Her Forbidden Cowboy. Charlene Sands

      “Let me help,” she said softly.

      She slipped her hand under the pitcher and helped guide the slushy concoction into the glasses. She gave him credit for clamping his mouth shut and not complaining about his limitations.

      “Thanks,” he said. He reached out, and the slide of his rough fingers over hers sent warm tingles to her heart. They were still connected through Janie, and she valued his friendship now. She’d made the right decision in coming here.

      The food was delicious. She inhaled the meal, emptying her plate within minutes. “I guess I didn’t know how hungry I was. Or thirsty.”

      She reached for her second margarita and took a long sip. Tart icy goodness slid down her throat. “Mmm.”

      The sun had set with a parfait of swirling color, and now half the moon lit the night. The beach was quiet and calm. The roar of the waves had given way to an occasional lulling swish.

      Zane sipped his third margarita. She remembered that about him. He could hold his liquor.

      “So what are your plans now, Jess?” he asked.

      “Hit the beach, work on my tan and stay out of your way. Shouldn’t be too hard. The place is huge.”

      Tiny lines crinkled around his eyes, and he chuckled. “You don’t need to stay out of my way. But feel free to do whatever you want. There are two cars parked in the garage, fueled and ready to go. I can’t drive them.”

      “So how do you get around?”

      “Mariah, usually. When I’m needed at the restaurant site or somewhere, she’s drives me or I hire a car. She’s been a trouper, going above and beyond since my accident.”

      Mrs. Lopez picked up the empty dishes, leaving the margarita pitcher. A smart woman.

      “Thank you, Mrs. Lopez. Have a good night,” Zane said. “See you tomorrow.”

      “Good night,” she said to both of them.

      “Thanks for the delicious enchiladas.”

      On a humble nod and smile, she exited the patio.

      Zane pointed to her half-empty glass. “How many of those can you handle, darlin’?”

      “Oh, uh...I don’t know. Why?”

      “’Cause if you fall flat on your face, I won’t be able to pick you up and carry you to your room.”

      He winked, and a sudden vision of Zane carrying her to the bedroom burst into her mind. It wasn’t as weird a notion as she might’ve thought. She felt safe with Zane. She truly liked him and didn’t buy into his guilt over Janie’s death. He wasn’t to blame. He couldn’t have known about faulty wiring in the house or the fire that would claim her life. Janie had loved Zane for the man that he was, had always been. She wouldn’t want Zane’s guilt to follow him into old age.

      “Well, then, we’re even. If you got pie-eyed, I wouldn’t be able to pick you up, either.” She took another long sip of her drink. Darn, but it tasted good. Her spirits lifted. Let the healing begin.

      Zane cocked a crooked smile. “I like your style, Miss Holcomb.”

      “Ugh. To think I would’ve been Mrs. Monahan by now. Thank God I’m not.”

      “The guy’s an ass.”

      “Thanks for saying that. He sure had me fooled. Up until the minute I was having my bridal veil pinned in my hair, I thought I knew what the future had in store for me. I saw myself married to a man I had a common bond with. He was a high school principal. I was a grade-school teacher. We both loved education. But I was too blind to see that Steven had commitment phobia. He’d had one broken relationship after another before we started dating. I invested three years of my life in the guy, and I thought surely he’d gotten over it. I thought I was the one. But he was fooling himself as well as me.” A pent-up breath whooshed out of her. A little bit of tequila loosened her tongue, and out poured her heart. The unburdening was liberating. “My friend Sally said Steven looked up his old girlfriend seeking sympathy after the wedding that never happened. Can you imagine?”

      Zane stared at her. “No. He should be on his knees begging you for forgiveness. He did one thing right. He didn’t marry you and make your life miserable. I hate to say it, darlin’, but you’re better off without him. The man doesn’t deserve you. But you’re hurt right now, and I get that. You probably still love him.”

      “I don’t,” she said, hoisting her glass and swallowing a big gulp. “I pretty much hate him.”

      Zane leaned back in his seat, his gaze soft on her. “Okay. You hate him. He’s out of your life.”

      She braced folded elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands. The sea was black as pitch now, the sky lit only with a few stars and clouded moonlight. “I just wanted...I wanted what you and Janie had. I wanted that kind of love.”

      Her fuzzy brain cleared. Oh, no. She hadn’t just said that? She whipped her head around. Zane’s expression of sympathy didn’t change. He didn’t flinch. He simply stared out to sea. “We had something pretty special.”

      “You did. I’m sorry for bringing it up.”

      “Don’t be.” His tone held no malice. “You’re Janie’s sister. You have as much right to talk about her as I do.”

      Tears misted in her eyes. “I miss her.”

      “I miss her, too.”

      She sighed. She didn’t mean to put such a somber mood on the evening. Zane was gracious enough to allow her to stay here. She didn’t want to bring him down. It was definitely time to call it a night. She put on a cheery face. “Well, this has been nice.”

      She rose, and her head immediately clouded up. The table, the railing, the ocean blurred before her. She batted her eyes over and over, trying to focus. Two Zanes popped into her line of vision. She reached for the tabletop, struggling to remain upright on her own steam. She swayed back and forth, unable to keep her body still. “Zane?”

      “It just hit you, didn’t it?”

      “Oh, yeah. I think so.” She giggled.

      “Don’t move for a second.”

      “I’ll...try.” A tornado swirled in her head. “Why?”

      He rose and hobbled over to her. Using one crutch, he tucked it under his left arm. “I’m going to help you get inside.”

      “But, you said...you c-couldn’t. Uh...” She giggled again.

      Zane wrapped his right arm around her shoulder. “Okay, now, darlin’, I’ve got you. Your body will be my other crutch. We’ll help each other. Move slowly.”

      “W-where are we g-going?”

      “I’ve got to get you to bed.”

      Her head fell to his shoulder. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she thought how nice it felt to have him hold her. He smelled good. He would take care of her.

      “Focus on putting one foot in front of the other.”

      She tried.

      “That’s good, honey.”

      Hobble-hopping, they moved together. It seemed to take forever to go a short distance in the dark shadows of the night. Keeping her eyes down, she watched her feet move. Then blinding light appeared in a burst. She squinted. “What’s that?”

      “We’re inside the house now,” Zane was saying.

      “That’s g-good, right? I’ll be in b-bed soon.” A warm buzz spread through her like soft, sweet jelly.

      “Not upstairs. You’ll never make it. We’re going to my room.”

      She couldn’t wait to lay