Page 161 of Positively Pricked

"What were you thinking?"

"When?"

"Just now," he said. "Tell me."

I didn't want to tell him. Because if I did, I'd have to face the reality of how fleeting all of this would surely be. I recalled What's-Her-Name from his private jet. She'd looked at Zane like he was the only guy in the world. Andhe'dlooked at her like she was used goods.

And then, there was Maven from dinner. The way it sounded, he'd ditchedherpretty quickly, too.

But I didn't want to dwell on it, just like I didn't want to dwell on Zane's earlier comments about my job. Maybe Iwasabout to be fired. Or maybe, he'd been speaking rhetorically. Foolish or not, I didn't want to ask.

Not now.

I still hadn't answered his question.What was I thinking?I glanced around. The sky was blue, and the breeze was warm. Around us, the trees were rustling, and I was sitting with the most fascinating person I'd ever met.

Worrying, I decided, would be an absolute waste. After all, it wouldn’t change a single thing.

Besides, I wasn'tthatnaive. I already knew how this would end.

Badly.

Because with Zane, that's how it always ended. And yet, right now, I couldn't bring myself to care, or at least, not enough to ruin what was shaping up to be a pretty spectacular day. So I summoned up a smile and said, "Nothing."

He gave me a dubious look. "Uh-huh."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means, Iknowwhat you're thinking."

"Oh yeah? What?"

"You're thinking, 'Who is this guy, judging his uncles when he's just as bad? Worse, even.'"

A nervous laugh escaped my lips. "That'snotwhat I was thinking."Not word-for-word, anyway.

His mouth held the hint of a smile. "If you say so."

In spite of everything, I felt like smiling, too. "Okay, then I also know whatyou'rethinking."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"You're thinking, 'How'd I end up on a park bench with some farmer's daughter.'"

His tone became flirtatious. "Hey, I like farmer's daughters."

Funny. On this, Teddy might've been right. Go figure.

I smiled up at him. "Oh yeah?"

Zane gave a slow nod. "One in particular."

It was such a lovely thing to say, especially from him. And, if he were anyone else, I might've believed that it was more than simple flattery.

Zane's gaze met mine. "And," he continued, "I know exactly why we're sitting on some bench."

"Why?"

"Because, if we're in public Imightbehave myself."