Kayla Perrin - Playing With Fire

Zienna faced him, guffawing. “For what purpose?”

“So I can explain.”

“Are you out of your mind?” She was seething now.

“I think I was...four years ago.”

Zienna opened her mouth, but Wendell’s response left her speechless. And, God help her, he actually sounded contrite.

“I’d really like to talk to you at some point,” Wendell went on. “Clear the air.”

And though nothing he said now should matter to her even one iota, Zienna’s stomach fluttered at the idea that he wanted to make amends on some level.

Good Lord, what is wrong with me?

In a split second, the answer came to her. It was the memory of their explosive times in the bedroom...memories that had plagued her for years. That was why she was suddenly flustered around this man she should despise with every fiber of her being.

Remembering her hatred for him enabled her to speak once again. “We’re not meeting to talk about anything. For goodness sake, I’m dating your best friend.”

Wendell edged a little closer. “Is it serious?”

Her eyes bulged. He truly had lost his marbles. “You are— We are not talking about this.”

“Talking about what?”

At the sound of Nicholas’s voice, both of them turned in his direction. Blood rushed to Zienna’s head, and she thought she might pass out.

How much had he heard?

Stepping coolly away from the bar, Wendell said, “I was prying. Asking how you met, when you started dating.”

Nicholas made a face, as though that answer didn’t quite make sense to him. “Oh. It kind of sounded like Zienna was upset.”

“That’s because...” Wendell shrugged sheepishly. “Well, I asked her how long it was before you guys ended up in bed.”

Nicholas rolled his eyes as he set two glasses on the bar in front of them. “Zee, pay my friend no mind. He always was motivated by his dick.”

“Shocking,” Zienna said in a tone of feigned disbelief.

“My bad.” Wendell held up both hands. “I’m just used to the days when Nick and I had no secrets between us.”

“Those days are over.” Nicholas’s tone was jovial, but there was something about how his eyes flickered that made Zienna think there was more to the comment.

“I call this Island Sunset,” Nicholas went on, pushing the drinks forward. “Mango, pineapple and coconut rum.”

Wendell sipped it. “Nice.”

“And I’ll be right back with the main course.”

Zienna felt Wendell’s eyes on her, but didn’t dare look his way as Nicholas disappeared into the kitchen. Thankfully, he returned quickly, carrying two steaming plates.

He was beaming as he placed the entrées on the bar. “And in keeping with the island theme, this is my Jamaican fried snapper on a bed of vegetables steamed in a spicy vinegar sauce.”

“Looks amazing,” Zienna said. “And it smells even better.”

“You think so?” Nicholas asked. “To be authentic, I’ve kept the whole fish intact instead of using filets. I don’t know how the guests will feel about that, but when I’ve traveled to Jamaica and Costa Rica, that’s how they serve snapper.”

“Looks good to me, man,” Wendell said.

Zienna cut a morsel of the fish with her fork and brought it to her mouth. “Ooh, spicy,” she said after a moment.

“Too spicy?” Nicholas asked, regarding her with concern.

She shook her head as she continued to chew. “No. It’s delicious. Very flavorful, and just the right amount of spice.”

“She’s right,” Wendell concurred. “Loving the spice. But you know I’ve always loved heat.”

Zienna paused as she was about to swallow, unable to stop the thought that Wendell’s comment had been a loaded one.

“So I should add this to the menu?” Nicholas asked.

Zienna nodded. “I think it’s great.”

He smiled. “Good. I can always decide to use filets if that’s the feedback I get. Good, good. I’m glad you two like it.”

“I’ll bet you created a dessert to go with this. Something with pineapple or coconut. And lots of whipped cream,” Wendell stated.

At his comment, Zienna angled her head slightly toward him, and wasn’t surprised to find that he was looking at her. Because she knew, just knew, that mention of whipped cream had been for her benefit.

“Mango cheesecake,” Nicholas told him.

Suddenly, Zienna slipped off her bar stool. “You know what, sweetie—I’m gonna head home.”

“What?” Nicholas asked. “You just got here.”

“I’ve had a long day. I should really get some rest. Your friend’s back in town. Spend some time with him.”

“Don’t leave on my account,” Wendell said.

Zienna ignored him and picked up her purse. “Will you walk me out, babe?”

“You sure you have to leave?” Nicholas asked.

“I really should. I feel a headache coming on.” And she shot a glance at Wendell.

As they moved toward the exit, Nicholas placed a hand on the small of her back. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

When they were through the front door, he turned her in his arms so that she was facing him. “Is it Wendell?”

“No. No, of course not.” Zienna stroked his cheek. “I’m just tired, babe.”

“Why don’t you go to my place, get into bed and rest until I get there?” He lowered his voice. “If I can’t have more of you right now, I at least want your body next to mine tonight.”

“That I can do,” Zienna told him. She smiled. “And, yes, maybe a couple hours of rest and some aspirin will do me a world of good.”

She headed to her car with one goal in mind. When Nicholas got home, she was going to do him good.

Do him until she rid herself of the memory of Wendell altogether.

3

“Pick up, pick up,” Zienna said into her cell phone as she sat in her car, anxious to speak to Alexis. She’d called her friend the moment she’d left Nicholas’s restaurant the night before, desperate to reach her, but her series of calls had all gone to voice mail.

Even though Zienna had put every ounce of her energy into making love to Nicholas, and should have been tired, once he had fallen asleep beside her she had instead lain awake, the evening replaying in her mind.

I’d really like to talk to you at some point. Clear the air.

At a quarter to five, Zienna had slipped out of Nicholas’s bed and gotten dressed. She had hoped he wouldn’t wake, but he had.

“Go back to sleep,” Zienna had whispered. “I’m heading into the office early, and there are some things I have to do at home first.” She gave him a peck on the cheek. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Once she’d left Nicholas’s house, she rushed to her car and immediately tried calling Alexis again. Ever since they’d become friends in second grade, Zienna had been sharing everything with Alexis, the good and the bad. And Alexis had forever earned her trust when she’d punched the class bully in the face for throwing a rock at Zienna’s forehead in third grade. That incident had sealed their status as best friends for life.

Now, Zienna groaned in frustration when she heard her friend’s cheerful voice begin her short message again. Where on earth could she be at this hour?

Undeterred, Zienna promptly disconnected, then called the number once more. She would redial one hundred times if that’s how long it took to reach her.

Three rings later, a groggy-sounding Alexis finally answered the phone. “This had better be good.”

“I need to come over,” Zienna said without preamble.

“Now?”

“Yes, now. I’m going out of my mind, Alex.”

“Shit, Zee—it’s five-fourteen in the morning.”

“Which is why you know it’s got to be urgent. I called you hours ago, you didn’t answer.”