For all Jo's bravado and confidence as to where this was leading, she now felt at a loss on how to procede. With him Jo felt comfortable, soft even. She had no pressing desire to rush things along or fall into any of her typical patterns. There was no need to get drunk and fall into bed or flirt until her words felt foolish even to herself. It — whatever it was — felt natural between them, and that frightened her.

She wasn't afraid enough to pull away from this moment, even if her alarm bells were ringing for her to flee. Tomorrow might see Zach pulling away himself, anyway. After all, what sort of future could there be with someone like her? Jo wasn't willing to sacrifice her love of travel and working for anyone, and she would sooner find some back alley abortionist than have a child. And if Zach did realize the terrible path she was leading him down — the one full of disappointment and heartache — well, it wouldn't be her fault. Jo had never been anything but obvious about who and what she was.

"It is." She said smoothly, his smile matched by her own. Then, without any further thought as to the potential consequences, Jo moved to close the distance between them.