Chapter Two #3
Ignoring how adorable that was, Zach went on.
“My brothers are here. I didn’t know, I swear.
And I have a feeling something about them makes you nervous.
So we can leave right now if you want. This is our first date .
. . at least, I hope that’s what this is .
. . and the last thing I want is to do something that makes you reconsider agreeing to a second date. Do you want to leave?”
The fear he thought he’d seen in her eyes earlier flared bright and strong now, before she controlled her emotions.
She bit her lip and looked toward the house.
Zach held his breath. He was curious as to why everyone was there, but he’d leave with Marit in a heartbeat if that was what she wanted . . . needed.
“It’s okay,” she said after a moment’s hesitation.
“Are you sure?”
“No. But yes. I . . . I had two brothers.”
She didn’t elaborate, and Zach said, “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Her gaze whipped back to his in surprise. “Oh, they aren’t dead. They’re just dead to me. I don’t talk to them. Don’t want to talk to them. Would prefer to pretend I don’t have any siblings.”
It was Zach’s turn to be taken aback. “Okay.”
Marit sighed. “It’s a long story. I’m sure your brothers are good. Cool. Fine.”
“They are,” Zach reassured her, making a mental note to have a word with Knox, Linc, and Chad to tell them to go easy, give Marit space.
He didn’t know her story, why she had such a bad relationship with her own flesh and blood, but he wasn’t na?ve enough to think that everyone got along with their family.
Hell, Britt’s mother was the devil incarnate, so he understood that sometimes families weren’t as close as his own.
“Zach! We were about to call you to come over. Get in here! Who’s that with you?” Knox stood on the porch, hollering.
“You can change your mind at any time,” Zach told her quickly. “I mean it. No matter what’s going on, say the word and we’re out of here. No questions asked.”
She looked at him with a startled expression on her face. “So if we get to the porch and I change my mind, you’d turn around and leave?”
“Absolutely.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.
Because I want to get to know you better.
Because my family can be overwhelming at times.
Because seeing that look of uncertainty on your face makes me want to do whatever I can to wipe it away and see you smile again.
Because there’s something about you, Marit Phillips, that’s different from any other woman I’ve taken on a date. ”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. Shall we do this?”
“What are you guys doing in there? You aren’t making out, are you?” Knox yelled across the yard, laughing hysterically at his own words.
Zach opened his door at the same time Marit did, and he heard his mom call out from inside the house, “Knox Young, behave! And stop yelling like a heathen!”
He chuckled, and when he looked over at Marit, he saw her lips quirk upward a tiny amount. Seeing that small smile made him feel a little better.
After grabbing the risotto, he met Marit at the front of his SUV and they walked toward the porch together.
Zach ached to put his hand on the small of her back but resisted the urge.
It was too soon. Too soon for a lot of things—like meeting his entire fucking family, but that was what it was at this point.
“Hey! I’m Knox. I’m the smart one of the Young brothers. What are you doing with this reprobate? You’re much too pretty for Zach.”
Zach could’ve sworn Marit inched closer to him at Knox’s greeting, before visibly relaxing her shoulders and lifting her chin.
“He makes a mean lobster roll,” she retorted.
Knox snorted and put a hand over his heart. “Foiled again because I can’t cook worth a darn.”
Zach glanced at Marit. “He burns water,” he told her with a straight face.
“He’s not wrong,” his brother said with a chuckle. When Marit and Zach climbed the steps and reached the porch, he held out a hand. “Knox Young. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Marit Phillips,” she said as she shook his hand.
“What’re you doing here?” Zach asked, as he leaned in and gave his brother a one-armed hug.
“You’ll see,” Knox said mysteriously. “Come on. We really were just about to call you.”
Zach gave in to the need to put his hand on Marit’s back as he urged her forward behind his brother.
The touch was fleeting, really only his fingertips brushing against the small of her back, but it was enough to send those same tingles that he’d felt the first time he’d touched her zinging throughout his body once more.
