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“I can wait so you don’t have to walk back.” We were speaking in hushed tones, like Zara and Emma were little children, worn out after a big day.
“No need, I’ve got a flashlight on my phone. It’s just next door, I’ll be fine to walk back when I know Emma’s okay.” She reached a hand into her bag. “Get Zara inside, give her two of these and some water.” She handed me a bottle of aspirin and a second one of water. “Here’s her bag. Keys are in the front pocket. I’ll be back to keep an eye on her in no time.”
“Okay. You really can handle your liquor, can’t you?”
She shrugged, grinned again in the mirror. “What can I say. It’s a gift.” She slid out of the car, pulling Emma gently with her. “Come on, hot stuff, let’s get you inside.” I watched until they were inside, then threw the truck in reverse, pressing gently on the brakes when Zara moaned.
“You okay?”
She was leaning her head against the window, her hands over her stomach. “I think I might throw up.” I opened the window slightly to allow in some fresh air and she took a deep breath. Then another. “No, false alarm. I’m okay. I think.” She leaned back against the head rest, her eyes closed. “You can drive.” Easing carefully up the drive, I glanced at Zara, biting her lip as I turned onto the main road. She was already half asleep again when I pulled up in her drive and she stumbled when I opened the passenger door and helped her out. Catching her quickly, I put my arm around her waist, holding her up, then with her head on my shoulder, half carried her to the front door. It was a little tough to hold her up, fish her keys out of her handbag and unlock the front door, but once I got her inside, I propped her up against the table in the entrance hall and steadied her as she moaned again. I sent Ally a silent thank you when I pulled the water bottle and aspirin out of my pocket.
“You gonna let it go?” She shook her head and I felt a twinge of relief. It had been a long day and cleaning up vomit was not really how I wanted to end it. I popped the aspirin bottle open and placed two of them in her hand. “Take these. You’ll thank me in the morning.” She eyed them suspiciously and I smiled. “Aspirin.” I opened the water bottle and handed it to her, happy when she took the aspirin and drank a decent amount of water.
Handing me back the bottle, she folded her arms across her middle and said unhappily, “I just want the room to stop spinning.” Falling forward against me, she rested her forehead on my chest and sighed when I rubbed my hands up and down her arms.
“I know, I know. Maybe you’ll feel better if you lie down.” When she nodded, I led her down the hall to her bedroom. She let out a gusty sigh as she flopped on the bed, before hastily sitting up again and pressing a hand to her stomach. “More water?” She nodded, wincing and I hurried back to the hall to grab it from where I’d left it in the front hall. She took it gratefully, drinking deeply while I knelt down to remove her boots. Taking the bottle from her, I put it on the bedside table, pulled the comforter back, said, “In you get,” and pulled it over her when she climbed in. Lying back on the pillow, Zara reached up and trailed her fingers down my cheek. I stilled, looking down at her.
“Matthew…” Myriad emotions flickered across her face. “I could fall in love with you,” she said softly. I felt the breath whoosh from my lungs and my heart tighten painfully. “But don’t worry, I won’t.” Turning on her side, she burrowed in. “I know you don’t want me to.”
I had absolutely nothing to say to that, so I just bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Go to sleep.” She closed her eyes obediently and was out for the count before I’d even switched off her bedroom light. I barely had time to collect my thoughts on my way to the entranceway when I saw Ally coming in the front door.
“Sorry I took so long. Had a bit of a mess to clean up.”
“Oh no, is she okay?”
Ally shrugged, her eyes twinkling. “She will be... Eventually.”
I chuckled.
“Zara?”
“Asleep. No vomit, although it was touch and go there for a minute.” I fished my car keys from my pocket, juggled them in my hand for a moment while I considered what to say. “Hey, Ally?” She raised her brows inquiringly. “She’s probably not gonna remember much of tonight when she wakes up tomorrow. It might be best not to remind her.” She eyed me for a long moment, a neutral expression on her face. “I think it might…make her uncomfortable, that’s all.”
She nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. I submitted to her long, assessing look. “Well, I won’t say anything tomorrow morning, but we won’t be able to pretend she didn’t drop the bomb about you two. Your secret affair ship has sailed, I’m afraid.”
“I’m okay with that.”
Expecting her to push for more details, I felt a start of surprise when instead Ally said, “Is Jake okay?”
I took a moment to think it through, then shook my head. “No, not really.”
“Didn’t think so. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. Well, I’d better get going. I’ll see you later.”
She stepped aside to allow me to pass, then stopped me by putting her hand on my arm. “Please let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
I smiled at the earnest expression in her eyes. “I will, thanks. Good night.”
“Good night.”
I walked to my car, taking a deep, cleansing breath of the cold night air. “I could fall in love with you.”Jesus Christ. “But don’t worry, I won’t…I know you don’t want me to.”With each passing day that I spent with Zara, I was less and less sure that was true.
CHAPTER21
Zara
Bright fall sunshine flooded my bedroom, and I awoke with a groan. I hadn’t closed the blinds before going out. What an idiot. Sitting up with a wince, I pushed back the comforter, glancing down in surprise to see I was fully clothed. My boots had been placed neatly on the floor next to my bed. There was a full water bottle and two aspirins on the bedside table. I reached for them gratefully, taking a big drink. A knock came on my bedroom door, then Ally’s voice, calling softly.
