A to Zane (3 page)

“I just wanted to apologize for my team. I heard what they did, and it was totally out of order. I’ve spoken to them and can assure you it won’t happen again.”

“I’d probably believe you more if you were looking at my face and not my feet.”

Abby hadn’t even noticed, so intent on saying what needed to be said and leaving. She didn’t realize what she was looking at.

Zane’s hand came into view. With a finger under her chin, he lifted her face until she looked at him.

“That’s better. Now tell me, did you send them to scare me away?”

“Of course not.”

“Are you sure? Because you kinda looked scared to death after I kissed you.”

Abby tried to drop her gaze again, but the finger under her chin kept her face up.

“It’s okay, drunken people do things they regret all the time. You aren’t the first to think kissing me is a great idea when you’ve had too much to drink, and I doubt you’ll be the last.” She tried to dismiss the best kiss she’d ever had in her life.

She could still feel the pressure of his lips on hers, went to bed dreaming about the taste of him.

But Abby was an old hand at this. She learned a long time ago someone like her—not a size zero, closer to a size eighteen, with plain looks and a personality that screamed “friend” and never “
girl
friend”—was going to have to deal with awkward moments when the person who’d been so attentive and flirtatious the night before, took off the beer goggles and realized exactly who she was and what she looked like.

Zane wasn’t going to say anything she hadn’t heard before. It didn’t make it hurt any less, but Abby’s heart was hardened against it now. She didn’t open herself to situations like this anymore. Last night had been a fluke, one that wouldn’t happen again.

Zane looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. He released his hold on her chin, crossed his arms over his chest, and leaned on the door frame.

“So not only was I drunk last night, you are so used to men walking up and kissing you without warning that you just brush it off. Is that right?”

“Yes…no…darn it. That’s not what I meant.” Abby blew out a frustrated breath. She could moan he was making this harder than it needed to be, but if she was honest, she’d probably do the same if a group of people he employed cornered her in a parking lot late at night and threatened her.

“So what did you mean?”

“I mean I understand that you’d been drinking, that someone like you wouldn’t normally kiss someone like me.”

“Someone like me? I think I’m offended.”

Great, just what she needed. This was not going well.

“Please don’t be. Look…” Abby took a deep breath, calming her nerves. “I apologize for my team. They get a little carried away sometimes. Sadly, being the only full human on the team, they tend to think I break easily. Please don’t think they usually act like that.” She gave him her little sales pitch. “We’re a very professional company, and if you ever need a problem solved, just let us know.”

“So they threaten all the men that come sniffing around then?”

“Not really.”

“And I’m back to being offended again.”

“What I mean is…it doesn’t happen because I don’t get men ‘sniffing’ around. It’s sweet of you to suggest otherwise, but don’t worry, they aren’t usually so protective.” Abby gave a little laugh that sounded forced even to her own ears.

“So there’s no man around that I can expect to show up here?”

“No, no man.” Nope, Abby was single and had been for a long time. In all honesty she’d never really had a boyfriend. That mess in college couldn’t ever be called a relationship.

“Good.”

Zane moved quickly. He reached out, catching her under the arms, and lifted her off her feet. Abby gasped when he spun, pinning her to the wall, and held her there with his body as he plundered her mouth.

Her mind went blank. Nothing but the feel of his solid frame pressed against hers and his mouth stealing her breath registered with her.

Again the kiss didn’t last for long, much to her disappointment. As quickly as he picked her up, he’d dropped her to her feet again.

“Just to be clear, I wasn’t drunk last night.” He leaned down until they were eye to eye, a hand placed on either side of her head. “And I’m not drunk now. Your team didn’t do anything to scare me away, and lady, you’re lucky you don’t have a man ’cause I fully intend to get you into bed.”

Abby’s mouth opened and shut, but nothing came out. Her brain was fighting itself, trying to understand what he’d just said.

“But I thank you for coming to check in with me.” Zane stepped back, giving her space to breathe. “Now be a good girl and go. I have some things I need to do, but I’ll find you later.”

