Page 86 of Call it Fate

“You’ll win.” Zach’s voice was confident.

“So, Zach. Want to take a little walk with me around the place?” Chase kept his face neutral, but his eyes were sparkling with humor. “Maybe we could check in with the goats and see if they’re feeling any springtime urges.”

Zach threw his cloth napkin at Chase, who laughed. I was delighted to see them behave like friends after their rocky start.

After they left, Cam turned her eyes on me. “So, everything seems to be good between you and Zach. Have you made any decisions about what you two are going to do?”

“Well, I’ve made one definite decision. I talked to Mama, and we agree the inn is becoming too much for our tiny staff. I’m going to place an ad for some more help.”

I had never realized how many hours I was working, seven days a week. It was one of the downsides of living where I worked. If I wanted time off or if I got sick, it took a lot of schedule rearranging to make things work. Our bookwork was consistently in the black. And Zach had pointed out to me that with the quality I was delivering, I could raise my prices and still be competitive, helping to cover new expenses.

“Good for you. And what about Zach?”

That was a harder answer. “I know he wants us to move to Charlotte with him if he gets the internship.”

“Are you all right with that?” Cam asked, peering at me closely.

“I don’t think I have a choice.”

“Have you asked him to stay? Maybe if he knew how important it is to you, he’d consider it.”

I shook my head. “He grew up with so much pressure to do what his dad wanted. I don’t want to do the same. Besides, he’s missed out on so much already, thanks to his father. I can’t ask him to give up anything else that’s important to him. It’s time for me to make a sacrifice. Besides, there are a lot of opportunities in Charlotte that there aren’t here. Maybe I’ll go back to school after all.”

“You don’t sound happy.”

She saw too much. I gathered up some dishes from the table and carried them to the kitchen. “Well, of course, I’m sad. I love it here. But I’m hoping that once Zach’s internship is over, he can find something close to here.”

Her mouth twisted. “Why does it sound like you’re trying to convince yourself as much as me?”

I couldn’t keep my shoulders from slumping. “I might be more excited if it wasn’t for Zach’s dad.”

Her brows snapped together. “What’s that asshole done now?”

“I saw him when we were out one evening when we were in Charlotte. He didn’t say anything, but it scared me, you know? He could make life problematic for all of us.”

Cam crossed her arms. “Does Zach know what happened?”

I shook my head. “I haven’t told him. I don’t want to hurt him with that.”

“But honey, don’t you think Zach would want to know so he can protect you? Protect Iain? You’re not kids anymore. Youhaveto tell him. Zach deserves to know the truth about his father.”

I bit my fingernail, something I hadn’t done in years.

“What truth?”

We both froze. I hadn’t heard anyone come in.

Cam’s worried eyes met mine and then shifted to peer over my shoulder. I turned slowly to see Zach standing there, Chase not far behind him. His voice had been deceptively calm as he stood with his arms by his sides. But I saw how the cords in his neck strained and his hands clenched and unclenched.

“What about my father, Emalee?” His eyes never left mine as he moved closer.

“Zach.” I reached a hand out to him, to ground him as best as I could. I could feel tiny tremors of fury pulsing in his rock-hard arm.

“Answer me,” he growled, his eyes blazing and nostrils flaring

Oh, shit.

Chase put a hand on his shoulder. “Easy now.”

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