Page 18 of Love in Tandem
And in that pause, she heard a voice. The same voice she’d run into at the farmers market next to the spinach stand two weeks ago. And boy, was it a happy voice. A voice so happy and excited she didn’t have the heart to correct it. Hadn’t there been enough tears for one evening?
So when the voice said, “You must be Zach’s surprise date,” Charlotte did as Nat King Cole suggested.
She smiled.
Knuckles rapped on the door, followed by the low timbre of Zach’s voice slipping through the crack. “Think you’re ready to come out now?”
No. Never. “Just finishing up a few things.” Charlotte tripped over a mop bucket as a long handle hit her on the back of the head. “Okay. Think I’m all done now.”
She opened the door and stepped out of the dark closet, smoothing her dress against her hips. “I actually didn’t mean to go in there.”
Zach’s lips quirked in a smile. “No, I didn’t figure you did.”
Sweet mercy. How could someone she’d known all her life and never felt one iota of attraction toward in the past suddenly look more appealing than chocolate peanut butter cheesecake? “Well. Good seeing you again, Zach. I think I’ll head out now. Maybe try using a real exit this time.”
She made it two steps before his hand circled her elbow and spun her against his chest. And what a chest it was. Zach clearly still wore his outdoorsman’s physique beneath all that buttoned-down starch.
“Hold it. Just where on earth do you think you’re going?”
“Home. Where I should have been this whole time.”
“Uh, I don’t think so, pilgrim. Not until you explain to me why you told my mom we were a couple.”
“I never told her that. And if that was supposed to be some sort of John Wayne impression, it stunk.”
“Well, you sure didn’t correct her either. And I’ll have you know, pilgrim, my John Wayne impression is world-renowned.”
“I was too busy thinking about Melba Clark and cheesecake to correct your mother. And clearly the rest of the world has never seen a John Wayne movie.”
“We’ll argue that point later. Who the heck is Melba Clark?”
Oh, she really was going to kill Sophia. “Are you saying Melba isn’t with your group either?”
“I thought you said she was dead.”
“She is dead. But she was supposed to be meeting someone here tonight for a party. And not a birthday party, I can tell you that much.”
“The name sounds vaguely familiar. Maybe she’s on Shannon’s side of the family.”
“Great. You mind passing the message along? Let them know she died in peace.” Charlotte tried for the second time to slip past Zach. For the second time, his hand snagged her back to his side.
“Hold it. You can’t just show up, make my mom think we’re together, then expect me to inform everyone we’re not and some lady named Melba died in peace.”
“But you just said it so beautifully. I couldn’t have said it better myself if I tried. And trust me, I’ve tried.”
“Well, get ready to try again. I haven’t seen my mom that happy since before my dad—” His voice caught, and he swallowed. “It’s been a while. Please help me explain to her what’s happening here. Especially since I’m still very confused about what’s happening here.”
“You’re not the only one. Last I heard you were off wrestling grizzly bears in Alaska. Or was it hobbits in New Zealand? What are you doing here?”
Zach pointed to the restaurant. “Didn’t you hear a word my mom said?”
“I heard words. None of them coherent.”
“I’m back for Ben’s wedding.”
Ben’s wedding. Of course. He was back for Ben’s wedding. Charlotte nodded as the words pinged inside her brain without sticking any sort of landing. Ben’s wedding. Oh my goodness. Ben’s wedding.
She sucked in a breath and grabbed the front of Zach’s shirt. “You mean he’s here?” She jerked away and spun toward the restaurant. “That rehearsal dinner sign is for Ben’s wedding?”
