work on a few tasks on his list even as his brain continued to problem-solve. Last night had been amazing in terms of getting physical, but they had a long way to go. He didn’t just want her in his bed. He wanted a partner who talked to him, and shared goals and dreams, and all the things he’d watched play out in his parents’ relationship over the many years.
When his phone rang not even an hour later, Zach had to grin. If he had instinctive good luck and often had that sense that it was time to take a leap, his parents had a different talent.
If he thought about them too hard, they would phone.
He opened up the call to discover his mom and dad grinning back at him, both of them on their own phones with different backgrounds behind them.
“How come you two aren’t off making mischief?” Zach demanded.
His mom rolled her eyes. “Please. Your father is totally causing trouble. I, on the other hand, am a perfect saint as usual. I just finished making three batches of sugar cookies.”
Amusement rumbled in Zach’s gut, not only at her pleased grin but his father’s ability to keep from laughing. “Let me guess. Quinn is coming over with the girls to visit you tonight.”
“I told you he’d figure it out,” Zachary Senior said with a little nod. “You want to tell us when you’re coming over next so she can make your favourite cookies?”
“Since my favourite cookies are also your favourite cookies, I sense there’s just a hint of self-interest in that request,” Zach drawled.
His father winked.
His mom waved a hand at both of them. “Serious question, though. When are you coming for a visit?”
That was the question. “Soon. Maybe.”
He definitely wanted to introduce Julia to his family, but he didn’t want to push it too far, too fast. The last thing she needed was even more people being thrown in her direction.
Then he wondered what her favourite type of cookie was. She definitely had a sweet tooth, but in all the time they’d talked, had she ever mentioned a preference?
A little too slowly, he realized he’d been lost in his own thoughts and missed part of the conversation while he’d been daydreaming. That much was obvious, because as he glanced back at his screen, his parents both had brows raised and questioning expressions.
“What?”
His mom folded her arms over her chest. “Zachary Beauregard Damien. What are you not telling us?”
His dad pulled a face. “Wow, Pam. Triple naming him right off the bat?”
“He’s keeping a secret,” she insisted. “Don’t you think he’s keeping a secret?”
“Of course he’s keeping a secret, which is why we called in the first place. But you’re supposed to sneak up on these things, not charge right in.”
“Pshaw. Upfront is the best way.” Somehow it was clear her attention was now more on her husband than on her son. “We don’t keep secrets in this family. Right?”
His father managed to look indignant and guilty at the same time. “The new contract I accepted wasn’t a secret. I just hadn’t gotten around to telling you yet.”
The whole conversation was so exactly his parents, Zach couldn’t stop from snickering. “I love you two.”
They both stopped their conversation to beam at him. With perfect synchronization, they said back, “Ditto, kiddo.”
To hell with it. “I’m seeing someone,” he announced.
His father blinked, but a slow smile curled his lips.
His mom’s eyes widened. “Julia,” she pronounced sharply. “I approve. When do we get to meet her?”
They were impossible.
“How do you do that?” Zach demanded. “I should totally tell you that it’s not Julia. That it’s somebody I met last weekend in Vegas, and I’ve decided to run away with her and join the circus.”
His father shrugged. “You already did the circus thing back when you were eight. Plus, Zach, you are not that subtle. Every time we’ve talked over the past four months, you’ve been telling us about what’s going on out there in Heart Falls.”
“And inevitably you talk about Julia. And Karen and Lisa, but considering they’re both taken, Julia was a pretty safe bet,” his mom pointed out.
“Fine. It’s Julia.” He was very tempted to spill the beans about being married, but since the whole idea was to try and break the news to them slowly, he resisted going for the shock value.
“Question still stands. When do we get to meet her?” His father leaned toward his phone. “Wait. If she’s an EMT, her schedule must suck. You let us