He kept replaying the amazing kisses he’d shared with Meredith and the unfulfilling, confusing way the night had ended. He’d upset her. He got that. But what had he done wrong? Had she not loved the kissing like he had? Had he kissed her too much or too passionately? He knew she was innocent, and maybe he’d been too into the kissing, but she’d kissed him just as passionately. It definitely hadn’t been one-sided. He realized now that he shouldn’t have teased her about googling him. That had set her off in a bad way, but man he was curious, and seeing that list was one of the reasons he’d been confident enough to go for her.
If only he had the confidence to declare his undying love and somehow beg her to make a relationship work even if they had to be apart at times. The love and admiration he had for Meredith was so much more than kissing, much more, but those kisses … Wow. As his brain spun, remembering each movement of their lips, a memory blindsided him. He’d been kissing a girl in the dark years and years ago. Hope. But was it Hope? Hope’s kiss had never been full of sparks and joy like that, but Meredith’s sure was. He’d been too focused on the kissing tonight to stop and analyze, but now he was analyzing. Was that Meredith all those years ago?
As he pieced memories and feelings together, he grew even more certain. He had thought he was going to meet Hope in the dark but had run into a firm, womanly shape who he simply assumed was Hope. Hope and Meredith were built alike, both tall and fit.
That kiss had been the kiss to end all kisses. Then his friends had been calling to him, he’d said they’d continue this later or something like that, and he took Hope’s hand. But when he’d called her Hope, she’d run away. It was Meredith. He was certain of it.
A branch cracked not far away, and he was yanked back to the present. He lay stone still as he heard footsteps approaching. The guy stalking Meredith. This was the reason Cruz was sleeping out here. This was his chance to keep Meredith safe and catch the creeper. Maybe if he was her hero, she’d fling herself into his arms and never leave his side.
Cruz carefully slid off the cot, grateful nothing creaked. He crouched by the cot. The man continued walking rhythmically and was seemingly unaware of Cruz’s presence. He waited silently until the intruder was close.
He could see the outline of a man as his eyes had adjusted to the dark night. He was only a foot away now. Cruz leapt and tackled the man onto his back in the spongy grass. The guy squealed and cried out like a teenage girl. Cruz wanted to pummel him for scaring Meredith, but something held him back.
“Don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me,” the guy cried.
Cruz moved his full body weight off the guy but kept him pinned down with his hands pressing on his shoulders. “Who are you? Why are you stalking Meredith?”
“Stalking? I no stalk Meredith.” There was something so innocent and familiar about this voice. The way he was reacting sounded like a little boy, but he was built like a man.
Cruz heard movement inside the house.
“You’re creeping around her house and scaring her. Who are you?”
“I never want to scare Meredith. I love her.”
Cruz’s gut tightened, wishing he could see the guy’s face. Meredith flipped an outside light on, and Cruz shut his eyes against the brightness, holding on to the guy so he wouldn’t run.
He heard the side door fling open and opened his eyes to gaze at Meredith. “Stay back,” he told her. “Call Sheriff Greenwood. I’ve got him pinned.”
Meredith didn’t listen. She walked off the patio toward them. “Zane?”
Cruz’s eyes had adjusted, and he glanced down at the man he was pinning. Zane Naylor. Ah, no. He released him immediately, stood, and offered his old friend a hand. He felt awful. He’d never wanted to bully Zane like others did. He’d tried to be his friend and watch out for him.
Zane let him help him up. His eyes darted from Cruz to Meredith.
“Cruz,” he said, almost worshipfully. “I thought you was back, but I only see you on the lake.”
Cruz nodded. “Yeah, man, I’m back. Good to see you. Sorry I tackled you.”
Zane shrugged. “It’s okay. I sorry I scared you and Meredith.”
Meredith wrapped her arms around her abdomen. Cruz forced himself not to admire the way she looked in a tank top and shorts and focus on Zane. He still felt like a heel for tackling the innocent boy trapped in a man’s body, but he had to explain somehow that Zane couldn’t keep creeping around Meredith’s house in the dark.
“Do you come walk around Meredith’s house at night?” Cruz asked, wanting to establish first that this was a pattern.
Zane nodded and darted a gaze at Meredith. He lowered his voice and said to Cruz, “I loves her. So I check on her at night.”
Meredith let out a gurgled breath. “Zane.” She shook her head. “You scared me.”
“I so sorry Meredith.” He wouldn’t look at her.
“How about you just come see me during the day at my ice cream shop?” she asked.
He blew out a huffy breath. “But I like thinking about her at night,” he said to Cruz, still seeming to feel too awkward to even look at Meredith.
Cruz could understand that, but he had to think of a solution. As it came to him, he hid a grin. Meredith might not like it with the way their night had ended, but it might keep Zane from checking on her at night and scaring her. He was so innocent.
“I’m Meredith’s boyfriend now,” he said decisively. “So, I’ll check on her at night.”
Meredith’s gaze widened, and she looked adorably confused. After he talked to Zane, he was going to take her in his arms and un-confuse her and their relationship. He hoped.
“But I loves her.” Zane jutted out his chin, prepared to do battle.
Cruz worried that maybe this obsession of Zane’s might be dangerous, but the guy had never hurt anyone or anything. He was so good and kind. Cruz put an arm around Zane like he used to do at parties or school events to protect him. “I’m sorry, man. I know she’s amazing, but she loves me. We’re together now. Thanks for watching over her while I was gone,” he added to hopefully soothe the guy.
Meredith let out a gasp. Zane and Cruz both looked her way. Cruz begged her with his gaze to admit that she did love him. If that wasn’t possible, maybe she could at least pretend, so they could keep Zane from stalking her at night.
“Is he true?” Zane asked her, getting bolder in his ability to look at Meredith. Cruz didn’t blame Zane for loving her or for having a hard time looking at her. She was so beautiful that she shone like an angel in his mind.
Meredith took a long breath, swallowed, stared right into Cruz’s eyes, and said, “He is true, Zane. I love him. I’m sorry.”
Cruz swayed on his feet. She loved him. His world was spinning. Was she only saying it to keep Zane from an unhealthy obsession for her, or was she being sincere? Her beautiful eyes said she meant it.
Cruz found himself leaning into Zane for support. “You okay, Cruz?” Zane asked.
Cruz straightened and stared at Meredith. “Better than okay,” he admitted. “Are you okay, bud?”
Zane looked between the two of them for a second. The air felt charged with tension and anticipation and happiness for Cruz and Meredith’s future. Was he hoping for far too much?