I’ll Be There (24 page)

If it were anyone else, Zach would have argued and told them to go to hell. But the look on her face and the sincerity in her tone told him she was doing this because it was something he needed to do. “What if…what if something happens?”

“Nothing's going to happen. We're going to go for a short drive. Let's go get ice cream and we'll come right home.”

“What if…what if my leg cramps up and I can't feel the brake pedal?”

“Your leg hasn't cramped up in weeks and it's not going to happen now. We'll take the Lexus because it's an automatic. You won't have to worry about the clutch so it will be easier. We'll work our way up to the Porsche, okay?”

Zach hated his lack of confidence. Reluctantly he nodded. Gabriella held the front door open while he put on his jacket, and they walked together out to the car. Zach didn't look at her as he unlocked the doors and climbed in. He didn't say a word as he buckled his seat belt and started the car. His white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel said enough.

“Relax,” she said softly from beside him, her hand gentle on top of his. “We're just going for ice cream. It's only a ten-minute drive to the store. If you feel like it's too much by the time we get there, I'll drive us home, okay?”

He nodded, put the car in gear, and pulled out of the driveway.

* * *

“Zach, it's almost midnight. Can we please go home?” She laughed as she said it but it was quickly followed by a yawn. Their ten-minute trek to the store for ice cream had turned into a three-hour drive around Portland.

“This was your idea, sweetheart,” he said with a wink and a smile. “God! I cannot believe I had forgotten just how good it feels to be out on the road! Seriously, Gabriella, thank you. I had no idea how much I had missed this. I feel like…I feel like I've gotten my freedom back!”

Zach relaxed in the driver's seat, and took the exit off the highway that would take them home. This was a piece of his life he'd been missing—his independence, his freedom. Now that he knew he could, in fact, get in the car and drive without incident, he knew he was back.

Physically, he'd admit to being about ninety-five percent. It didn't seem like the limp was going away any time soon, and his doctors and Alex had warned him that might be the case. He didn't like it—as a matter of fact he hated it. Hated the reminder of a time in his life when he was at his lowest and most vulnerable. But the rest of him was fine.

He'd just have to deal with the fact he was no longer the athlete he once was.

Quickly he shoved the thought away. Tonight was a revelation. Gabriella had put her trust in him and convinced him to take a risk—something he used to do without blinking an eye. And thanks to her he'd hit a turning point. There was no more looking back. He was done with that. From now on he was only looking forward—and learning to accept the things he couldn't change.

Once they were back at home, they climbed from the car. Gabriella walked around it and went to open the front door. Zach's movements were a little stiff. He didn't realize how much tension he'd carried during the drive. He stopped and stretched and turned to see her standing in the doorway, waiting for him.

He liked the sight of her standing there.

Swinging the car door shut, he walked slowly toward her, his eyes never leaving her face. He stepped up and stood in front of her. “Thank you,” he said, his voice like gravel.

Gabriella smiled a little sleepily. “You're welcome.”

Taking her by the hand, Zach pulled her from the doorway and shut the door. Then he led her to the bedroom and closed that door as well. Turning her toward him, he wrapped her in his arms and then…words simply eluded him.

She was perfect.

She was everything.

She had given him his life back in a million different ways, and he had no idea how he could ever even begin to thank her. There was only one thing he could do, and that was love her. Slowly, thoroughly, and completely.

He caressed her face and smiled when her head fell back and the small purr escaped from her lips. He gently lowered his hands to her waist and simply held them there for a moment before reaching up and slipping his hands under her sweater to take it off.

“Mmm…Zach,” she whispered, her head still back, her eyes closed.

The sweater hit the floor as Zach began to rain kisses along Gabriella's jawline, her throat, her shoulders. His hands anchored her hips as he took his time exploring her with his lips. When he felt her trying to move against him and get closer, his hands moved around and cupped her bottom before reaching for the zipper on her skirt and slowly lowering it.

