“I’ve never taken it off,” she said as she pecked me on the lips.
That fact made my brain fuzzy. But I wasn’t about to analyze the significance of it. Instead, I cupped her face in my hands and took control, kissing her greedily. She tasted like bubblegum and memories and home. When our tongues touched, my groin tightened. I broke away as I peppered kisses down her neck, absorbing jasmine and a hint of fruit. I was a second away from taking her into the bathroom when Zach’s voice shattered the mood. We both straightened like two teenagers caught by her father. She smoothed out her hair as I adjusted myself in my seat.
Zach strutted in. His blond curls were wild on top of his head, his T-shirt was wrinkled, and he was wearing flip-flops in the dead of winter.
“Hey, man,” he said as he ponied up to Lizzie and me.
I pointed to his feet. “You know it’s thirty degrees outside?”
We exchanged a quick handshake.
“I hate driving in boots,” he said as he eyed Lizzie. “Who’s the beauty? You kind of look familiar. Do I know you?”
Touch her and you die.
“I’m the redhead you were supposed to tutor for Mr. Brewer. You know, the girl who was at your place when I found Chloe crying on your steps?” Her sarcasm was epic.
The color drained from Zach’s face at the mention of Chloe’s name.
I hadn’t spoken to him yet about why Chloe was even at the condo. We were there to talk about Lizzie’s problem, but I couldn’t help but ask, “Why was she crying at our place?” I hadn’t heard from Chloe since the night of the art gala. Which was unusual. We’d broken up before, and she’d always tracked me down. Maybe she was tired of hoping I would develop strong feelings for her.
Kade came in and circled the bar.
Zach’s jaw moved rapidly. “Wait. Why am I here?”
“I’m sorry.” Lizzie extended her hand. “I’m Elizabeth Reardon. Your father stole all my inheritance. Tell me where he is.” Her tone and body language screamed don’t-fuck-with-me.
I exchanged an I’m-impressed look with Kade. I was more than impressed. The tough but sweet girl I knew growing up was making my dick grow harder every time I saw the badass side of her.
Zach whipped his head to me, surprise wiping away his confusion. “What is this? An intervention?”
“We need your help,” I said. “And this might be your chance to help your old man.”
Zach stalked to the stage at the far side of the room, smoothing his hands over his mop of hair as he went. Then he came back. “Let me get this straight,” he said to Lizzie. “You disguise yourself then come to my house hoping you can get information out of me on my old man? How do I know you don’t want to steal from him?” He turned to me. “You believe this girl? She must be a good lay or something.”
I dove at him. Red colored my vision. It was so unlike Zach to be a jerk in front of a lady. My fist rammed into his jaw just before he threw an uppercut. My head snapped back. He’d sparred with Kross once, but the outcome hadn’t been good for Zach. He wasn’t a fighter, but I had to give him credit. He could protect himself when he had to.
“Stop,” Kade said as he pulled me off of Zach.
I wrenched out of Kade’s hold. “Not everything in life is about a good roll in the hay. And what’s up your ass?”
Kade offered Zach a hand, but he declined as he got up and spewed, “Nothing.”
Kade stretched out his arms between us. “Both of you calm down. Zach, Elizabeth is an old family friend. She needs your help. Hear her out. And, Kel. Cool your jets.”
I held up my hands and went back to Lizzie, who was watching us intently with her arms crossed over her chest. Zach brushed his hands down his shirt and jeans then sat on the edge of a table a short distance from the bar. Kade went up next to him.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” Lizzie asked Zach. “Three years ago you were visiting your father in Miami. You and he were at my house. He introduced us as I was walking out the door.” The edge in her voice had lessened.
Zach rubbed the spot where my fist had connected with his mouth. “Sorry. I don’t.”
“Doesn’t matter,” she said. “The long and short of it is that your father and mine were best friends. My father made your dad trustee of my inheritance. I’m asking you if you can contact your father and ask him to call me or meet me. He’s not returning my calls. Or tell me where he is.”
Zach let out a low laugh. “I barely know when he’s in town, let alone where in the country he is. Particularly when he’s on a gambling binge.”
“Look, man,” I said nicely. I didn’t want to fight with Zach. It wouldn’t help Lizzie’s case. “See what you can do. Also, a friend of ours says there’s a high-stakes poker game going down somewhere in Boston in a few weeks. If you do talk with your old man, ask him if he’s playing in it.”