Page 22 of Zane

"I think I'll do just that." She rose and turned to look at the stunning young woman. "Thanks again."

"You're welcome."

Zoe waited a full five minutes before following her out.

The man didn't even bat an eye when she told him that his date had to leave suddenly.

"The party was a little too much for her. I'll check in on her later." To say he was dismissive was putting it lightly. Zoe had to step away before she said something that she would regret. And stepping away, she glimpsed her brother leaning at the bar with a drink in his hand. A glint entered her eyes, and she decided he was a handy target.

Marching over to him, she plucked the glass from his hand and took a sip.

"Get your own."

"Men are morons."

His brows lifted as he retrieved his drink. "Want to elaborate?"

"That idiot there." She pointed to where William was standing with her father and a group of other men. "His date left suddenly, and he's still there. And you!" She rounded on him and had him jolting. "You made her cry."

"I... What?"

"Whatever you did out in that garden upset her so much that she was crying."

Guilt bore a hole inside his chest and knocked out the frustrated anger. "That's nonsense. She told me she wanted nothing to do with me."

His sister gave him a bleary look. "What did you do? Or should I guess? You came on strong, demanded instead of persuading, and fully expected her to abandon everything she is, just because you happen to like her." She huffed. "Men!"

"I got it the first time," he muttered. "I like her. A hell of a lot." He downed the drink. "She pissed me off with her tidy logic and her prejudices. My tatts turned her off, and my motorcycle."

"She's been with the guy for two years, and from the little I got from her, it's because of her mother's approval." She signaled for champagne, and the server came hurrying over.

"Thanks, darling." Zoe gave the buff, obviously wannabe actor an absently warm smile that had him blushing to the roots of his bleached blond hair.

"Anything else I can get you?"

Zane gave the man a hard look that had him scurrying away.

"Why the hell do you do that?" he growled.

"Do what?" she asked innocently, taking a delicate sip.

"Never mind. What else did she tell you?"

"You scared her, darling."

"I didn't mean to." Taking her glass, he downed half of the champagne before she retrieved it.

"Now what?"

He glanced over to where William was still holding court. "Now I tread carefully."

*****

She had the glass of wine, but the smooth, slightly sweet red didn't do anything to calm her nerves. She was shaken up. During the ride home, she kept expecting him to follow her, but he had taken her remarks to heart and was now leaving her alone.

She did not want to dive deep into the reason why that was making her so depressed. Taking the wine with her upstairs, she climbed into bed and sat there staring out the window. It was going to rain. But rain or not, she was going to services. Lifting a hand unconsciously to her lips, she closed her eyes and found herself reliving the scene in the garden. Her heart rate accelerated as she recalled the taste and feel of him against her. She had been kissed several times before, of course, and had even found some of them pleasant.

William's kisses had always left her feeling vaguely dissatisfied and disappointed. She knew it wasn't fair to be making comparisons, but how could she help herself? she wondered. She had heard and read about sparks and heat and had thought it was exaggerated. How could a kiss make one forget the time and place and be so caught up that nothing else mattered? How could the meeting of lips drive a person to the brink of near insanity?