Screaming, she turned, readying her stance to stop her assailant.
But all she saw was Zach’s wide eyes and a ridiculous half-smile spreading across his lips.
“Zach?” she said, her heart pounding from the surprise and the fact that he was here. Touching her.
“You didn’t let me finish,” he said. His hair was wind blown and he had a desperate look in his eyes.
Not sure where he was going with this, Danielle held up her hand. She didn’t want to hear his excuse. She’d let him off the hook.
“It’s okay. It’s not the olden days. You don’t have to marry me just because I’m the mother of your brother’s child.”
That seemed to confuse Zach because his lips parted but nothing came out. He cocked his head to the side as he studied her. “What?” he finally managed.
“You know, how in the olden days men had to marry their brother’s wives? Well, you don’t have to do that.” She nodded at him. “I pardon you.” Just as she yanked on the door to go into her apartment complex, Zach’s arm came out again, stopping her.
“You never let me finish,” he said, his voice deep with frustration. “Years ago and again tonight. You think you know what I’m going to say, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.”
Fear rose up inside of her at the realization that she couldn’t run even though every part of her body was telling her to. She needed to protect herself from whatever Zach was about to tell her.
“I—um…”
Zach stepped closer to her, cradling her cheek in his hand. “I don’t care if you’ve kept Jesse a secret. The way things ended was horrible for you. I understand why you did it. I’m just sorry that I wasn’t there for you. That none us were there for you.” He leaned closer and brushed his lips against her cheek.
All emotions rushed through her body and settled in her throat as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Zach was just what she wanted and didn’t know she needed.
“Zach,” she whispered as she glanced up to see him smiling down at her.
“Yes?”
“Do you forgive me?”
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. He was soft at first, as if he wanted her to know that was his answer. Then, just as she rose up onto her tiptoes to deepen the kiss, he pulled back.
Out of instinct, she moaned, needing the feeling of his lips pressed to her like the oxygen in the air.
“I forgive you,” he said and then gathered her up into his arms and pressed his lips to her again.
She ran her fingers up his arm and tangled them into the hair at the nape of his neck. He pulled her up, pressing her against the building. Every part of her pressed against him. They were like two puzzle pieces that finally found each other again.
She wasn’t sure how long they kissed out there on the sidewalk, but after the millionth cat call, Zach lowered her to the ground, but raised his hands and rested them on either side of her head. He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
“I love you, Danielle Danaher,” he said, dipping down so he could meet her gaze.
Danielle couldn’t help the smile that emerged on her lips. She raised her gaze to meet his. “I love you, too.” Then she rose up and pressed her lips to his again.
Just as he deepened the kiss, he groaned and pulled back.
Danielle glanced up at him, confused why he would pull away.
“I just realized that we have to tell my parents,” he said, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear. He let his fingers graze her cheek as he stared at her.
His intensity caused her insides to turn to putty.
She smiled at him and shrugged. “It’s not so scary with you by my side.”
Zach raised his eyebrows and chuckled. “We’ll do this together?”
Danielle nodded. “Together.”
