Bellisia really smiled for the first time, her grin a little mischievous. “I have to know, all that practicing, did it pay off?”
“Most assuredly,” Zara said. “You know how I believe in researching everything important. I was very happy I had because I shocked the heck out of him.”
Bellisia laughed. “I’ll bet you did.” The smile faded and she leaned into Zara. “Does he really make you happy? It was fast for you. I’m not saying it isn’t real because I fell hard for Zeke right away, so I know it can happen. Neither of us has ever dated, or spent time with other men. I knew Zeke was right for me. Do you really know, Zara?”
“I know he’s right for me. I’m hoping I’m right for him. There’s a part of me that worries the moment I’m all healed, he won’t feel the same way.”
“That’s Whitney talking. You’re more than good enough for him.”
“It’s not that. He’s so protective of everyone, you said it yourself. He might have the white knight syndrome. We read about it, remember? We used to look things like that up all the time. He rescued me and took care of me day and night. I looked far worse when he first got to me. He had to take me to the bathroom and stay in the room with me because I couldn’t sit on a toilet alone, or take a shower by myself. I was completely dependent on him. Once I’m not, that part of him that maybe needs that …”
“Don’t. Gino is many things, but he isn’t a liar. If he says he wants you, you can bet that he does. He isn’t a man to deceive himself. Not ever. He knows exactly what he’s looking for. He’s had the time to figure that out. If he wanted someone else, Zara, he’d have her already. And I can’t believe I’m taking his side.”
“That’s because you love me and you want me to be happy. You know Gino makes me happy.” Zara sent her a smile. “He does. Very happy. I feel safe when I’m with him and cared for. Loved even, although he hasn’t said he loves me, but he gets this look on his face sometimes when he’s looking at me.”
“He can’t help but love you, silly.”
“So.” Zara took a deep breath. She had to get this done. “I did tell him about the information I stole from Cheng’s computers. He wants to tell Trap and Wyatt so they can help figure out how to extract it. I didn’t want to let him do that until I talked to you. If you say Ezekiel will help without moving that information up the chain of command, then of course you have to tell him. I need to know if you think Trap and Wyatt are okay to tell.”
“Zeke would tell Joe if he thought it was absolutely necessary and that we could protect you, otherwise, no, not if you didn’t want him to. Trap and Wyatt are renegades. Like Gino, they go their own way. Joe has a tough time reining them in. Truthfully, all the men in this unit are a little bit renegade.”
“You’re sure about Ezekiel?”
Bellisia nodded. “Truthfully, he’s as rogue as the others. I think GhostWalkers just are, Joe included, although because he has to lead, he has fewer choices. He has to bring things to the major general. Gino protects him, so it stands to reason he wouldn’t give him this information about you. It would put Joe in a terrible position. Trap’s impressive. He might be a difficult man, but he comes up with innovative ideas that are far ahead of our time. The strides he’s made in the medical world are amazing. Believe me, Zara, no one will have to explain PEEK-carbon and nanotubes to him, or whatever you were talking about.”
Zara found herself laughing with relief. She should have known Bellisia would forgive her and help her immediately. It was her own insecurities that kept making things between them difficult. She had to stop or she’d end up ruining every relationship she had. She’d be fulfilling Whitney’s prophecy through her own stupidity.
“Do you really understand all that stuff?” Bellisia asked. “Because I looked it up and half the article sounded like a foreign language.”
“You’d understand if you wanted to, you just have no interest in it. You’re all about other things.”
“You got that right.” Bellisia glanced toward the screen door. “Do you think they’re ever going to be bringing us that strawberry lemonade? No one makes it better than Nonny.”
“I think they’re waiting for a signal that we’re finished with our talk,” Zara pointed out, unable to keep the laughter away.
Bellisia laughed with her and then lifted her voice. “Zeke, Gino, where’s the lemonade? We might die of old age before you get out here.”
“At least of thirst,” Zara corrected. “Although it was sweet of them to disappear so we could talk.”
“Zeke might want to run, thinking about the two of us locking horns,” Bellisia said. “But I’m surprised Gino didn’t have an ear to the screen. He’s all protective of you.”
The screen opened and Gino came out carrying a beer and a frosty, tall glass of strawberry lemonade. Right behind was Ezekiel with the same.
“I was listening at the screen,” Gino said, unrepentant. “Did you think I was going to let my woman get upset without me close?”
“I wasn’t,” Ezekiel said, his tone saintly. “I did my best to pull him away, told him if the two of you got into a catfight, then I’d come watch, just for the entertainment, but otherwise, no way. I didn’t want my ass kicked by a girl.”
“I would have kicked your ass,” Bellisia said, taking the glass. “But because you were so good, I’ll just kiss you instead.”
“Did you really eavesdrop on our conversation?” Zara asked, trying to glare and not succeeding because he looked so Gino. Gorgeous in that rough way of his. So … hers. And she didn’t really care in the least.
“Yep. Every word, princess. Good thing you’re not in trouble for saying anything nasty about me.”
Bellisia regarded him over her glass. “Eavesdroppers never hear good of themselves.”
“‘Awesome’ is the word that I think best describes me.” He brushed a kiss on Zara’s forehead and then slipped into his favorite place in the shadows where he could keep an eye on their surroundings even as he joined in their conversation.
Zara opened her mouth, but closed it, uncertain what she wanted to say. Gino sent her an unapologetic grin that kind of melted her. She glanced at Bellisia, who had one eyebrow up and a look that said, “see.”
Zara realized she did see. Bellisia would have been angry with Ezekiel and maybe rightly so. She wasn’t in the least upset with Gino, although clearly Bellisia thought she should be. She considered that while Bellisia explained to her husband that Zara spied on businesses for Whitney and how it was done. Zara knew other women would be really angry with their spouse or boyfriend for blatantly eavesdropping on a private conversation, so how come she wasn’t?
“It was private,” Zara finally said, half whispering.
Gino shrugged. “Maybe, but someone has to look out for you. The last time you cried for a long time. That wasn’t happening a second time.”
She looked up at Gino, her heart sinking. Maybe something really was wrong with her because he made her feel loved and protected. He made her feel safe and like he would fight for her if she couldn’t fight for herself. Was it so wrong to feel that way? She honestly didn’t know. She pressed the frosty glass to her forehead, trying not to feel anything at all. Bellisia wasn’t trying to make her feel like a fool for not caring that Gino had listened.
“Baby.” Gino was suddenly crouched down in front of her, his hands cupping her face. His thumb slid over her lower lip. “Look at me, Zara. Only at me.”