“You're killing me,” she moaned but let him keep doing what he was doing. When her skirt pooled around her feet, she kicked it aside without stepping out of Zach's grasp.

It was a sight Zach knew he'd never tire of—Gabriella in nothing but lace and high heels. There wasn't a pinup model alive who could hold a candle to her. He finally allowed his hands to wander—to skim up and down her back, her bottom, to reach up and gently knead her breasts—all while his mouth, his lips, his tongue did their own exploration.

Up until now—until Gabriella—Zach didn't understand all the fuss about foreplay. He loved sex, but it was about the end goal. Right here and now, watching how Gabriella reacted to his touch, seeing how her skin flushed, hearing her purr and moan, and having her breath quicken—well, that was quickly becoming addictive. He released her abruptly and swung her up into his arms—a move he wouldn't have considered a few weeks ago—and carried her over to the bed.

And then stood back and marveled at how glorious she looked sprawled across the king-size mattress. Her eyes were glazed and she reached out a hand to him. She may have whispered his name, but the blood was pounding in his ears and he couldn't be sure. Swiftly he kicked off his shoes, undressed, and stretched out beside her to resume his explorations.

Gabriella cried out his name again and again, and each time it filled Zach with pleasure to know he could do this for her. And when she cried out that she couldn't wait any longer and she needed him—all of him—he happily obliged.

And later, with nothing but moonlight shining through the window, Zach realized he finally had what he'd always wanted. For years he'd done extreme sports and kept challenging himself in search of the elusive something that would make him feel complete.

Kissing the top of Gabriella's head as she slept curled up beside him, Zach knew he'd actually had everything he could ever want all along—Gabriella.

* * *

“I feel ridiculous.”

“You're fine.”

“I don't want to be on display like some freak in a sideshow.”

“Okay, dramatic much?”

Zach huffed loudly. “Easy for you to say, no one's going to be watching you to make sure you're walking, talking, and moving like a normal person.”

“Oh please. You watch me walk and move all the time.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, but not because I think you're a freak. I just like watching you.” He waggled his eyebrows until she laughed with him.

“Okay, you win. You're ridiculous.”

They were driving to Ethan and Summer's place for dinner. After their conversation a week earlier, Zach had finally agreed to a get-together. Once Summer got the A-OK, she ran full force with it and organized a total Montgomery family dinner—including their parents and brothers who were all flying in from the East Coast.

“It just seems like overkill for Ryder and James to be coming all the way here for a dinner. That's all I'm saying.”

“They've wanted to see you for weeks and weeks, Zach. It should make you feel good that your family loves you so much that they want to be with you on a moment's notice.”

“But they have babies at home. They have more important things to do with their time than to come and see if I can walk.”

She rolled her eyes. “If you think that's why they're flying across the country, then maybe we should cancel because clearly you're still suffering from some sort of head injury the doctors missed.”

“Ha, ha, very funny,” he said dryly. “I just think they should be home with their families.”

“Their families are coming with them,” Gabriella said. They had been going on and on and on about this dinner all week. She knew Zach was feeling apprehensive about the entire thing. “Casey and Selena are coming along and bringing the kids so no one is missing out on anything.”

“Lucky me.”

“Don't be like that.”

“I'm not the kind of guy who gets really excited for big family gatherings.”

“It's going to be fun.”

“Says the one who's not going to be on display.”

“Oh, you don't think I'm going to be on display as much as you?”

“Sweetheart, I know it.”

Twisting in her seat, she faced him. “Do you realize this is the first gathering of any kind that we're going to as a couple?”

“So? It's not like they don't know you,” he said.

“Yes, they know me, but they know me in a business capacity—as your assistant. There's a whole new dynamic now and you can be sure we're
both
going to be observed together. It's not just your show today, buddy. I'm going to be right there with you.”

“Now I really don't want to go.”

