Burning Resolution

by T. M. Cromer

As the two women embraced, Zack made an excuse and left them to catch up. They spent the next thirty minutes on what was happening in Erica’s world. Finally, when she was sick of talking about her troubles, she changed the subject.

  “So, where the hell have you been? I thought you were only going for a week?”

  “Ten days,” Shonda corrected.

  “Okay, ten days. It’s been fourteen. You couldn’t shoot me a text to say you were still alive?”

  “I’m sorry, E. I met someone. He’s amazing.”

  “I sense a ‘but’ coming on,” Erica said, searching her friend’s face. Noting the unhappy frown, she squeezed Shonda’s hand. “What’s up?”

  “He’s a player. I’m crazy about him, and yet he stated clearly from the beginning he wanted nothing more than a holiday fling.”

  “So you are pining away for a guy you met in the islands? It should help you’re home now, right?”

  “It should,” Shonda said glumly.

  “But it doesn’t,” Erica stated rather than asked.

  “He lives here in town.”

  “You’re shitting me!”

  “No. And did I mention he is the brother of your new boyfriend?”

  “What?! Which one?”

  “Mason.”

  “Ah.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Shonda demanded hotly. She had jumped up to pace and now she glared at Erica from the foot of the bed.

  “Don’t you remember him from school? He was actually the serious one of all the Sharp brothers. If I recall correctly, he had been dating Melanie Simms,” Erica explained.

  “Melanie Simms? You mean the girl who died in the car accident up by Makeout Point? But I thought she was there with Tommy Travers.”

  “Yep. Can you imagine discovering your one true love was cheating on you by having someone tell you that your girlfriend died in a wreck?” Erica asked. “Zack said since that day, Mason developed a devil-may-care attitude. The only thing he doesn’t play at is business. Supposedly he is phenomenal at marketing.”

  Seeing her friend’s downcast look, she reached for Shonda’s hand again and gripped it tightly. No words were needed between the two. They were as close as twins, each able to read the other’s mood without needing to discuss it. Both respecting when the other needed time to regroup.

  “Are you planning to come stay with me now I’m back?” Shonda asked after clearing her throat.

  It was difficult to meet her gaze, so Erica stared out the window to form her response.

  “It’s like that, huh?” The amusement in her bestie’s voice caught her attention.

  “Like what?”

  “Don’t try to pretend with me. I’ve known you since the first grade. You are the queen of avoidance if you don’t want to answer.”

  With a sigh, Erica shot her friend a helpless look before leaning forward to check the door was closed. “I’m completely and hopelessly in love with Zack. I should move out—I know that, but I want to stay.”

  “Do you think it’s wise? How does he feel about you?”

  “That’s just it. I’m not sure. The way he acts toward me, how caring he can be, how protective, makes me believe he sees me as more than a convenient lay.”

  “Ohmygod! You’ve been sleeping with him? With Zack Sharp? Mr. All-Star Jock? You?” The volume of Shonda’s voice rose with each syllable. She appeared to have concerned Zack when she got to a screech, if the panic on his face was any indication as he swung the door open.

  * * *

  Upon entering Erica’s room, it occurred to Zack there had been no need to overreact. He’d heard Shonda as she’d gotten louder, and he responded to the excitement of her tone, not the actual words. When they sunk in, he’d already interrupted.

  Fury radiated off of Erica in waves. All directed at her blonde friend, if he had to guess by the outright glare she had her pinned to the spot with.

  “Everything okay, ladies?” he asked.

  “Fine,” Erica bit off.

  He paused to replay the snippet of conversation he heard. They’d been talking about him. Without another word, he strode to her bedside, dropped a hot, lingering kiss on her lips, and snatched up her half-eaten donut. He’d just taken an enormous bite when Shonda started sputtering behind him. He offered up a salute with the last little bit of powdery goodness and sauntered out of the room, leaving the two women to their privacy once again.

