12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
MIA
For the first time in a few days, I left work thinking, hey, today didn’t suck.
There were a few rough calls, but nothing too horrible.
More like strange. Quite a few calls about someone lurking about in the woods around town.
But as far as I knew, nothing came of them.
We sent police out each time just for them to tell us there was no one there.
Hopefully it was just some kids and they had taken off when the cops got there.
I couldn’t imagine it was someone calling in false reports, but of course that was always a possibility.
If I was being honest, it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
There hadn’t been any intentionally set fires in two months, which filled us all with a huge sense of relief.
But after today, I had to wonder if it was false relief.
Was the arsonist back, lying in wait to strike again?
I’d prefer some asshat calling in false reports over that scenario.
I paused outside of the Crescent Moon, glancing up and down the sidewalk. After a moment, I pulled out my phone and shot off a text.
Me: Where are you?
Zack. Inside. At the bar.
I turned, looking back at the large wooden door. He went in without me? Somehow that didn’t seem like Zack.
I made my way to the bar to find him downing a shot. He picked up a lowball glass of dark liquid and motioned to the stool next to him. I studied him. Everything was wrong. So wrong. The fun-loving, carefree guy was nowhere to be seen.
Forcing a smile, I joked, “Starting without me?”
He shrugged. “Needed a drink.”
I stared at him as he brought the glass to his lips. “What’s up with you?”
The glass clanged as he placed it on the bar with a hard thud. “Rough day.”
“Like, at work?”
When he nodded, I quickly ran through some of the calls today. I literally couldn’t think of one that would cause this reaction. At least not any I knew about. My recollection was that it was a bit of a cake day. Had I missed something?
His gaze slowly swung my way. And damn. The intensity that stared back at me was hot as fuck. I shifted on my stool as desire thrummed between my legs. I couldn’t help but imagine if it was the way he’d look as he drove into me over and over again.
Jesus Christ. Where did that thought come from? I really needed to have sex. And not with Zack Stoer.
I shook my head, forcing myself to return to the conversation at hand. “I don’t remember any rough calls.”
“The kid stuck in a tree.”
I tilted my head and raised a brow at him. “You guys showed up, helped him down, and left.”
He nodded and picked up the glass, taking a large swig. “Yup. Served him up on a silver platter. Right back to his abusive dad.”
My stomach revolted at his words. “What?”
“The kid was afraid to come down because his dad would be mad at him.” Zack roughed a hand over his face.
“At first, none of us thought anything of it. Then Jay spotted a bruise on the kid’s arm distinctly shaped like a hand.
We watched the dad drag him back inside by grabbing him in the same spot. ”
I swallowed. “Maybe that’s all it is.”
Zack’s gaze, now full of pain, found mine again.
“This kid was scared to death of him.” He lifted the glass and finished the liquid in one large gulp.
“Shitty thing is, apparently Dylan has tried to get the kid removed before with no luck. They haven’t been able to find proof of the abuse, and the kid won’t talk to anyone. Says his dad doesn’t hurt him.”
I pulled out my phone and brought up my texts, letting my fingers fly across the screen.
“What are you doing?” Zack asked.
“Canceling my date.” I hit the arrow, sending the text.
A growl hit my ears and I whipped my gaze up. Did that come from Zack?
“Date?”
“Yeah. You obviously shouldn’t be alone tonight.” I threw my phone back into my purse and studied the weird expression he had aimed at me. “Want to hit up the rage room after this?”
“You had a date tonight?” Confusion marred his features. Did he not understand the concept of dating, or was he just surprised I had one?
I nodded. “Was supposed to meet him after we were done here.” I waved the bartender over and ordered myself a drink.
“And you just canceled on him?”
I shrugged at the concern in his voice. “Yeah, it’s not a big deal. I don’t really care. We’ll just meet up at a different time.”
Zack shook his head. “Well, he probably cares.”
I thought about that, hoping he didn’t. I hadn’t gotten that vibe yet.
But then again, he was slow to move things along physically.
If tonight ended with another chaste kiss, I was going to scream.
Frankly, canceling was probably for the best. “If he cares, then that’s a problem. It means he’s way too attached.”
Zack glanced back over at me, studying me like I was some puzzle he was trying to figure out. “And you’re not.” He said it as a statement, not a question, but I planned on answering anyway.
