Page 12 of Calling a Cease-Fire

“Mia,” Zack intervened, his tone scolding, and I shot him a glare.

Miles put his hand up, cutting Zack off. “Relax. I don’t make it a habit to take drunk girls home.”

“I’m not drunk.” I crossed my arms with a pout. Fuck. My stomach flipped again, and I worried I might throw up. “Just a little tipsy.”

I stood, making sure I was steady on my feet. “I’m going to use the restroom and then I’m out of here.” I just couldn’t sit there and rehash the calls from the day, and I knew that was where this was going. “Leave with me or not. Your choice.”

I turned and headed to the back of the bar, hoping I wasn’t about to barf. I really should have eaten more before I left work.

Chapter Five

ZACK

What the fuck was that? Mia was a total mystery I still hadn’t completely figured out, but that was a first. Tough and guarded for sure. Messy drunk and throwing herself at guys? No. At least not that I had seen at the bar the dozen other times we’d all gone out together. Something was off. And all I wanted was to throw her over my shoulder, take her somewhere private, and make her tell me what the hell was going on.

But she could barely tolerate me most of the time, so I had no notion that would work. I couldn’t even tease her properly like I usually did, because everything about her tonight screamed volatile.

“Alright dude, listen.” Miles looked over at me. “We’re not sixteen again. Just say the word and I back off.”

I gritted my teeth. “I thought you said you don’t make a habit of taking drunk girls home?” I suddenly was thrown back to that fight over Savannah. Grown men now or not, if he thought I planned to let him walk out of here with Mia, he better be ready to fight me.

“I don’t. But I can make sure she gets home okay.” Miles shook his head with a disbelieving chuckle. “However, based on the same look I recognize from that day I told you I slept with Savannah, I’m assuming you’re into her.”

I shook my head. “It’s not like that.”

“Bullshit.” Miles punched me in the arm. “Don’t do that again. You like her, make sure she knows it. Because I know you, and I’m willing to step aside, but someone else might not be.”

Heat radiated up my neck and into my face as I looked around the table at the shocked faces of our friends. Well, except for Adam. He didn’t seem surprised at all. Cocky fucker.

“I should go check on her.” Lyla hopped off her stool and walked toward the bathrooms.

Damn it. She didn’t seem happy. I considered Lyla a friend, as well as part of the crew. The last thing I wanted to do was damage that by blurring lines with her best friend.

“It’s not my business.” Miles finished the last of his beer. “But that girl is looking for something specific tonight, and it isn’t a hug from her bestie.” He slid off his stool. “I’m going to go. Unless you want me to drive her home.”

Fuck me. I had no right to tell him anything other than it wasn’t up to me. But those weren’t the words that came out of my mouth. “I got it.”

Miles gave me a clipped nod and said his goodbyes before leaving.

Adam crossed his arms, staring at me, questioning what the fuck I was planning to do. I didn’t have that answer yet, so I pushed away from the table and walked toward the back. The girls were already headed my way, and I passed Lyla, grinding out, “I need a minute with Mia.”

Before either of them could protest, I grabbed Mia’s hand and pulled her back down the narrow hallway, turning to face her and cursing under my breath when she took a stumbling step back. Impressively, she recovered quickly.

“What is it, Zack?” She slammed her hands on her hips. “Miles is waiting for me.”

I shook my head. “He left.”

Her face fell, but she quickly pulled her shoulders back and poked her finger into my chest. “Did you scare him off? I don’t need some overprotective brother coming to my rescue.”

I reached up, gripping her hand and spinning us so her back pressed against the wall. A zap of electricity, impossible to ignore, surged up my arm from our touch. Bracing one hand next to her, I caged her in as heat radiated between us and my heart rate took off at a sprint. I couldn’t stop my gaze from locking onto her mouth when it fell open in a perfect O, and my pants got snug as the urge to kiss her shot through me. That wasn’t what she needed from me right now, but no way was I letting her think my intention was some misguided brotherly protectiveness.

“Trust me when I say there’s no overprotective brother here.” The growl that laced my words surprised me. Why did she bring out such intensity in me? I searched her face. The pain, and something more sinister, stared back at me. “I can drive you home.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You gonna come in too? Fuck me until I forget my name?”

My cock jumped, obviously loving that idea. “Is that what you want?” I prodded, inching in a little closer. “To forget?”

“Yes.” I almost didn’t hear the single word that was barely a whisper.