Page 189 of Zach
hours calling furniture stores, feeling incredibly guilty because I was cutting into work time, I could
have just mentioned to you this morning that Abigail is coming, and you would have….” I trail off
because I don’t know what he would have done. Would he have spent three hours on the phone?
“I would have told you we’d move over a bed from one of the empty apartments on your floor.
Then I would have asked you what time she’s getting in and arranged to have her picked up.”
“Just like that,” I mumble, tugging at the seatbelt in frustration. Zach leans forward and clicks it,
freeing me.
“Just like that,” he says, watching me carefully. Biting my lip, I consider my next move and every
bit of ladylike behavior I’ve ever learned and then toss it out the window.
I’m not graceful, and I’ve never claimed to be, but I would definitely be elected as President of
the Clumsy by anyone watching this maneuver. Bracing my hands on the two front seats, I throw my
leg over the console and ponder my next move. Stepping onto the seats seems like the next logical
move. From there, I do a weird duck and head-first dive into Zach’s waiting arms. His low chuckles
are rumbling against my cheek as I pull my legs onto the seat. He pulls me up, so I’m sitting on his
lap. Aware there’s an audience behind me but not caring, I cup Zach’s cheeks.
“I should have known this about you. The light panels you installed, the shoes. You’ve shown care
for me from the start. I’m sorry I didn’t realize that I could come to you.”
His arms tighten around me. “It’s not just that. You are a very self-sufficient woman, and I
appreciate that about you. But I would like to be…included in your life.”
I shift my gaze to his tie and let my fingers play with the knot. “Like telling you I’ve been texting
with Abigail and that she’s coming.” He nods, still watching me with those serious eyes. That little
devil on my shoulder takes over, and I grip his tie. “But I should keep some things to myself, right?
Like how I started my day with a lovely little…toy I found when Bree took me shopping.”
No, I definitely don’t recognize myself. My whole body is flushed, but with effort, I keep my eyes
on Zach, and am rewarded by his widening eyes and quick swallow.
“You,” he chokes out. Clearing his throat, he tries again. “You can tell me anything you want to…
anything at all.”
Emboldened, I slide my fingers under the collar of his shirt to caress the skin at his neck. Who
knew such a simple stretch of skin could make my heart race? “So it would be ok for me to tell you I
thought about you this morning? And that the way you tug on your tie makes me feel…warm and
