His Best Friend’s Sister

by Eve Gaddy

  “That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard,” Travis told her. “Zack, outside.”

  “You read my mind,” Zack said.

  Harlan, Travis and Zack left the room and they heard the back door bang shut.

  “That was interesting,” Tobi said once the men were gone.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Zack stood outside, on the patio in Tobi’s backyard. Neither looked happy but Travis looked pissed.

  “What the fuck, Zack?” Travis said again. “Why the hell aren’t you planning a wedding? What’s wrong with you?”

  “You seem to have it all figured out. You tell me.”

  Harlan put a hand on Travis’s arm. “Let him talk.”

  “Oh, I intend to. I have one question for you,” Travis said. “Do you want to marry Laurel?”

  Zack wished for a beer. A nice, cold beer. And he really wished he wasn’t having this conversation. He didn’t like baring his soul. Not to anyone. And that’s what he was about to do. “More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

  Zack took a seat on one of the patio chairs and waited for their response. They both looked mollified. And thoughtful.

  “Why aren’t you getting married, then?”

  “Didn’t you hear Laurel? She doesn’t want to get married. I asked her to marry me. Several times. She said no. Every time.”

  Harlan’s eyebrows rose. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. She either doesn’t love me or she won’t admit it.” Which made him depressed and angry and confused. “She says she ‘cares’ about me,” he said, making air quotes. “But she is dead-set positive that we are not getting married.”

  “How do you feel about that?”

  “How do you think I feel? I feel like shit. I love her, she’s having my babies, and she won’t marry me.” He got up and paced away. “At first I thought she’d get over it. That she was just spooked because of that bastard she was married to. But I’m beginning to think she’s not going to change her mind. Ever.”

  “I don’t think you should give up yet. Give her some time,” Harlan said.

  “Does she know you’ve been in love with her forever?” Travis asked.

  “He has?” Harlan asked, clearly surprised.

  Travis looked at his brother. “Yeah, he told me after I found them together. At his apartment where she’d obviously spent the night.” He turned back to Zack. “So you told her how you felt.”

  “Goddamn it, Travis, I’m not an idiot. Of course I told her. I said I loved her and had for a long time. She doesn’t believe me because I didn’t tell her until after I found out she was pregnant.”

  “Damn stubborn woman.”

  “No shit. I asked her again after we found out she was having twins. She said no. Again.”

  “Do you want me to talk to her? Tell her what you told me when you first got together?”

  “It won’t matter, but thanks.”

  “I could try.”

  “She won’t believe you, Travis. She knows you and Harlan want her to marry me, so she’ll just think you’re lying to get her to agree.”

  “Damn. You’re probably right.”

  “At least she hasn’t kicked me out of hers and the kids’ lives,” he said, searching for something good to think about. “She says she won’t and she would never stop me from knowing my children. But damn it, Travis, that’s not all I want. I want the whole thing. I want Laurel, Cody, Katrina and the new babies. Maybe more kids. I want to marry her but she won’t and she won’t tell me why.”

  “And you don’t know?” Harlan said. “She hasn’t said anything more?”

  “No. Not really. But I’m almost sure it has something to do with that son of a bitch Stan Lewis.”

  “Besides the fact that the bastard ran out on her and the kids and took all the money?” Harlan asked.

  Zack nodded. “Yeah, besides that. There’s more to it. But I don’t know and she won’t tell me what it is.”

  “I know you think I’m unreasonably protective of Laurel,” Travis said.

  Zack snorted. “No, not at all,” he said with heavy irony.

  Ignoring his interjection, Travis continued, “And maybe I am.”

  “No maybe about it. But I get that, Travis.” Sort of. It still pissed him off that Travis could even think that Zack, one of his best and oldest friends, was an irresponsible piece of shit.

