He wrapped an arm around her, and she fell against him as natural as a dog curling into its bed. She stayed still, listening to his heartbeat, wanting more, wanting his kiss, his everything, but too afraid that she didn’t deserve him. She’d done too many things that shamed her, and he was a man who spent his free time playing the piano for senior citizens and brought meals to his neighbors.

But she wanted him.

As if cementing that conclusion, his lips brushed her hairline. So tender.

“Zeke?” she whispered.

“Yeah?”

“When are you going to kiss me?”

The chuff of his laugh echoed in his chest. “I’ve been waiting until you were ready.”

“I think I’m ready. I’ve been ready since the moment you brought me chili and—”

He silenced her in the most obvious of ways, and those lips delivered everything she could ever want in a kiss. He tasted of laughter, of candy apples, of the wind whipping through her hair, of desire, of all things she’d never known.

Then it was over almost as soon as it began.

She pressed her fingers to her lips, frightened at the way her heart tripped against her ribs. “Did I do something wrong?”

Zeke pressed his lips to her forehead. “No way, baby. It’s just if I keep kissing you, I won’t stop, and I promised myself that I would let our friendship stand no matter what. But if we tip over to where I really want to go, friendship may not be possible.”

“It may not be possible anyway. What if we’re too late?”

He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles, but he didn’t respond to her question. Rising, he helped her up. “I don’t know. Maybe. You have no idea how much I want you, but I don’t think the timing is right. You’re not really ready, Chase.”

She swallowed hard, unwilling to surrender the hum of desire he’d stirred in her but also touched by his self-control. He’d put her welfare above his desires. She’d never, ever been with a man who did that.

So she followed him from the hidden spot back to the reality of the cabin.

They emerged into the clearing just as Olivia’s car pulled into the driveway. Following closely behind was Spencer’s odd Bronco. She’d nearly forgotten about Spencer. She’d not even thought about how he would get to the cabin. Some kind of friend she was.

The engines were shut down, and both Olivia and Spencer climbed from their respective vehicles.

Chase opened her mouth to alert them of her and Zeke’s presence so they wouldn’t scare the daylights out of them, but just as she started to call out, Olivia and Spencer met on the broken concrete path to the cabin and . . .

“What the hell?” Zeke whispered.