Page 40 of Grateful Hearts

Zach was getting ready to get Chantel, but his irritation faded quickly when Chantel gave Johnny a polite smile and said, “Sorry, cowboy, but I’m actually here to see Zach.”

A smile tugged at Zach’s lips. Hearing her say that she was there for him stirred something fierce and possessive in him. Without wasting a second, he walked over to her, ignoring Johnny’s raised eyebrows. He leaned down and gave her a light kiss on the cheek, making his intentions clear.

Chantel looked up at him, a smile spreading across her face, then turned to Johnny. “Excuse us,” she said sweetly, takingZach’s hand and leading him away. As they walked off, he caught Clover’s eye across the room, and she gave him a playful thumbs-up. He chuckled, feeling a little lighter.

When they reached a quieter corner, Zach turned to her, a smirk on his face. “What would you like to drink?”

Chantel smiled, tilting her head as she looked at him. “I’d love a whiskey sour, please.”

“Whiskey sour it is.” He grinned, feeling that warmth settle in his chest again, that familiar spark from the kiss rekindling.

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As Chantel stepped into the pool hall with Clover, she felt a wave of excitement mixed with a little bit of nervousness. She’d been looking forward to seeing Zach all day, even though she’d tried to keep herself busy cooking in the kitchen with his mom. Spending the afternoon preparing for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving feast had been surprisingly relaxing.

Being with Zach’s family felt so much different than at the restaurant. There was no pressure, just the warmth of good company and the scent of fresh spices and fresh-baked pies filling the air.

She couldn’t ignore the thrill of catching Zach sneaking peeks at her as she worked. She couldn’t stop thinking about that amazing kiss they’d shared in the pantry. She smiled to herself, thinking about how the pantry seemed to be the go-to spot for “hookups” in the Walker household.

As soon as she entered the pool hall, her eyes immediately found Zach. He was sitting with his brothers and Joker, looking as relaxed and handsome as ever. Clover made a beeline for Joker while Chantel kept moving toward Zach, unable to stop the fluttering in her stomach. But just as she was about to reach his table, someone stepped directly into her path.

She stopped, a bit startled as the tall, okay-looking cowboy stood in her way.

“Well, hello, gorgeous. Where did you come from?”

Chantel looked the guy over and realized that this was the guy that Clover had warned her about. Apparently, he had a reputation for being a man-whore.

“Sorry, cowboy, but I’m here to see Zach.”

She felt a warm hand on her shoulder, and when she turned, she found Zach there. He didn’t hesitate, leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek, his touch sending butterflies swirling in her belly. It was a sensation she’d never felt with Mario.

Zach turned and looked at Johnny, keeping his hand on Chantel’s shoulder. “She’s with me,” he told Johnny.

Johnny raised his hands in surrender, clearly taking the hint, and backed off with a disappointed shrug. But Chantel’s heart was still racing from Zach’s touch. He made her feel so seen, so special. It was completely different from Mario, who always seemed more focused on himself than on her. Zach seemed to truly notice her—her laugh, her smile, even her small quirks.

But as much as she was enjoying this moment with him, a small voice in her gut warned her not to fall too hard. After all, this was just a holiday. They hadn’t talked about what might come next. So, she told herself to enjoy it but not to get carried away.

“Come on,” Zach said, taking her hand and leading her over to the table. As they reached his brothers, he turned to her with a smile. “You look beautiful tonight.”

Chantel’s cheeks heated up, and she laughed softly, looking down. “Thank you,” she said, her voice quiet. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d blushed like this.

Just as she took a seat next to him, a waitress came over.

“What would you like to drink?” Zach asked her.

“I’ll take a Whiskey Sour, please,” she told him.

She settled into her chair, watching as Zach and his brothers went back to their pool game, but her gaze drifted around the pool hall. She noticed a few pretty girls here and there, all eyeing the Walker siblings, their looks full of interest and curiosity.

A small twist of anxiety gripped her stomach. She wasn’t usually one to get jealous, but seeing how easily Zach drew attention from other women made her wonder if she was setting herself up for heartbreak. She was falling for him, hard and fast.

Chantel took a sip of her drink, hoping the strong drink would steady her nerves.

???

Chantel was having the time of her life. Surrounded by Zach and his family, she couldn't remember the last time she’d had this much fun.

Zach had been teaching her to play pool, and although she’d started out shaky, she was getting the hang of it. And from the grin on Zach’s face, she knew he was impressed. Every time he found a reason to touch her, whether it was a light brush on her arm or a lingering hand at her waist.Each touch left a warmth on her skin that lingered, making her head feel a little light, though that could have been from the drinks, too.

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