Page 82 of Learning at 40

Suddenly, Zack steps out on the front porch, hearing my voice or maybe the sharp slam of my car door.

“River, we need to talk,” Daniel states, and Zack is quickly at my side.

“If you have something to say, you have her lawyers to contact,” Zack interjects. My mouth falls open, but Daniel steps in.

“I thought you were her lawyer.”

My head turns, wondering how Zack will respond to this after he made his grand entrance through the trees the last time Daniel was present.

“I am.”

Daniel scoffs. “You’re just the neighbor or some other bloke looking to get in her pants and steal this house.”

First, I hate how Daniel has hit on something that’s been at the forefront of my thoughts this week, but what happens next, I never expected. Zack has Daniel’s collar in his hand so fast, and his fist pressed up to his chin with that shirt in his fingers.

“Speak like that again about her, and you’ll be hearing from me as more than her lawyer.” His tone turns deadly serious.

“Meaning?” Daniel scoffs.

“I’ll bury you, your career, and your company.” For some reason, I’m convinced Zack can do it even though his father was the one ruined by Quincy.

“Do I need a restraining order on you?” Zack adds next. Daniel’s eyes shift to me, but Zack presses upward at his chin, and Daniel has his hands wrapped around Zack’s wrist. “Don’t look at her.”

“Zack,” I whisper. Not one prone to violence, I’m surprisingly flattered by this display of possession and protection.

His head tilts to glance at me. “What? You did everything for his father in the end.” He shifts back to Daniel, a man much older than Zack, and growls. “Where were you when your father needed you?”

“What do you know about it?” Daniel hisses.

Zack doesn’t pause. “Everything.” Slowly, Zack lowers his fist and releases Daniel’s shirt, pushing at Daniel at the same time he takes a step back.

“Get the fuck out of here. I see you one more time on this property or hear you contacted River one more time, that restraining order will be a real thing. And that’s public record, so if you’re so worried about your company and scandal like I’m certain you are, you might want to think twice.” Zack pauses for a second. “How are you going to explain to the shareholders you’re harassing a woman who inherited your father’s house because you and your dipshit siblings couldn’t care enough to grant a dying man his wish?”

“You don’t know anything,” Daniel snaps, but Zack does know the story, and I’m curious if he might be commenting on a little more than Daniel’s lacking reconciliation with his father. Perhaps he’s reconsidering his absent reunion with his own father.

“Get off this property,” Zack demands, pulling out his phone like he’s ready to call the police. He didn’t even threaten his own father in that manner, and I wonder why not?

After a final scathing glance at me, we remain on the drive as Daniel stalks off.

“What a fucking douchebag,” Zack mutters under his breath as Daniel drives off in his sporty car.

“Where did all that come from?” I question, turning to him.

“I told you, I want to give you everything. That means keeping you safe and protected from assholes like him.”

Licking my lips, I chew at the corner. “About that—” I’m cut off from speaking the rest of my thought when Zack’s hands cup my jaw, and he kisses me fierce and fast.

“The boys are over at Anna’s. We have two hours until they come back.”

“I—” It’s evident Zack wants to rush upstairs and have sex, but I just can’t get on the same page.

With his hands sliding down to my shoulders, he pauses and ducks his head when I don’t respond in agreement with his eagerness. “What’s wrong?”

“I . . . Let me change. I just need to shake that off.” I tip my head toward the road where Daniel exited, but I also need to get my head on straight. Zack’s brows pinch, disappointment on his face, but he nods.

“I’ll pour you some wine and meet you on the lounger in ten.”

Weakly, I smile at him before turning for the house, feeling his eyes on my back.