Tinseltown (16 page)

If it was possible, Zach fell even more in love with her then. When she put it so sensibly, Zach knew she was right. Even he, actor extraordinaire, wouldn’t be at the peak of his game forever. A new generation would come along, people who looked better, younger and fresher. He didn’t like thinking about it too much, but perhaps Deb was here to help him see he didn’t need to be so vain either.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, looking deeply into her eyes. “If you want children, Deb, and you want to have them with me, I’d be honored.” Her eyes misted over, and he touched her lips gently. “But maybe we should work on love first.”

She swallowed and nodded slowly. With nothing left to say, he lowered his mouth to claim hers.

* * * *

“The night is young, my fair lady,” Zach mumbled in Deb’s ear.

Her parents were throwing another holiday bash, and the music blared in the party room. Everyone around them was dancing, sipping on champagne, and looking forward to the New Year’s countdown. Especially Deb.

She had thought about it for a week, and she had decided she would take the plunge. She and Zach hadn’t had the best start, nor might they have the best ending, but she wouldn’t get anywhere without taking chances. Brad was nothing but a distant memory now. Zach had proved to her that risking her heart was worth it. Deb wouldn’t regret the special time they had spent together this Christmas, no matter what the outcome.

“Everyone, let’s gather together and have a toast before the countdown,” her father requested.

The crowd moved in, their glasses in hand. Zach placed an arm around her waist, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, happier than ever. This was her last chance to make this year as amazing for Zach as he’d made it for her.

“Christmas has been very special for me this year, having my family here and getting to know Deb’s husband, Zach. We’ve all been blessed in so many different ways it would take until this time next year to name them all. And here we are faced with a new year, a new beginning, a new chance at life.” Her dad raised his glass and smiled. “May we all make the most of it!”

Deb raised her glass and took a deep breath. This was it. She risked a glance at Zach, who had a small grin on his face and nodded as everyone took a sip of their champagne.

“Zach,” she began. Deb took a quick mouthful herself and turned to him.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for such a wonderful holiday. I can say this has been the best Christmas ever.”

He grinned and winked. “Not a problem.”

“I’m serious, Zach. Not just because we’ve made love but because you… this… I think it’s changed me.”

Zach pulled her into his arms as the countdown began. “Will I get a nice New Year’s kiss for it?”

Deb grinned and reached up to touch his jaw. “Yes.” She could tell by the slight grin on his features he didn’t sense the seriousness of her train of thought. She struggled to restart the conversation but instead thought of a new idea. She turned her head and raised her glass in the crowd. “Five… Four… Three… Two… One… Happy New Year!” she shouted, and filled with excitement, she turned back to Zach and looked at him dead in the eye. “I luh—”

But before she could get the words out, Zach’s mouth was on hers. His tongue swirled around hers and the heat of his passion made her almost forget what she wanted to say. Pulling back, she touched his cheek softly. “Zach, I—”

“Deb, can we talk?”

Annoyed, Deb looked over to the right to see Brad standing there, looking uncomfortable yet determined.

Stunned to see him, but quickly just as perturbed, she said, “You weren’t invited to this party, Brad.” Deb released Zach. “Why are you here?”

“I thought we could talk.” He shoved his hands in his pocket. Next to her, Zach tensed.

“You thought wrong. Leave,” she said between clenched teeth. She held tightly to Zach’s hand, which he was trying to wiggle out of hers. A quick glance at him confirmed the ticking jaw and angry eyes. She definitely didn’t want this to get out of hand. If anyone threw a punch, it would be her.

“Just a few minutes, Deb, it’s all I ask.” The straight line of Brad’s mouth told her he wasn’t going anywhere unless someone kicked him out. Deciding it was easier and less complicated to give him what he wanted, she looked at Zach.

“Don’t even tell me you’re going to give this jerk the time of day,” Zach ground out, keeping his eyes trained on Brad.

“I don’t want to, but it’ll give me a chance to make sure we’re clear on a few things.” She gritted her teeth.

Brad frowned at her but was otherwise silent.

Standing on tiptoe, she kissed Zach’s jaw and whispered in his ear, “This isn’t the kind of publicity we need right now if you two fight, which you know you will. And besides, I’ll be fine.” When she pulled away, he remained too preoccupied with Brad’s appearance to acknowledge her inference.

