Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
H olding Danielle close to him was probably the stupidest mistake that Zach had made in a long time.
At least, that was what his mind was telling him as he pulled her against his body and wrapped her hand up with his. The feeling of the small of her back against his palm was causing his heart to hammer. Plus the feeling of her smooth skin against his fingertips as he held her hand made him want to throw caution to the wind and dip down to press his lips to hers.
To show her how he felt. How he was always going to feel about her.
Needing a distraction from his own thoughts, he glanced down at her. “How’s Jesse?”
She tensed, and that confused Zach. Why did she act this way every time he brought up her son? It wasn’t like Jesse was a secret. Zach knew the kid existed.
“He’s fine,” she whispered but kept her eyes trained on his suit coat.
Why wouldn’t she look at him? Had he hurt her that much? Why was she pulling away? All he wanted to do was care about her. To protect her.
“And you? How are you doing?”
That one question made her shoulders sag. The urge to take away all her worries rose up in his chest and he had to fight them back. She hadn’t asked for his help. He needed to remember that before he attempted to show up on a white steed yet again.
“I’m surviving,” she said.
It was killing Zach that all she was giving him were these two word answers. He led her across the dance floor, away from the couples that were dancing. He wanted to reach her and figured a more private setting was the place to do that.
“Danielle, I—”
“I have your key for you. It was nice of you to think about me, but I can’t accept it,” she blurted out and then raised her gaze up to meet his.
He parted his lips, not sure what he should say to that. He wanted to tell her to keep it. That it was a gift. A peace offering for all the stupid things he’d done to her.
“I can’t keep it, Zach. It’s not right.” She gave him a weak smile as she dropped her arms and made her way past the dancing couples and down the lush grass. She was running away. Again.
Zach watched her, an inner tug confusing him. She wanted him to stay away, but he knew no one would love her like he so desperately wanted to love her. And for the first time, he deserved to tell her that.
She was going to hear the one thing she seemed to be fighting against.
So he took off after her. Followed her to the flower garden on the far left portion of Bucky’s property.
“Danielle, stop,” he said, reaching out and grabbing her elbow. She twisted her hand away, keeping her face down.
It wasn’t until he caught a glimpse of her cheek that he realized that she was crying.
Having enough of her stubbornness, he pulled her into his chest and wrapped both arms around her. Her shoulders shook with sobs. Zach’s heart felt as if it were breaking into a million pieces. His stupid attempt to show her he cared ended in her sobbing.
“Danielle, I…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. You can give me that key back. It’s okay.” He pressed his hand against her head, hoping she’d understand how he felt.
She pulled away and turned, wrapping her arms around her chest. “It’s not about the key. It’s not about you. It’s me,” she whispered.
Now even more confused, Zach stepped up next to her. “Is it the camera guy? Thomas? Are you two together?”
Danielle shook her head and turned her face to glance up at him. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes glistening, but she looked beautiful. He doubted she could ever look bad. Without thinking, Zach reached up and wiped an escaping tear from her cheek.
Her eyes closed for a moment and Zach allowed himself to hope that it might mean what he so desperately wanted it to mean.
“There’s nothing going on between me and Thomas. He’s just a friend.” Her voice was barely a whisper when she opened her eyes and met his gaze.
“That’s good to hear,” he said, stepping closer to her. When she didn’t retreat, he took that as a sign that he could move closer.
“And you and Giselle?”
“PR stunt.”
Danielle raised her eyebrows. “That’s all?”
Zach crossed his heart as he nodded and leaned closer. “I swear. I only have eyes…for you.”
His heart hammered as he let the last two words out. As soon as he said them, he worried that he’d done the wrong thing. But Danielle was still here. Standing in front of him. This had to be a good sign. Right?
But when he raised his gaze to meet hers, his stomach sank. Something wasn’t right. Her eyebrows were furrowed and fear raced through her gaze.
“I can’t,” she said as she stepped back.
Not letting her go without a fight, he stepped closer. “Danielle, I…”
“Zach, please. You’ll never forgive me. I just can’t…”
Zach reached out and pulled her closer. “What are you talking about?” What secret could she possibly be hiding?
She pressed her hands to his chest and pulled back. “Zach, you’ll never forgive me. Your family will never forgive me.”
“Danielle, tell me. I’m sure I’ll forgive you.” And what would his family possibly be upset about?
She took in a deep, shaky breath and then glanced up to meet his gaze. “I…Jesse…” Her voice trailed off as she chewed her lip. It was as if what she was about to say was going to kill her.
“I love Jesse. He’s a great kid. I can’t wait to get to know him more.”
Tears formed in her eyes as the pressure on his chest lessened and she glanced up, almost as if she were hoping to contain her emotions. “Jesse likes you too, Zach. He’s asking when you are coming over. I don’t know what to tell him.”
Zach growled as the emotions in his body grew to capacity. How could Danielle be so frustrating? She was worried about her son and yet, she just told him that Jesse liked him. What was keeping them apart?
“See. Jesse knows we should be together. It’s always been you, Dani.” He leaned closer until his forehead was pressed against hers.
She sighed. Each breath jagged with the emotions that were still so evidently written across her face. “I can’t Zach. I just can’t.”
“Please?” he asked, tipping her face up so he could see her better.
“You’ll never forgive me.” She took a deep breath and stepped back. “Jesse is Isaac’s son.”
Zach stared at her as she watched him. Not sure what she had just said, he blinked as his mind tried to process her sentence. “I’m sorry, what?”
She wrapped her arms around her chest and swallowed. “Jesse is Isaac’s son. I found out I was pregnant a month after the funeral. I’d already left. I…” She let out her breath. “I thought it was best to keep it a secret. I’m so sorry.”
Stunned, Zach moved over to the bench in the flower garden and sat down. “Jesse…is Isaac’s son.” He cradled his head in his hands as his mind registered each word.
His brother had a son. He had a nephew. His parents had a grandson. And Danielle kept that from them.
Why?
When he turned to face her, she was gone.
All he could see were the lights from around the backyard, glistening off of her dress as she ran into the house and disappeared.
Zach knew that he should stand up and go after her. He knew that no matter what, he still loved her. But he couldn’t gather his thoughts together enough to make his feet do anything. It was like he was cemented to the ground. The shock of finding out that a piece of Isaac still existed was hard for him to process.
He was going to sit there, on that bench, until the world made sense again. Then he’d go after her.