Tinseltown (15 page)

If Zach hadn’t known it was medically impossible, Eric might have risen from his wheelchair and knocked his teeth down his throat.

“Relax,” Deb soothed. “It was a rough beginning, but we’re taking it a day at a time. The engagement ring was a way for us to start over. So far so good.” She sent Eric a wink and flashed her ring finger. The diamond sparkled brightly against the tree lights.

“I’m doing my best to make her see how perfect I am, but she’s not going down without a fight. You understand how stubborn women can be, though.”

Eric looked at Zach knowingly, and Zach angled a pointed eyebrow, letting him know his words might seem careless, but he was one hundred percent invested.

Eric said nothing more, and Deb looked back and forth between them with narrowed, suspicious eyes.

“This one’s for you,” Jesse said and gave Deb a small package. She recognized the wrapping paper from Zach’s gift the previous night. She glanced up at him and shook her head.

“What have you done now?” she asked him wryly.

“Zach, this one has your name on it,” Elizabeth said and handed Deb’s gift to Zach. He eyed her and shook his head.

“Great minds think alike,” he said quietly. He really wished he could be all suave when receiving a gift. What would he do if he hated it, or better yet loved it but didn’t give the right reaction? Everything was precious right now. After the past few nights, it was so important to get things right. Especially given what was inside the gift she held.

“You first,” he said with a grin. Everyone had loved her ring last night. Seeing it on her finger, even now, sent a surge of protectiveness through him. He couldn’t wait until she sported it proudly in public. Would they ever get there?

Delicately, Deb opened the gift. She bit her lip as everyone watched in anticipation. “You really shouldn’t have done this,” she muttered.

“I could say the same for you.” He lifted his gift slightly. She shot him a wry look and opened the velvet box.

Deb gasped and tears shone in her eyes as she revealed a matching wedding band made of diamonds and emeralds. She stood immobilized, her hand across her breast and her jaw agape. Everyone, he confirmed with a quick glance around the room, watched in anticipation.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he whispered so the others wouldn’t hear.

“No, this is just so beautiful!” She fingered the band gently and looked up at him. “But what does this mean, Zach?”

“It doesn’t come without strings, Deb.” His serious gaze caused her expression to sober.

She pulled him closer so they stood face to face.

“Wow, this is a lot for me at four in the morning.” She laughed. Everyone chorused together wanting to see the set, and Deb handed the box to her mother to pass around. Turning to Zach, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, resting her cheek next to his. He pulled her against him and inhaled deeply. This was exactly how he wanted to feel the rest of his life.

Deb pulled back and looked up at him. “I don’t need fancy diamonds to be happy. I thought we decided last night we would try to make this work.”

Zach watched her, wanting so badly for her to love him. “This just makes it official.”

She grinned, but only a small one. “I’m confused.”

The room was so quiet, a pin could ping off the carpet and sound like a bell toll. It dawned on him, with everyone standing around, it felt like an intimate wedding. Zach never even thought to ask Deb if she regretted not having her family there.

But he would give it to her now on Christmas, at four in the morning.

He settled his gaze on her neck and toyed with a strand of hair, afraid he might tear up and cry himself. “What do you say, Deb? Will you wear these rings to remind you of how much I love you? How much I never want this to be over? I’ve told you before I didn’t have the best examples growing up, but I won’t stop loving you. I want to be the kind of husband you deserve.” Zach glanced back into her eyes only long enough to make sure she knew he meant it. “Will you wear them? Will you be my wife?”

Deb’s gaze settled on his lips. He touched her cheek, the skin velvet underneath his fingertip.

Looking out to her family, she seemed to realize his intentions.

Her eyes returned to his. “I will,” she murmured and everyone sighed.

Zach looked around for the ring and Eric wheeled it over to him. They watched as he slid the band on her finger, pushing it to rest against the diamond he had given her the previous night.

He shrugged. “We’ve kind of done things backward, so I guess the fact your rings are on backward is fitting, huh?”

She closed her eyes, a soft smile curving her lips and entwined their fingers.

“Kiss the bride!” Deb’s father called out.

