Hard To Handle (Teach Me Book 2) (21 page)

But kissing had also been all they’d done. Zach hadn’t, at any time, pressed for more and that part of him had definitely been interested in more because she’d felt it pressed against her. But, still, nothing.

Tonight, though, she planned to change that. She was pulling out all the stops. It was the final Saturday of their Spring Break and everyone was back in town. Zach had told her he’d pick her up in the Chevelle—sigh—and she wanted to ensure she looked good enough he wouldn’t be able to hold out on her any longer.

She’d decided on a form fitted, one-shoulder strap red dress, leaving the rest of her neckline bare, showing off the golden bronze tan she’d acquired from spending so much time at the beach. She flat-ironed her hair and went light on her makeup, only adding a little brown shadow to her eyes along with a light dusting of bronze powder. She applied tint to her lips and went to grab her low, black heels just as there was a knock at her door.

Laney opened it to find Zach standing there, looking—how was it even possible?—even more handsome in a pair of khaki pants and a light gray, short-sleeved Henley which emphasized those amazing eyes of his. Her eyes traveled down the length of him to find those leather flip flops on his feet, before meeting his gaze.

“Looking pretty nice, Mayson.” She winked.

He stepped inside, reaching out a hand to cup her face, thumb lightly caressing her cheek. “You’re beautiful, as always, Kavanaugh.” At the quiet, almost reverent tone in his words, Laney swore she felt a part of herself swoon. Which was ridiculous. It was just a compliment, after all.

But, the way he had said it, like it was absolute truth, a fact, something undeniable? It was in that moment, because of that assertion, she felt as though the tiniest sliver of her heart was lost to him.

It’s only a tiny sliver
, Laney reassured herself, trying not to freak out. Even so, tiny sliver and all, she prayed that Zach would take good care of it.

* * *

They were sitting around their table in Shenanigans, awaiting the karaoke DJ, Dean, to get started calling up the first singers of the evening. The girls were up talking to Dean, already handing in their requests.

“Sooooo,” Lawson drew the word out. “You and Laney showed up together, huh?”

Zach merely stared at his friend. Because when it came to Lawson, there was always more.

“You finally dust off those cobwebs for that poor girl? Because, seriously, I was thinking there was going to be a chocolate shortage in this country.” He shook his head. “And, she totally cleaned me out of my emergency stash, too.” Lawson was solemn, letting out a long, sad sigh. “That is just unacceptable, my friend.”

Zach laughed in disbelief. “She actually went through your emergency stash?” Everyone knew Lawson’s weakness was chocolate. The guy kept himself in great shape doing cross training and eating healthy, but he also had a serious sweet tooth.

“Yeah, man. For all our sakes, I really hope you take care of that. So that my stash of chocolate can stay under wraps and you can stop having intimate shower time with yourself constantly.” Lawson leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

Zach’s eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. “Intimate shower time? Really, Laws?” His friend smirked and raised a shoulder in a half shrug.

“Who’s having intimate shower time? You two ladies?” Mac slid into a chair beside the two men.

“Ha, ha. Look who’s suddenly a comedian now that he’s knee deep in wedded bliss,” Lawson scoffed.

“Nah, there’s no knee deep shit. I’m fully submerged, man. Fully submerged.” Mac’s smile couldn’t get any wider, the happiness evident as his eyes moved to where Raine was standing with her friends, speaking with the karaoke DJ.

Lawson make a sick face. “Excuse me while I’m violently ill.”

Mac laughed. “You just wait, man. You just wait.” He slapped his friend on the back. Zach didn’t miss the slight wince that crossed Lawson’s face and grinned. Mac might be a teacher now, but his former SEAL strength was still alive and well.

“We’re going to start the night off with Laney singing for us,” Dean announced.

Zach watched as she accepted the microphone and took her place on the stage at the beginning notes of Adele’s “Someone Like You”. He noticed the entire place quieted down to hear Laney begin to sing. God, she had such an amazing voice. He didn’t think he’d ever tire of hearing her sing.

Just like that, he had a flash of a possibility, imagining her singing as she washed dishes or rocking their baby to sleep.

