“Things.” Tossing a wedding bell shaped mint into his mouth, Zach savored the flavored chocolate candy.
“Zach!” Realizing she was louder than she should have been, she grimaced. “Ugh, at being the center of attention. Don’t they know they’re supposed to be paying attention to Cole and Sophie?”
As many eyes were on them as on the engaged couple. To give credit, they kept their stares subtle. Well, except for the older ladies, and they didn’t mind making eye contact when he’d look their way. Rosie had even winked conspiratorially, and Isabelle’s Aunt Claudia had given him a thumbs-up.
He eyed the remaining goodies on his plate. He’d foregone cake in favor of fruit, nuts, and the mints, but might make another trip through the buffet line for a second helping of everything. He’d be lucky if he hadn’t gained ten pounds by the time he left Pine Hill. He should probably up his workout.
“What do I have in common with your sister to talk to her about?”
Isabelle stared expectantly at him. “Me?”
Nodding, he pushed his chair back, then headed toward the buffet, not surprised when Isabelle followed and pulled him over to a long table that had been set up with photos of Cole and Sophie. He let his gaze run over the pictures. Cole wore various expressions, but Sophie’s face was joyous in each one. Did the woman ever not smile? Then again, she had Isabelle running interference for her, trying to make every day seem like Christmas.
For the sake of their audience, she pointed out a photo of Sophie and Cole horseback riding. “My sister is the kindest-hearted person to ever walk the face of the earth. She sees the positive in everyone. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”
The love in Isabelle’s voice was humbling. Not that Zach didn’t feel the same for his family. Or maybe he didn’t, because he hadn’t been able to give up his military career when they’d insisted he do so. He sure hadn’t been able to stand the pity in their eyes when he’d returned home a broken man. Nor had he agreed to work for his father’s company. They’d probably breathed a sigh of relief when he’d gone back to the rehab facility to finish recuperating. Going home when he hated life probably hadn’t been great timing.
“Sophie is lucky to have you. Not many would go to the lengths you do to insure her happiness.”
Isabelle’s gaze lifted, full of questions.
“You’re pretending to date someone you profess to not like so that he will find the father that you don’t want found,” he clarified.
“That about sums it up, but for the record, I more than profess not to like you.” Her chin lifted and she gave him that annoyed look she loved to flash his way. “I really don’t.”
Glad her spunk was back and distracting himself from his family thoughts, Zach grinned. “Keep trying to convince yourself of that, Blondie, but I’m not buying it. I’m fully aware that you waylaid my trip to the buffet so you could walk me straight over to stand beneath the mistletoe. All you had to do was ask and I’d have been happy to oblige you.”
Isabelle glanced up, gasping that there really were green twigs hanging above them. “Don’t you dare.”
“Oh, I’d dare,” he assured, wondering why the thought of kissing Isabelle had danger warnings surging the same as if he were in a combat zone. “But you wouldn’t be able to contain your excitement if I kissed you, so I won’t. We already have too much of the spotlight on us.”
“Kind of you.” She snorted, seeming relieved that he wasn’t upholding the tradition.
“I’m a good, decent guy that way.”
“Ha, you keep telling yourself that, but we both know better,” she tossed back, then with one last squinted glare, she walked over to get another cup of Christmas punch.
Knowing they had an avid audience, Zach kept his broad grin on his face as he watched her pick up a pre-filled cup and toss it back as if it contained liquid courage rather than a Christmas cranberry concoction. Once done, she refilled and headed to their table.
How could he feel so protective of someone that he also loved to rattle so much?
Making his way to the buffet, he gathered additional helpings of the meats and vegetables, then rejoined Isabelle.
Along with the others at the table, she was answering the questions on the “Bride or Groom?” papers Zach had distributed earlier.
Rather than scribble answers on his sheet, he took a bite of the holiday-shaped cracker he’d placed a slice of cheese on. “Since I just met the bride and groom this week, I’ll pass.”
“Just guess. Fifty-fifty odds aren’t too bad. It’s in fun, anyway.” She wroteBridenext toWho made the first move?Then wrote,and the second and third and… out to the side of her answer. With the way Cole looked at Sophie, it was difficult to imagine that sweet Sophie had had to do much chasing.
Cleaning his plate, Zach watched Isabelle answer the next couple of questions. “Maybe I’ll just have fun and writemaid of honorin each spot.”
Looking up, she frowned. “Have you read the questions?”
“Who planned the honeymoon?” he read out loud. “I’d get that one right with my answer.”
Isabelle’s cheeks pinkened. “Only because Cole asked for help. He wanted to know if Sophie had ever mentioned somewhere she’d want to travel to. Every time he’d ask, she’d just say that where he was is where she wanted to be and where that was didn’t matter.”
He could hear Sophie saying that.
