by Kay Correll
He was already engrossed in the papers scattered on the table in front of him before she even got to the doorway.
Zach tossed his pencil on the makeshift table. He needed to move crew around. He’d had a full schedule for tomorrow to put on the shingles. Now that wasn’t going to happen. The windows were days if not a full week from being delivered, as well as the doors. If the storm they were predicting came in, he’d have to secure all the openings with plastic. Just another thing to add to the list.
He sat up and stretched, sure this job was trying to kill him. At the sound of a crash and a scream, he bounded up, sending the stool reeling across the floor. He ran out into the main area of the building. His heart plummeted when he saw Cece sprawled out on the floor, and he raced to cover the distance and knelt beside her. “Cece? You okay?” Her eyes were closed.
She slowly opened them and focused on him. “Yes…” She didn’t sound very certain.
He saw the ladder sprawled out beside her. “Were you climbing on the ladder?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Why?”
“Taking some measurements.” She started to sit up.
“Wait. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Just my ego is bruised.”
“You need to stay off my ladders.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bother you.” She sat all the way up and looked at her hands, flexing her wrists. “See, nothing’s broken.”
“You’re lucky you didn’t get hurt worse, and you’re not a bother to me.” He didn’t know why he added that. But she wasn’t a bother. He liked having her around. Though he was positively going to forbid her to climb a ladder again. Not that she seemed like a woman who would take being forbidden to do anything with any kind of good grace. Maybe he’d just make it a strong suggestion.
“Well, if I’m not a bother, how about helping me up off the floor?”
He jumped up and gently helped her to her feet, watching her closely for any sign of injury. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” She reached down and picked up her notebook. “I’ll let you get back to work.”
But he didn’t want to leave her. His heart was still hammering from the sight of her just lying on the floor.
“Anyway, thanks for the rescue. I’m going to head back to the lodge and talk to Nora about some ideas I had.” She started to walk away.
“Cece, wait.”
She paused and turned back toward him.
“I was wondering… if you… if you might want to get something to eat. You know, like go out to dinner. Like not here at the lodge. Go out. A date.” He stammered like a teenager asking a girl out for the first time.
“Sure. When?”
“Tonight?” That was too soon, wasn’t it? Women needed advance notice. Did he sound too eager? Heck, he was a mess.
“Tonight sounds great.”
His eyes widened. “It does?”
Amused laughter escaped her lips. “Yes, it does.”
“I could pick you up about six?”
“Six would work. Do you know where I live?”
“Jason said it’s around the bend on the cove?”
“It is. We have a red mailbox. A sign says Stuart Chateau. But don’t worry. It’s a grandiose name for a nice simple cabin. My mom named it. She loved it so much…” A sad smile crossed her lips. “Anyway, I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yes.”
She turned and walked away.
Yes? Was that the only answer he was able to give to this woman?
Chapter 8
Cece regretted her choice of clothes she’d brought with her to the cabin. Work clothes. A pair of cowboy boots that were broken in and oh so comfortable. Simple black pants to wear when she helped Bree with her catering events. But nothing date-worthy. She stared into the closet as if her fairy godmother would wave a wand and suddenly the perfect outfit would appear.
Bree walked into the bedroom. “What’s up? You’re just staring into that closet.”
“I’m…” She turned to face her sister. “I’m kinda going on a date tonight.”
Bree grinned. “With Zach, right?”
“Right.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“I have nothing to wear. Nothing. I didn’t bring anything even remotely appropriate for a date.”
“Never fear, little sister. I’ve got this. Follow me.”
Cece did as she was told and followed her sister into her bedroom. Bree threw open her closet and tugged out a sweater in a lovely shade of light peach. “This will work. And I have a printed scarf that goes with it.”
“But what pants? Yours won’t fit me. I’m so much shorter than you. And I don’t even have nice shoes to wear.” She almost moaned but took the offered clothes.
“Wear your cowboy boots. And your dark skinny jeans. You’re in Sweet River Falls. We’re not a get all dressed up for dates kind of town.”
Cece went back to her room and slipped on her outfit. Bree was right. It was the perfect combination of nice, but not too dressy. She turned this way and that looking at herself in the mirror. She couldn’t remember the last time she cared this much about what she wore or had been this excited for a date.
Bree poked her head in the doorway. “You ready?”
“I am. I think. Gosh, I’m so nervous. Do I look okay?”
“You look like your cute, adorable self.”
Cece rolled her eyes.
“Come on. Let’s get you out into the great room. There’s more room for you to pace out there,” Bree teased.
She froze when she heard the knock at the door. “He’s early…”
Bree glanced at her watch. “Five minutes. And you’re ready. So… what’s the problem?”
“I’m… not ready.” Her heart pounded, and she looked in the mirror yet again.
Bree walked into the room and hugged her. “Yes. Yes, you are. Now come on.” She grabbed her hand and led her out of the room.