Whoa
. He was completely caught off guard by his thoughts and the yearning they brought on. Shaking them off, he focused on the beautiful woman on stage, wearing a dress that hugged those amazing curves, singing and engaging the entire room of bar patrons.

Making him wish she were singing that song for him.

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H
ALFWAY THROUGH THE NIGHT,
D
EAN
cued up a few slow songs as he went to take a break. Laney didn’t want to admit to how much she’d been looking forward to this moment, to being in Zach’s arms for a slow dance.

At hearing the first few bars of Adele’s “Hello”, Zach caught her eye from across the table and tipped his head in the direction of the dance floor with a small smile. She nodded and stood from her chair as he approached, holding a hand out for her. As she placed her hand in his, she felt that same feeling, that feeling of rightness. She let him guide her onto the dance floor, pulling her close, his heated gaze locked on hers.

“Now, kids, remember to leave room for Jesus when you slow dance,” Lawson called out to them as he twirled Tate on the dance floor. Laney glanced back at their table to where Miller was staring a hole in her friend. When she heard Tate laugh at something Lawson had said or done, something that looked much like pain flashed across Miller’s face before he wiped it clean, replacing it with a stony expression. There was a big story there, some serious history, but knowing her friend, Tate would tell them when she was ready.

“Hey,” Zach had dipped his head to speak in her ear, “you okay?”

Seeing his concerned gaze, she gave him a slow, sweet smile before sliding closer to him. “Never better.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Never better,” she whispered.

As they swayed on the dance floor, she watched as Raine and Mac danced nearby, him twirling her intermittently, bringing her up flush against him, looking down at her affectionately. Seeing her friend’s eyes shining with so much love, seeing Mac return that look ten-fold, nearly brought tears to her eyes.

Her friend had been through so much after dealing with cancer and Mac, well, he had experienced a horrific final deployment over in Afghanistan. Those two deserved all the happiness in the world.

Looking back over to the table where Miller was now missing but her brother was chatting up—surprise—not one, but two women, she wondered when he would settle down.

A hand running down her back in a soothing manner drew her from her thoughts. She felt him press a kiss to her hair, her eyes falling closed. God, it would be so easy to get used to this. This feeling of being safe in his arms, of being cared for, being held just … because.

But she couldn’t allow it. She had to fortify herself against becoming too used to it. Because Laney knew what would happen in the end.

Right then, though, she wanted to bask in this feeling, in the moment. It couldn’t hurt to enjoy the feel of his arms wrapped so securely around her, his hard body against hers, those tiny, intermittent kisses to her hair he probably thought she didn’t notice.

This was the closest she’d ever get to what Raine and Mac had. And she had accepted it long ago.

* * *

Holding Laney in his arms like this was pure heaven. That was the best way he could put it. He knew he was probably being gag-worthy to others, but couldn’t help but press the smallest kisses to her hair. The way she was resting her head against him, her body was so relaxed, for once, he felt like her walls were finally down. This …
this
was what he’d always wanted. To have Laney let down her guard and let him in, to just be with him.

Looking over to where their other friends were dancing, watching Raine and Mac together, he felt envy run through him. He wanted that, the kind of love that radiated from both of them. Anyone within a few miles of the two could see they were completely in love and had eyes only for each other.

His gaze was pulled in the other direction of where Tate had been dancing with Lawson.
Wait. Holy shit
. She wasn’t dancing with Lawson any longer, but with Miller? Hell, those two had some past—that was evident to anyone with eyes—but he had yet to hear the story. He could see the myriad of feelings run across Tate’s face as she tried not to make eye contact with the former SEAL. His expression was shuttered, but when Tate spoke a few brief words to him, Zach noticed a split second of hurt flash in the man’s eyes before he masked it.

Laney lifted her head from his shoulder and looked up at him as the next song began playing. Her gaze, burning with such intensity that it nearly took his breath away, flitted between his eyes and lips.

She held his gaze, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. “Can we head home?”

