known—had kept Julia’s origins a secret. Back in the day, it hadn’t been something she’d ever pushed to find out more about. Mom loved her, wanted her. End of story.
Only with the proof of what having an extended family was like slapping her in the face every damn day…
Once again, Julia pushed away the hurt. Now was not the time to poke at the ball of discomfort in her belly. At some point, though, she needed to spill her frustration and anger on Tony and talk it through.
A few more dances, and slowly the party broke up. She laughed the entire way home to their small cabin as Zach regaled her with a dramatic review of the evening.
When they hit the front door and slipped into the warmth of the living room, Julia teetered on the edge.
It was only the lingering uneasiness from thinking about her mom that made her choose to hold off for yet another day. She had no idea what was going to happen between her and Zach, but it wasn’t going to start when she was stewing in her brain about uncomfortable family choices. About things in her past that annoyed her immensely.
Still, something had to be said.
She turned to Zach and stepped close enough to be able to rest her hands on his chest.
He went motionless.
Julia stared up at his face. At his kind and eager expression. “Thank you for making this evening a lot more fun than expected.”
“You’re welcome.”
Before she lost her nerve, she shifted closer and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, retreating before he could tangle his arms around her or tangle up the evening with more complications.
“Good night.” Julia escaped to her bedroom. There was no other way to phrase it.
Heck, she’d probably been one step shy of a sprint, but at the same time, as she pulled off her party clothes and got ready for bed, it was with the strangest and most wonderful sensation surrounding her. Like a warm blanket around her shoulders.
Like something hovered on the horizon with the potential to be wonderful and good.
Curling up in her own bed, close to but not with Zach, increased her sense of anticipation in a good way. Like looking forward to a holiday or the presents waiting under a Christmas tree.
Some wonderful gifts that could be unwrapped very, very soon.
Waking the next morning to the scent of bacon just added to that delicious anticipation.
The dinner bell rang, and Zach called out cheerfully, “Breakfast time, sleepyhead.”
“I’m up,” she returned, shoving back the quilt. She pulled on a robe and slippers and joined him in the wonderful-smelling kitchen.
He’d made breakfast consisting of four different types of protein accompanied by a stack of perfectly buttered toast.
“You are a god,” Julia informed him, stacking bacon on a piece of bread and slathering the pile with mustard. “Thank you.”
“You are a heathen,” he retorted with a grin. “That’s supposed to be ketchup. But you’re welcome.”
She waited until her mouth was empty, savouring the flavours as she eyed him closely. “What’re you doing today?”
“Not much. Finn is taking the whole slowdown of getting the dude ranch running seriously. Since we don’t need things up and at ’um until the spring, both of us have time to deal with other tasks.”
“I never did understand why you guys switched from going hell-bent for leather to a Sunday stroll.”
Which is how, for the next umpteen minutes, Zach went over the details of what had happened regarding Red Boot ranch. About the challenge for Finn and Zach that turned out not to have been a challenge in the end.
It all seemed very far-fetched, or at least it did until Julia considered their own strange predicament.
“Now I understand better why Karen said your mentor isn’t necessarily her best friend.” Julia stacked their empty plates and took them to the counter, preparing to do the dishes and cleanup.
“Bruce meant well,” Zach offered. “He was an amazing man, but he definitely didn’t do things by the book.” He glanced at her. “I am sorry again that you got caught up in his wrangling. I’ll do everything I can to make the time go as smoothly as possible.”
Julia nodded, dipping her hands into the hot water and getting started. “I think we’re getting along okay—so far, so good.” She ignored the big topic that would need to be discussed at some point soon but not when she was elbow-deep in bacon grease. “We need to talk about my employment possibilities. What are the