Wicked as Lies (Wicked & Devoted #3) - Shayla Black Page 0,40
how to contribute to this evening, but all she’d managed to do was stir up bad memories for Zy.
“Dance?” he asked suddenly.
She whipped her stare to him. He was serious. He wouldn’t ask if it would interfere with the mission, right? “Sure.”
He stood and held out his hand. She slid her palm into his, and awareness crackled through her body as they made their way to the dance floor. When they reached it, the song changed to a power ballad sung by a woman who crooned that the pieces of her heart ached for her missing lover. It felt so good to be in Zy’s arms, but she couldn’t get lost there. It was temporary. In three minutes, the music would change and they would go back to their table to smile politely and watch the party around them.
Despite the self-pep talk, Tessa closed her eyes and relished her moments close to Zy.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
She looked up at him. “About what?”
“Earlier. I don’t like to talk about my dad and Kendra.”
“I understand. Who would? If it helps you, my dad and I are in a rough patch, too. My mom died just before Christmas last year. I knew he didn’t have any idea how to take care of himself, but I never expected him to marry another woman six weeks later. Hallie was born three days after their Vegas wedding. We’ve barely talked since. I’m angry, and his new wife, Kathleen, doesn’t want him to have anything to do with his old life. She even made him sell the house I grew up in because she refused to move in with him because he’d lived there with my mom. He’s never even seen Hallie except in pictures.”
Zy stopped scanning the room. “I had no idea. I’m sorry.”
His expression told her he genuinely meant that.
“Thanks. It’s been rough. I was always a daddy’s girl.”
He brought her a little closer and held her a little tighter. He didn’t say anything more, just dropped a kiss on the top of her head and comforted her in the circle of his strong arms. He was her fortress from the storm of the outside world.
When the music ended, they continued swaying until a dance tune forced them apart. Then he led her back to their table, where they sat without incident for the rest of the evening.
Kendra waved to the room in general as she and her groom departed for their honeymoon. Cutter and Rebecca followed at a discreet distance. After that, guests started calling it a night and filtering out. Dr. Waxman and his wife, a petite, middle-aged brunette with sensible hair, left, as well. The older man clapped Zy on the shoulder on his way out the door. Josiah and Ashley trailed them to ensure their safety.
That left her alone with Zy in a room quickly emptying of guests.
He pressed a hand to his ear. “All clear.” Hunter must have replied with something affirmative, because Zy nodded and took her hand. “Let’s go.”
Silently, they entered the elevator, and he pressed the button for the tenth floor just before he disassembled his communication device, turned it off, and shoved it in his pocket.
Their ascent began quietly. Tessa yearned to say something, but what? Their time together was almost over, and she looked at him, already aching for the moment they’d have to part.
Suddenly, he stabbed a button on the elevator panel. The car lurched to a stop.
“Fuck it.” He grabbed her hand again.
Her heart started racing. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t know. There are so many things I want to do with you. To you. Baby, I haven’t stopped thinking about you.”
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you, either.”
He wrapped his fingers around her arms and pulled her against his body. “I’ve tried to act like you’re just a co-worker or a friend, but I can’t anymore.”
Never mind racing, her heart now thundered in her ears.
Tessa knew that pursuing anything with Zy wasn’t smart. She had Hallie to think about. And being with him might end their careers or shatter her heart. In that moment, she couldn’t bring herself to care. “I can’t, either.”
Zy cupped her face, his eyes impossibly bluer as he stared. “You’re serious?”
“Yes. Are you going to kiss me?”
He hesitated. “I want to so fucking bad it would probably terrify you. But if I do right now, that dress won’t survive the rest of the elevator ride.”
Tessa swallowed the desire threatening to choke her. “Then when?”