Lauren led Zach toward a chair with their hands still linked. Could he do this? Could he really give up every secret he’d fought his entire life to keep?
“And if you ever get cold feet about this partnership, just remember it’s always best to be on the winning team,” Asa said.
“I guess that means your team?” Zach smarted off.
“It does,” Dawson said. “We can offer you immunity. Your other option guarantees you end up in prison.”
It was a good thing Lauren was still holding onto Zach’s hand because he needed something to remind him that this was real. He was about to do the one thing he swore never to do, and he needed to remember why he was doing it.
He glanced at her, and she squeezed his hand a little tighter. He could do this, but only for her. He’d been turning the wordlovearound in his head for days. He didn’t understand love, and he didn’t understand Lauren and why she was completely devoted to him. One thing was for sure. Lauren and love belonged in the same sentence. She embodied the one thing he’d always thought was a myth. She’d done more for him than anyone in his life, and he’d never come close to repaying her.
But love wasn’t meant for people like him. Loving her and letting her love him back would shackle her to a life sentence she didn’t deserve. She was innocent, and putting up with him and the mess he carried was a punishment. Coming clean was the only way to keep her safe.
37
Lauren
Lauren stirred the meat sauce, turning the heat down to simmer before checking the time on her phone. Zach would be arriving any minute, and she needed to get the garlic bread in the oven. She wiped her hands on the front of her apron and grabbed the spread from the refrigerator. The front door opened, and she glanced at her watch.
“Lauren!”
“In the kitchen!”
A few seconds later, Zach stepped up behind her and wrapped his frigid hands around her middle. He pressed a cold kiss to her cheek and inhaled a deep breath. “It smells amazing.”
“Spaghetti. Not burnt this time,” she added with a chuckle.
“Yeah. Yeah. Laugh it up. I burned one meal, and you’ll never let me forget it.”
She turned around and slid her hands over hisshoulders. “I’m just joking. Don’t get your feelings hurt.”
She pulled him by the back of his neck until their lips met in a scorching kiss. His arms tightened, and she melted into his embrace.
Zach pressed his forehead to hers and kept his eyes closed. “How was your day?”
“Great. All of my meetings went well.”
It was tough to keep the confidentiality of her patients most days. Today, she really wanted to tell someone about the woman who’d gotten her first job after living in an abusive home for ten years. The victories begged to be celebrated, but they weren’t her stories to tell.
Lauren slid her hands down his chest and around his waist. “How was your day?”
Zach hesitated and swallowed hard. “We have some things to talk about.”
“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good.” The fact that he wasn’t pulling away from her was the only thing keeping her from crumbling under the weight of impending news.
“I’m not sure what it is yet. We need to get Asa and Dawson on a call to talk about it.”
“Before or after dinner?” she asked.
“We might need to eat before. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to stomach anything after.”
If Zach was worked up about something, it meant the same problem was about to become hers. Things had been calm since their meeting at the policestation, but every shred of normalcy could be upended in an instant.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and stepped back. “I’m going to my place to shower. I just needed to see you,” he confessed.
Whatever was bothering him, hopefully they would be able to tackle it together. She finished the spaghetti and pulled the garlic bread out of the oven just as Zach walked back in. They shared a quiet meal before settling on the couch.
Zach reached for her hand and slid his fingers into the spaces between hers. “Whatever happens, I’ll always be honest with you.”
