“And I want this to work as much as you do.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.” No, he thought, because no one could want this to work as much as she did. The only reason he cared about this wedding business was because it mattered so much to her. It was why he’d left his job to dedicate his time and energy to making this work with her—for her. The idea to open Sutton Hall for weddings was the first spark of interest she’d shown in anything after what had gone down with that bastard Brad. This was her dream, and he was determined to see that dream come true.
And if Jillian Jones did anything to mess with it—with any of them—she’d answer to him.
* * *
JILLIAN HAD JUST stepped out of the bathroom adjoining her bedroom when she heard a knock on the door to the suite.
Moving to the door, she opened it. An incredibly handsome young man stood on the threshold, holding her bags. For a moment, Jillian was actually taken aback by how attractive he was. Dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, it was as if he’d stepped out of a magazine ad depicting the prototypical outdoorsman, with thick dark brown hair, deep blue eyes and chiseled features.
And yet, staring into his perfect face, she felt none of the impact she’d experienced just a short time earlier when taking in Adam Sutton’s entrance. Just the thought of the man sent a shiver trembling through her again.
As her eyes met the newcomer’s, she caught the gleam in his. Oh, yes, he was very good-looking. And he knew it.
“Hi, I’m Zack,” he said, flashing her a row of perfect, gleaming teeth. “I brought your bags.”
“Of course.” She stepped out of the doorway to allow him access to the room. “Thank you so much. I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”
“Not at all.”
He walked past her and set the bags on the floor at the end of the bed, then turned back to face her. “There you go. Anything else I can do?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Well, if there is, you be sure to let me know.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. So what is it you do around here when you’re not helping women with their bags?”
“I’m one of the groundskeepers. Just started. My dad’s the main one, has been for as long as I can remember. He’s in charge of maintaining the property, especially the gardens on the east side.”
“So it’s kind of the family business?”
He wrinkled his nose, making it clear what he thought of that idea. “God, I hope not. I’m just doing it for the time being.”
“I take it you don’t enjoy it?”
“It’s all right. Pays the bills.” He grinned. “And it’s gotten better now that I get to meet some interesting people.”
She wondered for a moment if she was mistaking the flirtatious note she heard in his voice. It was possible he was only being friendly.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” He reached into the front pocket of his shirt and pulled out her keys. “I moved your car to the garage.”
“Thanks. And where is that?”
“Around the west side of the house. I can show you if you like.”
“That’s all right. I’m sure I don’t need to know right now.” At least she hoped. And if the time came she did need to get to her vehicle quickly, she’d find it herself.
She reached out to take the keys. He dropped them into her hand, his fingertips grazing her palm a little too long. Warily, she lifted her eyes to his. He winked, that slow, slight grin curling one corner of his mouth.
Nope, definitely not imagining things. It was all Jillian could do not to roll her eyes. As far as the man knew Jillian was an engaged woman here to get married, and he was flirting with her? Classy.
“Thanks again,” Jillian said, giving him the cue to leave.
“Sure thing. I’ll be seeing you around.” He walked to the door, an unmistakable swagger in his step.
Jillian barely had the door shut behind him before she gave in to the eye roll he so desperately deserved. Only then did the larger implications of his behavior occur to her.
A man with so few scruples he’d put the moves on a complete stranger he knew was getting married likely wasn’t someone to be trusted. She wondered if he’d made a move on Courtney. Jillian had no doubt Courtney wouldn’t have acted on it, no matter how good-looking she might have thought he was. She’d loved