  “When she first got married Harlan and I both thought she was too young. But no one could talk her out of it. We thought he was okay. At first. Hell, he was okay at first. For the first few years, anyway. But I think Laurel was unhappy at least from the time she got pregnant with Katrina until the bastard left. If not before that. And I didn’t see it. Maybe I didn’t want to see. I didn’t do anything about it.”

  “At least you were here,” Harlan said. “I can’t even say that.”

  “She never talked to either of you or your parents? A girlfriend?”

  “Not anyone in the family,” Travis said. “I don’t know about anyone else. Do you know anyone she might have talked to, Harlan?”

  “No one,” Harlan said.

  “She’s close to Savannah and Tobi now. But she wasn’t close to Savannah back then and Tobi wasn’t even around.” Zack sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “She’s had it really rough since before he left. She wouldn’t let anyone in the family help. Beyond minor things like babysit once in a while. Harlan and I couldn’t even get her to accept a damn job. She said she didn’t want charity from us. At least you were able to convince her to take the job for the airport.”

  Zack shrugged that off. “There’s nothing I can do besides keep trying. And hope she decides to trust me enough to tell me the real reason she won’t marry me.”

  *

  “It was annoying as hell,” Laurel said to Tobi and Savannah. “I’m going to assume, since neither of you are my overprotective, dumbass brothers, that I’m not going to have to defend myself to you.”

  “Defend yourself, no,” Savannah said. “But I’ll admit to being curious why you aren’t going to marry Zack.”

  “Ditto,” Tobi said. “Especially since you’re obviously in love with each other.”

  “No, we’re not. And that’s the problem.”

  Both Savannah and Tobi stared at her. “Oh, bullshit, Laurel,” Savannah said. “It’s crystal clear you love each other.”

  “It may be crystal clear to you,” Laurel snapped, “but it isn’t to me. Zack didn’t tell me he loved me and wanted to marry me until he found out I was pregnant.”

  “The dummy,” Tobi said. “Laurel, I’ve known he was hung up on you since I got back to town.”

  Laurel waved that aside.

  “It’s also plain that you’re completely crazy about him,” Savannah said. “So what’s the real reason?”

  Laurel sprang up and began to pace. “Lack of trust. That’s the issue.”

  “Why in the world don’t you trust Zack?” Tobi asked, obviously bewildered. “He wouldn’t be one of Travis’s best friends if Travis didn’t think he was trustworthy.”

  “It’s not Zack I don’t trust. It’s me.”

  “Why?” Savannah asked quietly.

  Laurel stopped pacing at the couch and sat down. “I have a terrible track record with men.”

  “With one man, maybe,” Savannah said. “So you’ve been divorced. Big deal. So have I.”

  “You don’t understand. I loved Stan. I trusted him. He was a good guy. At first.”

  “Until he wasn’t,” Tobi said.

  “Yes. I should have seen it coming, and I didn’t.”

  “You’re beating yourself up because you weren’t prescient?” Tobi asked. “Because you didn’t know the bastard was going to leave you destitute with two small children?”

  “No, because I didn’t see what was in front of my face.” Stan’s erratic behavior. His overspending. The lies. And the reason for it all; his drug addiction. “I didn’t see what was coming until it was t
oo late. I didn’t protect myself and the kids. I almost didn’t make it. I’m still paying off his debts. You both know that.”

  “I get that,” Tobi said. “I just don’t see what it has to do with Zack.”

  “What if he’s not what he seems?”

  “How does he seem?” Savannah asked.

  “Almost…perfect.”

  “Which is a problem because why?”

  “I can’t afford to make another mistake. I have the kids, all four of them, to think about. It wouldn’t be fair to them for me to marry him if I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do.”

  “There are no guarantees,” Savannah said.

  “I know. But I have to be sure and I’m not there yet.”

  *

  Zack was helping Cody and Katrina with their reading while Laurel finished up her work for the airport. It was a habit they’d fallen into, and a little to his surprise, Zack really enjoyed it. Cody was the only one who could actually read, and he did surprisingly well considering he was only six. But as Zack had discovered very early on, Katrina wanted to do everything her brother did. So he helped Katrina read too and while she hadn’t caught up to Cody, she was doing great. He had no experience with kids to compare them, but he thought Cody and Katrina were very smart.

