Never Expected You

by Jody Holford

  She sank the next one but said nothing, lined up her next shot, and sank that one, too. When she missed the third, she came to stand in front of him.

  “What did you miss about Brockton?”

  “That’s a good question. Other than my mom, I guess, not a lot. Things weren’t easy growing up, but I had some good memories here. When Travis died, I needed space from them, but now, I can drive by places we used to hang out, like Pops or the arcade, and it doesn’t bring shit up. I never felt like I belonged when I was younger, and now that I’m older, I’ve realized I’m the only one who gets to decide where I land. Besides, you know your dad mattered to me.”

  That stupid puppy dog look crossed her face again. “That’s sweet.”

  “Yeah. I’m like cotton candy. Ask your next question.”

  Stella snorted a laugh and patted his chest. “I know you can’t build right now, but you knew you were coming home so why didn’t you vacate your rental property?”

  “Tired of living with me?”

  She blanched. “What? No. I just wondered.”

  Zach shrugged. “Honestly, I thought I’d bunk at my mom’s for a bit. Hadn’t counted on her shacking up with Shane.”

  “Your turn to answer,” he said, sinking a shot. He grinned and leaned on the table.

  With her hand, she gestured for him to get on with it. He had so many things he wanted to ask her but knew to keep it light. They were getting to a good place and he planned on staying there.

  “When’s the last time someone did something for you for no reason other than the fact that you deserve it?”

  Those dark eyebrows drew closer to each other, like he’d stumped her. In that moment, he decided he wanted to be the answer to the question. He wanted to be the one who took the weight off her shoulders and put the smile on her face. She had a list of reasons why they couldn’t and shouldn’t, but he could wait. He could show her that, just like he’d been right about them being good professional partners, they could have more. A whole hell of a lot more. Zach knew how to fight for what he wanted and right now, he couldn’t think of one thing he’d ever wanted more than Stella Lane.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Finishing up the paperwork on the last couple of patients he’d seen that day, he filed them and stretched long and hard. He liked the quiet of the clinic. Things were good.

  Checking the clock on the wall, he decided there was plenty of daylight left to do some of the things that needed to be done. Stella wouldn’t be back for a bit and he had a surprise he hoped she’d like. He’d offered to do the farm visits for her, but she seemed to like them, which worked in his favor as he liked the clinic.

  Zach smiled as he headed for the house to change. He knew she’d mind him taking charge—the woman was too stubborn to ask for anything and took offense when someone did something for her.

  “Easier to ask for forgiveness,” he muttered.

  He made a quick stop to visit C.C. before gathering his supplies and getting started. Opening the doors to the clinic to let the air in, he spread the tarp and began painting the walls. He wasn’t sure how long he had, but he figured the farm visits often took a big chunk of time. She’d left midafternoon, and he’d boxed up everything in the office in between patients with Dexter’s help. His gut clenched when he heard tires on gravel. Leaving the roller in the tray, he went out to the porch of the clinic.

  A newer model, red Toyota parked, and Zach hoped like hell he didn’t have a drop-in patient. Things had been getting better in that regard, but people still treated Stella’s clinic like a twenty-four hour drop-in center. A blond woman—attractive and probably about his age—got out of her car. Long legs and high hair, she was the kind of woman who knew she was attractive but pretended she didn’t. She didn’t have an animal with her that he could see.

  “Help you?” Zach asked.

  She eyed him up-and-down before landing on his face. Before Stella, that kind of look would have at least stirred his blood. Now? Nothing. He could appreciate her looks and that was it. Shit. Your life is going to be split down the middle between “before Stella” and after. He sincerely hoped the after didn’t wreck him.

  He came down the steps as she approached and introduced herself. “Hi. I’m Cindy Harmen. I’m looking for Doctor Lane or Doctor Mason.”

  “I’m Zach Mason,” he said, reaching out a hand, belatedly realizing it had paint on it. He pulled the rag from the back pocket of his jeans and wiped his hand. She smiled and shook it without reservation.

