After going all day without food, I was ready to eat anywhere. “Outside is fine.”
“Let me get the fire pit going then I’ll come get you. I made chili.”
“Did you put beans in it?” I was a tad picky about my food.
“I was going to.” He rolled his eyes. “But I won’t.”
“Thanks.”
Shaking his head, he walked out the back door.
I poked at the pink patches on my arms. The anti-itch medicine helped a little, but between the pain and itching, I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to sleep tonight.
While Zach banged around in the kitchen and carried stuff outside, I sat helpless.
A few minutes later, he walked up. “You know the drill.”
I looped my arms around his neck, and he lifted me off the couch.
Stopping next to a lounge chair, he looked down at me. “Are we going to talk about what I’ll know that you don’t want me to know? Or perhaps I already know it but haven’t said anything. Did you think of that?”
My body tensed. Even the threat of death wouldn’t make me want to tell Zach that I’d spied on his breakup. There was no way he could know, right?
Laugh lines appeared near his eyes. “Seems like you aren’t ready for that conversation. We can save it for later. What did your friend say about all this?” Firelight reflected in his green eyes.
It could’ve been arctic temperatures outside, and I wouldn’t have noticed. “I thought we agreed we wouldn’t tell a soul.”
“Good.” He winked. “You passed the test.” Gently, he nestled me into the chair. “I’ll grab you a blanket and bring you a bowl of chili. Want cheese on it?”
Are you as hot as pavement on an August day in Texas? “Sure. That’d be great.”
Lounge chairs circled a fire pit that was surrounded by a limestone wall. Off to the right, there was a full outdoor kitchen with a grill and sink. To the left, was a large patio table and eight chairs.
Zach dropped a blanket near my feet and handed me a bowl.
“Your house is nice, but this patio is amazing.”
“I come out here and have coffee in the morning most days, and the view from here as the sun creeps up into the sky is amazing.” His spoon clinked against the side of his bowl. “I’m happy I found this house.”
I pulled the blanket up then started in on the chili. “So good. Thank you. I haven’t had anything but coffee all day.”
“You shouldn’t do that. It’s not good for you.” Even trying to be nice, he could be seriously annoying.
“How ’bout we skip the telling-me-what-to-do part.”
He chuckled.
The sound of the crackling fire relaxed me as I filled my tummy.
“How’s the photography business?”
I stopped eating long enough to answer. “It’s going really well. I’m lucky to get paid for doing what I love.”
“You sure paid for it today.” He set his bowl aside and leaned back in his chair.
“Very funny. I don’t know why y’all enjoy camping so much. It wasn’t all that fun.” I finished my last bite.
“We stay away from the poison oak and cactus. You managed to find every dangerous thing except a rattlesnake, and it’s too cold for them right now.” He picked up the bowls. “More?”
“No. It was good though.” I caught his arm as he stepped away. “Will you bring me my camera?”
“Yep.” Moments later, he set the camera bag in my lap then walked off into the shadows.
By the time he returned, my camera was ready. When he tossed logs on the fire, I pushed down on the shutter and captured a series of pictures of the sparks dancing in the air. And as he poked at the fire, shoving the logs into place, I took pictures of his hands.
He dropped back into his chair and pulled a bag and a cooler closer to him. “Get anything good?”
“I think so. I’ll know better when I see it on a bigger screen.”
“Moon pie?” Zach held one out to me.
“Where did you find this? I haven’t had these in ages.” Once upon a time, Moon Pies were my favorite dessert. “All I need now is an RC Cola.”
He leaned back and pulled one out of the cooler. “Here you go.”
“Do you live your life prepared to act out lines of a country song?” I pinched off a bite, reminding myself to eat slowly.
“You have me all figured out.” He pulled another two Moon Pies out of his bag of goodies. “There’s another one here when you finish.”
“Thanks.” Starting out rotten, the evening had turned around. Completely. Granted, my arms itched; I had bandages and ointment on my side; and my ankle was twice its size, but getting this chance to hang out with Zach was totally worth it.
