Page 43 of Hold Me Instead (Elmwood Falls #1)

Zachary

Where do you live these days?

Zachary couldn’t text back fast enough as he typed out Jordan’s address.

Charlie: Perfect.

Charlie: Wait, are you there now?

Zachary: Yes... Should I be expecting you?

Charlie: :)

He laughed.

Zachary: Helpful, Harris.

“Hey, wanna grab a drink with me before my shift?” Jordan asked.

Zachary looked at the time. “Uh, I’m kinda waiting on someone…”

“Waiting on someone?” Jordan peered over, trying to read his phone. “Whatcha got?”

“Charlie’s coming by,” Zachary said.

“I see, waiting until I’d be working to bring her here, huh?”

“She asked me where I’m staying. I have no idea what it’s about.”

“You two couldn’t go two whole days without seeing each other?”

“Yeah, it’s not like that.”

“That’s what they always say. Why don’t you both join me for a drink? If it’s so low pressure and all? ”

“I don’t know,” Zachary said, walking toward the guest room while he tugged his shirt over his head.

He did know. He liked the sound of that. Hanging out with one of his best friends, having him meet the woman in his life.

Except, was she the woman in his life?

Would you be trying to screw over the woman in your life by buying a business out from under her ? And lying about it ?

His conversation with his father hadn’t continued at Sandra’s, and by the time he’d dropped them home, Daniel had been exhausted. There was a lot left to discuss.

The doorbell rang just as he closed the final buttons on his dark green button-down, but no amount of hustle could beat Jordan. The man must’ve been standing there, waiting.

“Hey! You must be Charlie,” Jordan said, gesturing into the house. “Come on in.”

“I am. Jordan?” Charlie said.

Zachary’s heart raced as she came into view, her hair loose as it brushed her winter coat. She shook Jordan’s hand, her smile genuine, warm. Jordan’s was equally warm. Suddenly he hated being left out of the moment.

“Hey,” he said, going up to her with a kiss on the cheek.

She turned, her eyes wide in surprise behind thin blue wire frames, smiling as the pink of her cheeks spread. “Hey,” she said. She held out a round dish. “This is for you. Well, for your family. My cousin made it and thought you all might want it.”

He tipped his head to the side with a smile. “But you brought it to me. That’s dangerous, you know,” he teased. He peeked under the foil. “Pecan? ”

“God, that smells good,” Jordan said.

Zachary moved the pan away from his friend’s nose.

“Yeah, well, last night didn’t go quite as planned. Hence, me bringing it to you today.” She twisted her hands together. “Will you guys eat it?”

“Yes,” he and Jordan said at the same time.

“Believe me,” Zachary added.

“Oh, I’m convinced,” Charlie said, her eyes sparkling.

“My mom and sister made a shit ton of food anyway, so they’re all just fine.” Zachary made his way toward the kitchen. “Want a slice?” he asked her, pulling out silverware while Jordan grabbed plates.

“You’re going to have some now?” she asked.

“Why not?” Zachary asked.

She laughed. “I’m good. Still recovering from mine last night.”

“So listen, Charlie,” Jordan said, already digging into his piece. “Shit, that’s good. We were gonna go to Whiskey Nights for a drink. Want to join?”

Zachary narrowed his eyes at his friend and got a smirk in response.

“Oh, I love that place!”

“Yeah?” Jordan smiled. “My sister owns it.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding. We’ve been crushing on it since it opened.”

“Well, Mel will be there tonight, so you can meet her.”

Charlie clapped her hands, and Zachary realized he’d go wherever she wanted.

Which is how he found himself in his car twenty minutes later, with Charlie in the passenger seat, as they followed Jordan to the bar. Holiday music played softly in the car, their hands twining together .

A buzz filled the air as they drove through the village, shoppers starting on checklists and treating themselves in the process, but they somehow found parking not too far from the bar.

With his hands in his pockets, Zachary nudged his body against Charlie’s on their short walk. “You’re quiet today,” he said.

“So are you,” she countered, offering a small smile.

Their companionable silence was as familiar as it was new. Though his thoughts were preoccupied with his dad’s news, his desire to be near her overruled any warning of how close they were becoming.

He held open the door to Whiskey Nights, and Jordan beckoned them over to the bar.

“What’ll we have to drink?” Jordan asked, waving over a bartender.

“Mel doesn’t make you mix the drinks when you show up early?” Zachary asked.

“Nah,” Jordan said. “She knows better than to squeeze more time from me.”

“Jordan’s a nurse at the children’s hospital during the week,” Zachary said.

“Have you told her nothing about me? I’m hurt.” He pinched his lips together and drew an imaginary tear path with his finger.

Charlie smiled. “He doesn’t make a habit out of sharing stories of his charming friends. I think he’s trying to hide something.”

“See, she already called you charming ,” Zachary muttered.

“Well, that’s because she can see it. Though, next to you, I’m not surprised,” Jordan said. “He’s gotten a bit surly in his old age.”

“I’ve noticed. He was much more easygoing in college,” Charlie added.

