“You’re welcome.” He grinned like a proud father.
“Let me get a picture,” Kara called from the other end of the table. Dad put his arm on my shoulder and held me close while Kara snapped the picture.
“Cute.” Kara spun around and flopped back in a chair. We sat in a small, elevated alcove. I had my gaze on the front door the whole dinner.
“Where is Uncle Zach?” The music from upstairs grew louder.
“What?” My dad leaned toward me.
“Uncle Zach!” I yelled. “Where is he?”
Dad shrugged and stood up. “You guys have another two hours at a reserved table upstairs, but then they are kicking you out.”
My friends cheered. The hostess assigned to us, waved people to follow her. My dad buttoned his coat and headed toward the door. I followed him outside.
It was unusually chilly this time of year. Especially at night. I hugged myself and stood close to him while he waited for valet to bring around his car.
“Lucy.” My dad rubbed my arms. “You’re going to get pneumonia on your birthday.” He unbuttoned his jacket and placed it across my shoulders. “Let’s get you back inside.”
“In a minute.” I shrugged out of his coat. “Where’s Uncle Zach?” I held out my phone. “I texted him and he hasn’t answered me. He never misses my birthday.”
“Lucinda.” My dad placed his hands on my shoulders and squeezed. “I have severed all ties with Zachariah Webber.”
“W-what do you?—”
“Lucy, sweetheart.” He hugged me to him. “Zach and I are no longer business partners or friends.”
I stepped back.
“Why?” The tears pooled in my eyes.
“Listen, I know you and Zach are close, so I don’t want to go into the details, but he’s not the man you thought he was, and I doubt he’ll be in touch. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more, but it’s time you forgot all about Zachariah Webber.”
With that declaration, he nudged me toward the restaurant and left.
I tapped the call button on Zach’s number on my phone. It went straight to voicemail.
“Zachariah Webber, you have two hours left in my birthday.” I sighed. “If you don’t call or show up, we are through.”
I ended the call, shoved my phone in my pocket and stomped back into the restaurant to enjoy my birthday.
Needless to say, he never showed up.
Chapter One
4 Years Later
Zachariah
* * *
I stepped out onto the deck and inhaled. The fresh sea air did something to my soul. I’d grown up in Dallas, Texas, but it never felt right to me. Too landlocked. The only thing that had brought me back to Dallas repeatedly was my sweet Lulu, but I fucked that up and had to let her go.
I settled in South Carolina instead and while my home overlooking the bay was my safe haven, my yacht would prove to be my sanctuary.
“Good morning, Boss.”
The nerve in my neck flared.
