Zach felt like he’d been punched in the gut.
It was right at that moment he knew, this time, he was really in trouble. It’d taken thirty-seven years to find a woman he felt like he could actually relate to.
And, for the first time ever, he knew it was actually love.
* * * * *
Zach had stuck around and helped them decorate the tree. Well—she’d kind of insisted upon it. She’d brewed some coffee, and they’d sat and talked while Kyle played with his keyboard, after drinking some hot chocolate.
Zach was a retired pilot who’d been in the air force, but had been working part-time at Callahan Construction since the fall. He’d decided to stay in town, after he’d been asked for his input about the wounded warrior facility being built. Even though she hadn’t noticed anything other than a limp, apparently, Zach’s injuries in Iraq had prevented him from continuing with his planned military career. Although he’d been offered the opportunity to work from behind a desk in D.C., he’d decided it just wouldn’t be enough for him.
“Why?” Beth asked, as they sat beside each other on the couch.
“The work they were offering seemed pretty boring. Plus, I wanted to do something where I’d actually be getting some exercise during the day.” He hesitated. “Sometimes, I have a little trouble with my leg, and I can’t stand it when I don’t move around enough.”
“And you’ll be able to do that while you’re working at the wounded warrior facility?”
“Yeah,” Zach answered. “I’ll be scheduling and coordinating the programs, but I’ll also be interviewing some of the patients beforehand as an advisor, and asking questions about their injuries.” He grimaced. “The doctors have reassured me that these soldiers are better off talking to someone who knows what it’s all about overseas.”
“Ahh,” Beth said. “And as an assistant to kids like Kyle, you’ll also be working in the community, and getting some of that exercise that you seem to need too?”
Zach nodded. Somehow, he’d been caught up in the day by day operations of Crystal Visions, and had apparently decided he wanted to be a part of that as well. “Plus, our funding for the wounded warrior facility is somewhat limited right now, so we won’t have many patients to begin with.”
Wow—was all Beth could think. He became so animated when he began talking about the projects he was involved in. She frowned when she noticed him fidgeting with his high collar. Why wasn’t he taking off that jacket, she wondered? Maybe he wasn’t wearing a shirt underneath the fleece?
She took in a deep breath when he became silent, and asked hesitantly, “Would you like to stay for dinner?”
For some strange reason, his expression suddenly turned grim. “I really should get home,” he answered rather abruptly.
Why? She wanted to ask. But she and Kyle had been with him nearly the entire day already, and she really couldn’t expect him to give up any more of his time.
But it was a shame, she thought, she’d really felt like they’d shared a connection—for about the millionth time that day.
When Kyle began playing a tune on the keyboard, Beth and Zach’s eyes met in mutual astonishment.
Beth began, “You don’t suppose…?”
“That he could be one of those autistic kids with latent talent?” Zach grinned. “Maybe. I’ll have to give him a few lessons. I used to play a pretty mean keyboard at one time.”
When Beth lifted her brow, Zach appeared to be sheepish. “I was in a band in high school—amateur stuff, really.”
Beth grinned. “I used to sing soprano, myself.”
Zach’s smile lit up his eyes. “We’ll have to have some fun with that sometime.” He suddenly looked serious again, and, after standing up on his feet, he headed toward the door.
Beth followed him through the doorway, and stepped outside with him onto the deck.
* * * * *
“Zach?”
Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was mussed, but Zach had never met another woman who’d looked as lovely.
“Thank you so much,” she said softly.
And then he groaned, finally giving in and reaching out for her. He’d been wanting to kiss her the entire afternoon. He held her face within his hands, and stared deeply into her beautiful blue eyes. Bending down and laying his mouth over hers, Zach eased Beth gently into the kiss.
When her lips finally parted with a shudder of anticipation, his tension melted, and Zach deepened his kiss, hungrily wanting more.
Needing more…
He crushed himself against her, and her lips parted further under the force of his kiss. Her tongue met his, and explored with an urgency that sent fire shooting straight down to his toes.
Not to mention another part of his anatomy.
