For Nick (9 page)

“IT does, IT can have a sense of humor too, if he really tries. He actually likes you, you know. He just doesn’t trust you. Don’t feel bad, he doesn’t trust anyone. He doesn’t even trust me with my own money.”

“He’s very loyal to you.”

“Yes.”

“Are
you
happy, Zach? I mean, surely you have some women friends who would’ve been willing to be your wife for a year.”

“Too messy, too emotional,” he said at once. “And yes, I’m happy that I have you.” He hesitated. “Were you happy in your first marriage, Andie?” It was a quick change of subject.

“Yes, we were happy. We had some issues though.”

“Who doesn’t?”

“True, but if he hadn’t passed, I sometimes wonder if we would have made it.” Andie closed her eyes and wished for something more in life than a business arrangement.

“I’m sorry.”

“Were you happy, Zach?”

Abruptly, he looked away and sat up. “Yeah.” He didn’t elaborate.

Conversation over and out.

After dinner that evening, Zach remarked, “A
dizzyingly delightful day
.”

Andie smiled. “C
ontinuously
cool company
.” They both laughed at their strange penchant for alliterations.

“I don’t feel sleepy at all after our leisurely day of sunbathing. I need to do something active. How about a game of
Yahtzee
?”

Andie raised an eyebrow at him “Perfect. Whenever I need to work out, I always feel better after a mean game of
Yahtzee
. Who needs a treadmill?”

Zach froze and eyed her with mock disdain. “I believe you are making fun of me, Mrs. Drake.”

“I don’t make fun at other people’s expense. That would be mean. C’mon, let’s break a sweat and roll some dice.”

Zach threw his head back and laughed, surprising her just a little. Without consulting her, Zach started a fire. They sat on the floor in front of the fireplace playing game after game, trying to find a winner, but only tying-up the score each time. All the while they laughed raucously as if something was hilariously funny. Nothing was, but Zach had a weird effect upon her. She actually felt happy with him and the feeling made her want to laugh, just for the heck of it. What was his excuse?

Andie studied him as he was lost in thought, deciphering the dice, trying to figure out what would be the wisest move and she didn’t know what came over her, but she reached out and tweaked his nose. It surprised him and without missing a beat, he returned the favor by reaching out and tweaking her nose. She scoffed at him and retaliated by reaching out with both of her hands and running them over his scalp in a fast circular motion until his hair stood on end. His mouth hung open in shock. She reached over and pushed on his chin, closing his mouth. He did as he’d done the first time—he retaliated without hesitation. He did the same to her hair, until it was a snarled mess. Then they behaved as if they were two kids in a fight, each trying to one-up the other, each trying to have the last word or in this case, have the last move. She pushed his shoulder, he pushed her shoulder. She tickled his stomach, he tickled her stomach. She pinched his cheek, he pinched her cheek. By this time, they were laughing along with each attack and eagerly awaiting the next move. She picked up a pillow from the couch and walloped him smack-dab in the face. He retrieved a pillow from the couch and did the same to her. She hit him again and said, “I win.” She then turned and ran up the stairs with Zach hot on her heels. He clobbered her with his pillow while she was still in the hallway. He ducked into one of the bedrooms and she followed only to find he was hiding behind the door and he got her really good right on top of the head. He then said, “I win,” and turned and ran.

“You’d better run, Zachary Drake,” she said as she walked through the hallway wondering where he was hiding. Cautiously, she entered another one of the bedrooms and found him sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs, fake snoring as if he was fast asleep. His pillow sat on his lap.

Cocky little sneak
.

She chose to attack immediately rather than wait and ponder her options. She got him four times before he knew what hit him and then it was all out war as they hammered each other with pillows, stealing them from the bed and sending them flying. Their strength diminished with each hit as their laughter increased. In the end, he tackled her to the ground and held her arms down. “I win,” he said, his face close to hers. Andie could hardly catch her breath and she struggled to break free and grab her pillow. As their struggling and laughter faded, they were left with the knowledge that they were in an extremely intimate position. Their smiles faded and for a few moments, they simply looked upon each other.

Zach broke the unexpected contact and helped her up, the odd moment quickly forgotten. They caught sight of themselves in the mirror and laughed until their faces nearly turned blue. They were a sight, hair and clothing askew, and the room looked as if world war three had taken place. They tidied up together, occasionally smacking each other with a pillow. Finally Zach declared, “I give already. I’m exhausted. How about a movie?”

They watched another movie, this time snuggled up on the couch together as if it was something they did every night. She was comfortable with him, surprisingly so. Andie hadn’t expected to like him as much as she did. He was easy to get along with, to talk with, and just to be with. She’d thought him daunting and unapproachable and found him to be quite the opposite.