Twisting out of Zach’s strong grasp, she led the way to the back deck of her parents’ house, the same place where things had ended. Perhaps the location would be a reminder of that night. Even though Zach had let her go without too much of a fuss, she knew he wouldn’t be far away.

“What do you want, Brad?” she asked, her back turned. When she whirled around to face him, he was on her, cold lips searching out hers in a kiss, disgusting her. She wrenched away and scowled at him. “Don’t ever kiss me again,” she said, a warning tone lacing her voice as she pointed an accusing finger at him.

“Oh, come on, Deb,” he said with a disbelieving expression. “You’ve never rejected me before when you were seeing someone.”

“You had better start talking and tell me why you wanted me alone right now, or I’m going to go inside and have my father throw you out. Or would you rather I have Zach do it, because I know he’s itching to get his hands on you after the way you spoke to me last time.”

Brad merely grinned. “I’m not afraid of him. One call to the press and his little reputation is ruined.”

“You think you have the power to ruin a man like Zach? Please, Brad! Millions of women all over the world adore him. He’s done good deeds. He’s a good man. A nothing of a man like
you
holds no bearing on his reputation, bad or otherwise.”

Brad narrowed his eyes at her, and she could see anger simmering there. “You really are the whore I thought you to be, but it looks like she’s finally getting what she deserves. I can see. You’re nuts about him, and it’s only a matter of time before he breaks your precious little heart. Those fancy rings don’t mean much to men like him. Not when it comes to real life. When he does dump you for someone prettier, don’t you dare come looking for me.”

Deb snorted. “No worries there, believe me.”

“Then let’s see how Hollywood likes this,” he said in a low, rage-filled voice. Out of nowhere, Brad’s hand came down hard on her cheek. Unable to do more than see stars, she stumbled backward. Almost in the same instance, the patio doors shot open and Zach was on top of Brad, pummeling his face. Deb screamed at him to let him go, but deep inside she was pleased Zach protected her.

“Zach!” Deb clawed at him to stop. “You’re going to kill him!” And wouldn’t that be just what they needed for their relationship: Zach Sparks sentenced to life in prison on a murder conviction after trying to protect his wife. Man, this had to stop.

When Zach stopped hitting him, he grabbed Brad by the shirt and pulled him up to eye level. “I can promise you I’ll finish this if you ever come near her again. You’ll have to pick someone your own size next time, buddy. Do you hear me? Go ahead and call the press. Call whoever you need to make you feel a little bigger, but the truth of the matter is, man, you’re a sore loser. She doesn’t want you; she wants me. And the sooner you accept this, the sooner you can stop fearing for your teeth. You’ll never touch her again as long as I’m around or you’ll spend the rest of your life paying for plastic surgery.”

Deb grinned as Zach pushed Brad back down on the patio into the snow. His nose was bleeding and looked broken, and his eyes were full of fear. It saddened her to think she had wasted so many years on Brad. Knowing Zach and how she felt now made her wish she had met him years ago. They could have been well on their way to happily ever after by now.

Her eyes stung and tears welled as Brad scrambled away, and she looked at Zach as his expression became apologetic.

“Don’t you say you’re sorry,” she stammered through her tears when he reached out to her. “He deserved every ounce of it.”

To her horror, she saw tears in Zach’s eyes. His hair was in disarray and his knuckles bled. Sweat gleamed on his brow in the moonlight. He gazed at her intensely and clenched his teeth. “He’ll never hurt you again, Deb. I’ll make sure of it,” he whispered, tenderly turning her face to examine it.

“I’m fine. But your hand is bleeding. We need to get inside and get you bandaged up.” Ignoring the fact that they were both crying, Deb took his forearm and tried to move him toward the door.

“Come here,” he demanded and turned her face again. When he uttered profanity, Deb’s heart skipped a beat. She was so concerned for Zach she barely noticed the throbbing pain in her cheek. Softly touching it, blood stained her fingertips when she moved them away.

