Page 7 of The Last Love Song
He let go before she could say “I’m fine” again. But he wouldn’t forget that impossibly soft skin anytime soon. And—bonus—he’d just kept her in Heartache another day. How long would it take to convince her to stay? To take over the mayoral job?
Maybe have dinner with him?
“Do you have a suitcase?” He closed the door behind her.
“In the trunk.” They crunched through weeds and gravel to the rear of the vehicle. “TJ said he’s almost here.”
“That’s probably him now.” He pointed toward a disco-show of flashing yellow lights coming down the road.
“Wow.” Heather stood close to him and popped the trunk with her key fob. “Those lights should come with a warning—may induce seizures.”
“They’re a little distracting.” He stared at the huge piece of luggage in her trunk. “I’m going to grab your bag and pull my car forward to give him room.”
“Thank you.” She was already flagging down the truck.
With a break in traffic, TJ didn’t seem to mind slowing down and stopping in the lane. Besides, drivers would see that tow truck from miles away. Still, Zach hefted the giant suitcase and closed the trunk. He dropped it into the rear seat of his convertible, then pulled the car forward. Before he could do the gentlemanly thing and go back to escort Heather to his ride, she was at his passenger door and letting herself in.
“Of all your dad’s cars, this one was always my favorite.” She tugged on the seat belt. “TJ is set, by the way. I’m going to call him tomorrow about the tire.”
“See ya, Mayor!” the younger man called as he hopped down from the truck cab. “Drive safe.”
Zach gave a wave before pulling onto the highway. He handed Heather an extra hat that he kept on the floor of the backseat—an old visor from a long-ago golf tournament.
“You might want to wear this.” He noticed she held her hair in a death grip as he punched the gas.
“Thank you,” she called over the inevitable wind noise. She put the hat on and tightened the strap in the back, but still held the length of her hair in her fist.
“I could put the top up,” he offered.
“Are you kidding me?” She grinned. “I wanted to put a thousand miles between me and Heartache tonight. My only consolation is getting to ride in the mayor’s supersexy convertible.”
“Nice of you to point out the main attraction.” He didn’t have far to go before he pulled through a no U-turn spot on the highway.
Where he promptly did a U-turn.
“I’m surprised you got to keep your dad’s cars,” she observed, adjusting the side mirror before perhaps realizing what she’d said. “Actually, I apologize. That’s completely none of my business.”
“It’s a matter of public record.” He didn’t mind telling her. He’d rather she knew the truth than think he’d hid assets from the government after his father’s arrest. “I bought back my favorites from his collection after my business took off. Only two of the cars I own now belonged to my father. This one and a Jaguar that were purchased by one of his friends at the bankruptcy auction.”
A friend who became Zach’s mentor after his father went to jail.
“Howisyour father?”
“You mean, how does he like federal prison?” He couldn’t keep the bitterness from his voice.
“No. I mean, how is his health? His mind-set? I’m sure it was a difficult adjustment for him…and for you.” She tilted her head back against the seat rest in a way that made him think she was enjoying the ride. Or maybe she simply wanted to feel the wind on her face.
His gaze shifted to her legs and the expanse of thigh visible under the short hem of her bright dress. He was treated to a whole different side of her tonight, and not just because of the dress. He cleared his throat and tried to focus on her question.
And the road.
“He’s always got an appeal in process. That gives him something to focus on besides, say, remorse for what he did.” He drummed the steering wheel with his thumbs. “Since he’s never bothered to be forthright about anything in his entire life, I don’t keep in touch.”
She was silent for a long moment.
“Family dynamics are complicated.” She glanced at her legs and, gripping the hem of her dress with both hands, tugged it lower.
“That’s putting it mildly. You’re fortunate your family is so close.”
