He’d been aching to see her all day. Touch her. Kiss her. But the information he’d learned a few hours ago was also rattling around his head and distracting him.

After the closing that afternoon, which had thankfully been a friendly, straightforward transaction, Mike had waited for the money transfer to go through. He drove to the town clerk’s office to record the paperwork. While he was there, he’d quietly checked on a few property records for Zoey’s place, just in case Karen Schiff decided to carry through with her threats. He wasn’t happy with what he’d found. If Schiff was just blowing smoke, it wouldn’t matter. Even if she wasn’t, Mike still might be able to make a few legal maneuvers.

“You’re forgiven,” Zoey said, turning back to the workbench and providing him a fine view of her behind, all curvy and taut in snug jeans.

Admiring his best friend’s ass was something new and different, but Mike couldn’t make himself feel bad about it. He set down the bottle of wine, walked over and slid his arms around her waist, but instead of melting against him, she tensed, looking back at the door.

“Hazel’s home tonight.”

“She’s not out here.”

“And what if she comes out for something? What if she flies through the door like you did? What if—”

“Slow down the what-ifs, girl.” Despite her worries, she hadn’t moved away from his easy embrace, so he tightened his hold. “The door can be locked if it’ll make you feel better.”

Her head dropped, and her dark hair fell around her face to cover it.

“Locking the door will just raise suspicions. Besides, there are windows, remember? The shop can’t be our getaway, Mike. It’s too risky...”

Everything felt risky these days. He’d gone from being a small-town lawyer with a nice, low-key life to sneaking around and hiding from a thirteen-year-old, just so he could kiss his best friend. And maybe get her naked.

He gave in to the temptation of the now-exposed skin on the back of her neck, brushing his lips against it before pressing a kiss there. She sighed, rolling her head to the side to give him better access. He was no fool—he took advantage of the opening and started trailing kisses up her neck toward that silky spot behind her ear.

As soon as his tongue reached out to taste her there, she rested her hands on the workbench and gently shrugged away from him. He released her immediately and stepped back, cursing himself for pushing her after she’d just said she was worried about being caught.

“I’m sorry, Zoey.” He rubbed the back of his neck, taking another step backward. She turned, staring at him with dark, troubled eyes.