He suddenly broke away. And, with something akin to horror, Zach looked down at Beth in absolute disbelief. “Oh, my God, I’m so sorry,” he muttered.
Beth seemed to be dazed, with her hand covering her lips, and, when she looked back at him, clearly puzzled, her big blue eyes were shimmering with tears.
He had to get out of here—before he did anything else he’d regret.
Rushing down the steps from the porch, he made his way around the house and over to his truck. Once he’d started the engine, he laid his head against the steering wheel, waiting for the truck to warm up. Finally, he yanked down the zipper of his pullover and studied his neck grimly in the rearview mirror. Even in the dark, the lumpy scars stood out like welts crisscrossing his skin.
He shook his head dazedly, jerking the clutch into reverse.
He’d just have to avoid her, Zach decided, as he pulled the truck onto the main road. He couldn’t stand the idea of Beth ever having to look at him like this.
CHAPTER SEVEN
It was difficult after what’d happened with Zach, but Beth attempted to get wrapped up in the spirit of the season since Kyle was so excited. After purchasing a bunch of gifts for him, she hid them in the main house.
But all she kept thinking about was Zach, and that beautiful kiss they’d shared the week before. She just couldn’t understand what was going on. If he wasn’t interested in beginning a relationship, why had he kissed her? He’d run away from her that night, like a bat out of hell, and he hadn’t even said goodbye!
Could it be her age? She frowned, feeling somewhat insecure. She was probably about seven or eight years older than him. But she’d always taken pretty good care of herself, as a single mom of a kid like Kyle. After all, Kyle’s future was in her hands—his father had passed away ten years ago—even though he’d never been any help as far as Kyle was concerned. All she’d received was a little bit of court-ordered child support from Greg, since he’d moved from job to job.
It was Christmas Eve, and Beth was getting Kyle ready to make the rounds with friends and family. First, they’d go over to Luke and Kelly’s house, and then they’d have dinner with Cal and his family.
Would she see Zach tonight?
She’d actually bought him a gift—which was funny. She hadn’t even purchased a gift for Jim last Christmas. Why bother? He’d never given one to her.
When they pulled into the driveway of Luke and Kelly’s house, the first thing Kyle saw were the skaters whizzing across the ice on the bay. Apparently, the Dragonfly Pointe Inn offered an ice rink for their visitors, and even sponsored a local hockey team.
Kyle arms went whipping up and down in excitement when he stepped out from the SUV , and he suddenly began jumping in place. Since he had no verbal skills, Kyle used his hands for everything. He was even pretty skilled with sign language, and Beth had picked up a lot of the signs herself. But she and Kyle’s teachers had discovered, years ago, that pictures were the most effective way for communicating his needs more quickly.
She heard the sound of Christmas music echoing from inside, so she knocked, and entered the house through the back door. Wow—what amazing views, Beth thought, as they made their way through the doorway and into the kitche
n. Although there were windows everywhere, it was warm and cozy inside because of the roaring fire blazing in the fireplace.
“Finally—here they are!” Luke was grinning when he came up to them, carrying a heavy coat in his hand. He winked at Beth, looking down at Kyle. “I see you’re wearing heavy sweats—perfect for a first-time skater.”
Beth grinned. “Thanks for doing this Luke.”
“It’ll be fun—we’re gonna swing by the guesthouse, first, to see if we can talk Zach out of his sulking.”
Beth was taken aback. “Sulking?”
Luke stared into her eyes, somewhat intently. “You wouldn’t know anything about that—would you, Cuz?”
“Well.” She hesitated. “I’m not sure, Luke. I thought we were getting along great…”
“But?”
She knew she was blushing when she answered, “He kissed me.”
Luke started. And then he began studying her with a quizzical look in his eyes. “And you didn’t object to this—I take it?”
She answered rather breathlessly, “Not at all.”
Luke began to laugh. “Kelly was right then.” Finally, he hesitated, before he sighed. “Be patient with him, Beth. I wish I could say more—but his story isn’t mine to tell.”
