The Cowgirl's Chosen Love - Vivian Arend Page 0,46
Julia’s turn to stay silent. Thoughts whirled as she struggled to keep her smile from twisting with shock. “Really?”
Brad nodded. “He’s a good guy. You deserve someone who thinks the world of you—and he does.”
This was getting interesting and weird. “Um, thank you?”
He laughed. “You thought you were going to shock me with this? I mean, the wedding was obviously an accident, but the two of you? I’ve had my suspicions for a while.”
Another dose of weird, but at this moment, Julia would take it. “Can’t get anything past you, I guess.”
He grinned harder then lowered his voice more. “I’m happy for you. Both Hanna and I are. If we can ever help with anything, you just have to ask.”
“Thanks. I will.”
He straightened and headed to the table, leaving her slightly bemused at how simple it had been.
Except for the bit where he’d read more into her and Zach’s pre-liquor Vegas relationship, it seemed she had the blessing of the one guy whose good opinion she needed the most.
She pulled out her phone and sent a quick update to Zach before heading into alert mode for her shift.
Julia: the crew has been informed, and other than a few raunchy suggestions, they fell for it. Brad as well, so we’re good.
* * *
Julia: also, I might have told them we're hosting a party on Saturday night at Rough Cut. Oops.
Zach got back to her almost instantly: party is a great idea. And hell, oops is how we’re running this show. Will discuss details at supper. I’m cooking.
That was it. There were enough whispers and sneaky glances over the remainder of the day to make it clear stories were flying, hard and fast, but they were all about her and Zach. Not a word about her and Brad.
Julia couldn’t have been happier as she strode through her day, dealing with callouts to various seniors in the community and a kindergarten class where a boy had decided nap time was a great opportunity to shove a marble up his nose.
And if she happened to drift into remembering Tony's suggestions regarding Zach far too often, she’d blame it on the nonstop sexual teasing that went hand in hand with the successful deception.
She wasn’t going to act on the ideas. No sir.
No matter how much the devil on her shoulder insisted she should at least consider it.
11
Zach wasn’t even sure why he noticed, but he did. The toilet paper roll was on backwards.
Okay, he probably noticed because he wasn’t an animal. He’d been well-trained by his sisters and mother that leaving an empty or even nearly empty roll was a punishable-by-death level of crime.
He’d used the last of the previous roll, so he’d replaced it. Simple.
Only it was now facing the opposite way to how it should, and instead of the tissue rolling out with ease at his first tug, he had to slap the roll a number of times to get the end to show up. And then when he did give it a tug, it broke off after only four squares.
Pain in the ass, no pun intended.
He hauled the holder off the wall, reversed the tissue, and replaced.
Satisfied by a job well done, he washed up then finished putting the final touches on dinner as he waited for Julia to get home.
Day three of being roommates, and so far, so good. He’d kept their interactions lighthearted and simple, and she’d done the same.
One truth was already clear—Julia was a neat freak. His haphazard approach to tossing his things over every surface as he entered the cabin had already been noted and eyed with disapproval.
Tough habit to break, though.
In fact, he spotted his discarded jean jacket draped over the arm of the couch, and the sweatshirt he wore in the afternoon on the knob of a kitchen chair. Guilt moved his feet, and a moment later, he’d hung them both on the hooks beside the door that had magically shown up the previous night while he’d been doing chores.
A firm knock echoed through the building.
“Come in.”
An instant later, Finn was in the doorway, his expression the unreadable stone face he wore when he had evil plans.
Zach knew the warning signs far too well. Still, he didn’t let it show, just let his friend pace past him into the cabin. “What’s up?”
Finn paused by the table, eyeing the collection of packages scattered everywhere. “Running away from home?”
“Hardly. Picnic supper.”
“With Julia?”
“No, with Dandelion Fluff. I figured Karen's cat would like to explore the trail system in