Page 6 of For the Love of Lily

“It’s not a great tour to be fair- lounge here, dining area and kitchen at that end. Through here,” I walked through the only other door. “Is my bedroom, which I am now hoping and praying I didn’t leave in a mess, and the bathroom is through there.” I motioned to the open door.

“I can see why you love it.”

“I assume Zack is short for Zachary?” I asked as we stood in the doorway of my bedroom.

He rolled his eyes a little, a playful look appearing on his face. “Yes. But if you call me that, I feel ten years old, being told off for annoying a sister or two.”

“Hmm, interesting to know,” I said. “You know, Zachary, I haven’t been kissed for a long time. I didn’t know how that was going to go.”

“Now I’m feeling the pressure,” he pressed his lips together for a brief moment. “So, does that mean you enjoyed it or…”

“I think it’s a pity that train announcement interrupted us-”

His eyes sparkled as his arms slipped around my waist. “What announcement?” He reached for me, his hand traced a soft pattern up my back leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. Then… it was as though that last kiss had never ended. I felt breathless as he bit my bottom lip with delicious gentleness, his tongue slowly teasing at my own. The sensation made me light-headed. I leaned back against the wall and pulled him with me. My hand settled under his shirt, feeling the warm, bare skin of his back. I was intrigued by how strong and firm his body felt. His fingertips ran down my sides as he pressed me harder against the wall, and I knew that these urges and sensations were going to overpower any trepidation that remained within me.

I gasped as he stopped, his forehead pressed against my own. “It’s killing me to say this, but I know you want to take things slow, and that’s just too good…” He blew out a soft breath and opened his eyes. “Plus, you promised me coffee. You can’t tease a man with the suggestion of coffee.” He grinned and kissed my forehead before heading back out into the living room. My insides were like molten lava as I switched on the coffee machine, trying to calm myself down and breathe at a steady pace.

Zack was looking at a large photograph frame that was a focal point of the living room. Luke had bought it me a couple of years ago for Christmas, and I adored it. A white, heart-shaped frame sat in the middle, made of willow, which then spiraled off into more frames around the edge to create a bigger heart. Luke had given it me with a photograph of myself in the middle, and I’d filled all the other spaces with the people I loved.

“They’re all my favourite people in the world,” I explained. “Makes me happy every time I stop and look at it.”

“It’s lovely,” he said. “Maybe I can make it in there one day.”

“Maybe so,” I replied coyly. “For the longest time, I felt like a huge failure for having so few people in my life. I felt ashamed, to be honest. Over time, it became apparent I was lucky. It might be a small circle, but it’s the best, and we’d do anything to look out for each other. I wouldn’t swap that.”

“I don’t blame you.” That softness lit his face again. “I recognise Cassie, guessing that’s work friends? Parents? But who is the guy on top of the mountain with you? Not your ex?” He asked the question innocently enough, but I could see something behind his eyes.

“That’s Luke, my other bestie,” I responded. “We’d struggled to the top of Snowdon. Well, I struggled, he was fine.”

“Oh, right, when you said a lawyer from work who helped you, I imagined a fifty-year-old guy.”

“Luke’s like my big brother. It wasn’t just the restraining order and the legal stuff he did for me. He sat here so many nights when I was scared. He built my confidence back up, bit by tiny bit. I can’t think of a single occasion he couldn’t help me. I didn’t want nights out for so long, so he and Cassie would have fun nights in with me instead.” I cast my eyes downward. “They were horrible times, but I guess it made me who I am today. I know I couldn’t have done it without him.”

“Sounds like it was an awful time.” Zack took hold of my hand.

I nodded, not entirely comfortable at bringing it all up. “Anyway, the couch is calling me, you didn’t wear high-heels all night.”

I sat down, my nerves and worry kicking in again. Was I in the right place? How close was he going to sit to me? Why had I brought an almost stranger home? Zack snapped me out of my thoughts as he sat and faced me, close enough to be cosy but not overpowering.

“So, I looked, and I can book an Uber, but it will take about an hour to get here, is that OK?”

“How much will it cost? It’s quite a way,” I said.

“Estimate is sixty pounds,” he rolled his eyes. “Bloody trains, hey?”

“That’s insane. You cannot spend that much to get home. Look, just stay here. I’m happy sleeping on the couch. You can have the bed and get the train tomorrow for a fiver. Honestly, that amount of money is daft,” I said, wondering how my brain let me say that so quick before then showing me images of axe murderers and psychopaths.

“You’re so sweet, but I don’t want to put you on the spot. It’s only the second time you’ve met me, and I know you were wary about it,” he responded.

I think the two bottles of wine we’d shared in the restaurant had befuddled my brain as I pressed my lips to his again to stop his words. “I trust you, Zack. Please just stay.”

He kissed me back. Maybe I was ready for this? “One condition.” His voice was deep and breathy. “I sleep on the couch, the bed is yours.”

“Deal.” I smiled and sank back into the comfortable cushions, loving that I’d got my own way.

“I’ve got clothes you can borrow from a team event at work, as long as you can cope with our logo on the t-shirt,” I said.

“Almost sounds like a second date,” he teased. “Is that OK with you, Lily?”

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