I wake up in the middle of the night to the glowing of the tv. Looking over, I see Zane slouched over the side of the couch. Standing up, I stretch, and grab a blanket to throw over him, and turn the tv off. I head upstairs to my bed and pull the blankets up. My phone rings and I want to just let it go to voicemail, but I pick it up to see who it is. It's Paul.

Hello. I answer sleepily.

Hey, sorry to wake you. Did you drop Zane off?

No, we came back to my place to watch a movie.

Lucy!

What Paul? We watched a movie and ate popcorn. I'm in my bed and he's on the couch. Nothing happened and nothing will happen with him.

Ok, I guess I should try and trust you. Just worried you know.

Don't worry about me Paul. And so what if something happens between us? I'm a big girl and he's cleaned up.

Lucy, please just be careful. I know his reputation.

He says you're wrong, but don't worry no plans of being anything but his friend. Now, can I please go back to sleep?

Yes. Sorry to wake you but I was worried.

Don't be. Goodnight.

Night, Lucy.

Doesn't take me long to fall asleep again. In fact when I did fall asleep, I must have been out!

When I wake in the morning, I wake up to the smell of bacon, eggs sniff sniff and ohhhhh coffee. Too bad that's just the neighbors and there's no breakfast waiting for me.

Walking down the steps in just a t-shirt and underwear I head to the bathroom and I hear, well, good morning Lucy.

"Oh shit!" I yell pulling my shirt down as far as I can to cover myself. "I completely forgot you were here!"

Shit shit shit shit! I yell running into the bathroom and shutting the door.

"Lucy it's ok, really. Do you want me to grab you some pants?"

"Would you please, Zane?"

That's thoughtful of him, to just up and offer to grab me pants. I hear his footsteps get closer then a light tap on the door. I crack open the door and stick my hand out to grab the pants and tell him thanks. After I throw my pants on I go to the bathroom, wash my face and fix my hair.

I take a deep deep breath and open the door and walk toward the kitchen. Fuck! He's shirtless! Why? I must have been gaping because he turns around and says. May want to close your mouth before a fly flies in.

I know I'm blushing at this point and quickly turn around pretending I forgot something in bathroom.

I splash some water on my face. Come on Lucy, breath. You can do this. Here goes nothing. I walk back out to the kitchen and sit down at the island. I pull my phone from my pocket and open text messages and sure enough Paul has messaged me.

Zane slides a plate of food to me. "Hope you don't mind I raided your kitchen."

"Not at all. Thanks for making breakfast, you didn't have too."

He shoots me a smile, hands me some coffee and purposely let's his hand brush off of mine. Dammit why does he do this to me. He knows it bothers me. He knows he's getting to me.

"So what do we do today?"

"Well I have to be at work at 3." I say.

"Call in sick. Hang out with me for the day."

"Zane your brother would kill me!"

"Oh shit you work for him?"

"Yeah I've worked for him for the last 5 years."

"Well I guess I'll get to see you more often." He winks and grabs his plate and sits across from me.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll be helping out in the kitchen part time."

"I thought you had a full time day job?" I ask.

"No just part time cook at red robin. Paul wants me full time so that's only for the next 2 weeks. I put my notice in Friday."

"Oh awesome." I smile.

"So uh Paul's not too thrilled about us hanging is he?"

"He's my best friend. He looks out for me. Paul just doesn't want me to get hurt like I have in the past."

"Yeah I guess I haven't given him a real reason to trust me yet."

"You'll get there." I assure him and reach for his hand which was probably a mistake but shit happens.

His thumb rubs across my knuckles and I'm ready to jump out of my skin. I'm trying not to make eye contact but I want to look into his ice blue eyes so bad and see what story they tell.

"You're different Lucy. It feels almost natural being here with you. You make me want to take my time with you."

"Ha what do you mean take your time with me?" I ask amused. "Humor me."

"Well clearly we are attracted to one another, but you don't to ruin your friendship with my brother."

"What? That's nonsense Zane. I'm not attracted to you at all, and yes I do value my friendship with your brother. But your brother has no say on who I date and don't date. Hell he probably had a one night stand with Chris last night."

"Probably but if you say you're not interested let's atleast be friends."

"Deal!" I say.

We finish up breakfast and I jump into the shower. The message from Paul was to bring Zane into work with me and to bring his car back. After I shower we head over to Zane's so he can shower. While he's in the shower I scope the place out. Huge apartment for one person. But it's pretty nice.

I hear the shower turn off and notice that the bathroom door is cracked. Zane is standing at the mirror with a towel hanging low around his waist. I bite my lip and try to look away but I can't. I lied when I told him I wasn't attracted to him.

He opens the door and walks toward me. "Lucy...I think you lied to me."

"About what?"

"You said you weren't attracted to me. But my dear Lucy I think you are lying to yourself."

"Ok fine." I admit.

He takes another step toward me and runs his finger along my jaw line. My body tingles and he tips his head down and kisses me hard.

"If you didn't like me, you wouldn't kiss me like this."

My fingers curl into the edge of his towel and I give into his kiss once more. His hands caress at the back of my neck.

I pull away. "I can't do this. I'm sorry. You need to get dressed so we can get to work."

He stands there silently for a few seconds. Then he surrenders and goes into his room to get dressed.

Once Zane is dressed he comes out. "Look Lucy, I'm sorry. I don't want to push you."

"It's ok Zane. I just really need to think about things. I shouldn't have kissed you back. I don't know what I want right now."

"I understand. Besides we just met. Let's just take some time to get to know each other."

"Good idea. Come on we have to go now."

We head over to the bar to work. Paul is behind the bar and Chris is across from him. From the looks of it they are heavily flirting with each other. Paul notices us walk in and motions for us to come over to him.

I pull out the stool next to Chris. "So gents spill."

"One day at a time Lucy, one day at a time." Paul responds. "What about you two?"

Zane answers to him. "One day at a time Paul, one day at a time." He smirks and heads behind the bar. "So brother what do you need me to do?"

"Can I talk to you in the back please?" Paul asks Zane and they both head to the back.

Chris looks at me like ut oh. "Look I'm trying to get him to loosen up about the possibility of you and Zane."

"Who's to say there is a me and Zane?"

"Girl come on. It's written all over both your faces, and don't look at me like that. I know. It's the same look I had when I first laid my eyes on Paul."

"So you two are a thing for sure now?" I ask.

"Yeah, he told me about his boyfriend, about how he's guarded and it's been over 5 years since he's even tried a relationship. He told me you saved him."

"I did?"

"Yeah he was going to kill himself to go be with Joe. Then you knocked on his door about wanting to see the room for rent."

"He never told me that."

"Lucy...you're a special girl and right now he's probably back there giving Zane the speech that if he hurts you he's done. He doesn't want you to be just another girl to Zane. Don't you see Lucy? Paul loves you, he will do anything to protect you. Even if that means protecting you from his own brother."

"Why do I need to be protected from him Chris? Tell me! Why do I need protected from Zane so bad?" Chris doesn't say anything. "TELL ME!"

"Lower your voice Lucy!" Chris says hushing me. "Zane is...well was a criminal."

I look at him confused. "Does it have anything to do with their falling out?"

"Yes Lucy."

"What did he do? Lay everything out on the table for you?"

"Pretty much Lucy. He's worried about you and worried that Zane may not have changed like he says he has. But you need to talk to Zane and get him to tell you the truth about everything."

"How do you supposed I do that?" I ask.

Just then Zane and Paul come walking out of the back and Paul looks like he had been crying, but not a bad cry it was like he was happy. Zane pats him on the back and they both smile at each other. I look at Chris and he mouths one day at a time.