Now that she'd voiced it, Gabriella wasn't so sure she wanted to go anymore either. They had been so wrapped up in the fact that Zach had finally relented and agreed to get together with people that she had completely overlooked the whole new relationship angle. Reaching over to him, she grasped his hand and then drove the remainder of the way in silence.

When they pulled up and parked in the driveway, there seemed to be more cars than either of them were expecting. “How many people did Summer invite?” Zach asked.

“Your parents, Ryder and Casey, James and Selena, and us. At least, that's all I know of,” she replied as they climbed from the car.

“Remind me to strangle my sister. This is not the way I wanted this day to go,” Zach grumbled as he reached for Gabriella's hand and began to walk toward the house.

His mother emerged from the front door first and was quickly followed by Summer, Casey, and Selena. The excitement level coming off the three women was enough to make Zach cringe, but he good-naturedly accepted their hugs and kisses and praise of how good he looked and how happy they all were to see him. He looked up toward the house and saw his brothers and Ethan filling the doorway with grins on their faces that clearly said,
Better you than me, bro
.

He'd get even with them later.

When he finally got a little space around him, Zach immediately reached for Gabriella's hand like a lifeline and she couldn't help but smile. He needed her. This strong man needed her. It made her feel good. It wasn't just about business or about sex; he well and truly needed
her
. Gabriella. It made her feel all warm and gooey inside.

“Thank you for convincing my brother to finally do this,” Summer said as they all walked into the house.

“You owe me one,” Gabriella said with a laugh. Beside her, Zach was walking with his mom, her arm hooked through his.
So this is what it feels like to be part of a normal family
, she thought to herself.

“Well, I'd like to say I did this all for him, but I kind of had ulterior motives,” Summer said.

“Do tell,” Gabriella said slyly.

“Well, you know Ethan and I wanted to have an engagement party and all, but we wanted to wait until Zach was better.” They climbed the front steps to the house and did another round of greetings with all of the guys before Summer continued. “So we decided to make this an engagement party!”

“Summer! Why didn't you tell me? We didn't get you anything!”

“You got my brother here,” Summer said, a huge grin on her face. “And that's really all Ethan and I wanted.” She reached out and hugged Gabriella. “I knew you'd be good for him. I just knew you were the one.”

Gabriella had no idea how to respond to that. Fortunately, she was saved from having to when Zach's mother, Janice, came over and hugged her. “I have to agree with my daughter. We're all so thankful and happy for you. For a while there I didn't think Zach would ever get out of his funk and want to leave his house. But you managed to get him to do it!” She kissed Gabriella on the cheek. “I seriously can't thank you enough!”

“Okay, Mom,” Zach said, overhearing the entire conversation, “that's enough. Believe it or not, I do have a mind of my own and Gabriella doesn't make all of my decisions for me.” He turned and winked at Gabriella. “Only most of them.”

Relief washed over Gabriella when she realized Zach wasn't upset with what everyone was saying, and was even able to laugh at himself a bit. They worked the room for a little while and eventually he let go of her hand long enough for her to go to the kitchen with the girls and help with the food. “I can't believe how fast you threw all of this together, Summer. I really wish you would have let me help.”

“Like I said, you getting Zach here is what we wanted most.”

Gabriella looked around the room and did a quick head count. “How many are we?” she asked. “There seemed to be more cars than people outside.”

“Oh! That's because Uncle William and Aunt Monica just got here. They're down the hall in the guest room, freshening up. Their flight just landed about an hour ago.”

A twinge of nerves fluttered in Gabriella's belly. It was one thing to talk to William on the phone about her work relationship with Zach; it was quite another for him to witness that they were more than work associates now. “What a nice surprise,” she managed to say before grabbing a bottle of water for herself.

For a few minutes she talked with Casey and Selena and had the chance to really get acquainted with them. Both babies were down for naps, but Gabriella couldn't wait to actually see them and hold them herself. Gabriella never thought of herself as the maternal type—certainly not with the example she was raised with—but something in her softened at the thought of snuggling with the two babies when they woke up.