The Cowgirl's Chosen Love - Vivian Arend Page 0,27

who sleeps with a woman after she’s been drinking, Julia. The fact you were three sheets to the wind should have meant sex was off the agenda.”

He really was one of the good ones. Which made it easier to pony up the details that would reassure him even as she hated having to share something so personal.

She lay down her pen and leaned forward. “We were both drunk. But I believe you, absolutely, that you wouldn’t have taken advantage. The way I was acting all handsy in that wedding video, it’s possible you had to call me off. Not probable, but possible.” This was kind of like tearing off a bandage—easier if she just spat it out. “I haven’t had sex in a couple of years. If we’d had sex last night, I’m pretty sure I would feel it today.”

“Oh.” Zach lifted a hand as if he was going to say something else, but he closed his mouth and his brow furrowed. He nodded slowly, eyeing her with curiosity. “That’s a long dry spell.”

“Self-inflicted. Don’t worry, I’m not about to combust or anything.”

She could tell he was itching to ask more but wasn’t sure where the line between them stood and how far politeness would extend. And while there was more she could share, it wasn’t necessary.

Instead, Julia went back to her notebook and wrote down physical. “Well, if anything sexual did happen, I’m due for one of my regular checkups sometime this coming month. Which means I’ll be tested for everything anyway, what with my position as an EMT. Any possible social diseases I need to be aware of?”

His lips twitched again. “This is like having a conversation with my RN mother. Far too blunt, and yet I know better than to try to avoid the interrogation. No, I’m not carrying any communicable diseases.”

“Your mom’s a nurse?”

“Retired now, but yeah.” His grin widened. “I begged my dad to give me the birds-and-the-bees talk, but no. By the time he got around to it, my mother and older sisters had already traumatized me.”

She could imagine. “My mom—”

The memory stalled before she could even share it. Her mom had shared about the mechanics of sex at the appropriate time. Looking back, the very dry and clinical descriptions hadn’t been the best introduction.

Realizing that sent another sharp jab through already painful memories.

Then damn if Zach wasn’t there again. Kneeling beside her and looking up with concern written all over him. “You okay?”

She forced a smile. “I guess I’ve developed a little baggage when it comes to my mom. Sorry. Didn’t mean to go off on a tangent.”

He winked. “No problem. I’ll grab my phone and send off that message to Alan. You want to touch base with Lisa? Maybe set up a meeting spot. We can share the dreadful details in person. Together.”

“That sounds fine.”

He squeezed her knee then headed to where his phone was charging.

Julia watched him for a moment before purposely rising and opening her own device. This was all just a momentary glitch. After they’d dealt with the teasing, it would be easily solved.

Yet this royal screwup made it much easier for her to reaffirm her conviction that it would be best to strictly play pretend once they went back to Heart Falls.

Zach was a good man, and he didn’t need to get tangled up more than she’d already got him. She would keep them on the friend side of the page. Honestly, that would be special all on its own.

She opened her messages and clicked through to her sister.

7

Zach found them a corner booth in the restaurant where the six of them met. Private enough that his and Julia’s bomb could be presented without too many others overhearing. Public enough that he knew he wasn’t about to be skewered by anyone—especially by the most dangerous members of any family: sisters.

As they settled, he examined his friends, looking for clues as to how they might react. Josiah wore the same gloating expression as Finn. Karen and Lisa looked relaxed yet deliciously content.

For a moment Zach fought his first instinct, which was to grab Julia by the hand and haul her back to his suite to put that same expression on her face.

The idea was tempting, but it wasn’t his right, dammit.

With the two other couples seated on the inside of the circular bench, he and Julia sat on the outside edges opposite each other.

He was just about to bring up the funny thing that happened the previous night when