  It would be fun to be a fly on the wall after that. Erica would find it impossible to blow the kiss off. The off-key tune he whistled had his brothers raising their brows in question as he met them back in the waiting room.

  “This is an about face,” Dane said.

  “She’s well on her way to a full recovery if her yelling at Shonda is any indication,” he laughed.

  “Should I be concerned?” Mason asked.

  “I don’t know. You tell me. What’s going on there?” Zack asked, coming down from his elevated mood. It worried him to think if Mason broke Shonda’s heart, it would impact his budding relationship with Erica. Friends were quick to take sides.

  “Nothing,” Mason snapped. “First Dane, now you. It’s called a private life for a reason.”

  “Don’t break her heart, man. I don’t need the fallout. I have enough shit on my plate right now,” Zack warned.

  “Look, she knew the score going in. We met on the plane, had some mind-blowing sex for the week we were there, and then parted ways at the airport when we got back home.”

  “Bullshit. You’re looking everywhere but at me. If that’s the case, where were you these last three days?”

  “Fine, we may not have parted ways at the airport. I followed her home for another few nights together. That’s it.”

  “That doesn’t explain why you’re both here together,” Dane interjected.

  “Actually, I was sleeping off the after-effects when Dane called. I met Shonda again in the parking lot,” Mason said. The truth was evident in his eyes. “I hadn’t expected to see her again, but she came walking up the same time we did. Dane was the one who picked me up this afternoon.”

  Zack groaned. “Erica is going to hate you, and maybe me, because you’re an ass.”

  “Her friend is an adult who knew the score. I’m not taking the rap for someone reading more into a casual fuck-”

  When his brother broke off, Zack looked around to see what had caught his attention. The stricken expression on Shonda’s face was distressing to witness. What was even more painful to watch was Mason trying to backpedal and soothe her hurt feelings.

  After Dane made an excuse to leave, Zack decided to head back to see Erica and give his clueless older sibling an opportunity to work through the minefield he’d wandered into. Upon entering her room, he saw her starting to doze and moved to ease back out.

  “Don’t go,” she whispered.

  “I’m here for the duration. But I can step out if you want some sleep.”

  “No. I don’t want to be alone right now.”

  Perching on the edge of the bed, he stroked her scalp. The soft caress lulled her to sleep. With short sweeping motions, his fingers traced her brow, then her jawline. She’d become so dear to him. He couldn’t imagine what he would have gone through if the stabbing had been fatal. Without her, life would be bleak and lonely.

  The little mewl she emitted, along with the rub of her cheek on his palm, caused his heart to stutter in his chest. He was a goner for sure.

  The vibration of his phone had him checking his messages. Bucky had sent him two over the last few minutes in an effort to determine the best time to drop by and write up Erica’s version of the attack. He shot off a quick response, then settled into the too-small chair in the corner.

  Zack was unsure how long he stared at her while she lay sleeping. Other than pale skin and shadows under her eyes, Erica looked relatively healthy. Her auburn hair was still thick and curly, spread around her head, framing her face. Even with no makeup on, she was one of the loveliest women h
e’d ever encountered. Her long, dark lashes rested against porcelain cheeks. With her coloring, she should have been sporting freckles. Yet, her skin was flawless. He knew from experience it felt as soft as it looked.

  With each minute that ticked by, he grew more resolved to protect her at all costs. Finding this fire-starting, stabbing lunatic was paramount. Everything else would be dumped in Mason’s or Dane’s lap for the foreseeable future. Leaving Jacob with his grandparents would probably be the wiser course of action as well.

  All he knew was he couldn’t go another moment without confessing his feelings. It didn’t matter she wasn’t awake to hear them.

  “I love you, Erica,” he whispered.

  “I love you, too, Zack,” she murmured in return, near stopping his heart.

  He hadn’t expected her to hear him, much less respond. A bubble of pure happiness welled up, encircling his heart and filling his chest. Everything would be all right. He’d make sure of it.

  “Bucky’s on the way. Are you up for a visit?”

