Page 96 of (Not So) Famous in Paradise

“I can do that. Do you think you can walk to my car? Or should I carry you?”

I don’t care how strong and independent a woman you are, if a supremely hot, muscular man asks if you need to be carried? You. Need. To be. Carried.

So that’s what I choose, and holding my leg up so nothing hits my foot, he carefully gets on his knees. Then to a squatting position. And from there, he lifts me, like he’s one of those fake-tanned body builder guys in a deadlifting competition.

And he’s not even breathless.

I am. But he’s breathing as easily as a sleeping baby.

I wrap my arms around his neck. His muscles are taut under my fingers. I lay my cheek to his chest, and he tightens his hold around my back and under my legs.

And I’ve never felt more safe and secure.

“Zach?” I whisper as he carries me toward the door.

“Yeah?”

“I take back what I said about not needing you to rescue me. I’ve decided I like it just fine.”

“Just fine?”

I let out a happy sigh. “More than fine.”

He stops in the doorway and moves the arm around my back just enough that he can reach a curl hanging at the side of my face. It takes some effort and maybe some awkward twisting, but he tucks it behind my ear.

Then I lift my face to the gentle brush of his lips. Soft kisses follow. Obviously, we’re in no position for a repeat of this afternoon, but the certainty in these kisses warms me in a way I know will last forever.

When we break apart, it’s with a satisfied sigh and I can’t tell if it came from me or Zach.

I nuzzle my cheek against him, breathing in his familiar scent and close my eyes as he carries me through the doorway.

“Zach?” I say before he steps off the front porch.

“Yeah?”

“Can you get my purse? I can’t go anywhere without it.”

The End

Epilogue

Three Months Later…

Zach hangs a eucalyptus leaf wreath on the door we picked out together months ago, then steps back and slides his arm around my waist.

“Perfect,” I say, and do the same to him, tucking my arm under his.

“We did good here, don’t you think?”

“No. We did great,” I say.

At that, Zach takes me in both of his arms and pulls me closer. “We make an awesome team.”

Then gently, but too quickly, he kisses me. When we break apart, we stand with our arms around each other, admiring the wreath, the door, and all the work we’ve done on Granny Neilson’s.

We stay there for an unreasonably long time until finally Ike yells “That’s a wrap!”

“You sure we don’t need to do another take on the kiss?” Zach calls over his shoulder. “Happy to try it a few more times.”

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