  “Nice to meet you. I saw on your website that you’ve got space to rent for horses.”

  “We do.” He did a mental victory pump. He’d told Stella the website would help them.

  “I’m not happy with the place I’m boarding Clover, and I’ve just moved to Brockton so even if I was, I was hoping to bring her closer. No sense having a horse if you need to drive an hour to ride her, right?”

  He glanced back at the clinic. “I agree. Uh, I can show you the space. Why don’t you come check it out? You can meet Chocolate Chip. That’s Doc Lane’s horse. We have two other horses coming on Saturday.”

  “What a cute name. Are you sure? It seems like I caught you at a bad time.”

  Zach smiled. There was no bad time to improve cash flow. “Just let me shut the door, and I’ll walk you down.”

  He didn’t want Stella coming home and going into the clinic. Since the workday was technically over, he hoped she’d just head to the house. But not if she saw the door wide open. Joining Cindy, he gestured to the path that led to the barn.

  She grinned. “Are you new to the area?”

  The gravel crunched under their feet. Cindy’s shoes were better suited to a shopping mall than rugged terrain, but they went well with the short shorts and sleek tank top.

  “I’m not actually. I grew up here. I joined the army right after high school, and I’ve been gone for a while.”

  When they reached the barn, she paused and looked up at him. “You don’t look familiar.”

  He needed a shirt that said it for him. “I’ve changed I guess.” Or maybe he just wasn’t on the outside looking in anymore. No more hiding in the shadows.

  She inched a bit closer. “Change can be good.”

  Zach stepped back and gestured for her to go ahead of him. She nearly tiptoed her way over the ground, which made him wonder how much time she actually spent in barns. But her reaction to the horse was genuine, and even if he couldn’t see it, the horse would have been able to tell.

  “Oh, you’re gorgeous. Hello, Chocolate Chip. I’m Cindy. You’re a beauty.”

  Chocolate Chip nuzzled her hand while Zach moved around to the other side of them. “Tell me about your horse,” Zach said. Putting one foot on the slatted fence, he watched the interaction of horse and human. Animals could tell things people couldn’t.

  “She’s just like this girl. American Quarter horse, but her coloring is different. My Clover is honey colored. Gorgeous mane. Oh, yours is pretty, too,” she assured C.C., earning a nuzzle.

  “She friendly? C.C.’s been lonely and could use a pal.”

  Cindy leaned on the rail and looked over at Zach. “She’s a sweetheart. I always think animals need company as badly as we humans do.”

  “I agree.” And like animals, Zach trusted his instincts. “We’d be happy to board Clover here for you if you like the facility. I’m working on the stalls now, but the barn is in good shape. And Stella or I are around, so you know she’ll have easy access to a vet. Stella mentioned opening up her back fields some, making more room to ride.”

  “That sounds perfect,” Cindy said, beaming at him.

  “Let’s head up to the clinic. We’ve got some paperwork there.”

  The sun was slipping behind the mountains when they walked back to the clinic. He pulled his keys from his pocket as they chatted.

  “Are you happy to be home?” Cindy asked.

  “Very. It’s nice to be back. Feels different, that’s for sure,
” Zach said, letting them into the clinic.

  “All your old friends have grown up?” She said it in a teasing tone.

  Zach went behind the counter to grab the paperwork he’d made up himself. The door to Stella’s dad’s office stood open so he closed it. He’d all but finished by the time Cindy showed, but he still needed to put away the supplies. Hopefully the open window in the office would keep most of the paint scent from invading the reception area. It wasn’t too bad right now. Zach refocused, realizing she’d asked him a question.

  “Not so much. I didn’t have many friends growing up so in some ways, Brockton is new to me, too. Adult perspective and all that.”

  “Being a teenager sucks,” Cindy said. She followed the statement with a loud laugh.

  Zach couldn’t disagree, so he just smiled and grabbed a pen.

  “Well, since you’re an old kind of new here and I’m brand new here, maybe you’d like to join me for this work thing I have to attend in a couple of weeks?” Cindy leaned both arms on the countertop as Zach slid the contract over to her.

