Cementing her to him...forever.
* * *
Zach's eyes opened when he heard the click of the bathroom door the next morning...then the unmistakable turn of the lock.
In the military he'd trained himself to be instantly alert upon awakening, but the habit wasn't always beneficial in civilian life. For instance, at the moment, his clear mind began to play last night over and over and over again. Which wasn't what he wanted.
The feelings and memories urged him to get his naked ass out of bed and into the shower with her. If only he hadn't heard the telltale sound of the lock shutting him out.
So instead he covered his naked ass with a clean pair of jeans and headed downstairs for some coffee. At least he didn't run into the proprietress first thing-which was good for her. He wasn't in the mood to deal with Gladys before getting in a good shot of caffeine. The breakfast room was empty, though there were pans of fresh rolls and biscuits on the sideboard, and the dark smell of his favorite breakfast brew permeated the room.
The hot black coffee distracted him from what he would say to Sadie when she appeared, what he would do from this point onward.
Her agreement with the Blackstones meant he couldn't ignore her, couldn't get away. She hadn't been the clingy type-now or in the past. But he could honestly say this wasn't a situation he was used to being in with women.
His relationships since he'd been home from the air force had been few and far between. They weren't really relationships, per se. Life had been too full of obligations and change to indulge in something that required that level of commitment-and he'd never felt the urge for more than a good time.
Except with Sadie.
A flicker of movement in his peripheral vision had him looking to the doorway. Sadie straightened her gray sweater, smoothing it down over jeans-clad hips in the barest flicker of nerves. Then she continued into the room and joined him at his table. Her smile was artificial, but it highlighted the bow curve of her upper lip-the same lip that had felt so soft and hungry beneath his own the night before.
"Are you hungry?" Sadie asked quietly, tentatively testing the waters. "Gladys's husband makes some incredible cinnamon rolls."
"I'm definitely not a man to turn down good food. My mama will testify to that," he said.
She waved him back as he started to rise, so he watched as she filled two plates with rolls and some fruit. Then she lifted a large metal lid and the smell of meat filled the air. She added a couple of slices of bacon to his plate. She'd remembered. He was an avid bacon lover.
Had she learned that so well in the week they'd danced around each other before giving in to their passion?
She laid the plate before him in silence, then fixed her own cup of coffee, doctored with sugar and a liberal dose of cream. This was a natural rhythm that he'd noticed from her before. Just like at the mill, where efficiency in a large-scale task seemed routine for her, so he'd also found her to take charge of these little, everyday domestic tasks, too. Not in an overbearing way, but with a calm efficiency that matched her approach to life in general-at least, as far as Zach could tell.
And probably a way to make herself more comfortable around here.
After she was seated, she drew a long sip from the blue-glazed pottery mug. He munched on bacon, but theirs wasn't a comfortable silence. He sensed Sadie wanted to say something, and wondered idly if he was facing the Dear John conversation he hadn't been subjected to the last time. Odd how the thought bothered him.
He would have preferred not to care one way or another.
"I didn't plan on that, you know," she said, her usual quiet, even tone belying the anxiety with which she stared at her food.
"I know." He noticed the slight puffiness along her upper cheekbone and the fresh bandage on her cheek.
She took another sip, her gaze still trained on her plate.
The least he could give her was honesty. "Neither did I. That wasn't why I brought you home."
Suddenly her gaze snapped up, and he found himself entranced by her brilliant green eyes. How could such a clear color hide so many secrets from him?
They both started as something heavy landed on the table. Zach had been so lost in their stilted conversation that he hadn't noticed the approach of Gladys. He glanced up, sure his expression portrayed just how much he appreciated her intrusion.
"Why, Sadie, you didn't mention you would have a visitor for...breakfast."
The overly long pause told Zach that Gladys was fishing. She must not have noticed him making his way downstairs earlier-surprising for a woman who seemed to know everything.
"Sorry, Gladys," Sadie said.
"Well, how lucky for me that it's Zachary Gatlin."
Zachary couldn't imagine a time when Gladys had ever been that happy to see him, except when she hoped to get a juicy bit of gossip. He looked up with an arched brow. This might be more interesting than he'd thought. "And why would that be?" Zach didn't believe in beating around the bush.
"Why, I get to be the first to congratulate you."
"On what, exactly?" There hadn't been a lot happening worthy of celebration lately.
"On being officially cleared for the cotton poisoning, of course."
She tapped the newspaper she'd dropped on the table with a well-manicured finger. The top headline read, Founding Family Son Charged in Mill Bombing. Zach was still trying to put the pieces together when Sadie picked up the top section of the paper. Zach didn't need to read it. He already knew who was to blame. Which was a perk of being part of the inner Blackstone circle.
Sadie seemed to be devouring the text. Zach watched her for a moment, then glanced up at Gladys as she continued to stand next to the table.
"Isn't it great, Zach?" she asked with a gleam in her eye that said she couldn't wait to be on the phone the minute she had something to pass along. If he didn't give her something, she'd just make up something interesting. Of course, the fact that Zach was here, and had probably come down from Sadie's room, would be the first thing she'd offer.
"Yes, Gladys. It's very nice."
Even though I shouldn't need the validation of being proven innocent. His sister, his mother, Jacob and his new employers all believed in him, even when the evidence had been totally damning. Those were the people that mattered.
So he kept it simple.
As Gladys headed back to the kitchen with a disappointed look on her face, Zach turned to find Sadie's eyes on his. "Why blow her off like that?"
"Because she's looking for a scoop, something to share with the grapevine."
Sadie nodded. Her guarded expression held a hint of sadness, as if she understood his need to protect himself. But what he really wanted to know was what she hid behind the mask...and whether he would regret last night if he found out her true secrets.
Eight
"I'll finish getting ready."
At least, that's what Sadie told Zach to get a few minutes alone in her room. She needed to make a phone call before Zach took her anywhere this morning. Since her car was still at the mill, she didn't have any choice but to get a few things in order and hitch a ride into town.
Luckily, Zach hadn't pushed anything after their conversation at breakfast. She'd had the distinct impression he'd just as soon step out in the parking lot and get out of ready reach of Gladys. Not that she could blame him.
She was well acquainted with people who blamed first and asked questions later.
Sadie also loved the people who pretended she didn't exist, because it was easier than having to be polite.
Not that she was in a position to judge. As she picked up her phone, she was all too aware of that fact.
"I need a new camera," she said without preamble when Victor picked up.
He wasn't thrilled-not that she'd thought he would be. "What the heck does that have to do with me?" he asked.
Sadie explained how the camera had been shattered when she'd dropped it, then the falling debris had finished the job.
"My question stands."
"A photographer has a camera. A nice camera."
"Then I guess you should have held on to yours."
Why did she bother explaining anything to this guy? "According to our contract, you are responsible for all business expenses, including a camera. I could have considered it a regular expense, but it's not, so I'm actually giving you the courtesy of informing you that you need to pay for it." Sadie had covered every loophole she could think of in the deal with Victor. It was all completely spelled out in black and white. And he'd needed her, so he'd signed.
"So sue me."
"If you don't pay, I'll just have to wait for the insurance claim. They'll take care of it...eventually. But it will mean a delay-"
"Fine. What am I getting for my generosity?"