Free Knowing Vera (Romantic Suspense, Family Drama) (Chance for Love) by Rachelle Ayala Page A

what’s lovely,” he says, in a voice guaranteed to melt my heart and make me yearn. “The more I know about you, the more I like you.”
    I can’t get over how much he’s changed. I was immune to his put-on charm, his star athlete’s persona, but this? If this is the real Zach … I’m toast. I won’t ever want to let this gem go.
    The moment gets awkward since I haven’t responded. Zach moves my hand to his knee, the one that ends with the stump. “Does this bother you?”
    “Of course not.” I see the doubt in his expression. “I wish it didn’t happen to you. It makes me sad, but from now on, I’ll treat you like any other man. No telling you what you can or can’t do, no cutting you any slack and no more nursing, okay?”
    “That’s what I want.” A sexy smile slides over his face. “But you can play nurse anytime.”
    I wet my lips and shift uncomfortably. Is he going to make out with me or are we still talking? If he’ll quit looking at me like he wants to devour a particularly delectable morsel, maybe I can actually think.
    “So, what do we do now?” I wish I didn’t sound so suggestive. His closeness is tempting, but we’re redefining our relationship.
    He tilts my face toward him. “I want you to consider being more than friends with me.”
    How can I agree when things are so unsettled?
    “Depends on what it means.” My heart’s doing jumping jacks urging me to accept. I press a hand on his chest. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I can’t sleep with you anymore. I thought about what you said, about how empty it is. I’m going away soon. At least when the agency places me.”
    “Right by me. Let’s enjoy the time we have. I already know you’re dynamite in bed. We Aussies do everything upside down and backwards, anyway.” He tickles the side of my temple. “Now I want to know what’s in that head of yours.”
    A strange sensation of elation and dread mix in my chest. I feel like I’m a tiny girl hiding in the corner and a spotlight is shining on me. I swallow, unable to bear the earnest gaze of his starry blue eyes. “I don’t even know myself sometimes. I’m really not that interesting.”
    “You’d be surprised.” He takes my hand. “Want to go out tonight?”
    “Sure, er … I need to freshen up.” I grab my purse and step toward his bathroom, needing to escape the frightening closeness. Zach smirks right before I close the door. I have no idea what he’s up to or where he wants to go, but I’ll let him take the lead.
    My stomach’s getting those jumpy butterflies again, as if I were crushing on him. What if we fall in love? Can I let it happen? I’m definitely getting ahead of myself, so I stuff my lipstick and mascara into my purse and check my cell phone. No messages, neither from Owen or the placement services.
    When I exit the bathroom, Zach is in the living room clad in tight jeans and a pair of hand-tooled cowboy boots. A black t-shirt clings to his muscular chest. He walks toward me, as lithe and natural as a sleek jaguar. His eyes prowl up and down my body, and a crooked grin brightens his face.
    My fingers tingle and desire tugs at my lower abdomen, reminding me how absolutely frickin’ hard it’s going to be to walk away from this magnificent man.
    Zach opens his arms and wraps me in a bear hug and before I can breathe, he twirls me around. I hang onto his shoulders as he backs me onto the kitchen counter, my feet still off the ground. He places his hands on both sides of my hips and stares into my eyes. “Let’s pretend this is our first date. What’s your name, beautiful?”
    I know I’m blushing and my pale skin doesn’t hide it. “I’m Vera, and you?”
    “Zach. What are you doing in my apartment?” He winks. “I don’t remember inviting you in. I don’t even know you.”
    “I was … ah, looking for a friend. I think I knocked on the wrong door.”
    He kisses my hand. “I’m glad you knocked on my door, and