Page 24 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part Two

But the feeling doesn’t go away.

After a full minute of standing in the middle of the foyer, I’m about to go after Melissa when a broad hand lands in the middle of my back.

I jump nearly a foot in the air.

“Whoa, you okay?” Zane asks, and my hand flies to my chest. I really need to relax. Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to run off and stay for a drink or two.

Beyond the glass doors, a flash of light brightens the busy street, threatening rain.

“Zane,” I say, catching my breath. “Sorry, you scared me. I looked for you earlier but didn’t find you.”

He gives me a charming smile, taking his time checking me out from head to toe. I look damn good, and I know this, but his open perusal makes me uncomfortable.

“That’s why I came to find you,” he says, taking a step closer. “I knew you’d bounce without finding me.” Zane’s low voice rumbles close to my ear, and I have to admit, he sounds nice.

And smells nice.

Still, we’re in public, so I take a step away.

“I got the Keystone deal sorted,” I tell him, keeping my voice low.

“All business, huh?” he says with a sideways grin.

I tick my head back, frowning.

“What do you mean? Also,you’re welcome,” I snap, turning away to find Melissa.

“Wait,” he says, grabbing my wrist, and I immediately tense, my eyes going to where he restrains me. “Sorry, Liv.”

I raise my gaze again, and this time it snags on the faint smudge of lipstick on his collar. The fact that seeing it has nearly no effect on me proves what I already know: This situation with Zane is a mistake.

“Zane,” I say, calling on my patience. This man has been a friend more than he’s been a lover. In fact, calling him aloverfeels wrong…love is nowhere in the mix between us.

“Hey, it’s all good,” he says, raising his hands. “I can be patient, Liv.”

I narrow my eyes, assessing him.

“Right,” I bite out. After a beat of awkward silence, I take another step back, nodding in Melissa’s direction. “I’ll see you in the office.”

Zane seems taken aback by my abrupt dismissal, but he has to be used to it at this point.

My phone buzzes again, giving me an excuse to get even further away from Zane. But when I glance down at the screen,something catches my eye to the left—a flash of broad shoulders. A tall frame. The tilt of a jaw that?—

No.

No, no, no.

It can’t be.

It’s not him.

It’s a dark hall, Shae. Get a grip.

“Shae?” I blink and shake my head as Zane’s face comes into focus.

“I’m fine,” I snap, sucking in a deep breath as the world comes alive around me again.

“Three minutes until the driver’s here. Everything okay?” Melissa appears at my elbow, giving Zane a strange look.