Zane’s sister Megan had introduced them, and he had been attracted to Channing from the first time he’d seen her. In addition to her beauty, she had a luscious scent that drew him like a bee to honey. She was the very thing erotic fantasies were made of. He’d only intended to date her for a couple of months. Then, the next thing he knew, he was in an exclusive relationship.
Zane reached under his bed for the locked box he’d placed there. Using the key he kept on his key ring, he opened the box and pulled out the calendar that was inside. It was a personalized photo calendar that Channing had made for him as a gift on his thirty-fifth birthday. Had it been almost two years ago?
He flipped through the calendar, beginning with January. By the time he’d gotten to December, he had worked up a sweat. Seeing Channing dressed in such scanty attire—a different outfit for every month—had sent memories soaring through his mind. In January, she wore a floor-length red gown, the same one she’d worn to a charity benefit he’d taken her to at the hospital and the same one he’d loved taking off of her later that night. By December, she was wearing nothing at all while stretched across her bed in one damn hot position, her body barely covered by a white bedspread decked with colorful Christmas ornaments. She had one of those I want you now looks on her face. The photographer had been another female doctor whose hobby was photography, and she had captured Channing in some unbelievable poses. Channing Hastings was definitely a beautiful woman.
She had skin the color of rich mocha, a beautiful pair of hazel eyes, high cheekbones, a perky nose, full lips and a luxurious mane of golden-brown hair. The one constant in each photo was the necklace around her neck. It was the gold one he had given her. The same one she had returned when she’d told him she was leaving Denver.
Reaching into the box, he pulled out that same necklace, remembering the day he’d bought it. He’d been in Montana at a jewelry store with his cousin Durango, who’d wanted to buy a birthday gift for his wife, Savannah. Zane had seen the crescent moon and immediately known he wanted it for Channing. At the time, he had refused to question why, he’d just known that seeing it around her neck was important to him.
After Channing left, he’d flipped through the calendar and pulled out the necklace too many times, which was why he’d given the locked box to Megan for safekeeping. He’d been tired of torturing himself. Although Megan would have been curious about what was inside, he’d trusted her enough to know she would not open the box. He couldn’t say the same for Bailey, who, as she’d reminded him today, had a fondness for picking locks. Megan had kept the box for almost a year, but he’d gotten it back from her when she’d taken that trip to Texas with Rico last year.
Megan had invited Channing to the wedding last month, even though he’d asked her not to. However, like Bailey, Megan had a mind of her own and didn’t like her brothers telling her what to do. And what teed him off more than the wedding invitation was that he’d been over to Megan’s place a few nights ago to welcome the newlyweds back to Denver, and she hadn’t mentioned anything about Channing returning to town. He was convinced there was no way she hadn’t known.
Zane placed the calendar and necklace back in the box, locked it shut and slid it back under his bed. He then stripped off his clothes to take a shower. His and Channing’s paths probably wouldn’t cross while she was in town.
But … maybe they should.
It was time he looked at the situation differently, more objectively. He had gotten over Channing months ago, and she had evidently gotten over him. She was an engaged woman. He was happy with his life. She was happy with hers.
He stepped in the shower with his mind made up. He felt rather pleased with the decision and already he considered it done. He would seek out Channing and pay her a visit.
There was nothing wrong with welcoming her back to town.
Two
Channing bent to lower the projector screen when a pair of dark leather boots came into view. The boots were followed by a rich, masculine aroma that she would recognize anytime, anyplace. Her stomach knotted as she slowly straightened.
Her eyes moved up past a pair of jeans-clad thighs, a lean waist, a firm stomach and muscled shoulders. Her gaze unerringly landed on a pair of gorgeous dark brown eyes, creamy chestnut-brown skin, an aquiline nose, sharp cheekbones, full lips and a strong chin.
Zane Westmoreland was almost too handsome to be real. She’d thought that very thing the first time she’d seen him three years ago, right here at this very hospital. He had come to repair his sister’s flat tire, and Megan had introduced them. Channing’s life hadn’t been the same since.
She drew in a long breath and slowly released it. “Zane.”
“Channing. I heard you were in town, so I thought I would come by and welcome you back.”
Channing leaned against the podium she’d stood behind earlier. There were any number of plausible reasons for Zane to show up at the hospital’s lecture hall, but for the life of her, she couldn’t think of a valid one. He claimed he wanted to welcome her back to town, but just last month, when she’d seen him at Megan’s wedding, he had refused to say a single word to her.
“Thanks, Zane.” She could mention that she was only in town for three to six weeks but decided it wasn’t any of his business. Two years ago she had left Denver to move on, and she had.
“So, you’re still engaged I see,” he said when she moved to the desk to place a stack of handouts in her briefcase.
She fought back a scowl. “Is there any reason why I wouldn’t be?”
“I guess not.”
“And what about you?” Channing asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “I take it you’re still eluding serious commitments?”
She noticed the muscle that flicked in his jaw. “If you’re asking if I’m still single, with no thoughts of settling down, then the answer is yes. That won’t ever change.” And without missing a beat, he asked, “Did Mark come with you?”
She frowned. Why was he all up in her business? “My fiancé’s name is Mack, and no, he’s still in Atlanta.”
“He’s a banker, right?”
Channing clicked her briefcase closed, wondering why Zane felt it necessary to go over information he already knew. Although he had avoided both her and Mack at the wedding, Megan had said Zane had questioned her at the wedding reception.
“Yes, Mack’s a banker.” There was no need to tell him the Hammond family owned several banks that were spread across Georgia, Tennessee and Florida.
She turned to Zane and tried to ignore how totally, utterly male he looked. She felt a deep fluttering in her stomach when her eyes connected to his. He had soft bedroom eyes, eyes that could educate a woman as to what true desire was all about. She, of all people, should know. Yes, some things in her life had changed, but it seemed the charge she got out of seeing Zane Westmoreland hadn’t. Why was her body betraying her this way?
“Well, that’s it for the day. It was good seeing you again, Zane.”
“Same here. I figured sooner or later I’d run into you at one of those Westmoreland family dinners. I thought we should clear the air now so neither of us would feel uncomfortable.”
So that’s what this little visit was about? Channing thought. “I’m sorry you wasted your time coming here just for that. I thanked Megan for the invite yesterday but told her it would be best if I didn’t attend any of your family functions.”
“Why? Are you saying the only reason you got to know my family was because of me?”
“No, if you’ll recall, I knew Megan and your sisters long before I met you. However, considering our history, I thought distance was best.”
Zane stared at her. “I don’t understand why you would think that now when you had no problem attending