how terrible it would be for me to announce that I’m in love with her when she can’t escape for another nine months? And I can’t complain because she’s doing this to save me. And to save…”
He slammed his lips shut before he gave away the detail about the impact on Finn as well.
It didn’t work. Either his father could read him like a book, or he knew his former friend too well. “Bruce did something else, didn’t he?”
Zach sighed. “It’s not just my finances but the entire corporation that will be affected.”
“Ahh.” His dad stood as well, staring over the water with his problem-solving face on. He turned to Zach with a grin. “So. What are you going to do about it?”
Zach shrugged. “Nothing to do. Wait, and try to convince Julia to fall in love over the upcoming months.”
“Great plan A. What’s plan B?”
He eyed his father. “This isn’t an experiment where you try twelve dozen different ways to invent a gizmo.”
“No, it’s your life, and if there’s a chance you can be happy tomorrow instead of waiting nine months, I think a little experimentation is a valuable thing.” Zachary Senior clicked his tongue disappointedly. “You’re better at brainstorming than this. You’ve been discombobulated by the woman, that’s for certain.”
“Thanks, Dad. I take it that’s the official verdict for me not knowing what the hell to do?”
His father shrugged. “She’s a nice girl. You’re a nice boy. I like symmetry in my world.”
Amusement drifted in despite his frustration. “Love you, Dad. I’ll think about other plans, but please, don’t interfere. And do me a favour and don’t let Mom start lecturing us on safe sex.”
Zachary Senior pulled a face. “You might want to get to your bathroom before Julia does. I think your mother mentioned she planned to leave a box of condoms on the counter with some literature about the best ways for Julia to avoid urinary tract infections.”
“Dad.” Dear God. Zach headed back to the house in hopes he could cut that one off at the pass.
“Sorry, but you’ll discover the good part about loving a strong woman is they have a mind of their own. You never can tell what they’re going to do next. Other than try to embarrass their children. That’s a given.”
Christmas Eve arrived, then Christmas Day. Holidays in Hawaii meant the sound of the ocean mixed with Christmas carols. With his family involved, there was always someone around to chat with.
Julia bloomed. It was the only way to describe it.
She played with his nieces and nephews, chatted with his sisters, and teased his brothers-in-law. Together they beat his parents so badly at cribbage, they’d refused to play anymore.
Surrounding their time together was laughter. The delight shining out of her filled every available space until she was damn near glowing with it.
Zach held on to every precious memory as if they were diamonds pulled from the hidden depths of a mine. Every day he thought about his father’s question of what could be done to make happiness arrive today instead of months from now.
He hadn’t found the answer yet, but he was getting closer.
In the meantime, getting to watch Julia shine, getting to hold her in his arms at night, getting to see her find her place in his family—because that was totally what she was doing—filled him with peace.
Sunset on Christmas Day, she curled up at his side, rested her head on his shoulder, and sighed contentedly.
It was impossible to resist. He pressed a kiss to her temple and curled his arm around her tighter. “Hawaii looks good on you.”
“It’s been an amazing experience.” Her fingers traced lines on his thigh almost unconsciously. “I can’t believe we still have another five days.”
“That might give them time to dig everything out in Heart Falls,” he teased. “Finn says the next time we take off for a long period of time at Christmas, he’s going to take it as a warning that another snow-pocalypse is nigh.”
She laughed then fell silent. The contentment pouring off her was easy to sense. Her gaze stayed fixed on the sunset as she spoke. “I’m glad you got to talk to Finn.”
He was as well. They’d had a long overdue conversation that would be discussed in more detail in a couple days. Once Finn and Karen had a chance to discuss matters. “How was Christmas for your sisters?”
Julia smiled. “Ollie got a new squeaky toy, and Dandelion Fluff stole it. Karen said she and Lisa wandered into the