The smell of gingerbread filled his nose, and Zach inhaled deeply. His mom usually only made her gingerbread cookies on special occasions, and he wondered anew what was afoot.
“Zach!” his mom exclaimed, as she made a beeline for him. She hugged him with a surprisingly strong grip, then let go faster than usual. “Introduce me to your friend,” she ordered, as she turned to Marit.
“Mom, this is Marit Phillips. She works with Eliot Sullivan on the Wave Rider. Marit, this is my mom, Evelyn Young.”
“It’s so nice to meet you, Marit,” his mom gushed. “Welcome to Lobster Cove!” Then she leaned in and gave Marit a longer hug. They were about the same size, his mom only a couple of inches taller than Marit. Her light-gray hair almost matched Marit’s white-blonde color.
But Zach could see how uncomfortable Marit was with the affection. His mom was a hugger. She was very touchy-feely, but it was obvious Marit wasn’t.
“All right, Mom. Enough,” Zach said gently, putting his hand on his mom’s elbow. Not to pull her away from Marit, but as a warning.
His mom wasn’t stupid, and she immediately let go. “Sorry,” she said with an easy smile. “I’m a hugger. I forget that others aren’t. Come in, come in. I’m making cookies.”
“I brought a lobster and asparagus risotto for Marit and you to try, but I didn’t make enough for everyone.”
“It’s okay. I grilled up some ranch chicken and green beans. We were just sitting down to eat when you got here. Great timing, son.”
“Hey,” Lincoln said from the kitchen, where he was spooning the fresh green beans into a bowl.
“Hey, bro. Marit, that’s Linc, the oldest. And that’s Chad, and his girlfriend, Britt.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Marit said politely.
Thankful that both his other brothers could see how uncomfortable Marit was with all the attention on her, they simply returned her greeting before going back to what they were doing. Chad continued to set the table—with two additional places—while Britt approached Zach and Marit.
“You work on a lobster boat?” she asked with a friendly smile.
“I do,” Marit agreed.
“That’s so cool! I’ve always wanted to go out on one. I haven’t had the chance since I’ve been here though.”
“Maybe after the summer season is over, I could ask if Eliot would take you out for a bit.”
“Really? That would be awesome! Chad! Did you hear? Marit’s going to take me out on a real live lobster boat!”
“I heard, Peach. I mean, you’re standing right there.” He grinned at her.
Britt rolled her eyes and turned back to Marit. “You get used to their smartass-ness . . . kind of.”
To Zach’s relief, Marit seemed to relax a little more. He wasn’t sure if it was just the presence of another woman around her age that made her not quite so tense, but he was grateful.
“Come on, everyone sit. Except you, Zach. You need to dish up that risotto so Marit and I can try it,” his mom ordered.
“It’s not fair that you didn’t bring enough for all of us,” Knox grumbled.
“If someone had invited me for dinner—which it seems that you were going to have without me—maybe I would’ve brought more. As it is, you can always come down to The Lobster Buoy and get some tomorrow,” he told his brother.
“But the line is always so long,” Knox whined.
Linc nodded. “Which means little bro is doing all right for himself. Give it up, Knox. You’d eat a corn dog someone dropped on the street if it meant you didn’t have to cook for yourself.”
“Not true,” Knox argued. “Maybe a donut. Especially one from Ruckus Donuts. But not a corn dog. Gross!”
Everyone laughed. Probably because they knew Knox wasn’t really kidding. He had a huge sweet tooth, but couldn’t cook or bake worth a damn.
Turning toward Marit, Zach whispered, “Okay?”
She knew what he was asking without him having to expound. She nodded. “I’m starving and everything smells delicious.”
Of course she was hungry. She’d burned a lot of calories hauling pots all day.
Zach still wanted to know what was up with his family, but as always, they wouldn’t let him in on whatever was going on until they were ready. Until then, he’d enjoy spending time with his loved ones and getting to know Marit better.