Page 59 of Keeping Zita

“Yeah, it’s a lot. But Else and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re here tonight on one of our rare dates. We don’t like to go to On the Rocks, since we spend way too much time there as it is. And since Whip isn’t the asshole he used to be, this place is a nice change of pace now.”

“He told us he’s changed a lot, along with this place,” Obi-Wan said.

“He did? Wow. He’s usually not much of a sharer.”

“It’s Zita.”

Zeke nodded. “Yeah, Elsie has the same effect on people. They just seem to want to open up to her.”

Elsie turned to Obi-Wan then. “Zita says you’re an amazing helicopter pilot. That’s so cool!”

The conversation turned more general then, with all four of them conversing. Before they knew it, Angel made last call for food from behind the bar.

Surprised it was so late, Obi-Wan turned to Zita and saw she had a faraway look in her eyes, and she was kind of swaying a bit on her stool. She looked exhausted. She was on her feet for hours at work, and the newness of The Cellar, meeting new friends, and a bit of alcohol had finally caught up with her. He needed to get her to bed.

And not in a sexual way, although that was never far from his mind. She needed sleep so she could be alert on set tomorrow. She’d said herself that rainy days always meant more work for her, and it would be irresponsible for them to stay out much longer, and have her show up to work at less than her best.

“I think we’re gonna jet,” Obi-Wan said.

He knew he was right about Zita being at the end of her reserves when she made no complaint. They said their goodbyes to Elsie and Zeke, promising to stop by On the Rocks before they left town.

Obi-Wan was steering Zita to the door when she stopped and said, “Hang on, there’s something I want to do.”

He watched as she headed toward the bar, where Whip and Angel were making drinks for the many people sitting at the stools. If anything, the bar was busier now than it was when they’d arrived, which just went to show how popular the place was.

She leaned over the bar, and it was all Obi-Wan could do to take his gaze from her ass. But he did, and just in time to see her hold out some money toward Angel.

At first she shook her head, but Zita seemed to insist, and finally the other woman took it. She smiled, and Obi-Wan could read her lips as she thanked Zita.

When she returned to his side, Obi-Wan said, “I tipped both her and our waitress already,” knowing he sounded grumpy but not able to help it.

“Oh, I know, I saw. And you were more than generous. I just wanted to give them a donation for the kitties. The stray ones. It can’t be cheap to feed them, and to keep those boxes full of clean straw.”

Damn. This woman. She was amazing.

Not able to help himself, he leaned in and kissed her. It was a brief kiss, but he still felt it down to his toes. He found he didn’t have the words that would adequately express what he was feeling. So he simply tucked her arm into his own and walked them toward the door once more.

His mind was spinning as he drove the short distance back to the Mangree. He once again parked in front of Zita’s door, so she wouldn’t have to walk to her room. He grabbed her med bag, knowing that she’d want to make sure it was restocked for tomorrow.

She unlocked her door then turned to him. Obi-Wan held his breath. He wasn’t going to presume anything, although there was nothing he wanted more than to be invited in once again.

“Do you want to stay?”

“Yes.” He wasn’t noble enough to turn her down. “I’ll go change and shower and come back. That okay?”

“You could shower here,” she said shyly.

“I’ll be back,” he insisted, knowing that if he got naked in her bathroom, it wouldn’t help the state of his cock. As it was, he planned on jacking off before he came back to her bed.

“Here’s my key,” she told him, holding it out.

Taking it, Obi-Wan once more felt grateful for this woman’s trust in him.

He would’ve been embarrassed by how quickly he was back at her room after showering, jacking off, changing, and getting his things ready for the next morning, but he wasn’t. He’d kind of resigned himself to being in a perpetual state of need around Zita—including the need just to be near her.

After a soft knock on the door, he let himself in using her key. Zita was already in bed, lying on her side, breathing heavily. Her hair was damp, and she must’ve fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Realizing he had a grin on his face, and not caring, Obi-Wan shut off the light she’d left on—probably so he wouldn’t trip over anything in the dark—and climbed under the covers behind Zita.