Alpha Hero - Hope Ford Page 0,33

means, right?”

Confusion fills her face, but she still nods her head at me.

I just shake my head and lean toward her. “If we do this, you need to know a few things. I don’t date. I don’t do commitment. It’s a one-time thing.”

She takes a deep breath and stares back at me. Any second I’m waiting on her to back down, but the determined look in her blue eyes makes me realize that maybe she’s not as innocent as I think she is. I don’t even realize it, but I’m holding my breath and only release it when she starts to nod her head.

“I get it, Zach. You don’t do commitment. I’m not asking for one. I’m good with one night.” She turns back to the baby then, rocking her in her car carrier.

I watch her for a second and I don’t even want to analyze why her words bother me a little. She’s saying she wants what I want. “Okay, so I’m off tonight or we can do next…”

She blurts out, “Tonight. Tonight is good.” Her eyes are wide, nostrils flared and a flush is rushing up her neck to her face.

I couldn’t keep the smirk on my face if I tried. She seems eager, making me wonder exactly what I’m getting myself into here. “Tonight then. I’ll text you the address.”

Shannon

I’m doing my best to look calm on the outside, but right now my inside is going crazy. I. Did. It. I asked him out. And I knew how he felt about relationships. Heck, I’ve spent the last six weeks over here at April’s getting to know her, Terry and Zach. I know he doesn’t date. I know he doesn’t do commitment. April has warned me over and over to not get involved with him. She always says, “He’s a great friend, but would make a terrible boyfriend.”

At first, I was able to bury my feelings for him. But then, he held baby Ella. Yep, that day my ovaries whimpered. I mean, they downright cried. Seeing him, all masculine and tough, look down at the baby in his arms, well, it made my insides turn to goo. But then he smiled at her. He smiled at Ella and I felt a tug in my lower belly. It was then that I knew I was not going to be able to put him out of my head.

I’ve spent every moment of the last six weeks thinking of him. It’s actually embarrassing how much I’ve thought of him. Which is exactly why I’ve developed this plan. I want him and I know that if I can just get him out of my system, I can move on, meet the man for me and have the picket fence with the two children and the big dog like I always imagined my life would be.

Looking over at him, I smile. He looks confused, probably surprised that I’m willing. I mean, let’s face it, I’m not really the one-night stand type. At least I don’t think I am.

He starts to say something and the front door opens. April’s standing there, her hair every which way and what she’s been doing is plainly written on her face. Terry comes up behind her, wrapping his arm around her middle. April’s face is flaming red and I try to hide my smile when she says, “What are y’all doing out here? Come on in.”

Zach picks up the carrier and carries Ella in and I just watch his ass as he walks by. Yep, I’ve got it all under control. One night and he’ll be out of my system. I pick up the diaper bag and follow them inside.

2

Zach

I call and cancel the dinner reservations. As soon as I left Terry and April’s house I called and reserved a table at the new Italian restaurant downtown. It’s not until now, five minutes before she’s supposed to be here, that I call and cancel. I don’t even know what I was thinking when I called in the first place. I told her what to expect from me. She knows not to expect dinner, dating or anything like that. It is what it is. A one-night stand. That’s it.

But even as I try to convince myself of it, guilt fills me. Already, I know that Shannon is not this girl. The one-night stand kind of girl. Hell, I knew it when she asked me out, but I still told her what I wanted from her. She agreed, but I