“I was still young myself, but about a year into her treatment I took over my mother’s position as housekeeper for our former employer so she could stay home with Amber full-time. This trip is the longest I’ve been away from them, ever.”
In her voice, Zach heard an echo of his own struggles with responsibility. The burden of doing whatever you had to in order to care for someone you love, regardless of where you wanted your own life to go. It was a heavy weight, one he hated to think of on Sadie’s slim shoulders. But it came with its own rewards.
He was sure she knew that by now also.
“Why did you leave now, Sadie?”
She went still beneath his touch, and for a moment he worried that his question had seemed judgmental. But Zach was the last one to judge. He’d left his entire family behind for the military because that’s what he’d needed to do to provide a better life for them.
“The trip—it was a legacy, of sorts, from our former employer,” she said. “The chance to travel outside our little world. My mom wouldn’t hear of me giving it up—neither of them would.”
He knew he shouldn’t ask, but he couldn’t stop himself. “So you could go anywhere, and you chose to come here.”
She quickly glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, which told him she realized the significance of the question. “Zach, this is the only place I wanted to be.” She wiped shaky fingers over her cheeks. “I’m sorry. This is just a little too close,” she whispered.
For a moment, he thought she meant him. But now she clutched his arms, her body leaning into his. Then he understood. Marie had been talking about life, the life Lily should have had.
The life Amber should have had.
“I know it is,” he said. “And that’s okay.”
With a jerk her gaze swung up to meet his. He could read the conflict in her eyes. The woman she’d shown him was strong, independent, but soft with others. Now she needed to take care of herself.
“It’s okay, Sadie. Feeling that way doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human.”
That’s when the tears appeared, just like the night she’d told him she missed her mother. They pooled like shiny puddles in her eyes, reflecting that incredible green color. He knew then, no matter what he really wanted, he would never be able to get over Sadie.
Whether she stayed or not.
Eleven
When her phone rang, Sadie was surprised to see Zach’s name lighting up the small screen. But her hesitation lasted only a second before she answered.
“Pack a weekend bag and meet me downstairs.”
She opened her mouth to reply, but the line went dead. Was he already downstairs? Should she go question him? Why was she even thinking about this?
Letting go of her worrisome thoughts, she packed her travel toiletries and enough clothes for two days into an oversize purse in record time. The sound of her feet on the stairs as she descended ramped up her heartbeat.
It had only been a day and a half since she’d seen him, but it seemed like forever. She’d chosen not to attend Lily Blackstone’s funeral today, figuring she’d simply be lost in the throng of people who would be there. But Zach had surely braved the crowds for the family who had done so much for him.
When he’d last said goodbye at Blackstone Manor, he’d told her he would be in touch, but not when. That made sense, considering his position as head of security for the family. She definitely hadn’t expected to speak with him tonight after what had undoubtedly been a long day.
Shouldn’t he be home relaxing? Sleeping?
Yet there he stood in the foyer of the B and B, looking a little tired around the edges, but fresh in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. She wished she could run her fingers through his hair or savor the sexiness of his gaze as he did a little inspecting of his own.
But he didn’t linger. He quickly took her bag and led her out to a low, dark sports car. Still without an explanation, he seated her in the front, then stowed her bag in the trunk. Her first clue as to his intentions was his quick lean across the seat after he climbed behind the steering wheel. His lips on hers were hot and hard, telling her without words of the need he barely held in check.