Chapter Six
The wall clock seemed to move at a snail’s pace and her phone remained quiet.
Tilly hadn’t been able to get too much done after she arrived home from her meeting with Zach.
She couldn’t get his exhausted features out of her mind and she worried about him getting home.
They hadn’t had any snow, but that didn’t make the roads any less treacherous.
“I should’ve followed him,” she muttered as she stirred the Asian chicken soup she’d made for dinner. She figured if he came after eight, he wouldn’t want a heavy meal, like steak and a baked potato. The soup was flavorful and one of her favorites. Hopefully, he would like it.
The timer on her stove buzzed and she opened it, stepping back to let the waft of hot air escape. The aroma of freshly cooked bread filled the room—there really wasn’t a better smell. One day she’d learn to make it herself, but until then, the bake-at-home sort suited her perfectly.
The bread probably wouldn’t be hot by the time Zach arrived, but it would still be crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, and that was all that mattered.
She glanced at the clock again. The big hand had inched nearer to the twelve, showing that it was getting closer and closer to eight—the time she estimated he would call or text her to let her know he was headed in her direction.
Of course, she could be way off, and he could still be sleeping.
Even though he’d said he could get away with three hours’ sleep, after the way he’d walked out of the conference room, blinking rapidly as if willing himself to stay awake, she wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t sleep all the way through until the next morning.
Everything was ready, and if he didn’t end up coming, well, then she’d enjoy the meal she’d made, and then she would tackle the task of bringing her vision to life.
A knock sounded, filling her small house, and she almost dropped the bread. Setting it down, she wiped her hands on the apron she wore and headed to the front door. After peeking through the peephole, she stepped back, surprised to see Zach standing on her doorstep.
“I thought you were going to let me know you were on your way,” she announced the second she opened her front door.
“Whoa!” Zach held up his hands in surrender. “I did. I called, but it went straight to voicemail. I thought you may have been talking to someone else, so I sent a text as well.”
“You did?” Tilly stepped back for Zach to enter while racking her brain to try to work out why she wouldn’t have heard the tone to signify an incoming message. Or why his call would’ve gone to her voicemail.
He stepped past her and she caught a whiff of his aftershave—piney and fresh, like a Christmas tree farm. One of her favorite smells. There was nothing better than the aroma of a fresh Christmas tree, and she couldn’t wait to get hers. After Thanksgiving, though.
“Something smells good,” he said as she closed the door.
“It’s nothing special. Just soup and bread, but let me check my phone. I don’t get why I didn’t know you were on your way.”
Tilly left him standing in the hallway while she rushed into the kitchen and grabbed her purse from the hook she’d hung it on. Rummaging through it, she pulled her phone out and tapped the screen, but it remained blank, not lighting up to indicate that it was waking up.
She tapped it again with the same result.
“I think your battery is dead,” Zach said quietly behind her, and she gripped her phone as the sound of his voice shivered down her spine. It was deep and husky, and she wanted him to lean closer and whisper sweet nothings in her ear.
Concentrate, Tilly.
“I guess you’re right,” she said. “I should plug it in.”
“Might help.”
She rolled her eyes. “You think?”
Zach shrugged, his brown eyes sparkling with humor. “Won’t know unless you try.”
Tilly laughed and plugged her phone in, waiting to see if the phone’s icon would show up on the screen.
“It’s going to need to be about five percent charge before you see anything,” he murmured over her shoulder, again bringing vivid images of him doing more than just talking to her.
Goodness, she needed to get control of her thoughts. Why was she acting this way when they’d had a conversation only a few hours ago and her body had given no indication that anything Zach said could turn her into a melty mush of romantic dreams?
She took a step to the side, because if she stepped back, she’d run into his chest and that wouldn’t be a good thing at all.
Or it could be.
Tilly ignored the little devil on her shoulder. “How about I get dinner sorted? Take a seat.” She pointed to her small kitchen table.
While she filled bowls and cut the bread, she was aware of Zach behind her. Could feel his eyes on her, watching her every move. Somehow she managed to get the bowls of soup on the table without dropping them or spilling their contents all over the surface—and Zach.
“Can I get you something to drink? I’ve got water, juice, soda, and I think I even have a beer if you want that.”
“Water’s fine.”
Tilly grabbed a bottle of water for Zach and a can of soda for herself and then sat, noting that Zach hadn’t touched his food. “Eat while it’s hot.”
“It’s rude to eat before the hostess is seated,” he said simply.
A flush of heat warmed her cheeks, and it wasn’t anything to do with the bowl of hot soup in front of her. “You may eat,” she said, sounding like royalty.
“Thank you.” He smirked and picked up his spoon.
The next few moments passed silently as they ate their meal, along with the bread. She noted the dark circles under Zach’s eyes, while still there, weren’t as noticeable as they had been at the mayor’s office.
“Did you have a good nap?” she asked once they’d both placed their spoons in their empty bowls.
“I did. And this was delicious. Thanks for cooking for me, Tilly.”
“You’re welcome, and I’m glad you liked it. It’s one of my favorite recipes to make.”
“I’ll have to get it from you. It’s the perfect balance of being flavorful but not heavy. Most soups I’ve had are always thick and dense with vegetables and meat.”
“I thought you probably wouldn’t want something super filling, being so late in the evening to eat.”
“It was perfect.”
Pleasure filled her, and she stood to gather the plates. But Zach stood as well and grabbed the plates before she could scoop them up. “You don’t need to do that.”
Zach shook his head. “You cooked. It’s the least I can do. And I can stack a dishwasher expertly too.”
He looked so at home in her kitchen that she couldn’t bring herself to stop him.
After a few minutes the table was cleared and the dishes, including the pot she’d cooked the soup in, were in the dishwasher.
“Right, how about we get started on distributing the tasks to get this event off the ground?” Zach sat back at the table, his arms resting on the white surface.
It wouldn’t take much for her to reach out and touch her hand against his.
Entwine their fingers together. Then all she’d have to do was rise up a little, lean across and she could kiss him.
Feel his full mouth against hers. He would be an expert kisser.
She didn’t know how she knew that . . . she just did.
No kissing. No matter how much you want to.
Tilly kept her hands where they were. “I know this isn’t something you really want to do, so I appreciate you being enthusiastic about it.”
Zach shrugged. “It is what it is. And I know how important this is to you, so while it may not be something I’m keen on, I’m going to give it all my attention, because you deserve that from me.”
If possible Tilly’s heart melted a little more.
His acknowledgment of the importance of the task meant the world to her.
Zach wasn’t saying the words in an indulgent, pat on the head type of way, like some of the people in town would do once they heard what she had planned.
He truly meant them. “Thank you. I appreciate that more than you could know. Okay, let me get my stuff and we can get down to business. The sooner we get through this, the quicker you’ll be able to get home and get more sleep. ”
Tilly went to her spare room, which she’d set up as an office so she could do her work, and grabbed the file of information she’d dumped there when she’d gotten home.
“Do you have some paper and a pen for me so I can write down what I need to do?” Zach asked once she’d returned to the table with the folder.
“Shoot, I should’ve thought of that when I was in my office. Hang on, be right back. Why don’t you have a look through and see what I’ve planned and how I think it’s going to work?”
She went back to her office and grabbed the necessary things. Tilly took a moment to gather herself. The moment she stepped back into the kitchen, everything started. Her plans would come to life.
She and Zach were going to be the talk of Marietta.