprise then quickly narrowed.

"Do you always have to be such an ass, Mummert?" 

"What's going on, Red?"

"Nothing."

"Bullshit. Who is it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, you do. Is someone bothering you?"

She turned her head to the side, refusing to look at him. "Only you."

"Yeah? I'm not the one who pissed all over your door."

"It was probably just kids—"

"Bullshit. You're lying. Who was it?"

"I don't know."

Zach reached for her arm and held it up between them. The bruises were faded now but still visible, the ugly discoloration marring the fragile skin of her wrist. The sight of them ignited another flare of anger and he quickly tamped it down. "Is it the same asshole who did this to you?"

She yanked her arm back and glared at him. "It's nothing."

"Really? Those bruises aren't nothing. Someone pissing all over your door isn't nothing. Whatever the hell was up with you throwing your phone isn't nothing." Zach stopped, pulled in a deep breath and let it out, forcing himself to calm down. "What the hell is going on, Red?"

"I told you, it's nothing. I can handle it."

"You're lying."

She made a sound low in her throat, a mix of frustration and something else. "Why do you even care?"

"Because I do. Because I'm worried about you."

Her eyes widened in surprise, their depths filling with disbelief. Zach couldn't blame her—the words had surprised him as much as they obviously surprised her. But they were nothing but the truth. He did care and he was worried. The thought of someone hurting Haley, the thought of someone trying to terrorize her, filled him with anger and dread and made him want to go all caveman on whoever was doing it.

Damn if he'd tell her that, though. Or maybe he didn't have to, maybe she could see it in his eyes and on his face. She reached between them, her hands flattening against his chest. He started to step away, figuring she was ready to push him back, ready to dart past him. Instead of pushing him away, her fingers curled in the material of his sweatshirt and pulled him closer.

The air around them changed, grew heavier. Thicker. Time slowed, stopped. Awareness shot through him, filling him with a sharp ache as his mind registered the heat of Haley's body pressed against his. The length of her slim legs touching his, the feel of her lean hips wedged between him and the counter. The way her eyes darkened as she stared up at him.

The sudden pull tugging at him as he moved even closer, his head dipping toward hers.

Insanity. Pure insanity.

"This is a bad idea, Red."

"I know."

"We'll kill each other."

Her tongue darted out and swiped across her lower lip. "I know."

Zach hesitated, tried to ignore the heat simmering low in his gut. This was a bad idea. A really bad idea. He knew it. She knew it. Nothing good could come of it.

But he didn't care.

"Fuck it." He lowered his head, his mouth claiming hers in a hungry kiss that ignited something deep inside him. Her mouth opened under his, her tongue darting out and swirling with his own. She moaned, a tiny sound low in her throat, filled with a need that echoed his own.

A need that severed the last tenuous hold on his sanity.