After slowly climbing the stairs, they stopped at the door to her room. They studied each other for a long moment.

“Goodnight, Andie.”

“Goodnight, Zach.”

He really was going to wait for her to initiate something more between them. He was a man of his word. The thought left her with the knowledge that she had chosen wisely. He wasn’t going to pressure her into a physical relationship with him, even though they were married, even though they were alone in this house and he could take advantage of her if he was so inclined. In the back of her mind, she had wondered if she would have to fight him off at some point. But that wasn’t the kind of man he was.

And for that she was eternally grateful.

He waited a few more moments and when she didn’t move, he nodded, turning towards his room.

“Zach,” she stopped him.

“Yes?”

“Watch out for elephants.”

His laughter echoed through the house as he closed his door softly.

The next morning at breakfast Zach said, “Want to go for a drive today?”

It was Monday, the beginning of their week together. Andie had expected a week of solitude and was surprised at this turn of events. “That sounds fun…and warmer.”

The early July weather was gorgeous. They spent the day driving around the lake, admiring the beautiful scenery. It was a light and easy afternoon, the conversation natural and lazy, the silences comfortable. Andie felt at ease with Zach.

“Chinese or Mexican?” he asked at lunch.

They both chose Mexican.

“Stay in the car or get out and hike?” he questioned at a scenic overlook.

They both chose to hike.

“Sun or shade?” he queried when they took a break.

They both chose to bask in the sun.

When they stopped for ice cream, they both chose chocolate chip cookie dough. Two scoops. Their likes were eerily similar and it made Andie look at him with new eyes. Their mutual dislikes were even more uncanny. They both hated seafood, reality TV, and anything involving pumpkin. They both refused to speak to annoying telemarketers, and they despised people who read the last page of a book first.

By the time they made it back to the house it was early evening. Janine had dinner ready for them and then once again left to be with her own family. They stayed at the table for a long time, lingering over dinner.

“I can’t really say I was expecting to enjoy myself during this trip, but today was fun. Thanks, Zach.”

Andie had to admit, she was a little worried about this ‘business relationship.’ It didn’t feel like business. Not at all. As a matter of fact, it was beginning to feel as though they were dating. They were definitely becoming friends—and that was exactly what worried her. She was beginning to feel attached.

“You’re welcome.” Zach smiled slowly. “I wasn’t sure what to expect either.”

“How about another game?” Zach asked, needing to distract himself somehow. All he could think about was pressing his lips to hers and seeing what happened next. But he couldn’t make the first move. If anything was going to happen between them, it had to come from her. Otherwise she’d lose all trust in him. Andie was right, neither one of them had expected a friendship to develop between them, especially so quickly. It was a pleasant surprise.

As Andie smiled back at him, Zach found himself watching her dimples. They were the cutest things he’d ever seen.

I want heeerrr.

Her blue eyes practically jumped out at him, they were so startlingly blue. Mixed with her dark hair, she was quite lovely. He was finding that she was quite lovely on the inside too.

“Okay,” she said with enthusiasm, telling him she didn’t want to retire for the night either.

“
Uno
sound good?”

“Do you allow matching?”

“Absolutely.”

“Stacking?”

“Of course.”

“Then, yes.”

They flicked on the radio and played till the wee hours of the morning.

“I love this song. I can’t stand it anymore, let’s dance,” Zach said after they’d been sitting for much too long. He held out his hand to Andie.

“Dance?” she asked quizzically.

“Yeah, c’mon, it’ll be fun,” Zach coaxed.

“I’m not a very good dancer.”

“It’s not about good, it’s about fun. I think
you
are in desperate need of a little fun in your life. Am I right?” Zach asked, hoping he wasn’t pushing her too far.

Andie studied him with furrowed eyebrows for a moment and he was sure she was going to decline. But then a smile broke out on her face and she said, “Okay.”

She placed her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet. They began to dance, a little stiltedly at first. Zach grabbed her other hand and pulled her around the room, twirling her on occasion. Andie warmed up to the idea quickly. She didn’t act self-conscious or embarrassed; she went along with his antics as if she enjoyed it as much as he did.

When the song came to a close, they both sat down to continue their game as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

“Where’d that dorky couple go who were just dancing around the room?” Andie asked, her expression deadpan.

Zach made a show of looking around. “Don’t know. Glad they’re gone. Weirdos. They embarrassed themselves.”

“I know, right?”

The process repeated itself three more times, initiated once by Andie herself. Each time their dancing became more and more inventive—and silly—as they made each other laugh with their moves.

“You’re good. You ought to dance with
Ellen
, Zach.”

He chuckled at the comment.
Ellen
often broke out dancing during her talk show. He’d only seen it once or twice, but found her hilarious. “A woman after my own heart,” he replied.