Chapter 11
ZACH
The glow of neon beer signs bathed Brek's Bar in a kaleidoscope of colors, transforming the dive-bar atmosphere into something unexpectedly inviting.
They walked in together, Zach still carrying the breadbasket as Piper took in the mismatched furniture, vintage concert posters, big stage, and the eclectic crowd that seemed perfectly at home mixed together.
"This is..." Piper hesitated, clearly searching for the right word as she adjusted the collar of her blouse, still looking every inch the polished professional he really wanted to see relax, not rush.
"Not quite what you expected?" Zach offered with a hint of amusement playing across his features.
She nodded, seeming slightly uncomfortable as she surveyed the room.
"It's got character," she finally said, her posture still rigid.
Zach leaned in slightly. "You're allowed to relax, you know. No clipboard police here."
Something in his gentle teasing seemed to reach her.
Piper took a deep breath, removed her tailored blazer and draped it over her arm.
With a determined motion, she pulled the elastic from her hair, letting it cascade in waves around her shoulders.
The transformation was subtle but immediate—like watching a tightly wound spring uncoil slowly.
"Better?" she asked, a challenge in her eyes.
"Much," Zach said, his gaze lingering perhaps a second longer than strictly necessary. "Come on, let's grab a booth."
In the corner, a four-piece band was setting up equipment.
The guitarist tuned strings while the drummer assembled his kit.
The crowd was diverse with professionals unwinding after work mingling with tattooed artists, college students, and neighborhood regulars.
Above the well-worn bar, neon signs advertised various beers alongside quirky slogans that had probably hung there for decades.
Zach led the way through the crowd, with Piper trailing behind him. He nodded at a couple of guys he knew as they hollered greetings, threw up a hand for a quick high five here, bumping fists there.
Piper carried herself like she was on a site visit. Out here, he was in his element. Piper? Piper was learning the room.
"Zach, my man," Brek, the owner and bartender with a closely trimmed beard and sleeve tattoos, called out. "The usual?"
"Yup," Zach replied, gesturing toward Piper. "And anything the lady would like."
"I'll have a whiskey sour," Piper said.
The slight hesitation in her voice didn't go unnoticed, but he said nothing.
They slid into a high-backed booth with worn leather seats that had seen decades of patrons. The table between them bore the scars of countless beer glasses, carved initials, and what looked like a decade's worth of spilled drinks.
"This is your natural habitat, then," Piper observed, running her finger over a heart carved into the wood.
"One of them," Zach admitted with an easy smile. "I like places with stories. Every scratch on this table happened because someone was living their life. They were having a great night or a terrible one, celebrating or commiserating."
Piper looked around with new appreciation. "I don't usually frequent places with quite so much... living."
"Corporate events not known for their wild parties?" Zach teased.
"Unless you count enthusiastic karaoke at holiday parties..."
Zach nearly choked on his water. "Please tell me you take videos."
"A professional never reveals her secrets," she replied primly, but her smile gave her away.
Brek arrived with their drinks, sliding them across the table with practiced ease. "So, you finally bringing someone to meet the crew, Dvornakov? About time."
Piper twisted a strand of hair between her fingertips, slightly ducking her head.
"Brek, this is Piper. She's planning Anna's wedding," Zach clarified.
"Ah, wedding planner Piper?" Brek nodded knowingly. "Aspen's told me about you. She thinks you're the shit."
"Oh?" Piper didn't seem to know what to do with that.
"Noah was just asking about you, Zach. Said you're working on something big with the Stallions?"
Zach nodded. "Big stuff happening, man."
He didn't add that Tess had cornered him early during the venue review with one of her signature power moves.
"Things are going great with this whole thing," she had said. Followed by a loaded smile.
"Noah's here?" Zach glanced around.
"Pool tables," Brek replied before refocusing to serve another customer.
Piper took a sip of her whiskey sour, the tart-sweet balance perfect against the burn of alcohol. "Noah?"
"My business partner," Zach explained. "He's going to want to meet you. He's been following the Stallions negotiations closely."
"Wild Sacks is a real company, then?" Piper asked offhand before she could stop herself.
Zach raised an eyebrow. "As opposed to an elaborate way to make out with someone in an AV closet?"
"I just meant that… yeah, I should stop talking now."
Zach sat up straighter, his eyes brightening.
"It's not only real—it's revolutionary." He leaned forward, gesturing with his hands.
"Men deserve comfort, too, you know. My college roommate used to complain constantly about his underwear bunching up during games.
" He shook his head. "Most guys accept discomfort as the price of having a dick, but—" He slapped his palm on the table. "It doesn't have to be that way."
Piper watched as his hands danced through the air while he punctuated each point. His cheeks grew warm at the way she studied him.
"You're a comfort crusader," she said, but her tone was warm, not mocking.
"Laugh if you want," Zach said, pulling his phone out and rapidly scrolling through images.
"But check it out." He thrust the screen toward her.
"You'll love these illustrations. I even color-coded them by potential, like your binder.
" He pulled the phone back, swiping to another image.
As he scrolled past a photo of him trying on a design sample, he glanced up to find her studying that one closer.
"We don't need to look at that one," he tried to swipe, but she placed her hands on his.
"No, I want to see." She leaned in.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Pfft. Not that." She rolled her eyes. "Because you are excited about the concept."
"And our designs," he said. "Piper, our designs are going to change everything."
"Your designs?" she clarified. "They're your designs."
"I mean, yeah. I handle that part. I started by sewing them all myself.
But the company is more than just me now.
That's why Noah came on. He's brilliant with the business side.
" He paused, thoughtful. "When I left the family business, Dad said it was a horrible idea.
Jase told me I was making a huge mistake.
Even Anna worried about my choices. But Wild Sacks is finally seeing some genuine movement in the industry. What we do matters."
"This is why the Stallions deal is so important," Piper seemed to finally realize.
"Yeah." Zach stared wistfully at one of the illustrations he'd swiped back to. "Being the official underwear of the Stallions validates everything." His animated expression relaxed, and he pocketed his phone. "But enough about my underwear. I asked you to come because I want to hear about you."
Piper fidgeted with her napkin. "There's really not much to tell."
"I find that very difficult to believe," Zach said, lifting his beer to his lips.
Before she could respond, Noah wove through the crowd to their booth, all six-foot-whatever of him towering over everyone. He offered Piper a quick, sincere smile.
"I thought Brek was messing with me when he said you were here," Noah said, sliding in next to Zach. "And you must be the famous wedding planner. I'm Noah." He held his hand out to her.
"Piper," she replied, shaking his offered hand.
"I think Noah was leaving," Zach said with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
Which is probably why Noah ignored him completely and turned to Piper. "He says you're the best at what you do."
"She is," Zach agreed.
"I could be modest, but why correct him when he's right," Piper teased.
"Thanks for everything you're doing with the wedding.
It's taken the load off Tess, which gave her time to push our Stallions talks forward.
We owe you. If this wedding goes well and we lock in this partnership?
When all this falls into place like we think it will?
Wild Sacks won't be a question mark anymore. "
"We'll be here to stay," Zach agreed.
Here. To. Stay.
The band chose that moment to start their soundcheck.
"This place really is great," Piper said, truly relaxing against the back of the booth. "Is this your standard antidote for a day with Tess and Babushka?"
"A professional never reveals his secrets," Zach said with a grin.