“Take a breath. Stop worrying. She’s trying to intimidate you, but I’ll check just to be safe. When it comes to zoning, nothing happens fast, and there are always hearings and warnings and a whole process to go through.” He gave her a quick wink. “No one from the town zoning office is going to show up and raid the place, I promise. And don’t forget, you’ve got yourself a top-notch lawyer.”

It was the first real smile he’d seen from her all evening. “Yes, I do.” Her voice was low and soft. They stared at each other for what seemed like long minutes ticking by. Neither of them moved. Neither spoke. He wasn’t sure if either of them was breathing by the time he finally blinked. He was still holding her shoulders. And he didn’t want to let go.

“Uh... Mike...” Zoey straightened her shoulders, but didn’t pull away from his hold. He could kiss her. Holy hell, what a thought. He could kiss her. Right now.

And that was enough to make him step back. One wrong move, and he’d ruin everything. He wasn’t brave enough to take that chance.

WHAT. WAS. HAPPENING?

Zoey stepped back at the same time Mike did, but distance did nothing to ease the energy pulsing through her. It began the instant his hands touched her shoulders. The moment when his gaze, heated and intense, met hers. Usually, Mike’s presence, and his calm, rational advice, made Zoey feel more settled.

But not tonight. Tonight his touch—his close presence—set off a riot of emotions in her that she wasn’t prepared for. Was this the chemistry Mason swore he saw?

I’m not saying it as a friend...

Oh, boy. Maybe Mike really was thinking of moving them out of the friend zone. Part of her thought it could be a wonderful idea. The other part of her was screaming that it had DISASTER written all over it. He was still staring at her.

“Zoey...” There was a new timbre to his voice, or maybe she was noticing it for the very first time. A small fire began in her chest. Whoa. This was getting a little too real. She blinked, turning back to the table and picking up a screwdriver.

“I don’t think I told you about my date with Mason, did I?” Her voice was loud and entirely too enthusiastic to her own ears.

Mike—sweet, smart Mike—shook his head with a bemused smile.

“I was there, remember?”

“Well, yeah. But you weren’t at the table. You weren’t everywhere.” She was just turning the same screw back and forth on the antique mechanical bank in front of her. “Don’t you want to hear about it?”

He hesitated, then walked back to his chair on the other side of the table. He was going along with her distraction tactic.