“I don’t know. A bagel at lunch?” She grimaced. “I was going to eat when I got home, but...”

“But you’d barely slept in twenty-four hours, you were dehydrated and you basically passed out.” He brushed her hair behind her ear. “You need to take better care of yourself.”

His hand stopped moving when his fingertips touched her skin. Her heart stopped moving, too. Zayne Rutledge was touching her, and she didn’t want him to stop. It didn’t make sense, but when had desire ever made sense in her life? And this was definitely desire coursing through her veins. It was exciting. Terrifying. And oh, so tempting...

She reached out and flattened her hand on his chest. He was why she’d felt so warm and safe and happy when she woke up. His arm had been holding her tight and secure, his breath moving in perfect rhythm with hers...just like it was now. She looked up and met his hooded gaze. His fingertips began moving against her skin, and she lifted her face toward his.

“Andrea...” Was he warning her away? Or begging her to come closer? His hand moved to cup her cheek.

“You carried me up to the house,” she said. It wasn’t a question. “You took care of me. You held me.” She curled her fingers to grab his shirt directly over his heart. “That’s a lot of caring for a guy who says he doesn’t.”

Zayne’s eyes went dark, the desire in them making her tremble. She hadn’t been celibate since Hudson was born, but it had been a while. Long enough to make her feel every sensation with more intensity. His fingertips were setting off sparks against her skin. And those sparks were floating through her body and settling like embers deep and low in her belly.

“When I care,” he answered, “I care one hundred percent.” One hand still cupped her cheek, and his other moved to the back of her head, pulling her closer. Their mouths were nearly touching now.

Zayne’s eyes fell closed, shutting off a little bit of the heat. His forehead touched hers, and his head rolled back and forth.

“You need to eat something, Andrea.”

That was not what she wanted to hear. It didn’t sound as though he liked that option any more than she did, but he wasn’t wrong. As if to put an exclamation point on the idea, her stomach grumbled loudly. His eyes opened, ocean blue again. She smiled.

“Food wouldn’t be my first choice, but I won’t say no to a sandwich.”

Zayne straightened, stepping free of her. She had to force herself not to pull him right back. He turned toward the kitchen.

“I think I can do better than a sandwich.”