“You’re bleeding,” Zach stated. Sniffing away his tears, he looked across the back of the house. “We can’t go in like this. People will have too much to talk about. Isn’t there a laundry room door around here somewhere that leads up to your room?” At Deb’s nod in its general direction, he took her hand and led the way.

“Talk about an eventful evening.” Deb sighed when they entered their bedroom a few moments later.

“Talk about a jerk. What was it you saw in him? Should I be worried about him hiring a hit man?”

“No, he’s a coward.”

“I’ll have to call Fernbank tomorrow. We can’t start filming again until we’re both healed. Your cut looks like it’s going to bruise up pretty good.”

“Great. Won’t he be thrilled.” Deb walked straight to the bathroom, turned on the light, and examined her face. It wasn’t as bad as she thought. The cut was miniscule, but Zach was right, it did look like it would bruise.

He stood behind her and the love and concern in his eyes undid her yet again. Embarrassment over her tears caused Deb’s cheeks to heat as he placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed.

“He’s a jerk, Deb, forget him.”

Did he think she was lamenting Brad? Turning, she looped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Thank you. But he’s already forgotten. I’ve been too preoccupied falling in love with you.” So this wasn’t exactly how she wanted to tell him, standing as they were in a bathroom.

He searched her eyes. “Come again?”

“You heard me. If Brad hadn’t screwed things up, I was trying to tell you at the stroke of midnight that I love you.”

“One more time, just so I can make sure I’m not hearing things.” His mouth quirked into a dumbfounded smile.

“Your endless charm worked, Zach.” Deb laughed through the pain in her cheek. “I love you!”

For a moment he didn’t say or do anything, only stared. “Are you sure? You’re not just saying this because I rescued you?”

“Zach,” Deb whispered. “You rescued me in a lot of ways, but it’s not hero-worship. You proved to me over the past couple of weeks what a good man you are. I’m sorry I doubted you. I’ve been thinking about Vegas ever since it happened, and the best conclusion I can come to is we both wanted more, and the alcohol gave me the courage to go for it. It just took all of this to admit it to myself.”

“You love me?” he asked in a quiet, high-pitched voice. “You love me? I think I’m imagining things. Say it again, just so I can be sure.”

“I love you, Zach.” She took his hand and squeezed.

“Wow. I’m speechless. I think hearing you say you love me was the last thing I expected. ‘You’re awesome,’ maybe. ‘Thank you,’ definitely. Maybe after making love. I never thought I would hear you say you love me after I did nothing more than protect you.”

“You don’t sound speechless to me.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t regret marrying me anymore?”

“I regret not marrying you sooner.”

His brow lifted and he smiled.

“Okay, you have me there, but I think we’re going to be happy for a long time to come.”

“Of course. Because I’m the best husband in the world.”

Laughing again, Deb kissed him gingerly. “Let’s both get cleaned up and ring in the New Year properly.”

“Deal.”

Turning, she knelt and grabbed the first aid kit under the sink as Zach washed his hands. After Zach’s hands were bandaged and Deb was comfortable the bleeding had stopped, he turned her into his arms and kissed her sweetly.

“Please don’t change your mind about us, Deb. This feels too right.” He touched his lips against hers.

“Don’t give me a reason to change my mind. But nothing has ever felt more perfect than being right here.” He chuckled when she squeezed him in a hug. Looking up at him, she waited.

“What? Oh, I was just thinking there’s another place that feels pretty perfect too, where you and I are involved.”

She smiled. “Then take me there, Zach.”

His pupils dilated and he smiled. He obeyed and lifted her into his arms.

Chapter 14

The next morning was their last in New York. Zach rolled over, grimaced as he stretched, and his hands ached at the movement. Next to him, Deb slept peacefully, the ugly bruise from Brad’s hand a dirty reminder of the rage he’d felt last night.

Not once had he felt such anger before. No one would ever mess with Deb. When he saw the flash of Brad’s white hand across Deb’s face, he didn’t remember much of what happened afterward.

He touched her face softly and she sighed. Even in her sleep, she was an angel. And to think she loved him. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve it, but he wished he could find out so he could do it again and ensure she didn’t change her mind. Deb was his rock, his fortress. Where his younger years had been riddled with chaos and uncertainty, the future of her love was a promise of a life he had always hoped for.