Zach stood at the door, shifting from foot to foot. He’d cleaned out his truck so that she wouldn’t have to sit on a stack of tools or papers. He’d wanted to wash it, too, but had run out of time. He’d been lucky to get home, grab a shower, and get back here without being late.
He shuffled his feet again, running a hand down the side of his best jeans. He hadn’t known what to wear, so settled on nice jeans—ones without holes worn in them like his work jeans—and a nice button-down shirt. He checked his reflection in the window beside the door and glanced at his watch.
The door popped open and Bree stood in the doorway. “Hey, Zach. Come on in.”
He stepped into the cabin and glanced around in appreciation. It was homey and well designed. The entire back of the cabin was wall-to-wall windows and doors showing an expansive view of the lake. Someone had planned well on this cabin.
“Hi.”
The sound of Cece’s voice brought him out of his builder’s evaluation of the cabin. She looked nice. Really nice. And she’d taken her hair out of that fancy braid thing and it drifted around her shoulders. He liked her hair down like that.
Had he even answered her? He’d been so lost in his thoughts. “Hi. You ready to go?”
“I am.” She turned to Bree. “I won’t be late. I know we have a lot to do tomorrow.”
“Hey, I’m not your keeper. Stay out as late as you want.” Bree walked them to the doorway. “Have fun.”
He led Cece to his truck and helped her climb in. Not an easy feat with how high his truck rode off the ground. He hurried around and climbed into the driver’s seat. “So, I thought we’d go to Antonio’s?”
“Love Antonio’s,” Cece agreed.
An awkward silence stuffed its way into the cab of his pickup, smothering him. He could not think of a single thing to say to her. He was vividly aware that she was sitting just a foot or so away. A slight scent of some kind of flower wafted through the air, trying to break through the stifling silence.
They
drove all the way into town without saying a word. This did not bode well for the evening.
What was wrong with her? She could usually chat up anyone. But they pulled into a parking spot near Antonio’s and hadn’t said a word on the whole trip. Did he regret asking her out?
And he kept looking at his stupid watch.
He got out of the truck, came around, and opened her door. The smothering silence drifted out into the evening air and she drew a deep breath. He reached up a hand to help her, and she slipped her hand into his.
A flash of electricity jolted through her. She could see from his eyes he’d felt it too. She knew he had.
She slipped out of the truck, stepped onto the pavement, and bumped up against him. That did not help the lightning bolts racing through her veins.
She stepped back to put space between them, but the storm still swirled around her. He took her elbow as they started to walk down the sidewalk. She started to count her steps to ignore the heat of his hand on her arm.
One, two, three, four… where was she, again? One, two, three…
“You okay?”
She glanced up from her steps to look at him. “What? Yes.”
“You seem to be concentrating on your steps.”
“Oh, sorry. Uneven pavement.” Which wasn’t a total lie, it just wasn’t what she was worried about…
He held the door open for her and she was almost—almost—glad for his hand to be off her arm. Almost.
Antonio greeted them as they stepped inside. “Welcome. Would you like a table in the back? Or you could wait for one by the window if you prefer.”
“The back is fine,” Zach answered, then turned to her. “That’s okay with you?”
“Yes. That’s fine.” She rubbed her now lonely elbow.
They sat down, ordered margaritas, and browsed through the menu. She knew what she wanted, but she concentrated on the words on the page before her like she’d never eaten Mexican food before and needed to read every tiny detail about each and every item on the menu.
He watched her concentrate on the menu, her own hand resting on the table, mere inches away. He so wanted to reach out and touch it… but, no, that would be wrong. He’d just met her. This was their first date.
Still, he stared at her hand with a delicate almost nude shade of polish on her nails.
She glanced up from her menu and he averted his stare.
“I’m going to have some chicken tacos.” She set down her menu.
“I think I’m going to have the steak fajitas.”
“You think we could get a sopapilla for dessert?”
“With cinnamon, honey, and ice cream? I’m sure we could.”
“Yes, exactly how I like it.” She smiled, then looked down at the menu again.
The conversation lagged yet again. This was not how he planned it. He wanted them to have fun and relax and… you know, even talk…
“Did you get the shingle situation sorted out?”
Her question almost startled him. A conversation. Who knew? “I—I’m working on it. Hoping to have the right ones here next week, but the supplier can’t guarantee it. If he can’t come through, I’m canceling the order with him and getting them through someone else.”
“Where did you learn to be a builder?”
“I started working in construction when I was still in high school. Worked for this great builder in Denver. Learned so much. Then when I decided to move up in the mountains, I found a job with a builder here in Sweet River Falls, so I moved here. He retired and we started up Berry and Saunders.”
“Do you like owning your own company?”
“I do. It’s hard work though. It’s like you never get away from it. I’m either working at the job site, or meeting with someone about a new job, or doing endless paperwork.”
“I’ve always worked for someone else. This whole partnership with Bree is new. Honestly, I’m a little bit nervous about it. I hope it all works out.”
He hoped it worked out for them, too. He knew personally how badly a partnership could go. But maybe it would be different since it was Cece’s sister. “I’m sure it will work out. You both seem like hard workers. That’s half the battle with owning a business. And being willing to accept you can never really step away from it.”
