Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
H ow to tell the woman of your dreams all that was on his heart? Start small.
“Want a green tea? Chamomile?”
Her smile flickered. “You know, you’re the first guy I ever dated who remembered things like that.”
“I’m obviously the best guy.”
“Even if it wasn’t real,” she murmured.
“Wasn’t it?”
He gazed into her eyes, wishing she would reveal her secrets. But it felt like he’d gone in too hard, too fast as she shook her head. “I should probably go.”
“No, you promised to talk. And I’m gonna hold you to that. Let’s get some tea first, okay?”
She nodded, and followed him to the kitchen. He was glad for the chance to do something with his hands, so he wouldn’t show her how nervous he felt. Of all the important people he’d met and conversations he’d had in his life, this conversation felt like the most important.
Teas made, they returned to the living room, where the Snugglepot and Cuddlepie book lay on the table. She glanced at it, and he caught how she tucked her smile away.
“I still can’t believe they call that a children’s book,” he murmured.
She snickered, and the tension seemed to drop by ten degrees.
She sipped her tea. “So what is it you want to say?”
So many things. But the most important, the one he should’ve led with before, was “How are you?”
She blinked rapidly, and her shorter hair did not hide the way her face creased, as if in pain.
“Ains.”
“No. Don’t be nice to me. Just let me talk, if you really want to know, that is.”
“I really want to know,” he said, his voice hoarse. “How are you doing? Really?”
She dragged in a breath. Exhaled. “It’s been tough.” She shot a glance at him. “I presume you’re talking about my aunt and my career, right?” Not us, her eyes seemed to plead.
“I’m wanting to know all you want to tell me.”
Her shoulders slumped. “There’s so much to say, I barely know where to begin.”
“How is your aunt?”
She pressed her lips together. “She’s only got weeks now.”
Lord? He really thought Dean Karlsson would’ve come through by now.
“It would mean so much to her and to my mom to have the house things sorted, but there’s not much we can do about that now.”
“How is she in herself?”
“I think she’s ready. It makes a world of difference for her to know God and have assurance of salvation, and that she’ll be in heaven.”
“With no more pain or suffering.”
“Amen,” she echoed. “It’s been wonderful to have some time to spend with her.” Her lips lifted. “If a girl has to lose her job, it’s good timing to have time off when it’s been needed. That’s certainly been a big blessing.”
“We never know what God has in store for those who trust Him, and walk according to His purposes. There’s a verse like that, isn’t there?”
“I think it’s more that God has good plans for those who trust Him, and are called according to His purposes.”
He nodded. “So your role as Abigail might be done, but God still has something good lined up for you.”
She glanced at him. “That’s a good reminder. Thanks, Zac.”
“What happened with your job?” he asked softly.
She slumped deeper into the seat. “It was crazy. I got called into this video conference with Rosie, my agent, and Mal, the director for As The Heart Draws . Then I basically got into trouble for cutting my hair, but more importantly for daring to go visit my brother for his birthday. Apparently visiting your brother is not considered family-friendly.”
“People can be quick to judge.”
She sighed. “I know we all can be. I know I am. But it’s just disappointing that they couldn’t even be bothered to see my side of things. I tried to say I’d be happy to finish the year remaining on my contract, but Mal fired me on the spot.”
“Oh, Ains, I’m sorry.”
His heart wrenched as she blinked back more tears.
“But is it disappointing to be set free from that?”
She snuck another look at him. “I guess not, no. It’s given me time, not only with Aunty Win, but to get myself right with God again.”
He smiled, and she gave a little smile back. It felt like as much of a win as winning game seven in the playoffs. “I’m really glad.”
“What’s with you tonight?” she asked. “Why are you being so nice to me, especially when I don’t deserve it?”
“Because…” He swallowed the words he wanted to say. The time was not yet right. “I care about you. You should know that by now.”
“Zac.”
“Ains.”
Her mouth curved, dropped.
“You were right—”
“Whoa—first time ever a man has said that to me.”
“Won’t be the last if you hang around me.”
She chuckled. “So what was I right about?”
“You were right,” he said slowly, making sure she’d hear it, “when you said this fake relationship was something we both agreed to. It was. I knew that. I even talked to Chris and Diana about how to try and tamp down my feelings and just be your friend.”
“You were my friend,” she whispered.
“I still am your friend.”
Her gaze connected with his for a long time. In her eyes he saw hope, longing and fear. “Ainsley, I also meant what I said on Valentine’s Day. I want to be more than your friend.”
“You still do?”
“I know there is a lot to work through, and I know that you’ve still got a lot on your plate, but I feel like we can start fresh. If you wanted to.”
“What do you mean?” she whispered.
He held out his hand. “Hi. I’m Zac.”
She looked at his hand, then touched it with her palm. “I’m Ainsley.”
He smiled.
Her lips lifted, then fell.
“What is it?”
“Aren’t you worried about what your family and friends would say?” Her lips twisted. “I saw what your mom wrote.”
“How? I told her to delete it straightaway.”
“It’s still floating around some parts of Facebook. Rosie was so kind to let me know.”
God bless her. “The magic of the internet, huh? It never goes away.”
Her lips pressed together again, and he realized something else that might never go away.
She peeked at him. “There are more images of me.”
“The police still haven’t found who it is?”
“They think, we all think, it’s Baden Daniels.”
“Your ex?”
“How did you know that?” she asked quickly.
“Benson mentioned something, but didn’t say what it was.”
She shifted forward, rubbed her forehead, and her hair swung to caress her cheek. She glanced at him. “You really want to know?”
“Only if you think I really need to know.”
