CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Blair
My strength wavers as I pull into the parking lot, and when I see Zane’s car, I quietly curse myself.
What am I doing?
My heart gallops inside my chest, and it takes everything in my power not to throw my car into reverse and hightail it out of there.
I left Nathan.
Less than an hour ago, I was in a relationship with my boyfriend of four years, and now I’m meeting Zane. The guy I once thought was forever.
What kind of person does that?
The second I come to a stop, Zane steps out of his car, and when his steely gaze meets mine, the negativity drifts away.
I’m here because after all these years, he’s still the same boy I fell in love with.
The same bad boy with a good heart. Only he’s not a boy anymore, and I’m definitely not the same girl.
With a shaky breath, I curl my fingers around the handle and open my door, watching as Zane stalks toward me, his intense gaze boring into mine.
“What did he do?” His deep voice rumbles through the air, and it’s like a breath warming my skin. But it’s not the protective Zane I need right now.
Jumping up, I throw my arms around his neck, balancing on my toes to lock my fingers at the nape. “Thank you,” I say, my gaze locked on his, hoping he can see the emotion reflected in my eyes. “Thank you.”
What he did means the world to me, but it’s more than that. In a few short hours, he reminded me I deserve better, and it’s been years since I’ve believed anything close to that.
Since him.
“Why are you thanking me?” Zane’s curious eyes sparkle, and his entire face lights up, sucking me in like he always did.
“I had a call from Lucy.”
“Lucy?” He frowns, confusing me until his eyes widen and he laughs. “Well, fuck me, those guys work quickly.”
“Those guys?” Releasing my hold, I step back, quirking a brow.
His face scrunches as he scratches his head, seemingly embarrassed. “There’s a few guys on the team that all love helping each other out.”
Well, if that’s not the cutest thing ever. “You don’t sound thrilled by that. I’m guessing you don’t help in return?”
“I only found out about it when they added me to a group chat. After I helped Reed and Hayley.”
“Oh.” My hand flies to my mouth so he can’t see my lips when they pull into a grin. “That’s nice of them.”
“Yeah, yeah. Enough about that. What happened? Did you, ah…like the job?” His hesitation makes me smile and I can’t help but mock.
“Did you, ah…know it was near San Francisco?” With an arched brow that I hope is full of sass, I wait for his response, and when he cringes, I have my answer. “I thought as much. But I’m still grateful.”
“So you’re moving?” Wild anticipation flits across his face, but he doesn’t let it linger and my heart picks up speed. He wants me there. Close to him. And I’m not sure how I feel about that.
“I’m not moving to San Francisco.” Not yet, anyway. “The job sounds great, amazing, but I’m not sure it’s the right time for me. You know?”
“Because of Nathan?” he asks, his tone curt as his eyes fill with disappointment.
“No. It has nothing to do with Nathan. But as I said, I’m still grateful for the help.”
“Is that why I’m here?” His lips pull into a smile, but he holds a little of it back, not quite letting it reach his eyes.
“Yes, sort of. Do you want to walk?”
Without a word, he motions for me to lead the way, and my heart jolts. I’d almost rather we were arguing because I have no idea what I’m doing right now.
The breeze kisses my face as we walk quietly toward the lookout, the sound of our footsteps deafening in the night time silence. The higher we get, the faster my pulse races until my head spins.
What is going on with me tonight?
Since Zane’s distracted by the rugged path in front of us, I smile to myself in the hope that it calms me. But all it does is make me deranged, and I can’t take the silence anymore.
“Zane, I— Woah.” My ankle rolls as I trip and stumble forward, my stomach in knots while I fall toward the gully running beside us. Reaching for a branch, I catch myself, but a searing pain shoots through my hand. “Jesus Christ.” I falter, keeling over, nausea swirling through me.
“Blair?” Zane rushes to my side, tucking himself under my arm as he lifts me to standing. And with his height, that can’t be comfortable. He hovers low while I stand tall, only then taking a peek at my hand.
“Oh, fuck.” Blood pools in my palm and I dry retch when it drips down to the dirt, my body trembling. “Dammit.”
“Jesus.” Zane flies into action, curling his arm under my legs, effortlessly lifting me into his hold.
“What are you doing?” I shriek, but it comes out a little stuttered.
“I’m taking you back. We need to check out your hand, and to do that, we’re gonna need more than the light of your phone.”
“It’s just a scratch. I’ll be fine.”
Zane chuckles but otherwise ignores my protest. “I’ve heard that before.”
“When? I’ve never said that.”
