Page 72 of Keeping Zita

She wasn’t wrong. “Same. But I’ll text you when I can, I want to know how your meeting goes this morning.”

“Okay. I think my report is after lunch, but I’ll let you know for sure.”

“All right.” Obi-Wan reached for Zita, wanting one last hug before they got on with their day. She held on to him tightly as they stood in the foyer of his apartment. Things would be different starting today, and he wasn’t sure he was ready for it. Like her, he’d enjoyed being able to talk to her whenever he wanted. Seeing her on set. Watching her work. But while it sucked returning to real life, Obi-Wan was also looking forward to it. Getting back to a routine—this time, one that included Zita.

She pulled back and smiled up at him. He gently smoothed a lock of her hair behind her ear. She’d left it down, deciding she’d shower when she got to her motel room.

“Gonna miss you today,” she said softly.

“Same. But we’ll see each other soon enough.”

“I know. We need to go so you won’t be late. Casper will kick your butt if you’re late on your first day back.”

“He’s gonna kick my butt anyway,” Obi-Wan said with a laugh. “Just because he can. And to make me suffer for not working out for the last week.”

“I don’t know, it seems to me that you had a great workout last night.”

He chuckled. “True.” Then he leaned down and kissed her forehead, before turning and picking up her med bag. He was getting used to hauling the thing around. It wasn’t light, and he was impressed all over again by how effortlessly Zita dealt with it while on set. He’d told her she could leave it at his place, but she insisted that even though she wasn’t planning on needing her medical supplies, she wanted to have them nearby…just in case.

He drove toward the motel, holding her hand. It was still dark out, and he was definitely going to be late to join his team at PT, but he didn’t care. Making sure Zita got into her room safe and sound was much more important.

He parked in front of the room she’d been assigned and hopped out of the driver’s seat. He walked Zita to the door and stood by as she unlocked it and reached in and turned on the light. The room was nothing special. Looked exactly like the last room she’d had. Obi-Wan dropped her med bag just inside the door as she pulled her suitcases into the room. Then he took her into his arms, unable to resist, and kissed the hell out of her. Wanting her to know without words that when he’d said he loved her last night, he hadn’t been blowing smoke up her ass. Hadn’t been caught up in great sex or the aftermath of an amazing orgasm.

They were both breathing hard when he finally forced himself to let her go.

“Damn,” Zita breathed.

Obi-Wan grinned. “I’ll see you tonight. And will text to see how things are going.”

“Okay. Same. I want to know how badly Casper and the rest of the guys are on your case about missing a week of work and PT.”

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. “I can handle them. Later, hon.”

“Bye,” she said softly.

Obi-Wan went back to his Jeep, and he saw Zita peeking out from the window. She waved, and he gave her a chin lift in return. Then he forced himself to back out of the parking spot and drive away.

Zita licked her lips and smiled when she tasted Sage there. The man was seriously hot. That hug he’d given her this morning? It had been one of the best hugs she’d ever gotten. Spontaneous and “just because.” Being in Sage’s arms felt like coming home. Because wherever he was, that was home. She’d had the realization as she’d stood in his embrace, simply enjoying the moment.

She figured that was why she wasn’t more worried about upending her life in California. She wanted to be where Sage was. It didn’t matter if they lived in his apartment, hers, in Virginia or Timbuktu. As long as they were together.

She huffed out a little laugh and picked up her smaller suitcase. She put it on the bed and unzipped it, grabbing her toiletry bag. She put it to the side and continued to rifle through her things, looking for the one set of nicer clothes she’d packed, with today’s meetings in mind.

A knock on the door had her looking up. Smiling and shaking her head, wondering what in the world Sage had forgotten, Zita walked over to the door.

“What did you⁠—”

Her words stuck in her throat when she saw it wasn’t Sage at the door.

It was Silas Graves.

She didn’t get a chance to ask what he was doing there or what he wanted.

His fist reared back and he coldcocked her right in the face.

Zita went down like a rock, one hand going to her cheek in shock. The pain was overwhelming. Shooting through her face and down her body in a wave.

Silas didn’t give her a second to recover. He reached down and grabbed the front of her T-shirt in a meaty fist, holding her as his arm reared back once more.