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“Hold on a sec.” Crystal put the lid on the cup and went to the door. She swung it open and froze at the sight of Zach, standing on the other side.
Her heart jump-started, and her mouth went dry. A million questions zipped through her brain. How did he know where to find her, and why had he come?
She blinked and shook her head. Seeing him in his familiar olive T-shirt and khaki pants made her pulse race. She tamped down the urge to fall into his arms because she was still mad at him.
He rubbed his jaw. “Can we please talk?”
Numb from shock, her brain had frozen along with her body, and she needed a second to think. “How did you know I was here?”
“Jenna called and told me.”
So, that’s why she’d stopped hounding Crystal about Zach. He’d traveled a long way, and he rarely left the park. Whatever caused him to fly out to see her must be important.
“Come in.” She stepped aside, and he entered. Shutting the door, she took a deep breath and tried to clear her mind. “What’s going on?”
He cocked his head and frowned. “First of all, are you okay? You look…tired.”
No kidding. Wiped out from lack of sleep and food, sick over missing him, she’d finally pulled herself back together. Butit had taken a toll. And BAM, here he was plucking at her heartstrings again.
“I’m fine.” Her gaze raked up and down him. She wasn’t the only person who’d lost some weight, and he had dark circles under his eyes. “You’re the one who looks exhausted. Is there something wrong?”
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Everything.”
Concern ripped through her. Was he sick? Had there been a tragedy? “What happened?”
He paced the room. “I’m sorry for not telling you what I knew about the contract. I swear it wasn’t intentional.”
“I’m starting to realize that.”
“Wait, you are?”
“Yeah. It just hurt because I felt betrayed, and not for the first time.” There, she’d said it. “People have misled and taken advantage of me my entire life, and you were the one person I trusted.”
“I’m sorry.” He crossed the room and stopped in front of her. “I came here to apologize in person because you won’t take my calls.”
She had to admit he’d gone the extra mile, and guilt gripped her. “I’m sorry for leaving without saying goodbye, but I was upset. I never meant for you to fly all the way out here to apologize. It means a lot.”
He studied the floor before facing her again. “That’s not the only reason I came.”
“It’s not?” Her pulse skittered.
“No.” He reached a hand toward her face, then pulled it back. “Like I said, nothing’s been the same since you left.” He paced again. “I don’t see things the way I used to. I miss your laugh, your antics, and the way you kept me…I don’t know.”
“I don’t understand. I thought I drove you up the wall.”
“Yeah, well, maybe I miss that too.” He paused, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m not used to talking about feelings, but there’s something I need to say.”
Her chest fluttered. Where was this going? “Okay.”
“You don’t see what I see in you, and you don’t give yourself enough credit.”
“What do you see?”
His brows knitted. “I see someone who takes on challenges when she hits rock bottom. Someone who helped a rebellious teenager turn her life around. Someone who stayed up late to paint a guest room for a woman she’d just met.”
Tears blurred Crystal’s vision. Somehow, being away from Hollywood had given her strength she never knew she possessed, and Zach had seen the real her.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” He reached out again, and this time he stroked her cheek. “Someone who docks her own pay to protect an innocent girl from public humiliation.”