“What aren’t you going to bring up?” He had to go and ruin the night.
“What part of not bringing it up confuses you?” I popped the last bite in my mouth then reached for the other Moon Pie.
One side of his mouth lifted in a grin. “All right then. If I bring it up, then can we talk about it?”
“Sure.” I felt safe letting him have his fun. After tearing away the plastic wrapper, I bit into my second helping of dessert. “Don’t pull out any more of these. I don’t care how many you have stashed in that bag.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He wandered inside then reappeared with a guitar. For a few minutes, he strummed, and music danced in the breeze. “I’m a little surprised you haven’t mentioned my failed engagement.”
I gasped, and a small chunk of cookie lodged in my windpipe. Trying to get air into my lungs, my mouth gaped open. I’m sure it was a great look.
Zach still had his gaze fixed on the fire.
Panicked, I kicked his chair and waved my arms.
He raised his head, and in a second, he had his arms around me, doing the Heimlich.
My piece of Moon Pie went flying and landed in the fire pit. I inhaled a welcome lungful of air. “Thank you.” Chest heaving, I relaxed into his arms.
He pulled away like I was on fire. “It was because of your gasp.”
“Thank you, Einstein. Yes, I know why I choked.” I tossed the last little bit of Moon Pie into the fire. They were as dangerous as camping.
He sat on the edge of his chair and leaned toward me. “You okay?”
I nodded and washed down the bitter taste of embarrassment with my RC Cola.
He dragged his fingers through his hair. “I meant that I knew you saw the argument because of your gasp. Every time Hank and I did anything remotely dangerous—”
“Which was all the time.” Now that my heart wasn’t beating like a drum solo at a rock concert, I realized how much pain accompanied every breath.
He rested his elbows on his knees. “Anyway, I’ve heard that gasp enough times to recognize it. Besides, I knew you lived there, and I recognized your ring tone. Well-timed by the way. It was true. She knew how to bring me down. Be right back.” He ran inside and returned with a bottle of over-the-counter pain pills. “You’ll probably need those. I might’ve bruised a rib. And I’m sorry about that.”
I reached for the bottle, trying not to touch his fingers in the exchange. “I’m sorry about your breakup.”
“I was too for a while.” With a small stick, he scratched at the rock wall around the fire pit. “But it’s for the best. We weren’t good for each other.”
“Still. The way she did it was a tad heartless.”
“Just a bit.” He dropped the stick and went back to playing the guitar.
For several minutes, the crickets and cicadas harmonized with his music, and I contemplated how it might feel to trail my fingers through the short hairs at the nape of his neck. In any other scenario, I’d love sharing a moment like this with a gorgeous hunk of a man while he played the guitar. Romantic was the word to describe it. Except, this was Zach. And with Zach, I was not supposed to feel this way. There were rules.
After setting the guitar aside, he stood and dusted off his backside. Intentional
ly not watching his hands, I stared at the fire.
“You ready for bed? It’s been one heck of a day.”
“Yeah.” I dutifully wrapped my arms around his neck when he leaned down. “Thanks for everything today. And especially for not letting me die a bit ago.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you, but I would’ve broken a rib if that was required to keep you alive. In my line of work, if I showed up and found a dead woman on the back porch and she was in the shape you’re in, I’d haul the guy in for battery and possibly murder. I didn’t want that to be me.”
“How considerate of you.” I grinned as he sat me down, hoping it hid my wince. “Goodnight.”
He nodded as he walked away. What did he have against saying goodnight? The lights switched off one by one. In the dark, the house had a different feel.
When a black shadow approached, I took a guess that it was Zach. “Did you forget something?”
“Nope. Just rolling out my sleeping bag.”
I reached out and grabbed his arm. “No . . . you can’t sleep on the floor.” Next to me.
“Considering you can’t walk and can barely breathe without pain, I figured you might need someone close. And sleeping on the living room floor seemed a better alternative than suggesting we go into one of the bedrooms.”