Deb slowly looked up and saw they stood underneath the mistletoe. She cocked her eyebrow. “I told you watch out for the mistletoe.”

Zach laughed. “Not a chance.”

In a dramatic gesture, he dipped Deb and met her lips halfway. When he was done, he settled her on her feet as they laughed.

“Now open your gift,” she said when she pulled away.

Only he didn’t have to open it to know the greatest gift was right there in his arms.

* * * *

“Do you like it?” Deb asked, afraid it was too much. But she was glad she had splurged on the more expensive one after opening his gifts.

“Wow,” he said with rounded eyes. “I love it.” He held up the gold-and-silver watch and looked at her. “Thank you.”

“If you don’t like it, we can return it. I didn’t know if you liked wearing them or not or if you had one, or—”

Zach silenced her rambling with his lips. “I love it,” he whispered.

“You guys…” Eric
tsked
as he came up beside them and whistled through his teeth. “That’s one nice watch, man. You actually picked it out on your own?” he shot at Deb.

She obediently stuck her tongue out at him, which was no doubt the reaction he was looking for, judging by his chuckle. Looking up at Zach, she caught his smile for her. He ran his hand around to the back of her neck and squeezed. She loved his little possessive touches. They made her feel cherished.

“Looks like you’re winning the kids over,” Eric said to Zach. “They love the gifts. It was nice of you to think of them.”

“What am I, chopped liver?” Deb asked Eric. She had spent a lot of time looking for the perfect gifts.

Eric chuckled again and eyed her. “Deb, you buy them anything they want all year long. Christmas is no different. Between the two of you, we’re going to have to buy them a new house to put it all in.”

Deb smiled. “Arrangements can be made.”

“Don’t you dare!” Alyson plopped down next to Deb, giving her a hug. “Thank you for all the wonderful gifts you got the kids. And thank you, Zach.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad they liked them.” He gave her his best smile.

They all turned and watched the twins playing with their new toys for a few moments. “The funny thing is—” Alyson turned back to them. “Every year is special to them. They aren’t spoiled, and they don’t take their stuff for granted. Just after Thanksgiving this year, they came to me and wanted to donate some of the toys they didn’t play with anymore to an orphanage. Of course I agreed. They have the biggest hearts.”

“They definitely get their heart from you, Alyson,” Deb said with a smirk, and Eric moved his wheelchair and gave Deb a punch on the leg. They laughed and Deb savored the moment, loving the camaraderie between them. “Seriously, that’s great. It’s good to know all of those toys are enjoyed more than once.”

The rest of the morning the kids played and the adults enjoyed conversation, card games, and breakfast. Around noon, Deb noticed Zach escaped out the back door. Where he was headed, she couldn’t imagine. There was at least two feet of snow on the ground.

She quickly donned her jacket and followed him quietly. He walked casually, as though the cold didn’t bother him. The only telltale sign he might be chilled was his slouched shoulders and his fingers stuffed into his jean pockets. Into the woods a little ways, he stopped at a decorative bench and sat, looking out over nature.

“Do you want to be alone?” she asked him when he spotted her.

“Not if you’re around.” He smiled and patted the bench. “I didn’t know if you enjoyed quiet strolls in the woods. I thought I’d leave you to your family.”

“They really like you, you know.” Deb sat and Zach immediately pulled her into his arms.

“Good thing,” he said. “I like them too.”

“Are you okay? You’ve been quiet today.”

“Just a lot of family togetherness. Been a little much for me, I guess.”

Deb sat still for a moment. She didn’t really know what to say. She felt sorry for him, mainly because she couldn’t imagine the holidays without her boisterous family and all the craziness. To do without family during the holidays must have been a sad time for him. But no more.

“What do you normally do during the holidays?” she asked as she caressed his folded fingers around her waist.

“Catch up on my sleep.”

“That’s it?”

“Yup.”

Again, Deb fell silent. “Does my family bother you?”

“In a good way. It’s nice to be surrounded by so many great people. I’m just not used to it. Does that make sense?”