  “Mmhmm, that’s fine.”

  Her large, brown eyes opened to focus on him. The softness and love shining there humbled him. Unexpectedly, moisture built behind his lids. He blinked rapidly and cleared his throat.

  “We’re going to find the person doing this,” he stated.

  Her shaky smile felt like a fist to the gut. She didn’t believe him.

  “We are,” he stressed, the need for her to have faith in him strong.

  “Well, can you make it before she succeeds in ending my life?”

  “She? What makes you say she?”

  “Nothing really, just a feeling I had as she ran away. The way the person moved, the smaller frame, struck me as female.”

  “Okay, at least that’s something to go on. Not much, but it’s definitely better than nothing,” he said.

  Who he was trying to convince, her or him, remained to be seen. They both needed reassurance this delusional perp would be caught. Zack changed the subject, because neither felt comfortable with the fact her assailant was still on the loose.

  “I’m assuming your car is still at your old place? Do you want me to have Shonda and Mason get it?”

  “Sure. The keys should be in my purse, although I can’t say I know where that ended up. Maybe with one of my neighbors?”

  “Actually, the nurse told us it is in a locker here in this room. They’ll give you the key when you are 100% lucid.”

  “Zack?”

  He didn’t like the way she spoke his name. Her features took on a look of decisiveness. He recognized stubborn on her by this point.

  “Hmm?”

  “I don’t think I should go home with you. I want to move into a hotel.”

  “No.”

  “No? You can’t tell me no. What am I? Your hostage?”

  “No, I am not leaving you in your weakened condition to stay at a hotel, alone and unguarded. It’s not going to happen.”

  Frustration marred her every feature. “I’m not putting you and Jacob in danger any longer. I’m moving out.”

  “Erica, you need to listen to me. You are not strong enough right now. Not only that, but I am sending Jacob to live with his grandparents until this is over,” he said firmly.

  “Zack, no! It isn’t fair to him. If I leave, you both should be safe.”

  “Who’s to say that? Maybe the next thing this fucking psycho will want is Jacob out of my life. Babe, you can’t anticipate what is going through her mind,” he said, standing to pace. “And maybe, if we had an idea of who it was, you could know who to be on the lookout for. However, anyone could walk through your door disguised as hotel staff and slit your damn throat as you lie there recovering from this surgery.”

  He paused at the foot of the bed, eyes beseeching. “Please. Please don’t go off on your own. I would go insane wondering if you were all right.”

  Erica’s face scrunched up and tears poured from her eyes. “I only want you and Jacob to be safe. I wouldn’t be able to bear it if anything happened to either of you because of me.”

  “It isn’t because of you. It’s because of me and some crazy person’s obsession. You need to remember none of this is your fault. None of it.”

  Taking care not to come in contact with her wound, Zack gathered her close and rubbed a warm palm in large circles on her back.

  “We’ll catch her,” he reiterated.

  Chapter Ten

  In the end, Zack pulled out the heavy artillery to get Erica to comply with his demands of her staying with him instead of fending for herself at a hotel: her parents and Shonda. And much to her annoyance, it was due to his use of emotional manipulation she found herself comfortably ensconced in his bed, being waited on hand and foot.

  She hadn’t realized how independent she could be until she was forced to play the invalid. She couldn’t say she liked it. Two days in the hospital and another two at home had her cranky and peckish.

  Pulling back the covers, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and gingerly tried to straighten up. Deep breaths helped keep nausea from the pain at bay. Wimp. There had to be people out there that bounced back a lot quicker from incidents like these. If she’d been in shape, she probably would have. Or so she told herself.

  When the door swung open, Erica started to suspect Zack had a hidden camera stationed somewhere in the room. Tomorrow she’d find it. Today she’d give in to his demands and lay back down. She figured the five steps she’d taken toward the door was exercise enough for one day. Maybe her perspiration made her have a nice glow. Isn’t that how personal trainers liked to think of sweating?

  “Am I glowing?” she demanded.

