Page 27

Z ack didn’t know why he was nervous, but he had a bad feeling.

What if Dani’s friends told her she was being stupid taking a chance on him? He had no doubt she’d talk to them about it. Hell, she’d said as much before she left. He just couldn’t help wondering how much detail she’d gone into… Or what she might have told them in the past.

He paced the small room, running his fingers through his hair. The uncertainty gnawed at him. What if Dani decided he wasn't worth the risk after all? Things were still so new between them, and as good as things were, he could tell Dani continued to have reservations.

A sharp knock at the door made him jump. His heart raced as he crossed the room, hesitating before turning the handle.

Dani stood there, her eyes blazing with an intensity that made him take an involuntary step back.

"We need to talk," she said, her voice low and controlled. She pushed past him into the room, her body radiating tension.

Zack's mouth went dry. "What's wrong?"

She whirled to face him, hands on her hips. "You lied to me. Again."

His stomach dropped. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb, Zack. I know why you really came here. And it had nothing to do with updating the resort's computers."

Zack's mind raced, trying to figure out how she'd discovered the truth. He opened his mouth to explain, but Dani cut him off with a raised hand.

"Save the excuses. I want to hear the whole story. Now." Her eyes narrowed, daring him to try and deceive her again.

Zack's shoulders slumped. He knew this moment would come eventually, but he'd hoped to have more time to prepare. To figure out how to explain everything without sounding like a complete asshole.

"You're right," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wasn’t here to update the mainframe. Luca asked me to come because Saul was in danger and needed the kind of help only I could provide.”

“So, none of this was ever about me at all, then. I was just an afterthought. An unexpected bonus…” Her voice sounded bleak, and Zack couldn’t stand it.

Standing before her, he looked Dani right in the eye and told her his truth.

“Oh, it was always about you, baby. I didn’t really know Saul.

Knew of him, sure, but we weren’t friends.

And while I wasn’t opposed to helping him out of a tight spot, I can’t deny I leapt at the chance because it gave me an excuse to be here and see you.

The cover story about the software updates really wasn’t my idea, and while I didn’t much like it, I didn’t have a lot of choice.

The ruse was a necessity, because Saul’s life was in danger and his presence here was on a need-to-know basis.

It was never that I didn’t want to tell you the truth, I literally couldn’t.

And don’t think I won’t spank your delectable ass for calling yourself an afterthought. ”

Zack shook his head and gave a rueful grin. “And of course, you, my little spitfire, were so diligent about it all, I had to scramble to make it a reality.”

He paused and decided to tell her the rest. “And tell me if I’m wrong, but I felt like you’d never give me the time of day if I’d just turned up out of the blue… This gave me the chance to spend time with you where you couldn’t just run away again.”

“I’m sure you could have found an excuse before now. It’s been years!”

Okay, so she was obviously going to make him work for it. And that was fine. Zack was nothing if not persistent and maybe a tad relentless when he wanted something.

Okay, very relentless. Nothing worth having was ever easy, and Dani was definitely worth the effort.

He nodded. “You’re right. I probably could. But for a long time, I had my own misgivings… and also a lot of anger.”

He could see the gears turning in her head at his words.

“I’m not going to deny it. I was pissed with you for not at least bothering to hear me out.

It made me think there was no future for us.

And that was compounded because of my situation.

I wasn’t going to be free until eighteen years had passed, and I didn’t think that was fair on you. ”

Dani's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and confusion flashing across her face. "Eighteen years? What are you talking about?"

Zack sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The marriage... while it might not have been real, but there was an additional legal contract. An obligation to stay married for a certain period of time. I checked it out, and it was absolutely binding.”

“Eighteen years,” Dani said again, her voice soft. “Wow, that’s…” She shook her head. “Why?”

“As far as I can piece together, it was for Emylyah’s protection. She was in danger from the mafia, or something. Being married gave her a certain immunity but like I already told you, I don’t really know. I was being honest about that.”

“I’m sorry you were angry about me running,” Dani said stiffly. “But when you dropped that bombshell on me, it felt like my entire life had imploded. I was disgusted with you and disgusted with myself for being with a married man. It’s kind of a touchy subject for me.”

Zack rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I didn’t really handle that the best way. In the heat of the moment, I wasn’t really thinking about how to break it to you. I wish I’d managed it better.”

“You and me both,” Dani said humorlessly. “Although with my history it might not have made any difference. Marriage and mistresses have difficult associations for me.”

He waited a moment, but she didn’t elaborate, and as much as Zack wanted to pry, he didn’t want to spook her any further.

Instead, he chose another truth to appease her with.

“My work here is done, Dani. It has been for the past two weeks. Whatever I came here for initially, I’ve stayed because of you. ”

“I’m not going to lie, Zack, it shook me, finding out you weren’t here for the reasons you said.

I understand confidentiality - hell, I live with it every single day given the nature of this island.

But even logic can’t simply erase my emotional doubts.

It doesn’t help me turn off all the uncertainty I’m feeling.

I want to give us a chance, really, I do.

But sometimes it feels like life keeps throwing up roadblocks and that makes me wonder if those are red flag warnings I should be listening to, so I keep second guessing myself. ”

She rubbed her arms and looked away from him, and Zack felt her slipping away. "I don't know if I can do this," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Zack's heart clenched at her words. He took a step closer, his hand reaching out to touch her arm but stopping short, hovering in the space between them.

"Dani, please," he said softly. "I know I've given you reasons to doubt me, but I'm here now. Fully present and ready to fight for us."

She turned back to him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "How can I trust that? How do I know this isn't just another lie?"

Zack swallowed hard, his throat tight with emotion.

"Because I love you. I've loved you for years, even when I thought there was no future for us. Even when I was angry. Even when I thought I'd never see you again. And I’ve never lied to you, even though there have times when I couldn’t be as open as I wanted to be. I’ve always been truthful whenever you’ve asked the hard questions, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to prove myself to you. "

Dani's breath caught, her eyes widening at his confession. She searched his face, and he knew she was looking for signs of deception. That was fine. She wouldn’t find any. He meant every word he said.

"I... I don't know what to say," she whispered.

Zack stepped closer, closing the distance between them. This time, he did reach out, gently cupping her face in his hands. "You don’t need to say anything. Just give us a proper chance, that’s all I’m asking for. Things have been good up until now, haven’t they?”

She let out a shaky breath, clearly conflicted.

“You said you would,” he reminded her, trying to put everything he felt into his eyes as he looked into her doubtful ones.

“I can’t change the past. But at least let’s give the future a shot.”