Page 51 of Help Wanted

Zane handed her a glass and tapped his to hers. “To your first boat show.”

She took a sip and then a nervous gulp.

He watched her over the edge of his glass as he took his sip and then set the glass down.

“The stars are bright tonight,” he mentioned.

Stars. Talking about stars was something someone would do if they were trying to be romantic, right? Or was he into astronomy? She was so nervous her wine sloshed. Or maybe it was because she was in a boat. The soft sounds of the water slapping against the hull reminded her that this was real.

“So tomorrow we’re meeting the guy about the cuddy?” she said, so she had something to talk about.

“Yes. He said around ten. If I can get a good deal, I think Wes will be happy with it.” More silence.

“Are you going to build one of the boats you drew someday?”

“I’ve started on one of them. It’s sitting in my garage at home. I guess boat building for pleasure doesn’t feel much different than boat building for business.”

That made sense. She twisted her fingers in her lap, grasping for something else to talk about. She was so nervous. How did people do this every weekend with strangers?

“Do you ever draw for fun?”

“I don’t have a lot of time for any kind of fun, actually.”

“Oh.” Was that his way of putting her off? His eyes seemed to be luring her in. She didn’t understand. She was so bad at this.

They found other things to chat about as they finished the wine and watched the stars. He told her he had a degree in engineering and how his roommate had wanted him to get a job at his family’s firm in New York.

“I hated high school, and I always planned to move away. But after college when I had my chance, something brought me back to the area. I guess it’s home.”

“I liked living in New York, but it is nice being closer to Madison.” Working with him.

When she couldn’t put it off any longer she stood up to go to the hotel. Zane followed her as she got to the steps that would lead her to the dock.

She needed to do something. There would be no way she could go to sleep with these feelings zinging through her body. It just wasn’t possible.

She needed him. Now.

* * *

“Do you—” Zane stopped when she paused at the steps that would take her off the boat. He couldn’t say what he was thinking. He was just desperate to keep her close.

“Do I what?” she asked. The look on her face made him want to answer.

“You were right when you said high school was just practice for real life. I kind of missed a lot of practice back then.” Special thanks to the wine for making the stuff on the inside of his head come out so freely.

“Me too.”

“Maybe it’s not too late.” He took a step closer. She didn’t move away, but she looked like a bunny being hunted by a wolf.

He opened his mouth to take it all back and apologize, but before he got the chance his lips were covered by hers.

“Yes,” she whispered against him. Since his mouth was still open, it was easy for her to slip her tongue inside. His eyes were also still open, which was helpful in convincing himself this was actually happening.

The last time he’d told her it would be impossible for her to kiss him without him being on board. He had been wrong. She had definitely kissed him this time. She was braver than he was. She was the wolf.

His two-second delay went unnoticed as he quickly got in the game and kissed her back. Not only was he kissing her, but he was searching her body with his hands. He pushed her up against the wall of the bridge, making her moan as his body pressed to every part of hers.

This was just the beginning. There was no stopping in sight. He only had two questions at this point.