Nicole Edwards - Zane

No one seemed to mind.

“Honey, can you go inside and grab some more punch? Oh, and a few more of those glasses?”

Zane nodded at his mother as he turned on his heel to go into the house. Those little glasses his mother referred to actually said “Zoey’s Bachelorette Party” on them. She’d thought it funny when she ordered them, considering. He didn’t understand the joke, but he didn’t question his mother either.

Once inside, Zane maneuvered around the couple of ladies in the kitchen who were working diligently to get more food prepared to take outside. Other than the clang of forks and knives, the house was silent, which was a little surprising.

Or, maybe not.

The sound of two male voices came from down the hallway that led to the stairs, and Zane looked back at the women in the kitchen. Either they didn’t hear the heated argument, or they were pretending not to. Either way, Zane wasn’t about to let anyone ruin this day for Kaleb and Zoey, so he closed the refrigerator and moved down the hall at a fast clip.

“It will happen again, I told you that.”

Zane heard Travis’ voice loud and clear. He stuck his head just inside the doorway to the small office his parents rarely used. Travis had Gage pressed up against the wall. It appeared that they were arguing. Based on what he heard, Travis was probably angry at how the whole Jake Sanders ordeal went down. Not that Zane could blame him. If he’d had a say in the matter, Jake would’ve been arrested long before he had a chance to pull a gun on anyone.

What happened next told Zane that these two men weren’t in any way talking about Zane or anyone else. As quietly as he could, Zane pivoted on his boot heel and took off down the hall.

Absolutely none of his fucking business.

♂♂

Travis couldn’t help himself. Gage had cornered him unexpectedly, more than a little pissed off that he’d completely blown the cop’s cover in order to save his brother’s life. He’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Whether Gage was trying to push his buttons or not, Travis couldn’t resist what he was about to do. He’d pushed him up against the wall and was gripping his chin in one hand, making sure Gage was well aware of his intent. The night of that damn party in Vegas, Travis sat back, silently watching as Gage got all touchy feely with Zoey, undoubtedly with Kaleb’s permission. It was as though he was taunting him. Travis had promised himself the next time he got Gage alone, he wasn’t going to hold back.

They may not have as much privacy as he’d hoped for, but this would have to do. For now.

“It will happen again, I told you that,” Travis told the cop, but he wasn’t referring to Jake Sanders or the clusterfuck that happened a few days ago.

No, he was talking about this.

Travis slammed his mouth down on Gage’s. Hard. No holds barred. He thrust his tongue into the other man’s mouth, his body surging to life as soon as Gage returned the kiss. He’d been waiting for this ever since that first time in his office. He was counting down the minutes until what happened the next time he got Gage alone. By themselves or with a woman between them, Travis didn’t give a shit. He wanted this man. Fiercely.

Sliding one hand between them, Travis palmed Gage’s dick through his jeans, making the other man moan into his mouth.

When they broke apart, primarily for air, but partly due to the fact that Travis wasn’t interested in an audience, he stared down into those dark, swirling brown eyes. “Will. Happen. Again.”

With that, he pressed his own iron hard length against Gage’s before taking a step back. He’d have blue balls before the night was out, especially if he had the pleasure of watching Gage for long. It was something he was just going to have to deal with.

At least for now.

♀♂

V stood on the edge of the makeshift dance floor, watching Kaleb and Zoey maneuver so effortlessly to the music. Regina was also out there, this time dancing with Sawyer, who’d somehow convinced her mother to dance with him. She’d been reluctant, but finally gave in. Most women were helpless against the Walker charm.

V was so happy her mother came, and she was almost beside herself when she saw that Regina did not bring a date. According to her mother, there were no dates in her near future. She was quite content with Buttercup. Not that she wanted her mother to be alone, but she knew time was the only thing that could alleviate some of the emotional pain she’d been dealing with over the years. V made sure her mother knew she was there if she ever wanted to talk.

V turned her attention to Lorrie and Curtis who were smiling at one another like teenagers in love. She could only hope that one day, she’d have what those two had. With seven sons, they were brimming with love for every one of their boys, as well as each other. It was hard not to watch them and hope that she’d find that one day.

“Care to dance?”

Zane’s beautiful baritone broke into her thoughts, and V turned to smile at him. Taking the proffered hand, V let him lead her out to the middle of the floor and settled into his arms like she was born to fit there.

“One of these days, you’re going to have a party like this, you know?” Zane spoke close to her ear, and V let the warmth of his breath wash over her.

“Maybe one day,” she replied, smiling into his shirt. She was through running from this man.

“Maybe?” Zane pulled away from her, effectively separating their bodies.

V looked up at him. He looked serious. Was he hurt? She hadn’t meant anything by it.

That’s when she noticed that people around them had stopped dancing. Oh, no. She did not want to be the one to ruin this party.

“I didn’t mean –”

Zane cut her off with a press of his fingers against her lips, only seconds before he dropped to one knee on the plywood floor beneath him.

“Vanessa Carmichael, as long as the day will come, I’m willing to be patient. As long as there aren’t any maybes in our future, I’m not going to rush you. However, until that day comes, I’m not willing to wait one more second without that promise.”

V looked at him, confused. Promise?

“Will you marry me? I don’t care if it’s tomorrow, or a year from now. I just need you to promise me that you’ll be with me for the rest of my life. It’s the only thing I want in this world. I love you.”

V’s vision blurred as the tears formed in her eyes, threatening to spill over her lashes.

“Marry me.”

Zane’s final demand made her smile. He knew her so well. Those submissive tendencies were hard to deny. Even now.

“Yes,” she whispered, and the cool metal that slid over the third finger on her left hand stole her breath.

Clapping ensued, and before Zane could even get to his feet, V found herself wrapped in Zoey’s arms. Her best friend was smiling, and there might’ve even been a tear or two.

“I’m so happy for you!” Zoey exclaimed.

V noticed all of the people standing around them, clapping and smiling. “This was supposed to be your day,” V whispered to Zoey.

“Oh, honey. It is my day. It couldn’t have gotten any better if it’d been planned.”

Before the tears could leak from her eyes any more, Kaleb swept Zoey up in his arms, making her laugh as he began two stepping around the dance floor with her once again, leaving V to be pulled into Zane’s arms.

“And just so you know, I did ask permission. From your mother and Kaleb and Zoey. I wasn’t going to ruin this day for anyone, baby, but it was time. Way past time, actually.”

When Zane pressed his lips to hers, V felt her heart heal just a little more. It’d been doing that.

With each minute that passed, the fissures he’d made in those invisible walls she’d erected so long ago continued to get bigger while the little cracks in her heart continued to get smaller.