Relentless (Code R.E.D. Book 4)

Chapter 5

The server appeared with their oyster appetizer and settled it on the plate, saving Zane from having to respond to Willow. The woman was too observant for her own good.

Zane couldn’t take his eyes off her as she handed the server her menu. She was so damned beautiful. But what mattered to him more was her unpretentiousness and even her directness when she asked questions he didn’t want to answer.

Vaguely he heard Willow tell the server, “I’ll have the salmon with the creamed spinach and the sautéed mushrooms as sides.”

Zane sucked in his breath and took a glance at his menu and just chose whatever struck him first. “Surf and turf, the filet medium rare.” He returned his menu to the server. “Mashed potatoes and asparagus.”

When the server left, Zane continued to study the beautiful woman across the table from him. He couldn’t keep staring at her. Even though his body still felt flushed with his orgasm and he had hardened again, he had to say something.

“You know what I do for a living.” Liar. “What about you?”

“I have my Mister Ed and I’m working for my Doctor Ed.” She smiled and he raised his brows. “That just means I have my master’s and I”m working on my Doctorate in Education.”

She continued and added, “I’m fifth year ABD at NYU. All-But-Dissertation. I’m working on my dissertation while I’m in Boston, and then I’ll go back to NYU to present it before a committee.”

“Dr. Randolph.” Zane offered her the plate of oysters on the half-shell. She took a couple and put them onto her plate. “Has a nice ring to it.”

He took a few oysters himself as she replied, “So does Special Agent Steele.”

“You said you were on your way to work when I met you at the park.” And I was about to hook up with an informant regarding an arms deal.

Willow shrugged. “For the time being, most afternoons I work at Macy’s in the cosmetics department. Once I have my doctorate, I’ll start looking for a position somewhere on the Eastern Seaboard.”

Zane didn’t have a clue about cosmetics and wasn’t sure he wanted to. “Any place in particular that you’d like to end up in?”

“I really love Boston. I always have.” That dimple again. “Before Dad left, we’d travel to Boston from Buffalo so that he could visit his brother, my uncle.”

For the first time since Zane met her, a troubled expression crossed Willow’s features. “Dad…a couple of years ago he ran off with a ‘cute little thing’ who’s younger than me.”

The troubled expression disappeared like a shadow replaced by sunshine when she changed the topic. “I have two bickering sisters, considerably younger, and they still live in Buffalo with Mom.”

“They’re in college?”

She shook her head. “Twins in their senior year in high school. Wendy and Sarah are ten years younger than me.” She rested her forearms and gave him that compelling, insightful look. “I’ll bet you’re the oldest brother, whatever your family size.”

“How do you do it?” Zane met her sea-blue gaze. “Read people.”

“I see it in your eyes.” Willow tilted her head to the side. “You worry about them and anyone else you love and care for.”

Zane cleared his throat. He didn’t like the direction this conversation had headed. “I have a very large Irish Catholic family.”

“Ha! I knew it,” Willow said with a grin. “How many brothers and sisters?”

“Four brothers, two sisters.” Zane couldn’t help smiling in response. Her grin was so infectious. “Mama and Papa have been married for almost forty years.”

Two servers arrived with two large trays of their dinner and loaded the table with all the dishes they’d chosen. Willow took a couple of sips of wine until the servers finished and left.

“Hmmm.” Willow spooned creamed asparagus onto her plate next to her salmon. “Bet everyone in your family lives around here and you get together regularly.”

“Every Sunday the whole mob shows up at Mama and Papa’s. Except Ryan who’s in the Marines.” Zane cut a piece of his filet. Before he knew the words were coming out of his mouth, he said, “Would you like to come to lunch with my family this Sunday?”

You are one screwed up SOB, Steele. What happened to no relationships? You’re moving way too fast, buddy.

Willow’s brilliant smile did such strange things to his gut that made him crave one smile after another from her. “Great. I have Sunday off.”

Zane started cutting his filet. “Mama is going to love you and I’m sure Lexi would like to see you. She was…close to your cousin.”

“Cool.” Willow took another sip of wine. “Can’t wait to meet all of them. Bet your mother fixes great Irish dishes, too.”

“She bakes one hell of a Shepherd’s pie.” He shook his head at the same time. “But honey, as far as betting goes, I’m not betting with you on anything again.”

* * *

Willow slippedher hand into Zane’s and smiled up at him as they walked outside into the summer evening.

The way Zane looked at her—entranced, yet the fear of relationships was constantly in his eyes.

A mystery, yes, but she’d bet it had something to do with his job. He didn’t have the look of a man who’d been burned—because he’d never let himself get that far in a relationship. He ran before it got too serious.

She might just have to change that.

“Where are you parked?” His smooth deep voice flowed over her, and it gave her delightful shivers.

“I took a cab.”

“From West Roxbury?”

“I hate driving in Boston.” She ran her hand from just below her breasts to her hip in a slow movement and watched his eyes follow her hand. “And I wasn’t crazy about riding the T dressed like this.”

Zane had that hungry look in his gaze again. “You’d better not ever ride the T dressed like that.”

Willow leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked, and he squeezed her hand tighter. “Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah.” His voice sounded concerned and possessive all at once and she wondered if he realized it. “I’ll take you back to your aunt and uncle’s.”

“I have a better idea.” She tilted her head to look up at him. “Why don’t you show me your place and we’ll finish what we started.”

She wondered if he realized he was squeezing her hand so hard or that she was holding her breath for his answer. “It’s a mess.”

Willow drew him to a stop at the corner near the parking garage. She looked at him, meeting his gaze, wishing she could see his green eyes better. “I’m not interested in what your place looks like. I’m interested in you.”

In the dim light coming from a nearby lamppost, she saw his throat work. Then he caught her completely off guard by releasing her hand and holding her face in his palms. And he kissed her.

Not a wild, hard kiss like his powerful kisses in the restroom, but gentle and demanding all at once. The moans rising in her throat came out like a soft purr as she moved her hands to his hard chest and explored his muscular pecs, shoulders, and biceps as his tongue moved with hers and they tasted one another.

His flavor was masculine and delicious, and included a hint of the wine they’d been drinking. And lord, his scent. So male with a touch of a musk-scented aftershave.

Zane lightly bit her lower lip then kissed her harder, even more demanding as he moved his hands to her waist and drew her close and tight against him. Willow sighed into his mouth and brought her arms around his neck. She slipped her fingers into his black hair and ruffled it just like she’d been wanting to all night.

The heavy rise and fall of his chest brushed her breasts. He kissed her long and hard until she started to feel dizzy.

“Yeah.” Zane broke their kiss and stared down at her before he took a step back and captured her hand in his again. He sounded out of breath when he spoke. “My place. Before I take you right here on the street.”

“The street, huh?” She ran her free hand over his chest and felt the rapid beating of his heart. “That’s not such a bad idea,” she said, knowing mischief was in her eyes, her expression.

Zane immediately clamped his hand over her mouth and his tone was almost dangerous. “You’d better not dare me again, honey, because I might just take you up on it.”