Zach let out a low growl and pulled her even closer to him, dipping his head down to her ear. Brushing her hair back from it, his lips latched onto her lobe, tongue flicked at it once, twice, before answering her. “Yes.”

He wasn’t sure he had ever seen Laney move as fast as she did just then. She darted over to each of their friends, saying her good-byes, while he received laughing glances from them. Lawson flashed him a thumbs up and pretended to swipe at something near his groin. “Cobwebs,” he mouthed. What a douche.

As he and Laney were about to head out of the karaoke bar, Foster stood.
Here we go again
, he thought with an inner groan.

“You want to head on out and wait for me at the door?” Zach offered.

Laney crossed her arms, obstinately, her gaze fixed on her brother when she answered, “No. I’m walking out with you.”

Foster didn’t appear to be fazed as he maintained his focus on Zach. “What are your plans?”

Laney threw her hands up, giving a loud, exasperated sigh. “Seriously, Fos? You really want to know our plans? We plan on doing it.”

Foster’s gaze still remained on Zach. “Still on the long haul plan?”

Zach felt Laney’s curious gaze on him but his eyes didn’t waver from her brother. “Yep. Same plan as always.”

The two men stared at one another for a long moment before Foster finally nodded, giving him a slap on the shoulder that made him nearly wince at what was probably going to be a bruise later. “You two have a good night.”

“And remember to wrap your wacker before you attack her!” Lawson called out behind them before yelling, “Ouch! What? I’m just advocating safe sex! Sheesh, woman.”

He heard Laney giggle as they walked out of the karaoke bar and through the adjoining sports bar to the main exit. When they stepped out the open doors to the sidewalk, he felt a soft hand grasp his own. Startled, his eyes met hers, noting her tentative look. Giving her a wink, he raised their joined hands to press a kiss to hers before they stepped off the sidewalk to where the Chevelle was parallel parked.

Unlocking the car, he opened the passenger side door for her, helping her get seated. He nearly groaned as her dress slid higher on her thighs, showcasing what appeared to be endlessly long, tanned legs. The thought of those legs wrapped around him as he thrust in—

“Zach?” Her voice jerked him from his thoughts. “You planning on getting in the car with me or are you just going to stand there staring at my legs all night?” she teased.

His brow lifted. “Funny lady wants to walk home, does she?”

“Get in the car, Mayson.” Her eyes flashed with heat and something else he couldn’t identify.

Closing the door securely, he walked around the back of the car, discreetly adjusting himself before opening his door. As he slid inside and fastened his seatbelt, he started the car, putting it into gear, giving a jolt of surprise when he felt her hand on his thigh.

Looking over at Laney, her eyes on him, she turned her hand over to have the palm facing up. He slid his fingers through hers and watched as her eyes briefly fell closed as if she were savoring his touch. He brought her hand up to place another kiss on it, and when her hazel eyes opened, he saw the yearning in them.

“Ready to go home?”

The corners of her lips turned up in the slightest of smiles. “Yes, let’s go home.”

That word resonated deep within him.

Home
.

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A
S THEY WALKED THROUGH THE
door to her house, Laney felt like she and Zach were transitioning to something deeper. The house was silent as they removed their shoes onto the mat by the door. She could feel the weight of his gaze and the fluttering in her stomach alerted her to nervousness threatening to break free.

“Laney.” His voice was low, gravelly.

Inhaling deeply before raising her eyes to meet his, she felt like someone had sucked all the oxygen out of the room. His eyes were burning with passion and … something more. It was that—the something more—that made it difficult for her to breathe.

He closed the distance between them, backing her against the wall. Reaching his hands out to cup her face, his thumbs caressed cheekbones. His heated gaze flitted from her hair to her eyes before coming to linger on her lips. One hand slid down her face to allow his thumb to tenderly swipe back and forth over her bottom lip. When her tongue darted out to meet it, tasting the pad of his thumb, she reveled in his sharp inhalation.

“Laney,” he breathed out her name, as if he were trying to tell her a dozen things with just one word. She felt entranced, unable to look away, watching the gray in his eyes seem to churn like the clouds of an impending storm over the Atlantic.