Chapter Fifteen

Zach didn’t mean to sneak up on her and he expected her to brush off her obvious emotion. She was more than a little sensitive about showing weakness. Instead, she gave him a luminous smile after he asked her if she was okay.

“I just came in to see if you needed anything else brought out,” he said, coming over to take the napkins and plates.

“That was thoughtful,” she said. He watched her visibly collect herself and didn’t mind. He knew a thing or two about wanting to control how people saw him. But he hoped, in time, around him, she’d feel like she didn’t have to put on a mask.

“My mother told me I wasn’t being a good host,” he said, making her smile.

He liked seeing her with her friends—people he knew she considered family. It was like seeing her with the animals.

“I like your mom.” She loaded up a tray with dressings, salt, pepper, and chips.

“The feeling is mutual.”

As they moved toward the door, she stopped and tipped her head up, looking at him. Fuck. He lived with her, saw her every day and still, every now and again, her beauty grabbed him by the throat.

“Shane seems nice,” Stella said.

“He is. He was in the army as well and loves animals and my mom, so it was pretty easy to make conversation with him.”

She continued to stare in that assessing way she had. “Easier than you thought it would be?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

She laughed, and he opened the door, gesturing for her to go first. They were an eclectic bunch, he thought, as they sat around a huge picnic-style table that was made from a long, refinished door.

“This table is incredible,” his mom said, beaming at Stella.

“Thanks. Taylor made it. She’s incredibly talented. She refinished the dresser in my bedroom as well,” Stella said.

Taylor blushed visibly. Her pale skin made it easy to see that compliments overwhelmed her. “It’s just a hobby.”

“Damn well shouldn’t be,” Dec said, dishing up a huge scoop of potato salad.

They passed the bowls around as Garrett and Parker put a steak on each plate.

“You know, someone with more manners might say something like, ‘it’s a shame to waste your talent, Taylor.’ Something a little less caveman-ish,” Adam said, grinning at his buddy.

Zach had spent enough time listening to the two rib each other while losing fifty bucks to them at their poker game to know that it was good-natured.

“Not all of us have your finesse with numbers and words, Klein,” Declan said.

Parker snorted out a laugh. “I’m sorry. Was that out loud?”

Garrett chuckled and leaned in to kiss his husband’s neck. “I’d be careful before you start teasing Adam about his finesse with words given that your proposal included the words ‘come on man, we totally should.’”

The group laughed, and Zach took a seat next to Stella, his thigh accidentally brushing hers. He ignored the electricity. Getting to this place with her where he was sharing her business, her home, and her friends—well, he’d been on the outside looking in for so long, he didn’t want to risk the feelings overwhelming him right now.

Declan turned to Taylor. “I apologize, Tay. Your work is exquisite, and I think your talent should be showcased to the masses.”

Megan bit her lip and stared at Adam, but the others laughed.

“You’re a jackass,” Adam said.

“Aw, there’s that finesse you speak of, Gar,” Stella said.

“Speaking of furniture, I’d love to replace a couple of things at our place,” Megan said.

“Like what?” Adam glanced at her as he cut into his steak.

“Nothing major. I was just thinking it would be nice for me to have my own desk. You know, for marking and stuff,” Megan said, taking a bite. She sighed in pleasure and looked at Parker. “You’re a genius with meat.”

The guys burst out laughing and Garrett slapped Parker on the back. “I tell him that all the time.”

“I like your chicken better, Uncle Parks,” Charlie said.

“Oh my,” Zach’s mom said, but her eyes were dancing, and Shane put a hand on her back and whispered something in her ear that made her chuckle.

They chatted over salads and steaks, sipping on the excellent craft beer Declan had brought. Charlie and Declan chatted about comic books while Taylor and Megan filled his mom in on the wedding and their recent shopping trip.

Stella, like Zach, ate quietly, taking it all in. The sky grew darker and the lanterns she had set up around the patio, along with the bulbs strung along the rail, lit the place up. The stars made their presence known, shining alongside the moon, and Zach held onto the moment. He’d landed exactly where he wanted. Looking around the table, his chest filled with satisfaction. With more than he’d expected. He didn’t want to mess this up. Stella nudged him with her knee.

“You okay?”

He looked down at her. “I’m good, Doc. Really good.”

Her gaze held his and for the first time since he’d met her, he noted that her eyes had lost the layer of exhaustion and worry. Damn if he didn’t feel a deep swell of pride for being part of that. And damn if he didn’t want to keep being the reason for the sated smile on her lips.