He pulled her away from the wall, turned her toward the elevator, and smacked her ass.

Before she had a chance to say anything, Zane was back in his room with the door closed.

Abby wasn’t sure what’d just happened. She raised her fingers to her swollen mouth.
Okay seriously, when did I fall down the rabbit hole?

So much for “I’ll find you later.” It’d been nearly two days, and Abby hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Zane. Not that she was bothered. Nope, not her; she was relieved in fact. Because it would have just been awkward facing him after the way she’d practically thrown herself at him.

The way she’d stared at his body, of course he was going to react the way he had. He probably thought she was some sort of sex-starved vamp.

Yes, he’d kissed her. Twice. But he probably did it because he felt sorry for her, knowing she wasn’t the type he’d usually be interested in.
Lordy
, the embarrassment of having to deal with that was something she didn’t relish at all. Thankfully he hadn’t been around.

The empty hollow in the pit of her stomach made her feel sick, but Abby breathed through it, accustomed as she was to it. Many times over the years she’d felt it.

Abby Avalanche, God, just the thought of you naked makes me heave.

The memory came rushing forward, but Abby batted it back, determined not to let it see the light of day. She focused on the paperwork in front of her, the words becoming her anchor in the here and now, stopping her from revisiting the worst time of her entire life.

The ring of the phone made her jump. It took her a second to get her heart under control enough for her to reach for the offending item. “Abby.”

“Hey, Short.”

“Karina, what can I do for you?”

“Just checking in and letting you know that the job last night went well. Caught a thief, although it hurt my heart to do it. But I figure if you’re dumb enough to leave all those clues, you deserve everything that’s coming to you.”

Abby was wise enough not to let Karina hear her laugh. The fox shifter was dedicated to her family business—the ability to “acquire” items on demand was something all the Lovetts were experts at and took very seriously.

“Good, are you okay?” Abby offered instead.

“Fine, fine. Although there has been another development.”

Abby waited. She’d learned silence was her friend. Most people hated awkward silences and were more than ready to fill it with information if you just waited long enough.

“An amber flag appeared in the company system. Seems that someone tried to hack it yesterday.”

Abby checked her system. No alarms registered, which was strange because she had flags on all her clients and the cases she worked for them.

“Where did the flag show?”

“On the staff files.”

“Someone was looking for details on the team?” If there was one thing she tolerated less than someone going after her clients, it was people going after her team.

“Yep, I’ve got Nico running a diagnostic trying to figure out where the attack came from and what they were after. I thought it best to let you know.”

“Thanks, Rina. You did the right thing. Let me know if you find anything.”

“Will do.”

Another silence, Abby waited. “So…” Karina started. “Heard from Zane of the tightest buns I’ve ever seen?”

Abby rolled her eyes. From professional to teenage girl in one swift move.

“Not since I apologized for your behavior.” Abby hadn’t told anyone about the kiss outside Zane’s room. She didn’t want them reading more into it than there really was.

“
Pfft
, apologies for what? He’d have been offended if we didn’t threaten to kick his ass.”

“Yeah, Rhea said the same thing. But still, let’s not do that again.”

“I just think you’re wasting a prime opportunity for some action here. Let’s face it, Abby, I’ve known you nearly a year now, and in all that time, you haven’t been on a single date.”

“Yes, thank you for the reminder.”

“Zane is a tiger. They don’t stick around one place for very long. That makes him the perfect candidate for no-strings-attached sex.”

Abby swiped a hand down her face and counted to ten. She wasn’t about to explain to Karina why she didn’t date much. Not only was it none of her business, it was just too embarrassing to recount.

“Abby doll, jump his fine ass. Trust me when I say it’ll rejuvenate you.”

“I didn’t know I needed rejuvenating.”

“We all need a little ‘rejuvenation’, Abby doll.”

“You know you’re a crazy chick, right?”

“I do. I embrace it more every day.”

Abby shook her head. “I have work to do, if that’s everything?”