“It’s okay.” She smiled as she turned to face him. “There will be plenty of time for you to get used to it now.”

She loved how he grinned at her. It lit up his eyes.

“I suppose so, wife.” He sighed, tightening his hold on her. “Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

“Mmm.” She exhaled. “I want you to go with me to pick out your ring.” She kissed him lightly.

“The one I have is fine.”

“No, you got me these beautiful rings and gave my family a wonderful memory today of us moving forward. I want to make sure you have a something nice too.”

“It’s not about that, Deb.”

“I know,” she huffed in frustration. “Will you just agree to go? It would mean a lot if I could return the gesture.”

“Have it your way.”

The sharpness of the cold air bit into her cheeks, but it didn’t bother her because she was in the warmth of Zach’s arms. “Thank you for all this, Zach.”

“I love you, Deb. It’s simple.”

If only it was that simple for her.

Shaking her head, she refused to think of anything to bring her down from the euphoria of her new beginning. “Have you ever had sex in below-freezing temperatures?” She giggled when his eyes rounded and he looked back toward the house. “Don’t worry, no one can see us.”

“What if
it
freezes?” he asked in a high-pitched, disbelieving voice.

She cocked her eyebrow and stood, pulling him to the utility shed at the corner of the lot.

“This gives the saying ‘taking someone out behind the barn’ a whole new meaning,” he said as he followed her. Already his eyes were filled with lust.

“My parents don’t have a barn,” Deb clarified.

Zach tilted his head and shrugged. “You know. It’s all the same.”

Throwing her head back, she laughed although it got smothered by heated kisses and Zach’s special touch.

Chapter 13

Later, Zach lay in Deb’s room, holding her in his arms for a second time that day. At the moment, his life was as complete as it ever had been and contentment reigned.

“It won’t always be like this, you know,” Deb whispered.

He lifted his head and studied her somber expression. So much for contentment.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, eventually we’ll have to go back to our real lives where our jobs keep us away from each other most of the time. We have to figure out what we’re going to do.”

“Oh, Deb. Always the planner. I’m not sure what we can do. But I know when I do see you, it’ll make our time together even more special. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” He tried to keep his rational side talking. They could fly to see each other every chance they got or they could try to work their schedules around each other so only one of them was filming at a time. But it wouldn’t always be possible. All he did know was he would do anything to make sure Deb remained his wife.

“What about out of sight, out of mind?” she returned, looking up at him.

“Definitely absence makes the heart grow fonder here.” He grinned. Kissing her forehead, he pushed himself up a little on the pillow so he could see her better. “We don’t have to figure everything out right now. As long we both want this, nothing can stand in our way.”

She was quiet. He didn’t like it when she was quiet.

“What about kids?” she asked.

Yeah, contentment was definitely headed out the door. “Um.” He hesitated. “I haven’t thought much about it.”

“I want kids,” she stated.

“Well, I…” Did he want kids? Was it fair to raise kids with his hectic work schedule? What if marriage and having children meant giving up his career? Was he willing? The stubborn side of him told him to forget it. He had worked too hard to get where he was. But that was the side his father had created.

Zach’s side, the part of him left untouched by his father, answered with a resounding yes. Deb was his wife, and the thought of seeing her carrying his child and them raising it together as a family made him happy.

“I’m willing to negotiate,” he said with a wink. “I mean, I honestly haven’t thought about it. But if you want a family, I say we start practicing right now.” He tackled her, kissing her neck so she laughed. He loved the way she laughed all husky when he touched her. She was easy to read, and he now knew exactly what pleased her.

“I’m serious, Zach. I just want to make sure we have the same goals in life before we jump in head first.”

“I know,” he conceded as he pulled back to look at her. He brushed her hair away from her temple and touched the delicate skin there. “You know, some actresses don’t want to think about children. They’re vain and don’t want stretch marks to mar their beauty.”

“Oh, I’m vain too!” She laughed. “But acting is my job, not my life. I want something that’s gonna last past wrinkles when I can’t do more than commercials for anti-aging cream and osteoporosis medication, you know? I won’t be an actress forever.”