Page 51 of The Little Things

I smiled at the praise, and at the easy way he touched me. “I appreciate you saying that, but I’m serious, Zach. I could be a much bigger asset to you in here than I am out there. Let me help. Please?”

He let out an exhale as his eyes danced across my face. “Okay, I’ll show you the ropes. If you make it so the only reason I ever need to come in here is to see you, and maybe feel you up a little, I’ll name our first-born child after you.”

The laugh that bubbled up from my chest slowly tapered off when I realized he wasn’t laughing with me.

“Speaking of kids, do you want them?” I choked on my own spit.

“Jeez, Zach, talk about zero to sixty in a minute.”

His arms tightened around me. “Told you, baby, there’s no rule saying how fast or slow we can go. I’m not sayin’ I want to knock you up right now, but I’d be lyin’ if I said I didn’t like the idea of seein’ you pregnant with my baby one day. So I have to know, do you see kids in your future?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Someday,” I sputtered. “Honestly, I haven’t given it a lot of thought, but I can see myself as a mom one day.” I quickly shook my head to clear it of the image that suddenly popped up. “But I don’t want to talk about that right now. I’m freaked out enough as it is. Talking about pregnancy and kids is going to make me spiral.”

He leaned back in the chair, taking me with him despite the ominous groan it let out. I made a mental note to replace that chair first thing. “What are you freaking out about?”

I let out a huff and chewed on my bottom lip nervously. “I’m scared about the party tonight.”

Zach’s brow furrowed. “What? Why? I told you, it’s not a big deal. They call it a party, but it’s really just the family and a few close family friends.”

“I know!” I cried. “That’s why I’m freaking out. I’ve—I’ve never had a guy take me home to meet his family before,” I admitted quietly.

“But, baby, you’ve met my entire family already. Many times.”

I smacked him on his rock-hard chest and shot him a glare. “You know what I mean. Yeah, I know them... as Rae Blackwell, ranch hand and housekeeper. When I show up there tonight, I’ll be there as Rae Blackwell, their only son’s girlfriend. What if... what if they don’t like the idea of us being together?”

He studied me for several seconds before dropping his head back on a long, deep belly laugh. I struggled in his lap, trying to get free, but he wouldn’t let go. “Baby,” he sputtered once he got ahold of himself. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“You can’t know that,” I said with a pout.

His grin was light and mischievous. “I can, actually. Grandma spilled the beans yesterday about two seconds after we walked out of the lodge, and I’ve already been fielding calls and texts from my mom and sister. Lennix is beside herself, and Mom keeps goin’ on about how happy she is that her son is dating the daughter of one of her best friends. Apparently it’s been a dream of hers for twenty-three years.”

My eyes widened, my lips parting. “Really?”

He chuckled, leaning in to nuzzle the crook of my neck. God, I loved it when he did that. “Really, Rae. My family only wants me to be happy, that’s all. And if you make me happy, they’re gonna love you.”

I let my eyes fall, watching my fingers as I anxiously toyed with the collar of his shirt. “You make it sound so easy.”

“That’s because it is.” Zach’s fingers pressed beneath my chin, tipping my face back up to his. “This place comes by its name honestly, Rae. It’s a safe haven for every person who sets foot on it. This place is big on second chances, and the minute you crossed under that wooden arch, your past was wiped clean. You won’t find any judgement here. As long as its where you want to be, you’ll belong. I want you to belong here, Rae. I want you to belong with me.”

My heart did summersaults in my chest. “I want that too.”

He pulled me in, bringing me close enough that he could brush his lips against mine. “Then that’s all that matters. Put everything else out of your head.”

It was easier said than done, but for him, I’d try my hardest.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Rae

The mirror above the bathroom sink wasn’t big enough for me to see much of myself in the reflection so I had to trust that everything worked. I’d resurrected one of the outfits from my old life, hoping to impress. I grabbed my lipstick and dabbed a bit more on the center of my puckered lips as a knock sounded on my front door.

Butterflies took flight in my belly as I looked toward the front of the cabin and pulled in a steadying breath before heading in that direction. Zach stood on the other side of the door, dressed in a navy button-down and a pair of jeans that were substantially less faded than his usual ones. His boots were fancier than the ones he wore for work and buffed to a shine instead of covered in dust.

His clean-cotton scent was still there, but it was combined with a hint of spice and amber from his cologne that made me all tingly and warm.

“Wow,” I said on a gust of air. “You look...” I didn’t have the proper words to finish that sentence.

“Goddamn, baby. Right back at you.” The air around us sparked with electricity as his lids lowered like they had weights tied to them. His gaze went molten, lighting me up from the inside. “That dress should be illegal.” His nostrils flared, reminding me of a bull only seconds away from charging.

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