Inquisition it was, then.“What I’ve seen of it so far.”
“What’s your favorite spot?”
“Chrissy!”For the first time since he’d met Tilly, he heard anger in her voice.“Leave him alone.Don’t you have something to do at the farm?Take Ranger for a ride?Kiss Ryder?”
It looked as though Chrissy was going to dig her heels in and stay, but she must have seen something in Tilly’s face because she stood and smiled at him.“Tilly’s right.I have to go.It was good to meet you.If you’re not doing anything for Thanksgiving, you’re more than welcome to join us.”
Zach stood as well.“Thank you for the invite, but I’ll be working.It was good to meet you too.”He held out his hand and Chrissy took it.There was not one iota of reaction from his body at the touch.Unlike the way his body seemed to wake up the moment he and Tilly touched.
“I’ll see you later, Tilly.Remember, if you need any help, if you feel like it’s all too much, all you have to do is ask and I’ll be here.”
“I’ll be fine.Thank you,” Tilly gritted out.
Zach moved to Tilly’s side, putting an arm around her shoulders.She jolted, and her sister’s eyes widened.But then Tilly jutted her chin out and relaxed against his side.She fit against him as though she was made just for him, her head the perfect height to lay on his shoulder.He wouldn’t mind if she did that.“Tilly is more than capable of pulling this event off.I have complete faith in her and know it’s going to be amazing.”
Chrissy blinked.“Um, I’m sure it will be.I’ll see myself out.Bye, Tilly-Pilly.”
Tilly didn’t say a word as her sister left the house, and Zach didn’t know how to take it.
“Are you okay?”he asked when the door clicked shut and Tilly still hadn’t said anything.
She ducked out of his hold and put some distance between them, keeping her back to him.
Damn, he’d overstepped.Yet, he had to fight the need to pull her into his embrace.
When she turned, her hazel eyes glistened with tears.“No one has ever done that,” she whispered.
“Done what?”he asked, cautiously taking a step in her direction.
“Believed in me.Believed I could finish something.”
“Of course I believe in you.Why wouldn’t I?”
She shrugged, then lowered her head.“Because I never do.I’ve started so many things over the years.Learning new things.Jobs.Even planning an event.Things get too hard, and I give up.I get overwhelmed, and it’s just easier to move on than bring it to fruition.I can’t let this happen this time, but already I’m scared.”She looked up, and a tear trickled down her cheek.“What if I can’t do this, Zach?”
“Ahh, my sweet Tulip,” he murmured as he wiped the tear away.His heart hurt.He discovered he didn’t like seeing her upset.“You’re not going to fail.You’re going to make this event the best thing Marietta has ever seen.I believe in you.I believe that you can do this.That you won’t fail this time.”
He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug.When hers circled his waist, he relaxed.His eyes drifted shut as he rested his cheek on the top of her hair, their chests rising and lowering in unison.
All thoughts of his mother were forgotten.All that mattered was the woman in his arms.
After countless moments, Tilly leaned back.This time there were no tears in her hazel eyes, only determination.“I’m going to do this.And it’s going to be amazing.”
“There’s my girl.”He brushed his lips across her cheek.The action was spontaneous, but the moment his mouth touched her soft flesh, he realized his mistake.Now he craved more.Craved to have her mouth under his.Craved to forget about all the work they needed to do and spend the afternoon on the couch, making out like teenagers.
He found the strength to step back, to not take possession of her mouth, and it gutted him to see the disappointment flash in her eyes before she straightened her shoulders.
“Right.So let me fix you a sandwich and we can get to work.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he agreed.“Need some help with the sandwiches?”
“I’ve got it.Sit down and let me go get my list, and you can look over it while I fix the food.We can talk about what needs to be added or what’s on there that you think is unnecessary while we eat.”As she spoke, she didn’t meet his gaze, and again he kicked himself for not kissing her when he’d had the chance.
“Tulip?”This was the second time he’d used her given name, and he liked saying it.Given she wasn’t about to toss the loaf of bread she had in her hand at him, he figured she didn’t mind it either.
“Yes?”
“For the record, I really want to kiss you, but if we start, I don’t think we’d get anything done.”