  Katrina climbed into his lap and put her arms around his neck. Solemnly, she said, “Uncle Zack? I wish you were my daddy.”

  I do too. He kissed her on the nose and said, “Anyone would be lucky to have you as his daughter, Katrina.”

  “What about me?” Cody asked coming over to his other side. “I want you to be my daddy too.”

  Familiar with the kids by now, he knew this could escalate into a major fight and one that their mother would definitely have to referee. He hugged Cody, assuring him that anyone would be lucky to have Cody be his son.

  Happy now, the kids ran off to play. Zack looked up to see Laurel in the doorway, with a wistful smile on her face. “Did you finish your work?”

  “I did.” She sat beside him. “What you said to the kids was really sweet.”

  “It was true. They’re great kids. You know that.”

  “As their mother, I’m understandably biased. It’s nice to hear someone who isn’t related to them say that.”

  “I’m not exactly a disinterested bystander since I happen to be in love with their mother.”

  Laurel shut down immediately. Even though he kept hoping, she didn’t believe him. Laurel was stubbornly convinced that the only reason Zack insisted he loved her was because of the babies she carried.

  Because he hadn’t told her he loved her until she got pregnant. Travis had tried to tell her about his conversation with Zack, the one that took place well before she got pregnant. But she blew that off, with some justification. Her brother would do anything to make Laurel’s life easier and marrying Zack would definitely do that.

  Laurel didn’t want to marry him simply to make her life easier. He got that. He even appreciated that. But damn it, what was he going to have to do to convince her he really did love her?

  Chapter Fifteen

  Zack and she hadn’t made love since they found out she was having twins. Laurel suspected he was afraid to touch her now. She didn’t want to tell him that there would be a point, possibly sooner rather than later, when sex was no longer an option. There was plenty of time to worry about telling him that later.

  Laurel decided if he wouldn’t come to her she would have to seduce him. Accordingly, Travis and Tobi were having Cody and Katrina sleep over at their house.

  While Travis was doing his best not to nag Laurel about her decision not to marry Zack, she could tell it was hard for him. “Special plans?” her brother asked her when she brought the kids over to the house.

  “Yes, and no, we’re still not getting married.”

  Travis just grinned. “A guy can hope.”

  Ignoring that, she thanked him for volunteering to keep the kids.

  “We’re looking forward to it.” He tugged on a strand of her hair. “I’m glad you’re letting Harlan and me take care of the kids more often. It used to be like pulling teeth to get you to agree to it.”

  “I didn’t want to take advantage of you two. But you really don’t mind, do you?”

  “Of course not. You, Cody and Katrina are family. We love you.”

  Family. To Travis that said it all. “You and Harlan are good brothers.”

  “About time you realized that.”

  Laurel laughed. “How could I not? Tell Tobi hi and I’ll be by to pick up the kids in the morning.”

  She went home and finished prepping the lasagna but didn’t put it in the oven yet since she wasn’t sure when Zack would get there. I’ll just lie down on the couch for a minute.

  The next thing she knew Zack was kissing her awake. Opening her eyes, she smiled at him. “When did you get home?”

  “Just now. I saw Sleeping Beauty here on the couch and couldn’t resist kissing her.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged his head down for another kiss.

  “Where are the kids?” he asked.

  “With Travis.” She kissed him again, making sure to put a lot into it. One kiss led to another and soon she struggled to sit up so she could take off her top. When she started to undo her bra, Zack stopped her.

  “Are you sure we should do this?”

  “You mean make love? Have sex? Hit the sheets? Get busy?”

  He smiled. “Yes to all of the above. Is it okay?”

  She reached behind her back to undo her bra and fling it aside. “I was hoping it would be a lot better than okay.” Judging from the way Zack’s eyes darkened and the sexy smile on his lips, she felt sure it would be.

