Chapter 9
G ina’s horrified expression almost made Zack laugh. What on earth did she think he was about to propose? To put her out of her misery, he said, “Luca was telling me you make the best fruit cake. I was thinking a slice would make up for you picking him up late.”
Her shoulders lowered, and her eyes went back to their normal size. Amusement played around her mouth. “You obviously come cheap.”
“Don’t be so sure about that.” He wriggled his eyebrows. “I could up that to two slices and a date with me.”
Gina’s smile widened and her eyes gleamed. “What makes you think I’d go out with you?”
“Do I need to say it?” He hiked one eyebrow and leaned against the counter.
She took a step back. “A little arrogant, aren’t you?”
Shaking his head, Zack said, “Not at all. I’m observant, but not pushy. If you care to, you’ll admit there’s a little something here for us to explore. That’s if you’re not married.”
“Why would you think that?”
His gaze shot to her hand and Gina said, “Ahhh.”
Quirking his lips, Zack dipped his head. “Yes, the ring.”
After releasing a soft exhale, she said, “My husband died.”
“I’m sorry.”
She hugged herself, then said, “Thank you.”
Knowing he’d feel awful, not to mention boorish for going back to the discussion about a date, he veered in another direction. “Your son is bright and quite curious about the computer.”
“Speaking of which, I think you should check that he’s not touching anything he shouldn’t. It’s taking him too long to come back.”
“You’re right. Give me a minute.”
He barely took two steps before Luca returned, laden with his bags. “I can’t wait for tomorrow, Uncle Zack. Mommy, can you pick me up late again?”
“It doesn’t work like that, hon. I should have come for you more than an hour ago.”
“Uncle Zack won’t mind. He was teaching me all kinds of stuff.”
Gina took the knapsack from Luca. “And like I said, that’s not how this works.”
With his lips poked out Luca reminded Gina of her dad, who assumed that same expression when perplexed. “Then how does it go?”
Zack stooped to Luca’s height and gripped his shoulder. “Today was more of an exception than a rule. We can have more computer time, but during the day.”
As his face cleared, Luca asked, “You promise?”
“Yep.” Zack stood and ran one hand over Luca’s hair. “That’s what I do for a living when I’m not involved with little people.”
“And when you’re not being Santa.”
Gina’s gaze shot to Zack’s and he shook his head slightly, while struggling not to smile. Luca was a smart kid and had been trying to get him to admit he’d been playing Santa last week. He hadn’t given in so far.
She acknowledged his gesture with a slight nod and took Luca’s hand. “Thanks again. See you tomorrow.”
Zack walked them to the door and held it open. “Have a good evening.”
“You too.”
As she walked past, he murmured, “I haven’t forgotten about that date.”
Gina gave him a side-eye and retorted, “The one you didn’t actually ask me on?”
“Yeah, that one.”
“Ask me again sometime,” she said over her shoulder. “You never know what my answer may be.”
He stood with his back pressed to the door, watching Gina and Luca as they went down the steps. She placed Luca’s belongings next to him and ensured he was strapped in and comfortable before getting into the driver’s seat. As she drove out, Gina tapped the horn, and he lifted a hand in response.
While he gathered his laptop and Thermos, Zack’s mind stayed with Gina. She’d been tied up in knots over her situation, but he didn’t mind her lateness. Luca had told him a little about her that intrigued Zack more.
He knew Luca didn’t have a father before she told him. The boy also mentioned an Uncle Boyd that roused his curiosity. He couldn’t question Luca because that was a no-no, but he was desperate to know if that man was her brother or someone she was seeing.
He hoped it wasn’t the latter. On his way to the Maserati, the phone rang, and he pulled it out. Eli face appeared on the display. “What’s up? I hope you aren’t calling about work.”
“Since when do the hours matter to you? Did the kids wear you out?”
“Not exactly, but I’m just leaving Wintertime.”
“I hope you collected the late fee.”
“Nah. This was a first-timer who had some challenges today.”
“That’s how it starts, mi hermano.”
He set his laptop and flask on the seat behind him. “Not with this woman. She’s different.”
“Is that a hint of interest I hear in your voice? Liz would have something to say about you checking out the clients.”
He laughed. “I make an observation, and you assume I’m interested in this person?”
“Actually, I was judging by your tone of voice and the fact that no woman has turned your head for a while. A whole year, in fact.”
“It hasn’t been that bad.” Zack powered up the engine and let it idle.
“When was the last time you went out with anyone?”
“I’ve been working.”
He put the car in gear, drove out of the property, and pointed the remote at the gate. As it closed behind him, Zack connected the call to the car’s Bluetooth system. “I guess that’s the reason you haven’t been on a date lately either, huh?”
“My reasons are different.”
“Well, so are mine.”
“Bro, you need to get over Alana and let yourself love again.”
“I am over her.” He tapped the horn to thank the driver who stopped and allowed him onto the main road.
“Could that be why you’re locked away in the house, working every evening?”
The backed-up traffic ahead of him meant it would take him twice as long to get home. “I’m sure you didn’t call to harass me about my love life.”
Eli chuckled, then said, “Actually, I’m inviting you on a double date.”
“Aren’t we a bit too old for that?”
“I’m going out with someone I met in the building where I presented that proposal two weeks ago. And no, she’s not connected to the company.”
A horn blast drowned some of Eli’s words. “... I met her in the elevator, and we hit it off.”
“I’m not going out with you and some random woman and her friend.”
“You’re missing out, but that’s your choice.”
“Yep. I’ll arrange my own dates. Thank you very much.”
Eli huffed, as if Zack was a lost case. “Have it your way.”
“Definitely will.”
“Anyway, touch base with me when you get home. We need to talk coding.”
“Fine. Later then.”
He inched forward and disconnected the call. The person behind him tapped his horn. Zack didn’t see why, because the car in front of him wasn’t that far ahead. He kept a light foot on the gas as his mind wandered to Gina. Eli would be surprised to know Zack was really checking her out.
He drove across the intersection on the amber light, and the driver behind shot across and overtook him when he was almost on the other side. Then he jumped ahead a second time, despite the thick traffic.
A few choice words came to mind, but Zack didn’t utter them. The console lit up and displayed Eli’s number. Zack glanced at the road, then tapped the button to answer. Their family had a running joke that Eli couldn’t ever complete his conversation in one phone call. When Zack looked up again, he couldn’t miss the soft thud as he tapped the bumper of the vehicle ahead of him.