Chapter Twenty-Eight

Stella set the coffee down in front of Zach’s friend. Whispers of unease bristled the hair on the back of her neck, but she tried to ignore the feeling. Same way you ignored Steven’s repeated protests that everything was okay. Ignoring her gut had never worked out any better than following her heart. She hadn’t heard from Zach in hours and though he’d said he was fine when he left, she knew he’d been less than honest about that. The worry in his eyes and the rigid set of his shoulders made her certain there was more to it than his concern for a friend.

“Thank you. I knew your father,” Andrew said, picking up the ceramic mug and wrapping his hands around it.

Her heart muscles tightened, but it was more anticipation than sadness. She was growing to like other people’s versions of her father. “How?”

“I’d asked more than once if he wanted to partner up. Perhaps do some cross-promotional events. Pet Central prides itself on innovative techniques and community partners.”

He said the words like he had memorized them rather than felt them. Since Andrew was acting like she hadn’t learned of the news story—which she wouldn’t have if not for Zach—Stella acted as if she didn’t.

She thought back to the pile of “offers” she’d sorted through and shredded. Pet Central had been in that pile. She was glad she never gave in to the urge to take a quick fix way out of the mess. And not just because of Zach or the current headlines. She’d held strong and the clinic was bouncing back thanks to hard work. Team work. Best of all, it was hers. And Zach’s. Theirs. Ours. The word sent a series of flutters through her body.

“You said you worked overseas with Zach?”

Andrew nodded. He stared into his mug, and Stella wondered how much longer Zach would be. “I did. He’s an excellent vet. A good man.”

“He is.”

There was more, but he kept his eyes on his coffee. Nacho came up, sniffed at him. He set his drink down and rubbed the dog’s head. Soda joined them, vying for her share of attention.

“Gorgeous animals. All I ever wanted to do was help animals. Make a difference. Working with pets is like working with children, you know? They can’t speak up for themselves. They need advocates and caregivers.”

Stella smiled, rubbed Soda’s back the way he liked. “That’s a good way to put it.”

“I got lost. I’m sorry I brought Zach into that.”

Her stomach clenched tightly, and Soda whined, nuzzled her palm, like she could read the tension that coated her from his words. The front door closed, and she heard his boot steps even as the dogs rushed the door.

“Stella?”

She knew his voice, his footsteps. Both were heavy and it made her stomach feel the same.

“Do you have company?” He stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, the dogs at his sides. Like they accepted his place here. “Andrew.”

His friend stood, turned to Zach, who came to Stella’s side. She watched as shock, anger, and worry collided in Zach’s expression while he looked at Andrew. When his gaze turned to her, there was so much regret in it, her knees almost buckled.

“Sorry to drop in like this,” Andrew said, a tight smile stretching his features.

“I’ve been calling you. I went to your house,” Zach said.

Stella was surprised by the venom in his voice. She’d never heard that tone from him and was about to say something when Andrew stood.

“Zach.”

The two men stared at each other, and Stella’s pulse raced. This was more than eye contact between them. It was silent messages that flipped Stella’s stomach upside down.

“Should I give you two some privacy?” She stood.

They weren’t touching now, just standing side by side, but Stella felt Zach’s tension as clearly as if his arms were wrapped around her body. Something was wrong. She breathed through her nose, forcing the worst-case scenarios to take a back seat.

“It might be best, Zach,” Andrew said.

Zach reached for Stella’s hand and linked their fingers. The pressure settled her stomach. “No. Stella and I are partners.”

Turning his back on his friend, Zach bent his knees to look at her. She couldn’t see Andrew through Zach’s body, but even with the illusion of privacy, she sensed the other man’s restlessness.

“What’s going on?” she whispered.

“I let you down,” he said clearly.

Her heart dropped into her stomach like a hammer coming down. “What?”

“I couldn’t get access to my money right away. The bank wasn’t able to let me borrow against my properties or cash out the investment.”

Stella kept her breath steady. Okay. So he’d gotten a loan? She’d tried to do the same.

“I borrowed the money from Andrew.”

She stepped back even as she opened her mouth to gasp. No sound came out, and she felt like she was choking on dry air. She pointed around him. “That Andrew? The one currently embroiled in a public scandal? You let me put his money into my father’s clinic when you knew how much I didn’t want outside help?”

“Stella,” he said, the emotion in his voice cracking her heart. “I’m sorry. I’m going to fix it.”

“How?” She stepped back farther. “How could you possibly fix it?” She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to press the ache back inside.

Zach turned to Andrew. “I’ll have your money for you soon. Very soon. There’s no record of anything which I’m guessing you thought was smart thinking on your part but wasn’t. You can’t prove any financial connection between us, and you sure as hell can’t connect any dots to this clinic. I’ll have the money wired to you, but I don’t ever want to see you again.”

Andrew’s face paled, and even though her own anger bubbled like a pot about to boil over, she felt a twinge of sympathy for the man. He looked ten years older than when he’d walked into the house.

“Believe it or not, the money isn’t why I was calling, or why I’m here. I need a favor.”

Zach’s harsh bark of laughter was as far from humorous as it could get. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. You want a favor? There was no way you didn’t know when you lent me the money that this storm was brewing, that it was coming right at you. You let me think you believed in me and the truth was, you were just looking to store a little cash for a rainy day. Off the books.”

Andrew let out a weary sigh, shoving both hands in his pockets. He didn’t deny anything Zach said and now, despite her anger, Stella’s sympathy tiptoed toward Zach. She knew what it was like to have someone special let her down. Use her. Walk away without a backward glance.

“I’m not proud of anything I did, but my faith in you was one hundred percent genuine. You are one of the best veterinarians I’ve ever worked with. You have more heart than anyone I’ve met. I wish I could say I was half the man you are, but I’m not. But I am sorry. Really damn sorry. And I hate asking you for anything, even my money back, but I need more than that. I need you to be a character witness and sign a document saying the money I gave you was not in connection with Pet Central. That it was a personal donation for a community project we’re working on together.”

Stella felt like she might throw up. She pressed her free hand to her stomach.

Zach put his hands to his hips and bent his head. When he lifted it, looked at Andrew, she could feel the anger vibrating off him.

“You want me to lie for you?”

“I need you to do me a favor, just as I did you one so you could be part of this…” Andrew stopped, gestured to the window in the direction of the clinic. “Part of this run-down practice you were desperate to join. It’s not a big deal, and there’s no reason to get all worked up. I just need a letter saying we’re in a partnership, it’s aboveboard and the money was donated from my own account. Then I’ll be out of your life.”

“Get out.” Zach’s voice shook, and Stella wrapped her arms around herself, trying to fight the chill she felt.

“Zach,” Andrew said, his tone pleading.

“Get the fuck out. I’ll wire your money to you. You don’t want me as a character witness, Andrew. Trust me on that. Because obviously, I never knew you at all.”

Stella’s heart clenched at the crestfallen look on Zach’s face. Though he clearly meant it, he didn’t feel good about it. And even now, while she worried the exact same thing was true of her—that she didn’t know Zach at all—she ached for him. Because she knew what it was like to be let down by someone you loved. Even though she’d promised herself it would never happen again, that too had been a lie. Standing here now, looking at Zach, seeing his pain and feeling it as her own, she knew she loved him. Once again, she’d chosen wrong. And the only person she had to blame was herself. She’d known better, and she’d fallen anyway.