  He got up, then scooped her up in his arms and headed for the bedroom. Once there, he placed her carefully on the bed.

  “I won’t break, you know.”

  “I know.” He took off his clothes, then helped her take off the rest of hers. Except for her panties. He liked taking off her panties last, and making it slow. Kissing her skin as he bared it.

  Laurel reached for him, feeling his erection, hot, hard and ready. “I want you, Zack.”

  He reached for the bedside table drawer and pulled out a handful of condoms.

  “I can’t get any more pregnant.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that.” He tossed the condom in his hand over his shoulder and settled between her legs. He entered her slowly, gradually going deeper until he was fully sheathed inside her, but taking the weight of his upper body on his arms rather than on her.

  They moved together in a kind of harmony she’d never felt before. And when she came, a burst of intense sunlight filling her, he came too.

  A little while later, Zack rolled off of her and held her close. Her cheek against his chest, one of his hands playing with her hair. “I love you, Laurel.”

  I love you too.

  But she didn’t say it.

  *

  The following Monday morning, Zack called one of the real estate offices in town.

  “Whiskey River Realty. Megan Clark speaking. How can I help you?”

  Zack knew Megan from going to many of the same events. She was a pretty, petite brunette who had a very good rep as a Realtor, which was the main reason he’d called her. While she wasn’t a complete stranger, they didn’t know each other well.

  “Hi, Megan. It’s Zack Bannister. I’ve got a problem I’m hoping you can help me with.” He went on to explain what he wanted and made arrangements to look at a few houses that afternoon and more the following day. Then he went to the airport and buried himself in paperwork, doing his best not to think about babies and houses and the woman he loved who wouldn’t marry him. Marry him, hell, she would probably be pissed if he bought a house—assuming he found one—and wanted her and the kids to move in. But he’d worry about that later. First he had to find a house he wanted to buy.

  If Laurel had been less intractable about marrying him, he�
��d have included her in the house hunting. But talking her into moving in with him was going to be hard enough. Presenting her with a done deal would work better. He hoped.

  That afternoon, he met Megan Clark at the Whiskey River Realty office. “It’s good to see you, Zack,” she said, shaking hands. “I’ve found three we can see this afternoon, four if we have time. But I’ll have more to show you tomorrow.”

  “Great. I was afraid there weren’t that many houses that meet my requirements.” He’d told Megan he wanted four bedrooms with an office or five bedrooms so they could convert one of the bedrooms into Laurel’s office. He wanted her to have an actual office instead of having to claim a corner of her living room. She’d told him she tried working in her bedroom but it was so small it drove her crazy. Zack tried hard not to consider Laurel’s probable reaction. But damn, the woman needed help to get out of her apartment and he was the logical person to do that.

  “I’ll warn you right now, some of them need work. But since you didn’t specify that it had to be new I included a variety of houses from different eras.”

  Meaning a mix of old and new. Since he hadn’t considered what style of house he wanted, only the size, that was probably a good thing.

  “Do you have a big family, Zack?” Megan asked as she drove them to their first appointment.

  “Not yet. But I’m about to. Well,” he qualified that, “in a few months I will.”

  “Oh, you’re expecting a baby. That’s exciting.”

  “Twins. My fiancée,” he said, figuring a white lie wouldn’t hurt, “already has two kids. So I’m looking for a place that will hold all of us.”

  Megan laughed. “That is a big family. When are you getting married?” She stopped in front of a bland-looking house near the middle school.

  “As soon as I can convince her,” Zack said, deciding to confess the truth after all. “Technically, she’s not my fiancée yet.”

  “Will she want to see any of the houses?”

  Zack shrugged. “Since she has no idea I’m looking, I’d say no.”

  Megan bent to open the lock box on the door, but she wasn’t quite quick enough to hide a smile. She pushed open the door and stepped inside. “I’ll let you go through and if you have questions feel free to ask me.”