scoured over her body again, and as he took in her appearance, approval, desire and heat entered his eyes. Her bones could have just about melted from that look. Then, with a quick shake of his head, he said, “Nothing, I guess. Jess, you don’t need my approval for anything. Fact is, you look beautiful tonight. You surprised me and, well...I don’t like surprises.”
She didn’t move. She was torn with indecision.
From the depth of his eyes, his sincerity came through. “I’m a jerk.”
Her lips almost lifted. She fought it tooth and nail, but Zane could be charming when he had to be.
“Blond hair looks great on you.”
She drew breath into her lungs.
“The dress is killer. You’re a real knockout in it.”
His compliments went straight to her head. He’d finally gotten to her. “Okay, Zane. Enough said.” She’d been touchy with him, maybe because she’d hoped to impress him a little. Maybe because, in the back of her mind, she’d wanted to please Zane or at least win his approval. “Let’s forget about this.” She didn’t like confrontation, not one bit.
“You’ll go to the party?”
She nodded. “Yes. I’m ready.”
They’d had their first real argument. Granted, it wasn’t much of one. A few minutes of tension was all. But she’d stood her ground, and she could feel good about that. One thing that loving Steven had taught her was never to turn a blind eye. From now on, she wanted to deal in absolute truth.
“You mind driving?” he asked.
“I should make you trudge through the sand all the way to Dylan’s place.”
“I’d do it if it would put a smile back on your face.”
“It’s tempting. But I’m not that cruel.”
Amused, Zane’s mouth lifted, and they seemed back on even footing again.
Whatever that was.
Zane stood outside in the shadows, his shoulder braced against the wall of Dylan’s home. The setting sun cast pastel colors across the cobalt sky, and waves pounded the shoreline. The Pacific breezes had died down and no longer lifted Jessica’s blond locks into a flowing silky sheet in the wind. She stood in front of a circular fire pit on the deck. Her flowery summer dress had been a victim of the wind, too, and hell if he hadn’t noticed her hem billow up, every single time. And every single time, something powerful zinged inside him.
He couldn’t figure why Jessica had made such a drastic turnabout in her appearance. He wouldn’t have called her an ugly duckling before—she’d been perfect in her own natural way—but tonight, she’d bloomed into a beautiful swan and he feared he was in deep trouble.
He liked her. A lot. And he knew damn well she was as off-limits to him as any woman would ever be. The old Jess he could deal with. She was like his kid sister. But now, as he watched the predusk light filter through her hair and heard the sound of her sultry laughter carry to him as she spoke with Dylan and his friends, she seemed like a different woman.
Sweet Jess was a knockout, and every man here had noticed.
Dylan popped his head up from the group and gestured to him. “Come on over and join the party.”
Well, damn. He couldn’t very well stay in the shadows the entire night. He’d have to shelve his confused thoughts about Jessica and join them. He pushed off from the wall using his crutches for balance and made his way over to the fire pit.
“I thought Adam was the only recluse on the beach,” Dylan said.
“There’s a difference between savoring one’s privacy as opposed to hiding out from the world,” Adam said.
Adam Chase was his next-door neighbor, the architect of many of the homes on the beachfront and a man who didn’t give much away about himself. He’d been featured in Architectural Digest and agreed to a rare magazine interview, but mostly the man’s astonishing work spoke for itself. The one thing he’d learned about Adam in the time he’d known him was that he shied away from attention.
“He’s got you there, Dylan. Being someone who craves attention, you wouldn’t understand.” Zane zinged him because he knew Dylan was a good sport and could handle the teasing.
Dylan took Jess’s hand, entwining their fingers. “They’re ganging up on me, Jess. I need someone in my corner.”
Jess’s giggles swept over Zane, and he eyed the half-empty blended mojito she held in her other hand. She freed her hand and inched away from Dylan. It was hardly a noticeable move, except maybe to Zane, who was eyeballing her every step. “You boys are on your own. I’m staying out of this.”
Dylan slammed his hand to his chest. “Oh, you’re breaking my heart, Jess.”
Adam’s eyes flickered over Jess and touched on the valley between her breasts in the revealing sundress she wore. She was dazzling tonight, and Zane had a hard time keeping his eyes off her, too. He shouldn’t fault the guys for flirting, yet every inappropriate glance at her boiled his blood.
“You’re a smart woman, Jessica,” Adam said.
“The smartest,” Zane added. “She’s going home with me tonight.”
All eyes turned his way. Ah, hell. He’d shocked them, but no more than he’d shocked himself. He spared Dylan a glance, and the guy’s smug grin was bright enough to light the night sky. Adam’s face was unreadable, and the four others around the fire pit became awkwardly silent. “She’s my houseguest and she’s...”
“I think what Zane meant,” Jess chimed in, “was that I’ve had a tough time lately. I’m getting over a broken engagement and, well, he’s sweet enough to want to protect me.” Her eyes scanned the seven people sitting around the fire pit. “Not that I’d need protecting from anyone here. You’ve all been so nice and welcoming.”
They had. And now Zane felt like an ass for staking his claim when he had no right and for putting her in an awkward position.
“But I do make my own decisions. And I’d love to get to know each of you better.”
“You are a smart woman.” Dylan turned to Zane with genuine understanding. He and Dylan had had this conversation before. “And we all knew what Zane was getting at.”
Zane clamped his mouth shut for the moment. He’d said enough, and he had a feeling that Jessica wasn’t too thrilled with him right now. His big brother act had probably started to wear thin on her. He didn’t say boo when she walked down to the water deep in conversation with Adam Chase for a few minutes. He didn’t register an inkling of irritation when Dylan offered to give her a tour of his house. But darn if he wasn’t keenly relieved when Jessica made friends with three of the women at the party. She’d spent a good deal of time with them. He recognized one woman as an actress recently cast in a film about a Southern girl. She’d gobbled up a
