He’d tried to ease her way. “So you do this for everyone? Is it a Guidry’s tradition?”
“Not at all. Remy gave me hell when he caught me doing it. I just thought you would like it. We sometimes run out of the other, but we always have the local stuff. At first that bland jambalaya was the only thing you were willing to try. That changed over time, but in the beginning, I wanted to make sure you could always have something to eat.”
There were not tears pulsing behind her eyes. Nope. She was having some kind of allergic reaction to something in the air and that was all there was to it. It wasn’t that he’d done something incredibly sweet with absolutely no thought to getting anything out of it for himself.
“I think you should kiss me now.” She suddenly realized she’d been waiting to say those words all night, ever since that first kiss had been interrupted. She had a chance to get herself out of this, but she wasn’t going to take it. What she was going to take was this week. She would take it and enjoy it. It could be her reward for surviving.
Something like relief went across his face and his hand came out, touching her hair. “I’m glad. My brother had me . . . well, it doesn’t matter.”
She was going to ask him what had happened with his brother tonight, but then his lips were on hers and she stopped thinking about anything but how well that man could kiss.
Zep always seemed to take things so lightly, but there was nothing light about the way he kissed. He focused in on her, his lips moving over hers like he was memorizing the way she felt against him. His hands were gentle on her, fingers tangling in her hair. She found herself following the lead he offered her, moving her head this way or that, anything to keep those lips on hers.
Then there was something between them as Daisy whined and tried to get in on the action.
Zep groaned and backed away. “I’m going to have to teach her some manners and how to not block her momma’s friends. Come on, sweet girl. It’s time for bed. I’ll put her in her crate for the night.”
He got up and started moving toward the kitchen/dining room area where Daisy’s crate was sitting until Roxie decided where to put it.
What was she doing? She was trying her hardest not to have feelings, but they were there. They always had been. Something about this man moved her, and she couldn’t shove it away. She’d tried her hardest, but she couldn’t ignore him. And she couldn’t be with him. Not the way she wanted to be. He wasn’t that guy. He was the guy you had a good time with, the one who still wanted to be buddies long after he’d moved on to the next woman.
Could she do that? Could she sleep with him tonight and be his friend in the morning? Or would she be devastated when she saw him with another woman next week?
“Hey, nothing has to happen between us that you don’t want.” Zep stood in the doorway staring at her in a way that made her wonder how long she’d been standing there thinking. There was a soft look on his face and all of his usual charm was gone. “Roxanne, I’ll help you no matter what. I don’t need anything more than a thank-you. Don’t get me wrong. I want you. I want you so badly, I stay awake at night thinking about you, but the last thing I would ever do is to take something you aren’t happy to give. So I’m going to borrow your shower and then I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“You won’t fit on the couch.” There were two bathrooms in her place, but the one downstairs didn’t have a shower. She’d thought seriously the other day about looking for a little house she could start fixing up. There were a couple around town that would work. Then she’d reminded herself she wouldn’t be here forever.
He stopped in front of her, but didn’t touch her, choosing instead to give her a sad smile. “I’ve slept in far worse places, sweet . . . Roxie. I can handle it.” He moved to the stairs, grabbing his small bag. “I’ll take a quick shower. Gator wrangling is rough business.”
She frowned. “You didn’t wrangle Otis. You just waited until he left.”
He winked and his grin was heartbreaking. “Don’t tell your momma. She thinks I’m a superhero.”
He strode up the stairs.
Her phone chimed and she glanced down. It was a text from her mother.
Loved meeting your guy. He’s so sweet and you looked beautiful! I’m so glad to see you happy. I was very worried.