A to Zane by Cherie Nicholls Read Free Book Online Page B

that’s what you do for fun.”
    Karina didn’t say anything. Both she and Clara sat there, not saying anything, just staring at Abby who was doing her best to ignore them.
    Of course she hadn’t asked Zane to dance. One second in his arms, and her stupid body would get ideas well above its station. Talk about punching above her weight. Yeah, sure he’d made a few suggestive remarks earlier. But Abby was an old hand at this. She was a friend, and didn’t she just hate that term. By now he probably didn’t remember what he’d said, or if he did, he was probably praying she realized he wasn’t serious. He’d just been helping to calm her down, talking her back from the darkness she fought with daily.
    “Abby and Zane sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.” The softly spoken song came from Laney.
    “Shut up. There are shifters here, and they’ll hear you. Dammit, Zane will hear you. Do you really think he wants to be embarrassed like that?” Abby whispered.
    “First comes love.” Karina joined in the song. Abby flicked an angry glance at her employee.
    “Then comes marriage,” Clara continued.
    “Then comes Abby with a baby carriage.”
    “I will kill you all,” Abby warned.
    “Ask him to dance, and then we’ll stop. We can keep this up all night,” Laney taunted when Abby was about to argue.
    “One dance, Abby. He’s been watching you dance with other men all night. I feel bad for the dude,” Clara added.
    “Yeah, right.”
    “No seriously, he has. A couple of times I thought we’d have to jump in to save the guy you were with.”
    Abby looked up at the ceiling, hands on her hips, and sighed. Dear gosh, these girls just didn’t let go. Like dogs with bones, that’s for sure. The analogy made Abby snort.
    “Okay, fine. I’ll ask, and when he says thanks but no thanks, you dime store hookers leave it alone, clear?”
    “Dime store? I’ve always thought of myself more of a high class call girl,” Karina said.
    “Am I clear?” Abby spoke through gritted teeth. She’d ask him, and when Zane said no, she’d come back here and make these evil females apologize for making her do something to embarrass the hell out of both him and her.
    “Deal,” Laney said with a nod.
    Abby took a deep breath and turned to find Zane. She scanned the room, and for a second she thought he’d left, but then she spotted him standing in one of the corners talking to Jones.
    Abby drew up her courage and started to walk toward him. In her head, she already had the apology for bothering him waiting, along with the reassurance she wasn’t about to turn into a lovesick puppy and follow him around. One dance was all she was going to ask for. When he turned her down, because he would, she was sure of it, she’d tell him with a smile on her face to enjoy his evening and walk away.
    The trip to the other side of the room was quicker than she was prepared for. Before she knew it, she was standing beside Zane.
    She cleared her throat, catching their attention.
    “Hey, Abby doll, need something?” Jones asked.
    “No I’m fine.” She swallowed hard, deciding the Band-Aid treatment was best—rip it off quick to get the pain over with fast. “I just wanted to ask Zane if he wanted to dance, but I can see you’re busy, so that's okay. Well, have a good night, and you take care now,” Abby said in one long breath. She spun on her heel and took only two steps, ready to die of embarrassment, before a large arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back against a solid chest.
    “It’s customary to wait for a response when asking a person to dance.” Zane spoke directly into her ear.
    Abby’s breath caught as he started to sway to the beat of the music. A song with a heavy beat and slow tune started to play. She caught a glimpse of Laney walking away from the DJ booth. Damn her interfering ass.
    “You know, from here I can see right down your top.” Zane said it so matter of fact, it surprised a laugh from her.
    “A