As Zane drove toward the exit, Phoebe searched frantically for a topic of...

As Zane drove toward the exit, Phoebe searched frantically for a topic of conversation. Nothing brilliant came to mind. She nibbled on her lower lip as she considered risking the truth. When nothing better occurred to her, she decided to dive right into the cowboy-infested water.
"So this is really strange, huh?"
Zane glanced at her but didn't speak.
She cleared her throat. "Me being here. I mean you don't know me from a rock, and I'm going to be staying at the ranch for a couple of days. Maybe we should get to know each other, so the situation isn't so awkward."
"If you don't feel like you belong, why did you come?"
She spent a good three seconds mentally swooning over the sound of his voice before processing his words. He wasn't exactly welcoming.
"Well, um, several reasons," she said, stalling, then couldn't think of any but one. She sighed. "Maya guilted me into it."
"What did she tell you? That I keep Chase locked in a tower and feed him bread and water?"
Phoebe winced. "Not exactly."
"But close."
"Um, maybe."
Zane's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "She's always had a soft spot for Chase."
"He must be really smart. That must make you proud. I certainly couldn't design a website and entice people to sign up for a cattle-drive vacation."
Zane's ever-so-perfect mouth tightened. "He lied, stole and committed fraud. Pride doesn't much enter into it for me."
Phoebe hunched down in her seat. "If you're going to put it like that," she mumbled and turned her attention to the scenery.