“It wasn’t from you. Now stop wriggling. I need to dodge the trees.”
“Yes, sir.” Giving in, I reluctantly curl my arm around his neck and let him carry me back, my heart racing as I study his features, focusing on the rigid line of his jaw, fighting not to touch the light dusting of stubble. It’s darker than when we were younger.
Zane laughs at my appraisal, tightening his hold, his huge palm dangerously close to my heaving breasts.
We reach the parking lot in record time with me bouncing around as Zane jogs to the car.
Without letting go of me, he opens his door and positions me under the light, squatting down to perch me on the seat.
“Fuck, that’s deep.” He curses, his calloused fingers brushing across my palm. “You might need stitches.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“I can feel it, Zane. I’m a nurse, remember? Do you have anything in your car that I can use to wrap it?” I glance into the back seat, finding it empty.
“I didn’t bring anything with me. It was an impromptu visit.”
“Why?”
“For you.”
“I get that but—”
“We are not talking about that now, Blair.” His panicked voice makes me laugh, and for a moment, I forget the sting of my hand and the pain in my heart.
“Okay. Can you reach into my pocket and grab my key? I think I have a sweatshirt somewhere in the trunk.”
“Somewhere? We don’t have time for that.” Standing tall, Zane reaches behind his neck and drags his tee over his head—doing it in that way only men seem to do—and I watch with amusement. But when he squats down, my laughter cuts off, shocked to find his bare chest.
A stupid thought because…what else did I expect him to be wearing?
I inhale deeply, and with his shirt off, the smell of his skin assaults my nostrils, making me dizzy.
He smells of sweat, masculinity, and nature, and the combination brings back memories I’d long forgotten.
Stolen moments in his truck. His chest flush with mine, our hands roaming, mouths molded together while we fought not to go further than we should.
My lips part as my breath quickens, and it’s not until Zane announces he’s done that I’m pulled out of the past.
Freaking pheromones.
“There. That should help until we can get you to the hospital.” He glances up with a lopsided grin, seemingly unaware of my lust-filled reminiscing.
“Thank you,” I rush out, my wide eyes directed at his face while I work hard not to focus on his features.
“I didn’t do much.” He stands and reaches for my good hand, pulling me up to meet him.
“Let’s get you to the ER and…” He says more but with my line of sight trapped on the metal bar pierced through his nipple, I’m momentarily stunned.
Another memory flashes through my mind—this one of the two of us flirting at the beach—and my breath hitches.
God, it’s beautiful. His entire body is beautiful.
Like a work of art. Chiseled from stone. Strong and—
“Blair?”
“Huh?”
I lift my gaze, cringing when I find Zane’s lips pulled into a smirk.
“You always were fascinated by this thing. Even if it did take you months to ask about it.” He bounces his pecs, drawing my attention like a moth to a flame.
His muscles tense, making the bar move, and I can’t stop the rushed breath that escapes me.
“Fuck, Blair.” Zane’s pained groan penetrates the silence and I smile, knowing he’s as affected as I am.
“We should go before you lose more blood.” He turns away until I reach out to stop him, the pain in my hand gone.
“It’s not hurting anymore. Let me have a look before we race over there. ERs are busy enough without people going in for a scratch.”
“It’s worse than a scratch.”
“Let me be the judge of that. Here.” I hold my hand out for him to remove his tee, my eyes locked on the wound instead of the chiseled abs begging to be touched.
His T-shirt could pass as evidence of a horrific crime scene, but when he peels it back, I’m pleased to find that I’m right.
“See, it’s stopped. I’ve got some magic glue at home.” At the home that I share with Nathan, but that’s not the point. “I’ll seal it up and it’ll be back to normal in a few days.”
“Magic glue?” Zane asks, his expression oozing with skepticism.
“Sorry, skin glue. I worked in pediatrics on one of my rotations and I changed the name. It’s the same thing. Either way, I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep. I’m a nurse.”
“So you keep reminding me. And yet you almost vomited at the sight of the blood.”
“Because it was my blood. That makes all the difference.”
“Of course, my mistake. I remember that being the case when we were younger. A certain surfing incident comes to mind.” Zane smirks and my eyes zero in on the curl of his lips, my throat thick with emotions.
“Enough talk of my misfortunes. Please change the subject.” The last thing I need is to be reminiscing about the first time things changed between us. A moment I will never forget.
“Don’t like talking about your blood?”
“Something like that.” I smile while my heart runs wild inside me.
“Okay. Consider the subject changed.”
“Thank you.”