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Z ip liked this woman. She was funny. He bet she wouldn’t put up with bullshit. What was up with her sister? There were two sides to every story, and he needed more information to understand what was going on. But from what he’d seen from Talia, she wasn’t a bad person.

“I like how it’s lined up. You could go to a doctor, but I have to say I did a great job.”

“I’ll be the judge of that. Let me see a mirror.”

“How about a phone? I’ll turn the camera around.”

He held up the phone, and she gasped. “I look like shit.”

He shrugged. “I’ve seen worse.”

Her nose wrinkled as she stared at him. “Gee, thanks.”

His lips twitched into a smile before he schooled his expression. “How are you getting home?”

She clicked her heels together, then shrugged. “Well, that didn’t work. I guess I’ll walk.”

Her reference to The Wizard of Oz made him chuckle. He wasn’t going to let her walk, though. Not after what had happened to her. “I’ll drive you.”

She clasped her hands together and opened her mouth in shock. “Really?”

He nodded, feeling like he was about to get blasted by her. “Yes, really.”

She snorted and looked at him like he was rotten meat. “I’m not getting in a car with a stranger. What kind of fool do you think I am? I mean, I’m obviously a fool because I came here to see my sister, but I’m not the type of fool who gets into some stranger’s car.”

“We aren’t strangers now. I know your name, and you know mine. We’re practically family.”

“Oh, hell no. My family would just as soon see me dead as alive.”

“Okay, we’re not family. We’re two people who just met, but I can’t let you walk home. Not after seeing that guy hitting you. You can send a text to a friend and let them track you.”

Talia scoffed. “Cheryl made sure I don’t have friends. There is no one who would care if you dumped me on the side of the road.”

Anger rose up inside, but he held it in check. “Fine.” Zip pulled out his phone and called Trip. “Hey, can you send me Ellis’s number? I have someone who needs a ride, but she needs someone to send her location to.”

“Sure. I’ll text it.”

He liked how his buddies just trusted him and didn’t ask questions. They were solid, and he knew they had his back, even in something small like this. “Thanks, man.” He ended the call and met her gaze.

“Wait. I don’t know this Ellis person. How can I trust him?”

“Ellis is a woman, my friend’s woman. You have to get home, and your sister is dangerous. Trust Ellis. Here, call her and tell her you need someone to know you’re with me and that you want someone tracking your location.”

* * *

Talia grabbed her phone and entered the number from Zip’s screen. A woman answered immediately.

“Hello.”

“Zip said you’d track my location. Why should I trust him?”

“Trip said you’d call. I’m Ellis.”

“I’m Talia.”

“You can trust Zip. He won’t harm you. He’ll take you home and make sure your place is safe.”

“Doubt it.”

“No, he will.”

How could she explain the hell her family had put her through? It wasn’t normal at all and people didn’t understand. “It has nothing to do with him. My place will never be safe. I could have police sitting outside my door, and I’d still be in danger.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did something happen?”

“My family. They aren’t nice.”

“That sucks. Well, Zip is a good friend. Maybe your luck is changing.”

“I’m not going to hold my breath.”

“He’ll make sure you get home. And Talia, give me a call this weekend, maybe we can get a drink.”

She didn’t know what to say for a second. Why would this complete stranger want to get a drink with her? The offer honestly shocked her, and she had no excuse lined up for why she couldn’t join this woman for drinks. “That would be nice. Thank you.”

The second the call ended she wondered if she’d made a mistake. Friends didn’t stick around once her family got to them. Maybe getting this person involved was wrong. Ellis didn’t know what kind of hell her family started.

She shoved her phone into her pocket after sending tracking information to Ellis’s number. When she looked up and met Zip’s gaze, a shiver slid through her. What was that look about? No way would this man be interested in her. Besides, he wasn’t like the guys she usually went for. But what good had that done for her? The last man she’d been serious with had ended up stabbing her in the back by sleeping with Cheryl.

She had the feeling that this man in front of her wouldn’t fall victim to Cheryl’s lies. She could trust Zip. Maybe it was the way he held her gaze, or just something deep inside, but he didn’t seem like the type to bend to her family. He would tell them to go to hell.

“Okay. I’ll let you take me home.”

“Good. Get in, and you can give me your address.”

“You won’t come to track me down and stalk me like some weirdo and make me regret this?”

“No. You don’t ever have to see me again unless you want to.”

She slid into the passenger seat and looked up, meeting his gaze. “What if I want to see you again?”

* * *

Zip didn’t want to make too much of her words, so he shrugged, but his chest grew warm as he thought about seeing Talia again. He shut her door and moved around the car, trying to cover his feelings. He was confused. This woman was sassy and strong, but she had a streak of vulnerability he spied when she talked about her family. What was up with that?

He followed the directions, getting on the freeway after a few turns. “I don’t want to make you think I’m better than I am. I would never do anything with someone who wasn’t into what we were doing, but I’ve never been the type of guy who was in it for a long time. I’m not good enough for you.”

Talia scoffed. “You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He glanced at her, seeing her frown. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’m trash and I know it. I’m no prize.”

Anger flashed. “You shouldn’t talk that way about yourself.”

She snorted. “Then neither should you.”

He huffed, trying to come up with something to say. It was hard to argue with her while driving. Why was he even arguing with her about this? She was someone he’d just met, not someone he would ever see again.

Laughter from Talia was the last thing he expected. “Oh man, you’re so mad because I’m right. I bet you’re a cinnamon roll.”

He cut his gaze her way then focused on the road. “What?”

“You know, one of those guys who is all sweet and gooey in romance books. The kind of guy who would be supportive.”

Her words made his heart hurt. Back before the Navy, he might have been that kind of guy, but now he never let anyone get close. “I’m not. I’m an asshole.”

“Well, asshole, I bet that’s an act. You’re too sweet and kind.”

He exited the freeway and the map directions told him to turn. Her place was only a few yards after another turn, so he didn’t have much time with her. Anger slid through him. He had to show her he wasn’t sweet. He was a total dick. He didn’t want her to think he would be the type of man who would stick around. He was nothing at all like a cinnamon roll, whatever that was.

When he stopped the car and cut the engine, he hopped out and moved around to the passenger side before she could get the door open. He helped her up and slammed the door, then pushed her up against the side of the car and braced his hands on the roof beside her shoulders.

She looked up at him, her blue eyes tinged with boredom. He had to prove to her that he was a dick. He wasn’t sweet and gooey. He was harsh and terrible.

He leaned in, his lips less than an inch from hers. “I’m dangerous and mean. I’m not good,” he said with as much of a growl as he could muster.

Her fingers flitted over his chest, then traced down to his belly, sending fireworks through him. Being this close to her felt like an out-of-control car speeding down the freeway that was about to crash. When her tongue came out and licked at his lips, he jerked back as heat filled him.

She giggled as she ducked under his arm and escaped his cage. He turned and watched as she raced up the stairs to the crap apartment above an Italian restaurant he’d never been to before. He wanted to follow her, but if he did, he feared he would show her he was a total cinnamon roll, and she would never let him live it down.