Chapter 4
ZACH
"Let's join the others?" Tess phrased it as a question but didn't wait for an answer. She was already down the hall, the figurative sponsorship carrot glinting just out of reach.
Sure, it was close enough to taste, but not quite his to claim.
Not until he and his sister's wedding planner, the one who'd just sworn off fairy tales, delivered something picture-perfect and brand-smart that still felt like Anna.
No pressure there, just lots of potential.
Zach inhaled deeply and his stomach knotted. The soft yes he just got was fabulous, but the added-on Piper postscript gave a slight metallic tang.
But, dammit, he needed to prove the longevity of his innovative men's underwear line. He needed this boost because if there was one thing his dad—his family—would notice, it was a collab with the Stallions.
And if being a supportive brother who helped guide the wedding planning process happened to align with his business goals... was that really so bad?
Yeah, the excuse felt flimsy even to his own ears.
He followed Tess down the corridor, the plush carpet muffling his footsteps. The conference room door stood partially open, spilling golden light into the hallway. The faint scent of coffee and expensive leather chairs wafted through the gap.
Piper sat alone, reviewing a thick binder. Her hair fell forward slightly as she leaned over the pages, creating a curtain that partially obscured her face. Something about her intense focus made him pause.
His chest tightened with a pang of guilt. Was he about to use their easy chemistry as leverage? No, if it came to that, he'd say something. He'd tell her.
Tess pushed the door all the way open and strode in.
Piper looked up, her startled expression quickly composed into professional neutrality. But when her eyes landed on Zach, they lingered for a beat too long, a flicker of warmth there that made his guilt intensify.
"How's Connor?" he asked, forcing a lightheartedness he didn't feel.
A hint of pink colored her cheeks. "He's hydrated, thank you."
Anna arrived, looking slightly less green than before, with Drake's protective arm around her waist. Her eyes, however, betrayed a mix of exhaustion and resignation that went beyond mere morning sickness.
His sister's face brightened when she spotted him, and the genuine smile she gave him was a stark reminder of why he'd agreed to be there.
For Anna. This was all for Anna.
Also, for Wild Sacks. But mostly for Anna.
"You're still here," she said, sounding relieved. "I thought I'd scared everyone off."
"Takes more than a little puke to get rid of me," Zach replied, pulling her into a gentle hug. She smelled like mint mouthwash and the faint trace of the lavender lotion she'd used since high school. The familiar scent centered him, reminding him of what mattered.
Drake clapped him on the shoulder as they all settled around the conference table. The polished mahogany surface gleamed under recessed lighting, cool and smooth beneath Zach's forearms as he leaned forward.
Piper introduced herself, gave a synopsis of her experience, and everyone settled in.
"We have a binder started with everything Anna and Drake had indicated they want for the event. Colors, favorite flowers, all that goodness," Piper said, flipping to the first page.
"Marketing's current palette is Stallions' royal blue and sunny yellow," Tess said, tapping a note into her phone before setting it aside. "If we're using team channels, we should stay in that family for anything we release."
"I really don't care what colors we have," Anna said. "I just want it to be done." The tightness around her eyes suggested she cared more than she was letting on.
"It said in the notes that you wanted to have lavender and cream as your color selections?" Piper seemed genuinely concerned about what Anna wanted.
A definite point in her favor.
Anna drew small circles on the table with her finger. "I mean, in a perfect world..."
"Lavender's beautiful." Tess slid the binder closer to scan a tab. "But it fights the palette. We'll lose cohesion on press materials."
Piper kept her tone even. "Perhaps we should get clear on the goals for this event? Generally speaking, it's about the happiness of the bride and groom. But, in this case, I'm not sure that's what we're aiming for?"
"Get these two married in a way that amplifies the Stallions brand and shows our commitment to our players and the community," Tess recited, still flipping through pages.
"You want this over fast, right?" Drake asked Anna tenderly.
"Yes," Anna agreed.
"Then we get it done so everybody can move along. Everybody wins." Zach clapped his hands together too loudly.
"Not everybody," Piper said so quietly he almost didn't hear her.
"Sorry?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said, shaking off whatever she'd been thinking about.
