Page 17 of The Hero I Can't Resist
SKYLER
Four days. It’s been four days since Zach showed up at my door. Four days of having him by my side, and I’m going crazy.
I wish I could find a huge flaw in him because then maybe, just maybe I could talk myself out of this attraction brewing between us. But the man is making it hard. It’s like he anticipates my every need. He’s helped me work, cleaned with me, cooked for me, and talked to me, and even though he’s asked me a thousand questions, I have secretly loved every minute of it.
But now that we’re out in public with people, it’s time to rein it in.
“This is not going to work,” I tell Zach for the tenth time in the last hour.
His big hand slides across my back, hooks around my waist, and pulls me closer to his side. “It has to.”
I open my mouth, but he turns me so we’re facing each other, and I lose all train of thought. The man is too good-looking, and he’s making me crazy.
I try to look away, but he gently puts his fingers on my chin, holding my face so that I have to look at him. “I’m not leaving your side, sweets.”
I grumble, “Quit calling me that.”
He tilts his head to the side, looking at me. I hate it because when he does that, I feel so vulnerable that it freaks me out a little bit. His hands move to my shoulders, and he starts to gently massage them. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.”
I lean in to whisper because for a brand trip, you never know where the cameras are going to be lurking. “Where should I start? We’re lying to these people. They all think we’re together.” I gesture between the two of us. “This is too much.”
Zach looks around, and when he spots a door, he grabs my hand and walks us to it. He pulls me outside and leans me against the wall, putting one hand beside my head. “Look, I know this is a lot.You have all kinds of stress on you, and I don’t want to add to it.”
I look at him like I don’t believe him. Since the second he walked back into my life, it’s been one surprise after another. Just like this brand trip. I know he said he was coming with me, but I didn’t realize it meant we were staying in the same room and sharing a bed. I’ve told myself that I need to keep my distance and my heart guarded, but the more time I spend with Zach, the harder that is.
I shake my head. “I just don’t understand. We can have separate rooms.”
He rubs his hand through his hair. “Look, I know this isn’t ideal, but in order to keep you safe, I am not leaving you by yourself.”
I look out at the mountains over Zach’s shoulder. “And did we really have to tell everyone I was your girlfriend?”
He searches my eyes. “They all knew anyway. All these people watch your channel, and really, is it such a bad thing that they know we’re together?”
I avoid his gaze, not trusting myself. He’s hinted a few times about this being real, but I just ignorehim. I can totally see me throwing myself at him and really embarrassing myself.
Zach shifts so that I have no other option than to look into his eyes. He’s trying to figure me out, and his question rattles me. “What’s really going on here, Sky?”
I roll my eyes. “You know what, you want to do this, we’ll do it, but no one is going to believe it.”
He tenses. “Believe what?”
I point a finger between the two of us. “This. Me and you. No one is going to believe we’re really together. This is going to create even more drama, and that’s the last thing I want. This is my business, Zach. It’s my livelihood that we’re messing with, and I can’t just… muck it all up.”
He cups my cheek, and my heart starts to race. His voice dips low. “Do you trust me?”
I nod instantly because regardless of anything else, I do trust him.
For just a second, I think he’s going to kiss me. I wait for it. Hell, I lick my lips in anticipation of it. I’m so ready for it that there’s a pull in my lower belly from wanting it. And just when I’m about to go to my tiptoes to get closer, Icome to my senses.This is fake, Skyler. This is not real.
I force a smile to my face and pull away. “Come on. It’s show time.”
I am about to walk away, but Zach grabs my hand, threading our fingers together. We walk back into the resort and follow the signs for where the dinner is being held.
There’s a cooking segment where the chef is showing off all the Whisked Away cooking and baking utensils. We’re supposed to be able to watch while enjoying dinner.
I’m sure Zach is going to be bored out of his mind.
We walk in and are welcomed by the staff. I was originally so excited about this, but now there’s a dark cloud hanging over it. This strange man, my stalker as Zach calls him, has wreaked havoc on my life for weeks now. But tonight, I’m determined not to think about him.