  “Uh, no?”

  “Wrong answer,” she growled as she shuffled back toward the bed.

  “Okaaayyy.”

  Erica couldn’t blame him for sounding confused. She was half insane herself at the moment. To expect he would understand the workings of her brain while she was convalescing would be stretching it. “Never mind.”

  “Feeling confined?”

  The sympathy he expressed had her tearing up. Dammit. She must be hormonal. A quick calculation had her confirming she was morphing into PMS mode. Double damn. If he lived through the experience with her, Zack might never want to see her again. It wasn’t pretty. A few of the exes used the term “cray cray.”

  “Save yourself.”

  Zack paused in tucking the blanket around her. “Excuse me?”

  “Seriously, run like the wind. Save yourself. I’ll pay for your hotel. You aren’t going to want to be around for the next five or six days. At least until Aunt Flow visits.”

  “Babe, you aren’t making any sense.”

  “Oh, and so it starts.”

  “What starts?” he exploded, flinging his hands in the air. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  Her sniffles alerted him to a problem he had no idea was brewing. As his strong arms came around her to pull her close, Erica allowed herself to be comforted. No words were needed as he ran his fingers lightly down her back, from neck to hips and back again along her spine. The touch was feather-light and enough to derail her thought train. Her brain changed tracks to sex with Zack. Not that that was going to happen anytime soon. Annnddddd she was back to weepy, with a side of grumpy thrown in.

  “Want to tell me what’s going on in that beautiful, busy head of yours?” he asked softly.

  “No.”

  “Pfft.” His snort of laughter caused hers.

  “I’m sorry, Zack. I’m an ugly PMS-er.”

  It took a few seconds for him to register what she said, or at least to decipher what a PMS-er was. “Ah. It’s okay. We all have our cross to bear.”

  A second laugh was startled from her. “Thank you. But I’m not kidding. You might want to make yourself scarce for a few days until the worst of it is over.”

  “It’s a testament to your love you warned me. It’s a testament to mine I plan to stick around.”

 
“Sure, you say that now. Talk to me again on day six. We’ll see if you feel the same way.”

  His rumbling laugh was felt, more than heard, as he hugged her tight.

  “You can’t say I didn’t warn you,” she muttered.

  “Fair enough,” he agreed. “I know you got all settled in again, but I was thinking you might want to come out into the living room and join the rest of the family. Charlie and Judith brought Jacob over for brunch.”

  Aghast, she shot him an incredulous look. “I need a shower before I can see people.”

  She could tell he weighed his words before he spoke again, by the squinting of his eyes and the pursing of his lips. Probably biting his tongue to hold back the truth of how disgusting she smelled from sweating. Let’s face it, he hadn’t been quick to agree she glowed.

  “How about a sponge bath,” he offered with a wicked gleam.

  “I’m still fat. Now I stink. Do you really think now is the time to get all amorous?” she hissed.

  Her attempt to pull away was met with a brief resistance and then freedom. He rose and towered over her for a long minute. Without speaking, he strode to the adjoining bathroom.

  Erica strained to hear what he was doing. He noiselessly went about his business. The sound of running water finally filled the interminable silence. Zack was running a bath. For her! Of all the arrogant—okay, maybe it was a nice gesture.

  He returned to scoop her up and make his way to the tub.

  “Um, you know I can’t get my incision wet for another week right?”

  “I’m not going to fill it up, and you can sit on the edge for your sponge bath.”

  “I already told you I don’t want you to help me.” Panic grabbed hold. He couldn’t see her naked and PMS-ing. It would turn him off for life.

  “Erica, you are being ridiculous. I love you. Have a little faith in me, would you?”

  He guessed her fears right off the bat, making her feel even smaller and more insecure.

  “Send my mom in, please.”

  “Fine.” Zack flung down the rag and soap, then spun to head out the door, pausing long enough to toss over his shoulder, “Oh, and for the record, I’ve seen you naked—twice. And still I’m here. Imagine that.”