“You’re right. Thank you.” What else could I say?
In the dark, neither of us moved for a full second.
“Carrot.”
My stomach felt like someone had pumped it full of pop rocks and poured soda on top. “Yes?”
“You ever going to let go of my arm?” Even in the dark, his patronizing grin was obvious. The words sounded different whenever he smiled that way.
I yanked my hand back. So much for not embarrassing myself. Again.
Chapter 5
Was it possible for a bladder to burst? I was going to find out if I lay here any longer.
On the floor, Zach was sprawled on his stomach, his arms crossed under his head. And he was snoring, which meant he wouldn’t snap at me about staying put. I’d already overdosed on embarrassment.
I sat up and untangled myself from the covers. Clenching my jaw and gripping the couch, I rose, putting weight on my ankle. Then I dropped back onto the sofa. That wasn’t going to work.
My full bladder didn’t allow for clear thinking or brilliant ideas. I’d have to endure the pain.
About to shove myself up, I stopped when his snoring silenced. He turned his head toward the couch. Were his eyes still closed?
“Stay put. What do you need? I’ll get it.” He blinked, as if trying to force his eyes open.
“Unless you’ve figured out some magical way to go to the bathroom for me, that won’t work.” I leaned forward, determined not to scream when I stood.
“I’ll carry you.” He scrubbed his face.
“No. Go to sleep. I’ll figure it out.” I was tired of being carried, which surprised even me. After a few steps, I dropped to the floor and crawled the rest of the way to the bathroom. The method wasn’t pretty, but it was functional.
When I crawled back out, Zach sat beside the sofa, shaking his head. “It would’ve been easier and faster if I’d carried you.” He held out his hand when I stopped in front of the sofa.
“You’ve done enough of that.” Using his hand, I maneuvered my way back onto the cushions. “But thank you for being sweet.”
He nodded and stood. “I need a snack. Want anything?”
“What kind of snack?”
“Why don’t I make us a batch of my snackalicious popcorn?” He padded off to the kitchen in his bare feet.
Pans clinked and rattled, and I waited. Snacking at two in the morning was crazy. The whole day had been nuts. I’d never spent so much time alone with Zach, and seeing this other side of him wasn’t doing great things for my resolve to keep him on the never list.
Carrying a large bowl, he nodded for me to scooch over then dropped down beside me. “This is a secret recipe. It cannot be shared. Promise?”
I crossed my heart.
“My favorite late-night snack. It’s a mix of popcorn, M&M’s, mini marshmallows, caramel bits—the kind from the baking aisle—white chocolate chips, and cashews. It’s important that you get popcorn that doesn’t just half pop and leave lots of kernels. Then it’s no fun to eat.” He scooped some into a cup and handed it to me. “Enjoy.”
“Do you always have this stuff in your pantry?”
“I keep this stuff in my pantry so I can make this delicious snack whenever I want.” A handful disappeared into his mouth, and he grinned. “You ever going to try it? Oh, the good stuff sinks to the bottom. That’s why I use a cup.”
Instead of picking at it one piece at a time, I followed his lead and grabbed a handful. I fell in love. Again. “Oh my gosh. How have I lived until now without this? It’s amazing.”
“Told you.” He tossed an M&M in the air and then caught it in his mouth. “How’s your pain? Need more meds?”
“Probably not a bad idea.”
“If the pain in your chest doesn’t start to ease, we’ll need to get you x-rayed. I’m hoping I didn’t crack a rib.”
I launched a puff of popcorn into the air and tried to catch it.
Zach howled with laughter when it flew down my pajama shirt. “I wonder if I could do that.” He tossed a marshmallow at me.
“Behave.” I shook the bottom of my shirt until the popcorn fell out. “And I think my ribs are okay. But laughing isn’t helping, so stop being funny.”
He tousled my curls. “You’re too funny. Mind if I turn something on?”
“That’s fine. I’m not sleeping until this bowl is empty anyway.” I refilled my cup.
