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Zach shrugs, picking a scone from the bag. “Holly told me it’s your favorite.”
More tears spill from my eyes, wetting my cheeks, as I watch him tuck a napkin in Ray’s shirt. When I sniff, Zach’s gray eyes meet mine.
“Hope.” He lightly pats on my hand. “Gigi is going to be okay. Everything will be fine. I’m here.”
And when he gives me his seductive lopsided smile this time, my constricting heart gallops out of my throat, shooting a shiver through my body.
What the hell was that?
Mom is finally movedto a recovery room. She woke up for a few minutes, but soon went back to sleep. The nurses tell me this is normal and next time she’ll be up for a longer period of time.
Ray is watchingArthuron Zach’s iPad and hasn’t left my side for a minute.
When Dr. Gupta visited Mom an hour ago, I had no clue what to ask. I’m still wrapping my head around everything and how to deal with it, but Zach took lead and asked all the relevant questions that didn’t even occur to me. I realize today there’s so much more to him beyond his playful, and at times ridiculous, personality.
“How can I help, Hope?” I look at this man, who was a stranger to me weeks ago but is slowly becoming such an important part of my life.
Though, I’m still undecided where I should place him.
Is he a friend?
Is he my son’s friend?
Or is he someone who’s justfriendlyto all of us until he finds something more exciting and shiny to fill his time?
I look back at him and his expression is the sincerest I have ever seen.
I struggle with what to say and ask. I can be stubborn as always and decline his help, but I also know Zach is here because he cares about us, about Mom.
Moreover, I know I can’t do this alone. Ineedhis help.
“I can’t keep Ray here all the time. He’s done well so far, but soon he’ll get cranky and bored. I also need to finish my baking orders for tomorrow. They cut my pay today, but I can’t afford that every day.”
“They cut your pay?” Zach growls loud enough for Ray to turn his attention momentarily from the screen to us. “What the hell?”
I shrug, already making a mental list of items that I already have at home, and what I need to buy—until I remember something. “Oh my God. Mr. Stanley! I forgot about him. He’s alone at home.”
Crap! The poor pup must be hungry and wanting to go out. He’s been inside since last night.
Zach pulls my hand down as I was about to smack my forehead for being so irresponsible. He puts his arm around my shoulders and his soft fingers tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Calm down, Hope. I’ll take care of that and everything else.”
My breath hitches at his unexpected action and my wide eyes follow his moves as I’m almost stunned in place.
“Do you trust me?” he asks in a serious voice.
Dazed, I nod. A familiar mischievous grin plays on his lips when he pulls back and leaves the room with his phone held close to his ear.
It takes me a while to find my bearings and for my racing heart to calm down.
What…what just happened?
Holy crap! This...man.
He knows what he did to me.
He’s aware of the effect he has on women.
Stupid. Stupid, Hope. I don’t even know what all I agreed to when I told him I trusted him.
