Page 8 of Last Fall

I settled my hands loose on her biceps to keep her steady as she swayed. “I am so sorry I put my hand on your car. I would never, ever stop you from leaving. You’re safe with me. Iswearit.”

Thank fuck the color began to return to her cheeks. Her eyes wandered back to lock with mine. “You really mean that, don’t you?” shewhispered.

The fact that she had to ask that, coupled with the waver in her voice told me a lot about Zoe’s past. Someone—no, somemanhad hurt her. Picking up and moving to Tampa so suddenly, not dating, this fear...there wasn’t a doubt in my mind what was causing it. Not anymore. It made me want to lift her car up and drop it on the first asshole I found. But she probably didn’t want to hearthatpart.

“Of course I mean it,” I said nice and soft. “The last thing I’d ever want is to upset you.” Men who hurt women were the lowest form of bottom-scraping scum on theplanet.

Weak.That’s what my father had taught me and my brothers a long, long time ago. “Strong men need strong women to love. Weak men use women to make themselves feel strong, but they aren’t. It’s just an illusion. Find a strong woman like your mother, love her with everything you have, and you’ll beunbreakable.”

My parents love was so strong that even after he died it held my mom up, gave her the strength to raise eight kids on her own. I wanted that kindoflove.

“I’ve been treating you like you’re an asshole,” she muttered, clearlyembarrassed.

I couldn’t help myself. I reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear. Soft, feminine,mine.My damn brain wouldn’t stop screaming that word.Mine.As if a woman could ever be mine. It wasn’t like she was a car or a batting glove. She was an independent person with a wildly successful career, legions of fans, and an entire life that had absolutely nothing to do with me. And yet...all I wanted to do was cage her in, get lost in those damn green eyes while I kissed her, and beat up any jerks who interrupted the process. “I try very hard to be the opposite of an asshole,” I said instead of any of the other thoughts racing through my big dumbbrain.

“I know.” She said it so softly I barelyheardher.

I took that as a good sign. Two solid years of striking out with Zoe Burke and now, “I know.”Two very simple words on their own, but coupled with the way she was biting her lower lip and staring up at me like she trustedme? It was like she was telling me a hell of alotmore.

Of course it could just as easily be my mind playing tricks on me because I wanted her so badly. “Do you? I know you’ve avoided me for a long time. I thought it was just because you didn’t like me. But Zoe, if you were ever scared of me for any reason, Iapologize.”

Her eyes went round with wonder and then...Oh, and theneverythingchanged.

I don’t know what came over her. Hell, I’m not sure she dideither.

She looked just as surprised as I felt when she suddenly grabbed me andkissedme.

Hands on my face, soft lips against mine,kissingme.

Everything about her was right from the way she fit against me all the way down to how she made me feel. For those few heartbeats, nothing elsemattered.

Not the fact that she’d never shown any interest in mebeforenow.

Not the fact that I’d just ruined herlunch.

I didn’t even entertain the idea that this might be my one andonlykiss.

Because for two solid years the only things I’d thought about were my family, my team, and what it would be like tokissZoe.

Holy shit I waskissingZoe.

Did anything else matter anymore? I had enough money to retire. I could quit baseball and spend the rest of my life as Zoe’s professionalkisser.

Worthit.

But then she gasped and pulled back, slapping a hand over her mouth. “Oh my god. Ohmygod!”

I tried to chase her lips but with her hand in the way a kiss would be real awkward. “Is there a problem,darlin’?”

She shrieked. “I just...Ijust...”

“Kissed the shit outofme?”

She shrieked again andnodded.

“Could you do it again? I was having a real good time before youstopped.”

Her hand dropped away. “You don’tmeanthat.”