guy. Give it a little time and you’ll figure that out.”
“A little time,” she repeated before giving her head a baffled shake. “Why? We have nothing in common. We’re as different as can be. Why me, Zach? Because I’m handy? I’m handy and you’re horny?”
“That’s insulting to both of us.”
“Then explain it to me.” She punctuated her demand by waving her hand.
Zach could see that she seriously had doubts about him. The woman was gun-shy, and he needed to put her at ease. Otherwise, they’d never move forward … and he very much wanted to move forward.
So he used the most powerful weapon in his arsenal—the truth. “Honestly, I would if I could, but I don’t know that I understand it myself. Not totally. You intrigue me, Savannah. You challenge me. That’s a turn-on for me. I like climbing mountains. I like backcountry skiing. I like trying to get beneath your skin—not to mention your spa robe.”
Her eyes narrowed. “So this is sport to you. A game.”
“Maybe. I admit that’s part of it. At the risk of sounding egotistical, I haven’t had to work for a woman in a long time. You are work, Savannah Sophia Moore.” He ignored her wrinkled nose and sniff of disgust and pressed on. “I’m not afraid of work and I’m not afraid of challenges. I’m not afraid of relationships, either. Maybe that’s where you and I are headed.”
“A relationship?” she asked, horrified.
The squeak in her voice made him smile. “Maybe. Or maybe we’ll settle on a friendship.”
“Maybe we’ll want nothing to do with each other.”
“Maybe you’ll break my heart. Or …” He kissed the back of her hand. “Maybe we’ll fall in love.”
She leaped out of the swing as if her butt was on fire. “Love? Fall in love? Now you are being insane. You’re a cop. I’m a convict.”
“So?”
“So that’s like … I don’t know what that’s like. Oil and water.”
“I admit, it’s a long shot. Still, don’t you think it’ll be fun figuring out the answer?”
Zach rose and stepped toward her. Savannah, of course, backed away, until she bumped up against the house. “You smell like summertime and champagne. Kiss me, Peach.”
She placed her palm against his chest. “I am not having sex with you tonight.”
“A good-night kiss. That’s all I’m asking for. Trust me, Savannah.” Silvered moonlight illuminated her face, and the yearning in her expression broke his heart. “You can trust me, Savannah.”
Her hand slid up his chest and around his neck. Silently she offered him her lips.
For now, that was enough.
THIRTEEN
“The man confounds me,” Savannah told Gabi, who sat beside her in a salon chair in the Angel’s Rest spa. “It’s been three weeks. He sends gifts. He calls me. He drops by the shop to visit. He tells his friends that he’s ‘seeing’ me, but he hasn’t asked me out.”
“Really? How do you know that?”
“Sage told me. Is this some sort of weird mountain dating ritual? Not to go on dates?”
Gabi laughed. “Not that I know of. I agree it’s weird that he’s never asked you out. It’s not like he’s trying to work up the nerve. From everything I’ve seen, Zach Turner doesn’t do timid.”
Savannah eyed the red polish on Gabi’s toes and second-guessed her own choice of a pink shade. “Well, he did ask me out once, but that was at the open house.”
“You turned him down?” When Savannah nodded, Gabi continued. “Well, there’s your answer. He’s waiting for you to make the next move.”
“Excuse me? Are you saying he’s waiting for me to ask him out?”
“Knowing my boss, that’s a good guess. Zach is a proud man.”
“He’s a pest.” Savannah indulged in a minor sulk. “And the whole thing is complicated.”
“Why, because you have a jerk in your past?”
Savannah startled. Had Zach spread her personal business around? Before she could ask, Gabi continued.
“You don’t own the market on a-holes, Savannah. A lot of us have scars from that particular battle.”
“Maybe so, but some wounds take longer to heal. Some wounds never heal.”
“Sure they do … as long as you don’t let them fester. You need to let yourself see where this thing with Zach takes you. Don’t stress and don’t overanalyze. It causes wrinkles.”
Was Gabi right? The idea did make a weird sort of sense. The behavior was annoying, so of course it would be something he’d do. She nodded toward Gabi’s feet and changed the subject. “What color is that?”
“Wine for Me, Baby.”
“It’s pretty. It complements your olive complexion.” Savannah glanced up as the