Page 46 of Here & Now

“Thanks for the referral. I’ll be in touch.”

Zane nodded, and then she turned and walked away.

Marco sat down and picked up his fork. “Well, well. What was that about?”

“None of your business. What took you so long, anyway?” Zane lifted a forkful of fish to his mouth.

“I thought I was doing you a favor.” Marco shoved some fries into his mouth.

“It was just business.”

“Um-hmm.”

Zane continued eating, trying his best to ignore Marco’s curious gaze. A few minutes later, they were interrupted again when Tessa came up to the table.

“Couldn’t stay away, could you?” Marco said around a mouthful of food.

“I came over to see Zane, not you,” she sniped. She handed Zane a business card. “Kayla asked me to give you this.”

“Thanks.” He was surprised Kayla hadn’t given it to him herself.

After Tessa walked away, he flipped the card over. Kayla had written Call me! on the back in big, loopy handwriting. He quickly tucked the card into his pocket before Marco noticed. He needn’t have worried, since his friend was staring off into the distance.

“Something wrong?” Zane asked.

“How come she hates me so much?”

He chuckled, knowing he was referring to Tessa. “She doesn’t hate you.”

“Maybe I really am losing my touch.”

Zane shook his head. “Maybe you should try a different approach.”

Marco scowled.

“Try talking to her like a human being and not someone you want to—”

“You’re back,” Macy said, sidling up next to Marco.

He beamed at her. “Miss me?”

She smiled. “How’s the food?”

“Great.”

“Need anything else?”

Zane expected Marco to say something suggestive, but shockingly, he didn’t. “Nope, just the bill.”

Macy looked disappointed. “Be right back.”

“I suck at not flirting,” Marco said after she left.

“You just need some more practice.”

Marco was quiet after that, and they finished their dinner in silence. A short time later, they left the restaurant and parted ways in the parking lot.

Zane thought about Bree the whole way home. It seemed like he’d been doing a lot of that lately. When he turned onto their street, he was anxious to see if Scott Duggan’s SUV was in her driveway. He’d recognize it because of the obnoxious decals on the sides lauding Scott as the top-selling real estate agent on the island. Even if it were true, he was still a douchebag.