  Maybe he needed help getting his mind off Stella. Either way, he didn’t want to be rude, so he asked, “What sort of work do you do? And what sort of thing?”

  “I’m a legal secretary for Maxwell and Hawk. I guess they do a big event in the fall to raise money for charity. A lot of the local businesses take part. There’s a dinner and silent auction at Weaver Hall. I’m pretty sure there’s dancing, too, but I won’t ask that much of you,” she said.

  Stella hadn’t mentioned anything, but then, she hadn’t done a great job of aligning herself with other businesses. She’d been too busy. That’s where he came in.

  Mingling and meeting with other local business owners? That could only work in favor of the clinic. Stella liked keeping a low profile, but he’d done that for most of his youth and had no reason, not anymore, to hide in the shadows. The clinic could use some cross promotion. “You know, that sounds great. Is it too late to contribute to the silent auction? Stella and I can both offer a first check up and we can put together a gift basket as well.”

  She’d started filling out the paperwork, and when she glanced up at him, her eyes slightly hooded, she held his gaze. The sultry look had the opposite effect of what he knew she was going for, and he wondered how to tell her it was less of a date and more of an opportunity. Because that doesn’t sound rude, you jackass? He cleared his throat. “Stella and I have been looking for ways to further promote the clinic and our services.”

  She continued to smile as if he hadn’t just spelled it out for her. Hadn’t he? “My bosses would love that. I’ve kind of walked right into having to finish off the organization of that part,” she said.

  He stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest, hoping he still looked friendly enough. The way she eyed his arms, she didn’t take that the right way either. “Okay, I’ll put something together and drop it by next week?”

  “Sure. It’s two Saturdays from now.” She hesitated. “But we could always get together before that.”

  The clinic door opened, saving Zach from answering. Stella looked from Zach to Cindy and back again. She was dressed casually, her hair soft around her face, her purse slung over her chest, drawing his eye to the way the strap intersected her breasts. Dammit. Insta-spark. Every single time. He’d waited ten years to come home and make a place for himself. Patience was definitely one of his virtues. And the woman looking at him was worth every damn drop of energy he possessed.

  “Hey. Late appointment?” Stella asked, smiling at both of them as she walked to the counter.

  “Actually, Cindy here is filling out the paperwork to board her quarter horse, Clover, with us.”

  Stella’s eyes lit up and Zach’s stupid heart tripped like an overexcited puppy. “That’s fantastic. Have you met Chocolate Chip? Oh. I’m sorry. I’m Stella Lane.”

  Cindy shook Stella’s extended hand. “Yes. She’s beautiful. So is your property.”

  “Thanks. It’s been in my family since always. What’s your last name?”

  “Harmen. I’m new to Brockton.”

  Stella walked behind the counter and the scent of her hair wrapped around him. His muscles tensed. Pulling her purse off and setting it on the counter, she took the paperwork and looked over it. Lifting her head, her brows scrunched, and she looked around. Zach’s heart hammered, and he hoped like hell she didn’t go into the office right this second. He did not want to do this with an audience. Stella looked back at the papers, and he released a pent-up breath.

  “You have transport arranged?” Stella asked. Zach couldn’t take his eyes off her and, like she sensed him, her eyes darted his way. She looked…out of sorts.

  “I do. Zach said the others are coming Saturday?” Cindy asked.

  Stella kept her focus on the other woman, ignoring Zach. Did she know he could read her? Even from a simple glance?

  “They are. Well, this is a nice surprise to my evening. Chocolate Chip is lonely, and Zach is certain this is the cure,” Stella said, picking up her purse again.

  “I’m glad Clover won’t be alone.”

  Stella walked around the counter. “It was nice to meet you. I’ll let you two finish up.”

  “I’ll be home in just a bit,” Zach said. He knew how it sounded and didn’t even know why he’d said it in just that way, but he needed Stella to know he could be trusted. Even if she didn’t want him like that, he wouldn’t just jump on the next opportunity. She held his gaze, quietly assessing him. When he broke eye contact to look at Cindy, she looked confused and he felt like a bastard.