After a few clicks of the remote, a show started. “Mandalorian. I haven’t seen the latest episode. Have you been watching it?”
“Never heard of it.” Based on the intro playing out on the screen, it had something to do with Star Wars.
“Then we’ll start with episode one.” He clicked play.
With him at one end of the sofa and me at the other, we watched the show.
The popcorn lasted through one and a half episodes.
When the second episode ended, I was willing to watch another, but Zach yawned.
“We’ll watch more tomorrow. I’m tired.” He picked up the empty bowl. “I can’t believe your brother hasn’t introduced you to that show.”
I snuggled back under the blanket. “We didn’t exactly spend a lot of time together until he moved back to town after the Montana thing.”
“He hasn’t been the same since the divorce.”
“You’re right. He’s been different. Now he wants to get together for dinner, spend holidays together, and stuff like that. I don’t mind, but I’m worried about him.”
“We’ll have to be intentional about keeping him busy.” Zach switched off the lights.
In the dark, I rolled onto my side and watched him settle back into place. “Zach.”
“Yes?”
I felt like an eighth grader all over again. “This was fun.”
“It was. And it’s probably best not to talk about this part to your brother. Night, Carrot.”
“Goodnight.”
Did saying we shouldn’t tell my brother imply anything about what tonight meant to Zach? Was his heart fluttering like mine?
Usually I was up early enough to greet the sun. But after the day I’d had and the middle-of-the-night snacking, I slept in.
Voices in the kitchen woke me.
“I’m not sure how I feel about you having my sister spend the night. I know you’re lonely after your fiancée dumped you, but this is sinking pretty low.”
“Stop it, Hank. Nothing happened. It’s Haley. She’s practically—” Zach didn’t finish his sentence, but I knew what was going to fill in the blank.
“Practically what?” Hank was almost shouting.
“She’s just Carrot, okay?”
Just Carrot.
All m
y warm fuzzies turned to ice. I stood, and gritting my teeth, I hobbled to the bathroom. Zach could keep Hank company for Thanksgiving. I wanted to go home.
Getting dressed was a small chore, but I managed. With the suitcase dangling from my uninjured hand, I opened the bathroom door.
Zach blocked my exit. “You’re up.”
“Yep. I think I’m going to head on home. But I’ll call for a ride.”
He glanced over his shoulder and rested his hands on the door frame. “You don’t need to run away. He knows nothing happened.”
“Why would anyone think something happened? Everyone knows sisters never date their brother’s friends.” I ducked under his arm but stopped when I felt a tug on my hair. “What?”
“Stay.”
“Why? If I leave, the two of you can go back out to your campsite and fish until you catch your dinner.” I didn’t know how to act like his words didn’t hurt.
Zach pinched his lips together. “Because your brother is excited about spending Thanksgiving with his family. That’s you and me, Carrot. Both of us.”
I limped down the hall. “I’ll see how the day goes.” The front door closed, and I turned to face Zach. “Hank’s leaving?”
“Left to pick up the food. He ordered sides. We’re cooking the turkey.” Zach looked down at my ankle. “It’s swelling again.”
“So that’s what he had planned all along.” I kept a hand on the wall and hopped a few steps.
“We didn’t expect you to cook for us.” Zach positioned himself at the end of the wall and put his arm out. “I’ll get you ice, and you can elevate it.”
I set the suitcase down. Clutching his arm, I leaned into him more than was appropriate after hearing what he’d said to Hank. “I think I’d like to sit out on the patio.”
Zach nodded.
“Thanks for setting things straight with Hank.”
“For someone who had no problem letting me spend the night in a tent with you, he sure got weird about you being here.”
I laughed then winced.
“Sorry about that. Ribs still hurt?”
“A little. Can we stop for a second?” Hopping jostled every muscle, and my whole body was sore for one reason or another. I felt like the coyote after he’d failed to catch the roadrunner a hundred times or more.
One Guy I'd Never Date Page 3