Beth was startled. Story? She began to think back about the conversation she and Zach had had last week. He’d taken charge of coordinating the new wounded warrior program, he’d said. But what made Zach qualified to run the program, besides the fact that he’d served overseas? She suddenly thought, he couldn’t be—could he? Besides his leg, there weren’t any obvious problems on the outside, like there were when you looked at Luke.
“Let me guess—he’s part of the wounded warrior program, Luke? And not just coordinating it?”
After glancing nervously through the room at some of the guests, Luke nodded his agreement grimly. “So—just give him some time, Beth,” he muttered, looking back at her. “I never would’ve come around myself, when it came to Kelly, if it hadn’t been for one of my friends talking some sense into me.”
Giving Luke a rueful smile, Beth slowly nodded her acceptance. Taking in a deep breath and squaring off her shoulders, she turned to Kyle. “Are you ready to go skating?” She’d caught his attention just in time—he looked like he’d been ready to pounce on the food spread out on the buffet.
Kyle giggled, and began jumping up and down.
* * * * *
He let the blinds for the living room window drop back into place. “Well—they’re both over there Em,” Zach muttered, looking down at the dog. He found himself talking out loud to her quite a bit these days. With that perpetual look of concern on her face, she reminded him a little of his therapist. “So—do I put in an appearance, or not?”
Emily cocked her head, definitely appearing to be considering the question. She suddenly barked, and Zach had his answer.
“Alright, already—I guess I can’t hide away from her forever?”
Zach grinned, when Emily barked again. She sure was a sweet little dog. When Danielle Loughlin had talked him into adopting a dog from the no-kill shelter, once he’d decided to stay in town, Zach had envisioned himself with a lab or a golden retriever. The last thing he’d expected to do was walk out of the place with a basset hound.
When someone began knocking at the front door, he jumped rather nervously as Emily began to howl. Well—Em still had a few bad habits that he’d really like to break her out of.
He answered the door. Speak of the devil, Zach thought, when Kyle plowed in through the door. Zach peeked outside behind Kyle, holding his breath.
“Just me,” Luke said, appearing from around the corner of the house. Studying Zach intently, Luke grinned, and cocked a brow. When Luke’s black lab, Hawk, came barreling down the path, Emily ran outside through the doorway to greet him.
“He looks bigger every time I see him,” Zach said, grinning.
“Yeah,” Luke muttered. “That’s the same thing I just said to Kel.”
“Well—don’t just stand there—get in here.” Zach wasn’t really sure who he was talking to when he said it. But, inwardly, he was scolding himself. Just because Beth wasn’t with Kyle—why was he so disappointed?
Because he’d never been this infatuated with a woman before in his life—that’s why!
Emily scrambled inside through the doorway, with Hawk on her heels, and Luke strolled into the living room behind Hawk.
When Hawk began licking Kyle’s hands, Kyle dropped down onto the floor, so Emily could climb into his lap. Both Hawk and Emily began licking his face, and Kyle started giggling madly.
Zach rolled his eyes upward. “And you guys are here because…?”
Luke was laughing hard, and Zach couldn’t blame him. His living room had been turned into a three-ring circus—just like that.
“Dude—get yourself ready. We’re goin’ skatin’!”
Zach stared down at Luke’s prosthetic leg. “This ought to be interesting,” he muttered dryly.
Luke just laughed harder.
* * * * *
Beth was enjoying herself with Kelly and Luke’s friends, she decided, as she sipped on some wine, and loaded up a plate with chips and dip. It was nice to get a little time away from Kyle—even though that’d all change in a little over a week. She’d take up her accounting duties at Callahan Construction while Kyle went to school. The best thing of all about her job? The hours were flexible. If Beth finished what she needed to do for the day—she could leave, according to Kelly—who’d been handling the family’s accounts even before she’d attended college.
Nearly forty-five minutes later, Beth started thinking she should get Kyle over to Cal and Jenny’s for dinner soon. Kelly must’ve noticed Beth glance at her watch, because she walked down the hallway and opened the closet. She pulled out Beth’s coat along with her own.
