90 DAYS UNTIL ANNA & DRAKE'S WEDDING
ZACH
"Let's join the others?" Tess phrased it as a question but didn't wait for an answer. She was already down the hall, the figurative sponsorship carrot glinting just out of reach.
Sure, it was close enough to taste, but not quite his to claim.
Not until he and his sister's wedding planner, the one who'd just sworn off fairy tales, delivered something picture-perfect and brand-smart that still felt like Anna.
No pressure there, just lots of potential.
Zach inhaled deeply and his stomach knotted. The soft yes he just got was fabulous, but the added-on Piper postscript gave a slight metallic tang.
But, dammit, he needed to prove the longevity of his innovative men's underwear line. He needed this boost because if there was one thing his dad—his family—would notice, it was a collab with the Stallions.
And if being a supportive brother who helped guide the wedding planning process happened to align with his business goals... was that really so bad?
Yeah, the excuse felt flimsy even to his own ears.
He followed Tess down the corridor, the plush carpet muffling his footsteps. The conference room door stood partially open, spilling golden light into the hallway. The faint scent of coffee and expensive leather chairs wafted through the gap.
Piper sat alone, reviewing a thick binder. Her hair fell forward slightly as she leaned over the pages, creating a curtain that partially obscured her face. Something about her intense focus made him pause.
His chest tightened with a pang of guilt. Was he about to use their easy chemistry as leverage? No, if it came to that, he'd say something. He'd tell her.
Tess pushed the door all the way open and strode in.
Piper looked up, her startled expression quickly composed into professional neutrality. But when her eyes landed on Zach, they lingered for a beat too long, a flicker of warmth there that made his guilt intensify.
"How's Connor?" he asked, forcing a lightheartedness he didn't feel.
A hint of pink colored her cheeks. "He's hydrated, thank you."
Anna arrived, looking slightly less green than before, with Drake's protective arm around her waist. Her eyes, however, betrayed a mix of exhaustion and resignation that went beyond mere morning sickness. His sister's face brightened when she spotted him, and the genuine smile she gave him was a stark reminder of why he'd agreed to be there.
For Anna. This was all for Anna.
Also, for Wild Sacks. But mostly for Anna.
"You're still here," she said, sounding relieved. "I thought I'd scared everyone off."
"Takes more than a little puke to get rid of me," Zach replied, pulling her into a gentle hug. She smelled like mint mouthwash and the faint trace of the lavender lotion she'd used since high school. The familiar scent centered him, reminding him of what mattered.
Drake clapped him on the shoulder as they all settled around the conference table. The polished mahogany surface gleamed under recessed lighting, cool and smooth beneath Zach's forearms as he leaned forward.
Piper introduced herself, gave a synopsis of her experience, and everyone settled in.
"We have a binder started with everything Anna and Drake had indicated they want for the event. Colors, favorite flowers, all that goodness," Piper said, flipping to the first page.
"Marketing's current palette is Stallions' royal blue and sunny yellow," Tess said, tapping a note into her phone before setting it aside. "If we're using team channels, we should stay in that family for anything we release."
"I really don't care what colors we have," Anna said. "I just want it to be done." The tightness around her eyes suggested she cared more than she was letting on.
"It said in the notes that you wanted to have lavender and cream as your color selections?" Piper seemed genuinely concerned about what Anna wanted.
A definite point in her favor.
Anna drew small circles on the table with her finger. "I mean, in a perfect world..."
