Page 53 of Hacker Identified

“I still have it. But I wanted this moment to be our new start.”

He stood and a moment later he swooped me up into his arms and headed back into the house to our bedroom. When he tossed me on the bed, my phone slipped out of my pocket, and I noticed seven missed calls from Tim. But I didn’t care about the outside world, only Zack. I pushed my phone to the side and pulled my shirt over my head. I wanted to get lost in the man I love.

Chapter17

Hannah

The old table in the back of Chubby’s Diner wobbled when Kat threw her large black purse in the center. Sophie pulled out the chair next to me and sat. We’d been back in Florida for a month. I owed Sophie so much. She’d uncovered so many of Watson’s secrets, and she was able to give Donna access to her trust. What surprised me even more was my parents had set up trusts for Hazel and me as well that no one else could access. The original size of the trust was close to twenty million dollars, but with years of just sitting there untouched, it had tripled.

“Thank you so much for meeting me for lunch ladies,” I said.

Our wedding was tomorrow. The day after Zack proposed, he’d wanted to drive to the courthouse and get married. I reminded him the last two times didn’t work out for us very well. We negotiated a one-month engagement. I also didn’t want to jinx the wedding by sleeping in the same room. He tried to say those were silly superstitions, but in the end agreed. So tonight, I’d stay at the penthouse, while he stayed at the hotel near our wedding location.

Before Zack left to meet his brother for a tee time, he’d tried to get me to change my mind, and I almost wavered when he kissed his way down my body.

“Lunch?” Kat laughed. “This is just the beginning. We plan to throw you a bachelorette party. How could you possibly think we were only going to spend lunch with you today?”

I held up my hands, instantly worried about Kat getting us thrown in jail with some hair-brain scheme of hers. “Not happening. Lunch, then I’m going to spend some time with my mom and go to bed early.”

Sophie raised a brow. “You realize my sister doesn’t give up on an idea, right? She’s been planning this party since the moment she found out you were engaged again.”

“Hey, I’m right here.” Kat waved her hand in the air, and the large diamond on her ring finger sparkled.

“Kat...I love you,” I said.

“I know. Everyone does, and since I’m your maid of honor. It’s my job to throw the bachelorette party.”

I blinked, trying to remember when I’d asked Kat to be a bride’s maid.

“You?” Sophie asked. “If anything, it should be me since I’m going to be her sister, and Zane is standing next to his brother.”

“Wait...what?” I cut in. “We aren’t having anyone stand up with us. This is a small wedding at the Ross family estate with only friends and family in attendance.”

“Oh, sweety,” Kat smiled. “You haven’t met Martha Ross yet, have you? My dear mother-in-law does nothing small.”

“But—”

“I know it’s the usual for you, Kat and Sophie. But what can I get you, hon?” The cheery waitress cut off my reply.

I opened my mouth to answer when Kat cut me off. “She’ll have what we’re having.”

The women nodded and turned before I had time to ask what the hell they ordered for me.

“I wanted the Caesar salad,” I grumbled under my breath.

Kat scrunched her nose. “Nobody comes to Chubby’s Diner and gets a salad. You’ll love the hamburger special with loaded fries.”

“My wedding is tomorrow. What bride eats that the day before?” I asked.

Sophie’s lips ticked up in the corner. “One who needs a full stomach before a night of drinking.”

My phone vibrated on the table, and Nicole’s name flashed across the screen. I hadn’t spoken to her since the last protest. I’d call her back after lunch.

“You both are amazing, but I don’t want to be hungover on my wedding day. How about we have a glass of wine later at the penthouse and call it an early night,” I held my breath, hoping that would be a good enough compromise for them.

“I can agree with the one glass, but you’re still going to the party I planned,” Kat said.

For a second, I wondered if she would kidnap me if I declined.