“You knew him in college too? How did we not meet? ”

Zachary rolled his eyes. “She and I worked together at the clinic. You know this, Jordan.”

Jordan winked. “Oh, I know.”

Charlie blushed, and Zachary straightened in his seat, looking at Jordan over her head.

Jordan laughed.

“Well, look at you, having the time of your life over here. Enjoying my fine establishment before I put you to work, huh?” A woman with dark brown skin propped her arms on the bar across from them, the rust-colored curls of her Afro catching light from the Edison bulbs around the bar.

She grinned, a deep red lipstick pairing well with her silky black sleeveless top, the V-neck dipping low.

“Oh my God, you did it, you got Zachary Lee in here!”

“Hey, Mel,” Zachary said as she cut around the counter.

“Give me a hug!” She wrapped her arms around him as she rocked back and forth.

“You look great.”

“Aw, stop,” she said with a pat to his shoulder. “Hi, I’m Mel.” She stuck out her hand to Charlie, who grasped it.

“Charlie. It’s so nice to meet you. My friends and I love your place,” Charlie gushed.

“Thank you,” Mel said. “Very happy to hear that.”

“She was raving about it before we got here. Couldn’t get her to stop,” Jordan said.

“Whatever.” Mel nudged Jordan’s shoulder as she went back behind the bar. “Alright, Zachary, fill me in. Jordan’s so happy to have you home. Though, I know it wasn’t planned. How’s your dad? ”

“Doing okay. Home, antsy. Wants to get back to work, but his doctor wants him to retire.”

“Oh, no,” Mel said.

“Yeah. He’s not happy about that either.”

“I’m glad he’s home, but shit, he must be driving your mom nuts.”

“Yeah, they’re getting to that point,” Zachary said. He caught Charlie’s glance of concern and shrugged.

“Well, you know you’re welcome here anytime. And friends of these two idiots are friends of mine,” Mel added with a smile at Charlie.

“Why does everyone keep calling me an idiot?” Zachary murmured.

Mel patted his hand patronizingly. “You forget who I’m friends with, Z.”

He groaned on a laugh. “Sandra.”

Mel laughed, her eyes traveling to someone on the other side of the bar. “Okay, enjoy. Great to see you,” she said to Zachary, then to Charlie, “Great to meet you. Jordan, you’re mine in twenty!” She smacked the bar and walked away.

“How do you manage working with your older sister?” Zachary asked.

“She’s a great boss, I’ll admit. And I’m an awesome baby brother.” He leaned closer to Charlie. “I bring in a lot of extra customers.”

Charlie laughed. “I believe it.”

Jordan grinned. “So, Charlie, tell me more about what this asshole is like to work with.”

“Oh yes, happy to.” Charlie straightened in her seat and cleared her throat dramatically, while Zachary groaned.

Zachary listened as she traded stories of working with him for Jordan’s of growing up together.

He watched them bond over what could be deciphered as a goal to humiliate him, had he not chimed in with his own side of the story.

By the time Jordan was pouring drinks during his shift, there’d been enough shared humiliation to have them all laughing.

As Jordan left them to tend to other patrons, Zachary huddled close to Charlie at the bar. He was happy. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d described himself as such. Hanging out with her and his best friend…It felt like the next step in a relationship.

One they had to talk about.

Charlie spun herself on the barstool so her feet rested on the rung of his. “Well, now it’s out in the open, how anal we think the other is in the workplace.”

“We already knew that,” he said, turning his seat, shifting his legs to box in hers.

“True.” She looked up at him, her eyes glazed over a bit. She propped an elbow on the bar, inching his way. “I should stop drinking. Otherwise, I’m going to be useless tomorrow.”

“Good thing it’s a late-start day.”

“Mmm, good thing.” She toyed with the sleeve of his shirt.

He slid his hand to her thigh and squeezed.

Her eyes darted to his lips, and he followed suit. When she leaned closer still, he met her, their tongues tangling instantly in a slow dance, his hand squeezing her thigh tighter as she inhaled sharply.

Charlie pulled back, her breathing rapid. “Want to go back to my place?”

“Yes.”

They shoved off their stools, and he pulled his wallet out just as Jordan came over .

“On the house.”

“No—”

“Boss’s orders.” Jordan pointed toward Mel, who gave a wave. “Just make sure you come back again. That’s the only request.”

“Ahh, here just take it as a tip then.” Zachary threw some bills on the counter, then grabbed Charlie’s hand.

“Nice to finally meet you, Jordan.”

“Same. Be good to our guy, yeah?”

“Oh, I will,” Charlie promised.

He suppressed a growl as he looked down into Charlie’s face, her mischievous twinkle meant for him, especially when she pinched his butt.

“You’ll pay for that,” he whispered in her ear.

She giggled. “Can’t wait.” She waved to Mel, then hurried out of the bar, with Zachary right on her heels.

“Wait!” She spun toward him, her hand going to his chest. “What about Maple? She needs dinner, or—”

He kissed her. “She’s at Sandra’s. Vivi asked if they could have a sleepover.”

“Oh my God, that’s the cutest damn thing,” Charlie said, pulling him down for another scorching kiss. “Take me home.”