She sighed, and turned to face him more fully. “Baden was this older actor on the first show I ever did.” As she explained, he found himself get more agitated. He clenched his hands and gritted his teeth so he didn’t say something he’d regret.
“So I guess it’s safe to say that he certainly affected my ability to trust a man,” she admitted.
Baden Daniels had a lot to answer for. “I’m so sorry that happened.”
“I guess it’s why I’ve always been quick to pull the pin on a relationship rather than end up feeling used like that again.”
“Is that what you did with us on Valentine’s Day?”
She nodded. “I’m so sorry. I got scared, and worried that you didn’t really like or want me, so I pushed you away before you could do that to me.”
“Ains.” He reached across. It felt like a gift when she let him hold her hand. “I know that day was hard, but can we just leave that as a messy way that the fake relationship ended, so we can start fresh in a real relationship?”
“You really want a real relationship with me?”
“I want nothing more.”
“Oh, Zac.”
Before he knew it, she had launched herself at him, and was hugging him tight, whispering against his neck, “I’m sorry. So sorry. Please forgive me.”
“Hey, none of that. We’re starting over and it’s all fresh. New. Just like we are in God, right?”
“Oh, I can’t believe how good you are to me.”
“That’s because I love you.”
* * *
Her heart spasmed, then soared into glorious rainbows and starlight. She felt a sob catch in her throat, and quickly swallowed it. She wasn’t going to spoil this magical moment by crying.
But Zac seemed to notice anyway, as he pulled back. “What’s wrong?”
“No guy has ever said that to me.”
“What, none?”
She shook her head.
“You’re kidding. What about all those heroes in all your movies?”
“All fake.”
“Huh. They certainly looked convincing.”
“You watched my shows?”
“All of them.”
“All?”
“Hey, I had to see who I was up against.”
She snuggled in. “No contest. You win.”
His chest rumbled as he laughed. “I certainly hope so, considering they’re actors. But just so you know, I personally know of at least five other guys who would say the same thing given the chance.”
She chuckled. “You’re lying.”
“Hey, I’m never going to lie to you again.”
“Are you such a good actor now that I should believe you?”
“Ainsley, I’m never going to lie to you again.”
The intensity in his tone dared her heart to look up, to believe him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For loving me.”
“Oh, Ainsley, how could I not?”
His expression was so soft, so tender, it was all she could do not to cry again. She didn’t deserve this man. Didn’t deserve his tenderness. He was exactly the kind of man her characters had been looking for. Exactly the man she’d never dared believe was real. Exactly the kind of man she could spend the rest of her life with.
“It certainly makes it easier,” she murmured, as she drew nearer.
He hooked a brow. “Easier?”
She nodded. “If you love me, it’s certainly a lot easier because I love you too.”
His eyes lit, along with his entire face. “Is that so?”
“Very so,” she murmured, then pressed her lips to his.
That kiss on the dance floor at New Year’s Eve had nothing on this one here. This time there were no observers, no fakeness, just them. And God. But it felt like God was in this moment, had prepared them for this moment. Had prepared him for her and her for him, their lives intersecting in His perfect timing.
She pulled away, felt his hands run through her hair.
“I always wanted to know what your hair felt like, but I like this length.”
She tucked herself closer, so she was almost sitting on his lap. Not that it was inappropriate, but she didn’t want the kids to see if they wandered downstairs. “I like being here with you.”
“Yeah?”
She kissed his jaw, heard his intake of breath. “It’s like you’re my Snugglepot.”
He laughed and she felt his lips in her hair. “You know what that makes you?”
“Funny?”
“Super funny, Cuddlepie.”
Her phone’s ringtone cut through their laughter. She glanced at it. Stirling’s name was on-screen. Her chest tensed.
“What is it?”
“It’s my lawyer.”
“Want to get it? I can leave if you want.”
“Stay. I’ve got no more secrets.”
He tucked his arms around her as she pressed speaker. “Hey Stirling. I’ve got a friend here”—Zac’s arms tightened—“my boyfriend here.”
“You and Zac are back together?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“I like this guy,” Zac whispered.
She laughed, shushed him. “What is it, Stirling?”
“Look, I’m sorry for calling so late at night, but I thought you’d like to know. I just got an email to say it’s gone through.”
“You mean the approval?”
“Yep. They signed off on it this afternoon.”
“That’s awesome! Thank you.” She grinned at Zac and he kissed her cheek. “Did they say what the holdup was?”
“Apparently it had got lost in the system. Someone talked to the mayor and got matters expedited.”
“Wow. Who? Why?”
There was a pause. “I think you can probably ask him that.”
It took her a moment, then she looked at Zac. “Was it you?”
He shrugged. “The mayor likes me. And I’m not above working a connection.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She kissed him.
“Okay,” Stirling said. “That sounds like I should go.”
“Thanks Stirling,” Zac said.
“You’re welcome, Zac. Thank you.”
“God bless you, Stirling. You’re a gem.”
“You’re a star.”
And right now, with Zac’s arms around her, she certainly felt like one.
She shifted to study him more closely, placing her hands on either side of his cheeks as she drank in his beloved face. “You did that for me?”
“I did that for you, and for your aunt, your mom, and all the women who need it.”
“You’re… Oh, Zac, you’re amazing. Thank you.”
She found his lips and showed him how she felt. And it didn’t take long before the heat reignited and the passion returned. She loved this man, loved him. He was so amazing, and wonderful, and encouraging, and—
“Ahem.”
They broke apart. Looked at the door. Saw a scowling Chris, bemused Diana, and a wide-eyed Tanner. “Uh…”
“While it’s good to see you two getting on, what have we said about special cuddles?”