Page 18 of Wicked Stranger
“Everyone ate already, and I didn’t want to eat alone,” Raina informed him, pulled a piece of wood over, and sat down on it. “Just set it here.”
He sat it down, but Zane remained standing, looking down at her. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Nope.” She said proudly, looking adorable, staring up at him. “And I’m really hungry. Those twins wear me out. I don’t know how Wicked does it.”
“It’s called…Linda.” Zane said, finally sitting down across from her.
“Truth.” Raina agreed with a nod. “That woman is a God send. I hope to find a Linda when I have kids. Do you want kids?”
“What are you doing, Raina?” Zane asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
“Ah, having a conversation and hopefully eating.” Raina frowned at him. “You have a problem with that?”
Did he? Searching her eyes, he realized she was sincere, and there was no hidden agenda that he could see. Feeling himself relax, he let a small smile escape. “No, no problem. And yes, I want kids.”
“Good.” Raina gave him a nod. “Now eat. I know you have to be hungry working out here all day. I know I didn’t work as hard as you, but man, those kids are a handful. By the time Wicked started fixing them dinner, I was ready to drop dead. Then Jamison puked on me, which ruined my plans of dropping dead because I had to get a shower. Wicked used her finger to whip me up some clothes.”
Zane’s eyes roamed from her face down her body. “You look very pretty.”
“Ahhh, thank you.” Raina flashed him a radiant smile. “That’s one thing I was always jealous of Wicked for. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a witch. Every Halloween, I dressed up as a witch. Hell, just last year, I dressed up as a witch. Anyway, then one day I met one, a crazy one, but a witch. I was a little disappointed she didn’t wiggle her nose like Samantha on Bewitched.”
“Why were you jealous that Wicked was a witch?” Zane frowned, wanting to know more about this woman in hopes that one day he could give her everything she ever wanted.
“Ah, hello.” She pointed to her clothes. “Just look at this outfit. Most of the time I’m in old jeans and T-shirts. I’ve ruined more clothes tattooing and painting. If I could just twirl my finger for a new wardrobe, I’d probably wear my damn finger out.”
“So what about you, Zane?” Raina said as she continued to eat and talk nonstop. “What did you want to be when you grew up? You know I wanted to be a witch. What about you, and don’t say Shifter.”
Zane chuckled and then thought about that. “I guess I’m doing it. I was always building something. When Thorne got into real estate, I started getting properties and built houses for him to sell. Did you always want to be a tattoo artist?”
“No, actually, I didn’t.” Raina thought for a moment. “I wanted to be an artist and always dreamed of having a place to display all my art to sell, but unfortunately, that never happened. Rental property in New York is way too expensive, and I couldn’t afford a place to display my artwork. I was a starving artist at the time, selling art off the streets. I made enough to eat and pay for a one-room apartment.”
“Is that something you’d like to do today?” Zane asked, watching the sadness cross her face and wished he hadn’t asked.
“Have an art studio?” She asked, then sighed when he nodded. “Of course, but I would have to start over. All my artwork was taken when Brad cleaned my stuff out. When I demanded to have it back, I was just laughed at. It’s gone, all of it.”
“I’m sorry.” Zane frowned, watching the emotion cloud her eyes before she shrugged and hid it away.
“It’s okay. I can always do more, but the personal pieces are the hardest to lose.” Raina said with a sigh, then looked at her plate and then his. “Looks like we were both starving.”
Glancing down, he noticed that, in fact, his plate was clean. His eyes rose to hers, ready to see gloating in her beautiful eyes, but instead, he saw a sincerity that hit him straight to his heart.
“This morning I meant no disrespect for you or your feelings, Zane,” Raina said, her face more serious than he had ever seen it. “I just know how lonely it is to eat alone. No one deserves to feel that. I spent many meals with only myself. Those who truly care for you will always see past your scars, both visible and invisible. We all have scars, but that doesn’t define who we are. Please never forget that.”
Zane stood, taking two steps beside her. Reaching down, he took her hand, lifting her toward him. Cupping her chin, he raised her face to his. “Were you really disappointed?”
“About the kiss?” She whispered, staring at his lips and then back to his eyes. She nodded, “Very.”
Slowly, he lowered toward her, and their lips touched. The kiss was soft at first, and their tongues met as the darkness of the night surrounded them. His hand tangled in her hair as the kiss deepened. Her body pressed against his felt like heaven as they molded together. He knew if he didn’t stop, he would have her right there in the midst of the construction mess. She deserved better.
Reluctantly, he pulled his mouth from hers, watching as her eyes slowly opened. A haze of what he knew was lust clouded them before they cleared.
“Wow.” She whispered, licking her lips, which made him groan.
“My thoughts exactly.” He murmured as he chanced a kiss to the corner of her mouth before he pulled her close to him. “Thank you.”
“For what?” He could feel the words she spoke against his body.
“Dinner.” He smiled against her hair when she chuckled.