She nodded. “I think that’s why Bree is so overwhelmed now. She was trying to do so many things. Build the business, along with doing the actual baking and cooking for the catering, and trying to help brides plan their weddings.”
“So you’re taking over the wedding planning part?”
“That, and I help her with the cooking. I’m nowhere near the cook she is, but I can follow directions.” Her warm brown eyes shone brightly in the flickering light of the candles on the table.
She looked beautiful in the candlelight. Heck, she looked beautiful in the sunlight. But what he really liked was the charismatic charm she had. It wove a spell around him, and he knew he was becoming helpless against it.
They walked out into the cool evening air after finishing their dinner. A shiver ran through her even though it wasn’t really that chilly.
Zach placed his arm around her shoulder and tucked her up against him. “Let’s get you to the truck and get you warmed up.”
As far as she was concerned, she was fine right here where she was, tucked protectively up against his side. He slowed his stride to match hers and they headed for his truck which they reached all too quickly.
He opened the door, and she climbed inside. He gave her a smile as he closed her door. A smile that kept her warm until he climbed in beside her, turned on the motor, and flicked on the heat.
He drove her back to the cabin and that, too, they reached all too quickly. He turned off the motor, and they sat for a moment. She didn’t want the evening to end.
She turned to face him on the seat. “Would you like to sit out by the lake for a bit? I can run in and grab a blanket. We have a swing my dad built down by the water’s edge.”
“I’d like that a lot.” His deep voice rumbled over her.
She swallowed. “Okay, I’ll be right back out.” She jumped out of the truck and hurried into the house.
“You back so soon?” Bree looked up from the couch where she sat reading.
“I’m back, but we’re going to sit out by the lake for a bit.”
Bree leaned forward and Cece grabbed the quilt from the back of the couch. “I’ll be in soon.”
“Don’t rush in on my account.” Bree eyed her over her reading glasses, a smile teasing the corners of her mouth.
Cece hurried back outside, clutching the quilt close to her, her heart pounding in her chest. Why? All she was doing was going to sit by the lake with Zach. It was no big deal, right? And yet, it felt like a very big deal to her.
He stood in the moonlight by the truck, the light filtering down on him. She waited for her eyes to adjust to the dimness after the bright cabin lights, then crossed over to him. “Come on.” She led him to the swing.
They settled on the swing and she dropped the quilt on their laps. He moved closer to her and reached across her to tuck the quilt against her legs. He set the swing into a gentle motion and she relaxed against the back of the swing. Or tried to. He draped his arm along the back of the swing, but she ignored it just inches away from her.
She shivered, but not from the cold.
He dropped his arm around her shoulder. “You cold?”
“No, I’m fine.” She was fine. Perfectly, wonderfully fine. She hadn’t been this fine in a long time.
“Looks like it’s almost a full moon.” His deep voice wrapped around her.
She glanced up. “It does.”
“You’ve got a beautiful view here.”
“It never disappoints.” But it had never looked this wonderful, either.
She settled against him and they sat in silence. A lone bird swooped over the lake, the moonlight catching its wings. The stars stretched above, twinkling and sparkling like precio
us gems in the midnight black sky. Peace wrapped around her and she felt like she was right where she belonged. She liked this feeling of belonging in Sweet River Falls. Of belonging right here at Zach’s side.
Not wanting to break the spell but knowing they both had to get up early for work, she finally turned to him. “I guess I should go in.”
She was rewarded with a look of disappointment on his face. He sighed. “Yes, I guess so. It’s getting late.”
He stood and reached down a hand to pull her to her feet. She could keep that hand in hers forever…
But, he released her hand and helped her fold up the quilt. She hugged it against her, acutely aware that she no longer had his warmth against her. They walked over to his truck and he stood by the door.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?” He still just stood by the truck without any movement to actually get in and leave.
“Yes, I’ll be over at the lodge, I’m sure.”
“Are going to stop by and see me?”
She was pleased to hear an eagerness to his tone. “Sure. I’ll come by.”
“Good.” He smiled but still just stood there, close, right in front of her.
He was looking directly at her face. So close.
Was he going to kiss her?
She wanted him to, didn’t she?
Oh, yes, yes she did.
But to her extreme disappointment, he stepped back and climbed into the truck. “See you tomorrow.”
She nodded then watched as he drove away. She pressed her fingers to her lips. She’d been so sure he’d kiss her. Maybe she’d read him all wrong. What did she know about dating anyway? She’d thrown away a year or so with Eric because it had been easier to see him than to break up with him, and those kisses had only been quick kisses on the cheek like you’d kiss a friend.
And to be honest, she’d never had a man who truly loved her. Certainly not Pete’s father. That had been one huge mistake. Not a mistake that she’d had her son, but that Pete’s father had been Bree’s boyfriend at the time. They’d both cheated on Bree, and Cece still sincerely regretted that and was so glad that Bree had finally forgiven her.
