The Cowgirl's Chosen Love - Vivian Arend Page 0,76
where her fingers meshed with Zach’s. “He would only be gone for a little while, he said. So, he tied me up again and carried me to the rowboat in the boathouse. He’d barely left when I realized the boat’s keel was broken and the entire thing was slowly sinking.”
No wonder she had nightmares. Hell, Zach was going to have nightmares just from thinking about her being helpless in that situation.
Julia squeezed his hands. “Brad showed up about half an hour after Dwayne left. I have never been so grateful to see anyone in my entire life.”
Zach shook his head. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“You don’t really have to say anything. I mean, it was terrible, I know that. But none of it was my fault. Dwayne is supposed to be better now that he got treatment, so I can’t even really blame him because the guy who did it doesn’t exist anymore.” She made a face. “No. It was his fault, and it was his choice, but I also understand how mental illness means people do things they wouldn’t do if they didn’t have that chemical imbalance in the first place.”
“You’re far more understanding than I am.” Zach slipped his fingers under her chin. “Thank you for sharing that with me. And if there is anything I can do, or anything you need me to follow up on, let me know.”
“Thanks. I told Brad that I would let you know about Dwayne. About him being released and me getting the news.”
Something inside him stilled. Zach examined her face carefully, fighting to keep the worry that had sprung up from showing.
Was Brad’s influence the only reason she’d told him?
He wasn’t used to the fingers of doubt shifting through his brain, but they were there, at least briefly, before he focused on the most important thing.
Zach shoved aside everything except making Julia know that she could rely on him, even when the ground under his feet felt shaky.
He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles, meeting her gaze. Trying to figure out what needed to be said.
Julia took control, swinging across his lap so her knees rested on the metal bench under his hips. Straddling him, her ass warm on his thighs as she caught hold of his collar and meticulously straightened it. “Not to change the topic or anything, but it’s time to change the topic. You said this was a research trip.”
Amusement drifted in. Of course the woman would be not only strong enough to tell him what had happened, but strong enough to then push the events aside as if they weren’t life-altering on so many levels.
Still, he took his cue from her. “It is a research trip,” he agreed. “It’s a double research trip. No, it’s triple research.”
Julia’s lips curled upward. “Not quadruple? How disappointing.”
“Sorry, couldn’t find a fourth topic to dig into this go-round, but maybe the next time we go away.” He rested his hands on her hips, thoroughly entertained as she groomed him back into a state of neatness. Adjusting his collar, stroking her fingers through his hair, patting the wrinkles out of his sleeves.
“Let me guess. First research topic is to do with beer. I did a Google search, and there is a really good brewery in Nelson. I assume we’ll do some taste testing.”
“Definitely. A couple of the restaurants put together menus with recommended local beverage pairings. We’ve got tapas and samples lined up from three different places.”
“We should’ve asked Karen and Finn to join us. And Lisa and Josiah. They like trying new things.”
It took everything in him to not gape at her in wonder. He forced himself to respond all cool and collected. “Good idea. We’ll have to do that sometime.”
“What’s the second research? And the third?” The engines rumbled slightly, and they both glanced over the water. “We’re getting close to the other side of the lake.”
Zach helped her off his lap and brought her to the railing. He tucked his arm around her and held her against his side as they watched the ferry manoeuvre through the narrows toward the docking station. “Second research involves hitting one of the coffee shops tomorrow morning. Tansy wants me to bring back a selection of their baked goods. She heard good things about the place and wants to try to expand the repertoire at Buns and Roses.”
Julia pressed against his side. “That’s very nice of you to do that for her.”
He laughed heartily. “Oh, yeah, it’s totally a hardship