He didn't add that Tess had cornered him early during the venue review with one of her signature power moves.
"Things are going great with this whole thing," she had said. Followed by a loaded smile.
"Noah's here?" Zach glanced around.
"Pool tables," Brek replied before refocusing to serve another customer.
Piper took a sip of her whiskey sour, the tart-sweet balance perfect against the burn of alcohol. "Noah?"
"My business partner," Zach explained. "He's going to want to meet you. He's been following the Stallions negotiations closely."
"Wild Sacks is a real company, then?" Piper asked offhand before she could stop herself.
Zach raised an eyebrow. "As opposed to an elaborate way to make out with someone in an AV closet?"
"I just meant that… yeah, I should stop talking now."
Zach sat up straighter, his eyes brightening. "It's not only real—it's revolutionary." He leaned forward, gesturing with his hands. "Men deserve comfort, too, you know. My college roommate used to complain constantly about his underwear bunching up during games." He shook his head. "Most guys accept discomfort as the price of having a dick, but—" He slapped his palm on the table. "It doesn't have to be that way."
Piper watched as his hands danced through the air while he punctuated each point. His cheeks grew warm at the way she studied him.
"You're a comfort crusader," she said, but her tone was warm, not mocking.
"Laugh if you want," Zach said, pulling his phone out and rapidly scrolling through images. "But check it out." He thrust the screen toward her. "You'll love these illustrations. I even color-coded them by potential, like your binder." He pulled the phone back, swiping to another image. As he scrolled past a photo of him trying on a design sample, he glanced up to find her studying that one closer.
"We don't need to look at that one," he tried to swipe, but she placed her hands on his.
"No, I want to see." She leaned in.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Pfft. Not that." She rolled her eyes. "Because you are excited about the concept."
"And our designs," he said. "Piper, our designs are going to change everything."
"Your designs?" she clarified. "They're your designs."
"I mean, yeah. I handle that part. I started by sewing them all myself. But the company is more than just me now. That's why Noah came on. He's brilliant with the business side." He paused, thoughtful. "When I left the family business, Dad said it was a horrible idea. Jase told me I was making a huge mistake. Even Anna worried about my choices. But Wild Sacks is finally seeing some genuine movement in the industry. What we do matters."
"This is why the Stallions deal is so important," Piper seemed to finally realize.
"Yeah." Zach stared wistfully at one of the illustrations he'd swiped back to. "Being the official underwear of the Stallions validates everything." His animated expression relaxed, and he pocketed his phone. "But enough about my underwear. I asked you to come because I want to hear about you."
Piper fidgeted with her napkin. "There's really not much to tell."
"I find that very difficult to believe," Zach said, lifting his beer to his lips.
Before she could respond, Noah wove through the crowd to their booth, all six-foot-whatever of him towering over everyone. He offered Piper a quick, sincere smile.
"I thought Brek was messing with me when he said you were here," Noah said, sliding in next to Zach. "And you must be the famous wedding planner. I'm Noah." He held his hand out to her.
"Piper," she replied, shaking his offered hand.
"I think Noah was leaving," Zach said with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
Which is probably why Noah ignored him completely and turned to Piper. "He says you're the best at what you do."
"She is," Zach agreed.
