Zeke(43)

I know he feels what’s going on between us. He even went as far as kissing another girl right in front of me so that he didn’t have to deal with it. He doesn’t want to face what he feels for me. Maybe, I should let him go. Then again, I’d really like to see what good, or bad, stuff I might be able to pull out of him. I want all of him. I want to know what he’s trying to hide. What deep, dark secret he holds and what his nightmares are all about. I want to know what’s stopping him from letting me in. Why he keeps pushing me away.

The front door swings open, and Rayna comes walking in.

“Hi,” she says, watching me place my cell on the table as she closes the door. “Who were you talkin’ too?”

“Nix.” I smile.

“Oh, now there’s one Daddy that I wouldn’t mind spanking me.” She flickers her brows and plops down in the chair.

“Rayna! That’s my brother!”

“Yeeaah ... and he is sooo fine in a Bradley Cooper kinda way and those sexy dad polo shirts he wears,” she shakes her head, “and all those freckles, not too dark not too light, they’re perfect. Mmmm, he is hot, Lurlene.”

“Okay, okay.” I throw my hands out with a groan.

“Get over it, girl,” she waves a hand, “those Irish rogue brothers of yours, even with some of their little bit of ginger, every single one of those sexy beasts are freaking drool-worthy.”

I squint at her, and she laughs. She knows I hate when she talks about my brothers that way. I think that’s why she does it, to get a rise out of me. “So what are you up to tonight?” I change the subject.

“Oh,” she sits up with a huge grin, “Slate’s taking me to Santa Fe for the night. In fact,” she leans forward and looks at my cell, “I gotta pack soon. He’ll be here in about an hour.”

“That’s nice. He’s got the night off then?” I inquire more to find out what Zeke is up to. I haven’t seen or talked to him since the other night when he called me out on my feelings for him. God, that was mortifying. I didn’t know how to respond. It was true. I’d succeeded in doing the one thing he warned me not to—I’ve fallen for Zeke Declan.

“Yep, no fight and no bar tonight.” She smiles. “Jax is bartending, and Zeke, I think he’s still healing from the fight the other night.”

“Really, what happened? Is he okay?”

“I’m sorry, Lurlene. I’ve been so busy between Slate and getting ready to start my new job that I didn’t tell you. Yes. Zeke’s good. He got a bit banged up and just needed a couple of days to recoup. How are things going with the two of you?”

“I don’t know. It’s complicated, but on the upside, I did manage to break most of his rules. However,” I flip my hands up, “I’m still a virgin. Apparently, Zeke is a stickler when it comes to that last rule.”

“Yeah, he’s pretty pissed at me.” Rayna grimaces.

“You? Why?”

“I saw him the other day at the apartment, and he sort of figured out that I was the one who pushed you toward him. Ya know, I really thought the two of you would’ve hit it off but, you’re right, he’s not happy to learn that you’re a virgin.”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, we did hit it off. Maybe even a little too well.”

“So you do like him?”

“I do,” I say not trying to hide the frustration in my tone. “Has he always been like this?”

“Like what? Afraid of commitment?” She rolls her eyes. “I know, he’s a really easy-going guy, funny, fun, and he does have a huge heart, but yeah, for as long as I’ve known him, he’s never been in a serious relationship. As I told you before, the only girl I’ve ever actually seen him go after was that Luna Featherhouse, and that was back in high school, but she wouldn’t give him the time of day.” Her eyes soften. “I didn’t mean for you to get hurt. He’s a great guy, and I thought he’d be a good first lay for you. I don’t know why he’s being such an asshole about all of this, though, unless ...” Her head slants as she studies me. “Ya know,” she wags a finger, “you’ve been pretty quiet about what’s been going on between the two of you. Start talking,” she points her wagging finger at me, “now.”

“Well,” I let out a long breath, knowing that I’m not getting out of it, “for starters, the first time that I met Zeke wasn’t when we went to JZS. I actually met him earlier that day at the park and he was so different then, nothing like the playboy that he portrays to be. I saw something in him that day, something I don’t think he shows too many people. Anyway, after that, he agreed to be my tour guide, and for about a week, we did some sightseeing. He was a perfect gentleman, not once did he hit on me. He even showed me how to bake a pie.”