"You know what? Let's start at the beginning. With the engagement," Tess said, redirecting everyone's attention with the professional efficiency of someone accustomed to controlling rooms.
"Can't we just tell everyone we got engaged?" The confusion in Anna's words made her sound extra vulnerable.
"Not without inciting a Stallions-themed riot," Drake said, frowning.
"It's best to play this for the narrative, not the reality." Tess pointedly closed the binder to reset the agenda.
Piper's shoulders tensed slightly, and the fluorescent lights overhead suddenly seemed too harsh. Their quiet electronic hum became more noticeable in the momentary silence. The climate-controlled air was suddenly too cool against his skin.
"Nothing too dramatic," Anna said quickly, her fingers fidgeting with the sleeve of her blouse. "Please."
"I'm thinking an on-field proposal," Tess suggested, matter-of-fact. "Halftime fireworks, cameras, the works. Fans will Eat. It. Up. No one will even think about superstitions. And when they do? We'll be ready with the solution."
Anna's complexion lost the little color it had regained, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the edge of the table.
"No," she said quietly but firmly.
The look she exchanged with Drake spoke volumes.
"Something more subtle," Drake said, squeezing Anna's hand. The quarterback who regularly faced down 300-pound linebackers now looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"Subtle does not get attention," Tess countered, the gentle tap of her pen against the table punctuating her point. "On this one we're going for attention."
Anna frowned. "I feel like a prop, not a bride."
The tension in the room thickened, seeming to press against his skin.
Someone's expensive perfume (probably Tess's) hung in the air, growing cloying and overwhelming as the minutes ticked by on the sleek wall clock that punctuated each second with a barely audible click.
Somehow, he needed to steer this conversation toward a compromise that would satisfy Tess without completely steamrolling everyone else.
"Authentic is always better than staged; we can all agree on that, I think.
" Piper reached across the table to reclaim the binder.
"This is Anna and Drake's engagement announcement, not a media stunt.
" She turned to face Anna directly and tapped the binder.
"In your notes it says you love the botanic gardens.
I think it's perfect. Intimate. Beautiful. Meaningful."
Tess's expression hardened as she listened. "That's not going to work for—"
"You know," Zach said carefully, "Piper's right.
Fans will know if something's forced. Cameras don't lie.
" He turned to Piper, silently trying to communicate his intent.
"What if we combine approaches? The gardens shoot gives us controllable visuals for the press.
I'm thinking a private moment that's captured professionally for later release? "
Piper blinked, her expression shifting as she processed his suggestion. After a quick moment, she nodded slowly. "That... could work." She glanced to the couple. "Best of both worlds, really."
They all looked at Tess for her agreement. "Private shoot at the gardens, professionally captured, released on our timeline with clean visuals, controllable message. Approved."
"And honestly," Piper added offhand, "this way we avoid all the typical engagement horror stories.
No restaurant proposals where the ring gets eaten, no flash mobs of weird strangers being awkward.
" She tapped her pen thoughtfully against her palm.
"I mean, statistically, it's a sound decision.
The average engagement costs nearly four thousand dollars for what is, essentially, a glorified promise party—with a twenty percent failure-to-launch rate, so if you factor in—" She caught herself.
"I mean... What I mean is…" She licked her lips.
"You know what? Some thoughts are inside thoughts.
I should remember that. What I should've said is, congratulations on finding a meaningful approach that honors your relationship. "
Anna's mouth hung open slightly, her eyes wide with apparent shock. Drake stared fixedly at the table, suddenly fascinated by the wood grain. Tess froze mid-text, her perfectly manicured fingers hovering above her phone.
For three excruciating seconds, no one seemed to breathe.
"And that's why we keep Piper away from the greeting card department," Zach quipped, shooting his sister a wink.
Interesting that the wedding cynic from the sidewalk chose that moment to peek through Piper's professional facade.
"We're already beating all kinds of statistics," Drake assured Anna.
"And there's no way Babushka's gonna let Drake out of the engagement," Zach said wryly. "She's going to insist on being at future meetings like this."
"No," Anna said immediately, panic crossing her face. "No, we are not involving Babushka. The last time she 'helped' with an event, the fire department showed up."
"That was a misunderstanding," Zach defended. "The flames were meant to be there."