“Fine, be all businesslike. When your pussy dries up and falls off don’t come running to me,” Karina said before hanging up the phone.

Abby put the handset down and looked back at her paperwork.

Sadly there was every chance her lady parts—she was in her thirties and still couldn’t bring herself to say the p-word—would dry up and fall off from the lack of use they’d had over the last ten years.

Her concentration shot to pieces, Abby decided it was time for lunch. She picked up her bag and headed out the door. Her offices were two smallish rooms in a shared building. Her business was still finding its feet. She started “Short Sighted”, a problem-solving agency, four years ago. Although it’d taken a while for their name to become well-known, their company was now growing at a rate that meant her team was busy most weeks.

They were building a reputation as a quick, clean, and quiet company that could come in and sort out almost any problem. Abby drew only one line in the sand—murder. She made sure her clients understood that while the firm would solve the problems, they weren’t going to kill anyone to do so. So far the jobs ranged from staff stealing from their bosses to people attempting to intimidate bar and club patrons.

Abby hit the button for the elevator and waited.

“Hey Abby, how’s the world turning for you?”

Abby smiled up at the voice. Derek was a cute kid, early twenties, who worked for a small law firm on her floor. His English accent always made her smile. Even the most everyday things sounded hot when he said them. It was kind of disappointing to know Derek was in a long-term relationship with a guy called Calib.

“Still turning in the right direction. How about you?” she asked as the elevator arrived, and they stepped in.

“Can’t complain. You off to get some lunch? Fancy some company?” Derek dropped an arm around her shoulders.

“Why not? I could do with the distraction.”

“Well let’s be honest, I’m nothing if not a distraction.” Derek wiggled his eyebrows at her, and she laughed.

The elevator pinged, announcing their arrival, and the doors slid open.

“Is there something I should know?” The deep baritone voice had them both turning. Calib stood just outside the doors watching them with a raised eyebrow.

“Yep, I’ve decided to run off with Abby. Wanna come with?”

She giggled, rolled her eyes, and tried to step away from Derek, but he held her firm.

“I was going to surprise you by taking you to lunch, but your plan sounds much better.”

Calib came to stand on her other side and wrapped his arm around her waist. In seconds, she’d gone from feeling all sorts of lonely, to being the female meat in a hottie sandwich. Derek with his tall frame, blue eyes, and copper hair on one side, and Calib, just as tall but more solid with dark black hair, on the other.

If only the girls could see her now, they sure the hell wouldn’t worry about her never dating.

“So let’s go eat already,” Derek said, pulling them along.

They decided on a little place down the road with a small outside eating area. It was warm enough to sit outside, but shaded, so they wouldn’t burn.

They’d ordered and were eating when Derek nudged Calib. “Do you see him?”

“Yep.”

Abby tensed. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing to worry about, hon. Just some hot bod watching the table. I don’t think it’s me and my man he’s interested in,” Derek told her.

The easy relaxed feel of their lunch vanished. “Well it sure ain’t me. Where is he?”

“Over at the juice bar,” Derek said.

“Maybe he’s just looking out the window?” She really wanted to turn around to see who stood at the juice bar watching them.

“Doubtful, the giant potted plant outside obscures anything he’d see. Nope, he definitely is watching you,” Calib said.

The earlier attack on their systems Karina mentioned flashed through her mind.

“What does he look like?” she demanded.

“Tall, stunning auburn hair, and a body that makes me want to purr,” Calib described.

“Hey!” Derek moaned as Calib smiled.

“Don’t worry, baby, he’d never compare to you.”

“I should hope not.”

Abby wiped a hand down her face and asked, “Auburn hair with tufts of white on the side?” She already knew the answer.

“Yes, oh, do you know him?”

Abby sighed and turned to face Zane.

The tiger shifter grinned at her from his place at the juice bar.

“Yep, from that look she definitely knows him,” Derek said.

Before she could stop him Derek waved to Zane.

Abby turned to see Zane make his way toward them. He walked with a grace reminiscent of the tiger that was part of him. A person couldn’t help but stare.