I run through words he’d said to me. You played it better than the original. You played it like it was yours. It didn’t even sound like a cover.
How did he pick that song out of all the ones I played in my hour-long set?
He gets me. That’s all there is to it.
So why do I have to go and put up an invisible wall between us? Or at least, why can’t I stand up to Cole and Sebastian who are being all white knight protective of me? I want to know for myself what’s so dangerous about Zach. Sure, he might have some rough edges, but don’t we all?
I play on repeat the words he said to me once we were all alone.
If I something were to happen to you, I’d never forgive myself. I can’t in good conscience do anything but take you home.
If he’s dangerous, he’s also got a helluva protective streak in him. My curiosity burns to know what he did that he ended up in jail.
I linger for another moment, just watching him.
Summoning a boost of courage, I work my way around the pool to where he’s seated on the wall and look up at him.
“How’d you get up there?” I ask.
He shrugs, not even seeming surprised to see me. “Magic.”
I frown. “Want to come down here so we can talk?”
“What’s there to talk about?”
I bend my neck to look up at him. “My friends were idiots back there. They’re just trying to protect me.”
He turns away, glancing into the distance. Running his hand over his face, he brings his gaze back to me.
“I’m not the kind of guy you want your friend, daughter, or wife around. I get it. What’s there to tell?”
I swallow a lump in my throat. “I should have spoken up but didn’t. I just get tongue-tied sometimes.”
Zach makes a move like he might hop down, but he hesitates. “I mean, why would you defend me, anyway? You barely know me. They’re right. I’m bad news.”
I shake my head. “That’s not true . . . at least that’s not the vibe I got.”
He takes another pull of his whisky, glances around, and jumps down from the high wall, amazingly not spilling a drop.
“That’s talent,” I say, nodding toward his whisky glass.
He smiles a little.
“One of my three special talents.”
“Oh?” I arch an eyebrow. “What are the other two?”
“Never spilling a drop of whisky, cooking anything from scratch, and the third, well, I don’t know you well enough yet for the third.”
My heart flutters and I tilt my head. “Now I’m curious.”
He flashes a smile. “Maybe someday you’ll learn. But look. Don’t worry about your friends. They’re just looking out for you. That’s a good thing you’ve got friends like that. And you know what else? It’s true. I am a screwup. I’ve always been a screwup, and I always will be.”
I swallow. “I don’t think you’re a screwup. And even if you have screwed up in the past, the past doesn’t determine anyone’s future.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t even know me. And it’s better that things stay that way.”
Zach stiffens. I feel myself break inside for him. Does he really think he’s that worthless?
I put my hand on his muscled forearm. His eyes widen, and he draws back. “Oh? You don’t like me touching you?” I ask, silently wondering if he feels the same electricity I do. My heart races.
“Not used to it,” Zach says.
“You didn’t have a problem when I wrapped my arms around you last week on the bike,” I point out.
“That was different,” he says. “We had to do that.”
A surge of adrenaline courses through me, and I feel my usual shyness fade away as my pulse goes a thousand beats a minute.
Zach stares at me with his deep brown eyes. I have no idea why I feel so comfortable around him—more so than with anyone in a long time.
He oozes lust, sex, and masculinity, but there’s something about him that makes me feel like he won’t judge me for anything I do, think, or feel. Maybe because it seems like he’s been through the wringer himself.
I realize we’ve been staring into each other’s eyes for several moments, and I try to remember what he last said.
“Oh. So we had to do this on the bike?”
Putting my hand on the lower crease of his abs, right where the muscles meet the hips, I swing around behind him. Pushing my hips into his butt from behind, I press myself against his back, just like I did on the bike.
Except this time, he’s shirtless.
And this time, I have no butterflies of fear about where he’s taking me.
Those have been replaced by pangs of desire spinning through me. He’s taller than me, so my head lands around his upper back as I push into him. He lets out a heavy breath as I slip my hands down his stomach, dragging them across the flat muscles.
Getting on my tippy-toes, I whisper into his ear, “Like this? Is this how we were on your bike last week? Is this what you’re so afraid of? A woman’s touch?”
Finishing the last of his drink, he throws the glass into the now mostly empty pool and reaches both of his hands back around my hips.
“What do you think you’re doing, Harmony?”
“Just touching you. Seems like you haven’t been touched in a while. That okay? Do you like it?”
Zach’s breath is heavy. “I’m just a little confused. You wouldn’t even talk to me back at The Hungry Burger, and now you’ve got your hands on me like I’m your favorite toy. Are you drunk?”
“I haven’t had one drink.”
“Okay. Good.”
I run my hand down the side of his thigh, my heart hammering like crazy. I really don’t know what’s spurring me on to act like this. I’m usually the prim and proper girl who doesn’t step on any toes, doesn’t cause a stir.
And I definitely don’t go putting my hands all over the hottest guy at the party in a social situation where other people might see. Sure, I’m being careful not to
But I’m reaching a boiling point of being pushed around. It’s my stepmom forgetting to pick me up and not making me breakfast. It’s that stupid song playing again on the radio. It’s Sebastian and Cole not trusting my judgment with men. It’s just everything all at once.
Zach grabs a tuft of my hair and pulls my lips closer to him.
“Do you want to dance?” he asks.
Chapter 6
Zach
“Dance? What kind of dancing are we doing?” Harmony intones in an almost singsong fashion, her lips close against my skin. “I can think of one type of dance I’d like to do with you.”
My eyes widen.
Normally I’m the guy with the snappy comeback, but I’ve got nothing right now.
Harmony’s hands are still on my hips and she’s causing goosebumps everywhere on my body. Her soft hands slide down my obliques until her thumbs hook into my jeans.
Normally, if a woman came onto me like this, I’d be taken aback. Surprised, yes, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s happened to me before.
But in Harmony’s case, we’ve got such an explosive connection, my mind is fogged over with a permeating desire that takes over my mind and body.