The connection between Kent and Blithe was instant. The way the two of them looked at one another was a moment I would never forget.
Gone was the hesitant Blithe I had met, and in her place, was a little girl who was open to the world around her. She abandoned Zach and me to go play with Kent, and we watched as she dragged him around the playground. This rich old man, with beady little eyes and a voice that could make anyone’s skin crawl, was melting into the palm of a four-year-old’s hand.
I watched in awe as the two of them played together that night.
We all gathered the next morning and had a family breakfast. Blithe was talking Kent’s ear off, and he was listening intently, giving feedback when he could and smiling when he couldn’t. He was eating up every single second with her, and I eyed Zach playfully as he watched.
Then, when Blithe laid down to take a nap, Zach brought something to my attention. “They’re getting along really well.”
“I think they are,” I said. “How do you feel about that?”
“I know one thing I do feel, and that’s the fact that I owe you a lot.”
“You owe me nothing,” I said.
“That’s not true and you know it,” he said, grinning. “And I’d like to take you out as a thank you.”
“Okay, where are we all going?” I asked.
“No, I want to take you out. Just you.”
“Then who’s gonna watch Blithe?”
Zach motioned with his head over to where Kent was, and the sight was heart-melting. Blithe was curled up next to him with her head on his lap, and Kent was snoring away with his body melded into the couch.
“I figured he might like the time with Blithe, which would give me a chance to take you out.”
“Are you comfortable with that?” I asked.
“I’ll get there,” he said.
“Okay, then. If that’s what you want to do, then I’m all for it. Where would you like to go?’
“I was thinking we could reminisce a little bit,” Zach said.
“What does that mean?”
“You’ll see.”
Later, when we pulled up in front of Dick’s Crabs for dinner, I threw my head back and laughed.
“Are we reliving the eating contest?” I asked.
“Nope, but I figured the view would be nice,” he said. His eyes lingered on me a little too long after that statement, and something inside me told me he wasn’t talking about the view of the ocean.
We sat down inside, and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. My eyes danced around his face, taking in his handsome features. Even though I knew he was the same man, his aura was completely different. He looked like the same person, but he didn’t feel like the same person.
“Paige, I owe you so much for this week,” he said.
“I’m serious. You don’t owe me anything.”
“But I do. With everything you’ve done, you made my life with Blithe so much easier.”
“I just showed you a few hair care products, that’s all,” I said.
“You made a fucking flowchart, Paige. Two, actually. One for her hair and one for her wardrobe.”
I grinned. “Look, you were really struggling. It’s not my fault you’re inept at being a woman.”
“And what you did with my father.” His hand reached for mine across the table, and my heart fluttered in my chest as he took it. “I would’ve never reached out to him, Paige.”
“I know,” I said.
“I would’ve hated that man for the rest of my life for what he used to be.”
“I know.”
“I would’ve never even given a second thought to the fact that he could’ve changed. To the fact that he wanted to reach out like I did.”
“I know,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I know.”
“Yes, you did know. And you know a great deal. That’s the mesmerizing thing about you, Paige. You just… know.”
Our food got to the table, and Zach released my hand, but I could tell he wasn’t in the mood to eat. He shifted his plate off to the side, and I did the same, not wanting to ruin the moment.
“I want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. And for Blithe. And for my father. I have no idea how I’m going to ever repay you.”
“You don’t have to,” I said.
“But I want to.”
“Zach, you asked me to help, so I helped. That’s all that happened. I care about you, and when you care about someone, you help them.”
I lifted my gaze to Zach’s bright blue eyes and held my breath as he studied me. His eyes danced across my face as he loosened his grip on my hand, and I thought he was going to let go. I thought I had finally crossed a line I couldn’t come back from, but then he did something that caught my attention.
He threaded our fingers together and brought my hand to his lips to kiss.
“Repaying you for what you’ve done for me and my family will take weeks. Maybe even months. And it might take some nights spent with just the two of us for me to show you when I run out of words.”
I felt my entire body heat at his words, and my breathing picked up.
He kissed my hand again. “That means I might not be able to let you go for a while. You know, until I’ve repaid you.”
“I mean, I don’t have anywhere to be,” I said.
“Yes, you do.”
His words had me hooked as I held onto every single syllable.
“I do?” I asked.
“You have a place to be, and it’s with us,” he said. “I don’t want to be without you, and I don’t think Blithe does, either.”
My hands started to tremble as my heart fluttered in my chest.
“Just stay a little longer,” Zach said. “Stay long enough for me to convince you that this is where you should be.”
“Okay,” I said, nodding. “I’ll stay.”