Beth had her camera ready when she walked down the path, towards the lake, with Kelly.
The first thing Beth noticed was Luke wobbling and laughing, as he struggled to stand upright.
Kelly gasped, as soon as she noticed Luke. Covering her mouth, in what appeared to be, horror, she ran out onto the ice to steady Luke.
Beth grinned. What would it be like to have a guy look at her like that? And then her eyes moved over to the handsome man standing beside Luke.
Zach! He was grinning too. And he was also holding onto Kyle’s hand, so Kyle wouldn’t slip on the ice in his skates. Lifting up her camera, she snapped a quick shot.
Zach was looking a little uncertain when Beth approached them, and asked, “How’s he been behaving?”
Although he appeared to be worn out, Kyle seemed happy to see her.
“Good,” Zach answered softly.
“We probably need to get over to Cal’s pretty soon, for our Christmas Eve dinner.”
Zach motioned at Kyle with his head—he and Zach already seemed to have their own way of communicating—and Kyle hobbled slowly across the ice. Zach and Beth followed Kyle toward the blazing bonfire, entrenched in a pit, near the edge of the beach. Kyle sat down on a bench, and began fumbling with the laces of his skates, so Zach bent down and began to untie them. Once he saw Zach was finished, Kyle pulled his boots out from underneath the bench and switched them out for the skates on his own.
Zach seemed to be searching for something to say, so Beth took up the slack. “Kyle picked out a little something for you for Christmas.”
Zach seemed surprised, but he grinned at Kyle.
“I’ve got it in my van.”
Zach cleared his throat. “Have you got all of your stuff from inside the house?”
Beth nodded.
“I’ll walk you to your van, then.”
Kyle stood up, and, soon, they were hiking up the path from the beach, and strolling around the house.
“God, what a beautiful place this would be to live,” Beth said, looking at Zach.
He finally smiled. “Your place isn’t so bad either.”
She grinned. “Yeah—I’m pretty excited to be living beside the lake.”
He hesitated. “I said something to Cal about renting your house.”
Beth was surprised—she’d assumed…well, she’d been trying hard not to think about it one way or the other.
They were standing near the van, and Zach reached over to the handle, and slid open the back door for Kyle. After Kyle was settled inside, Zach turned to Beth, looking rather uncomfortable. “About that kiss…”
She covered his mouth with her hand. “We’re not going to talk about that right now,” Beth said firmly. “Since you’re not going to tell me, what I really want to hear, don’t say anything else.” Beth reached for the front door handle, and pulled open the door. “Until you’re ready to tell me something I do want to hear.”
Zach looked startled.
Grinning, she reached inside of the SUV and pulled out a gift bag. “This is for you,” she said, handing it over.
And then she winked, before stepping inside the van.
Zach just stood and stared as she started up the engine and pulled the SUV onto the road.
Beth grinned, when she peeked at him through the rearview mirror. Zach was studying the festive fleece pullover, along with the matching doggie sweater, that he’d pulled out from the bag. And he appeared to be laughing loudly.
* * * * *
It was Christmas day, and after Zach had taken Emily for a short walk along the snowy beach, he’d returned her home. Zach was strolling down the road to the Dragonfly Pointe Inn for his Christmas dinner. Although Kelly and Luke had invited him over the Callahan’s, he didn’t want to intrude on their family Christmas.
Zach looked down at the colorful fleece he was wearing and grinned. Emily had also loved her winter coat. The bright blue and gold colors of the fleece had kind of reminded him of the clothes he’d worn back in high school. Zach suddenly remembered that he and his dad had had some pretty big arguments about the way he’d dressed.
Of course, that’d all changed once Zach had enlisted—and he and his dad had become closer through the years. His father was an air force colonel, who handled some sensitive matters for the government, and now he was stationed and living in Europe with Zach’s mom. Zach made a mental note to give them a call, to wish them Merry Christmas, as soon as he returned home today, because of the difference in the time zones.
Two Hearts Unspoken (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Book 2) Page 5