  Stella surprised him by smoothing the awkward tension pressing in on them. “Zach rents the upstairs of my home.” Was she giving him an out? He didn’t want it. Cindy seemed appeased. She pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh, okay. Not what I thought you meant.” She looked at Zach. “I don’t need to start my social life in a new town by asking out another woman’s man.”

  Fuck. He watched Stella’s shields go up. Stella’s brows rose. “You’re in luck. Zach is definitely not mine.”

  Staring at her, he wanted to shout, “I want to be,” but knew she’d just close up more. “We’re colleagues,” Stella added.

  Her words were true, but they rubbed against his skin like sandpaper. Why did she expect everyone—him—to let her down? “As your colleague, I accepted an invitation on our behalf to a charity event a couple of weeks from now.”

  Cindy’s eyes volleyed back and forth between them and he grimaced. This wasn’t fair to her. He smiled in her direction. “I’ll talk to Stella about the gift basket.”

  Silence smothered him. He almost laughed, thinking that in high school, he’d never had this sort of problem. He and Trav used to lament the fact that they spent most weekend nights on their gaming systems. Away from the fray. If Travis could see him now, trying to placate two women, his friend would laugh his ass off. God, he missed him. Blinking, Zach tried to wrap things up.

  “Anyway, let’s get this finished,” he said to Cindy, hoping his voice was still smooth and friendly.

  Stella put a hand on the door. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You, too,” Cindy said, but her smile wasn’t even close to what she’d started with. Zach felt like a complete dick. Cindy’s hand scrawled across the paperwork and the only sound in the room was their breathing and the pen scratching.

  “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot with the invite. I’m not usually so forward,” Cindy said, not looking at him.

  “You didn’t. I’m sorry, I was accepting on behalf of the business. I didn’t actually realize you were asking me on a date.” Awkward.

  She glanced up. “And if you’d realized?”

  He hated the words he knew he had to say, but they were kinder than the truth. “We’re kind of burning the candle at both ends trying to revamp the clinic. Things are more than hectic, so dating hasn’t really been on my agenda.” Not since his eyes had latched onto Stella that first day.
<
br />   Cindy nodded. “Fair enough. Sorry for the mix-up. But, you’re still welcome to come with me. For the clinic.”

  He smiled. “I’d really like that. Thank you.”

  She finished up in silence and Zach didn’t try to strike up any further conversation. This wasn’t his forte. While dating hadn’t been on his agenda, neither had falling for anyone, and he had the uncomfortable feeling that his heart had already accepted what his brain wouldn’t. Stella Lane was the woman he wanted. When Cindy left, he stood on the gravel drive, waving and then looked back at the farmhouse. Was she pissed? Did she think he was going out with Cindy because he was attracted? Did she care or was she relieved? Now you sound like a chick. Because he didn’t want to face her while his thoughts were so unsteady, Zach decided to finish up in the office and hope for the best. Warmth suffused him when he realized he could give them both space, but at the end of the day, he’d still be going to bed under the same roof. She’d let him into her life, and now he needed her in his. He just needed to show her that the past didn’t have to predict the future. As soon as he cleaned up a bit.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Stella paced the living room then stopped when she realized what she was doing. Soda whined from her spot by the fireplace and she kneeled to pet her.

  “Sorry, girl. Everything is fine.” And it was. She’d wrapped up the farm visits and had been looking forward to coming home, putting on some cozy clothes, and maybe watching something on Netflix. Maybe seeing if Zach wanted to join her. Nerves skittered up her skin and she rose, almost letting herself pace again. She didn’t want to date Zach, so what did she care if someone else did?

  “You don’t.” But the air in the clinic had felt ripe with tension. It wasn’t hard to see that Cindy was eyeing Zach in a way that shouted she was interested. She couldn’t get a read on Zach though. He’d seemed almost nervous and then when Cindy had made the comment about him being Stella’s man, he’d stiffened at Stella’s response.