I brought my Long Island iced tea to my lips, taking a slow sip before answering. “I don’t get attached, so no.”
He hummed. “So…why date?”
I chuckled. “Um, I still have needs.”
His eyes pinched shut and I swore he cursed under his breath. The heated stare he pinned me with caused liquid heat to pool in my belly. “I’m not in the right headspace tonight to talk about your sexual needs.”
I smirked. This Zack was fun. I traced one finger up his bicep and over his shoulder. “Oh? Afraid of what you might do?” I purred.
He spun suddenly, and I gasped as he yanked my stool between his legs. His arm draped over my shoulders, and his breath ghosted along the skin of my ear as he lowered down to whisper. “Very much so, my little vixen.”
I turned my face slightly toward him, our lips mere inches apart. The urge to lean in and kiss him was overpowering. The kiss we’d shared that night in the bar was slightly hazy, and I wanted to be reminded of what his lips tasted like. Find out if he’d take control or let me?
His hand landed on my bare knee. “This dress was for him? Your date?”
I nodded, fully tuned in to the feeling of his thumb moving slowly over my skin.
My panties were soaked, and I resisted the urge to squeeze my legs together, knowing he would sense it with his hand on my leg.
And there was no way I was giving him the satisfaction of knowing he turned me on that much.
Although a small part of me was desperate to find out what being with him would feel like.
Our lips seemed to be moving closer to each other’s. I knew I should stop it. Pull away. But I didn’t think I was going to.
We both stiffened as a familiar voice broke through the spell. I turned away from Zack and hopped off my stool, needing space before I did something that would cause me to lose a friend.
Following the sounds of the familiar voices, I met Lyla’s disappointed look. Luckily, Nicole’s back was to us.
Fuck. Why were they here? I thought they were going to Mamacita’s.
I glanced back over at Zack. Disappointment swam in his eyes, and that made me irrationally mad.
I pinned him with a glare. “You know she likes you, right?”
He turned his gaze to the girls just as Nicole scanned the bar and smiled, waving at us.
“I know,” he said with a sigh. “But I don’t feel that way about her.”
The way he looked at me and how he said those words made me uncomfortable. Like he was purposely saying something else. I wasn’t dumb. I already knew he wasn’t into her. But he wasn’t allowed to be into me either.
“I’ll be back.”
I huffed and stomped away, heading directly over to the girls. “I thought I was meeting you guys at Mamacita’s if my date ended badly?”
Izzy stared at me, a mix of confusion and surprise in her gaze. Shit, did she witness the same thing Lyla did? “Are you drunk?” she blurted out.
I swallowed and met her gaze, squaring my shoulders. “No.”
Nicole giggled. “Why would she be drunk already?”
I refrained from admitting that the last time I got too friendly with Zack, I was hammered, and planned to let him take me home.
A hand landed softly on my back as Zack stepped up next to me. “Sorry to interrupt ladies, but I need to steal Mia back.” He looked down at me. “The manager’s ready for us.”
“I’ll text you guys after my date,” I said to the girls.
“I thought—” Zack started, clamping his mouth shut when I glowered at him.
“Let’s go and get this over with.”
“Do you want me to take over?” Nicole asked with a bit of hope in her voice. “Since I’m here and have time, I don’t mind. And then you can head out to meet Billy.”
Words refused to leave my lips. Yes, sure, should’ve been the easy response. I didn’t want to do this. I sure as hell didn’t want to be stuck with Zack any longer than I needed to. So why wouldn’t the damn words come out?
“It’s fine,” was what finally left my mouth. What the fuck was wrong with me? “I’m the one who talked to the manager on the phone, so I should meet with her.” There. Fully reasonable excuse.
Nicole nodded. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
Absolutely not sure.
“Yup. I’ll text you all later.”
Fuck my life.
I turned and followed Zack toward the manager, who met us at the bottom of the stairs that led to the private event area. She tilted her head up. “Would you like to check out the space?”
“Sure,” Zack said at the same time I muttered, “I guess so.”
The lady eyed us curiously, looking back and forth between us, then turned to go up the stairs.
Zack placed his hand on the small of my back and I tensed, glancing over at him.
That same intense look smoldered in his eyes.
I swallowed as heat warmed my body under his touch.
After what felt like forever, he ushered me forward and I moved in front of him up the staircase.