Page 52 of Hold Me Instead (Elmwood Falls #1)

Zachary

A holiday playlist curated by the staff jingled through a small wireless speaker, filling the party room at Arturo’s Restaurant with cheerful energy.

They had closed the hospital a couple hours early, allowing everyone enough time to go home, change, and bring their families to their annual celebration.

The mood was certainly brighter than when he’d arrived almost two months ago.

After his father’s heart attack, there was a somber veil over the staff, his absence weighing on everyone’s mind.

Once he and Charlie found their own rhythm, though, things settled.

Spirits lifted, especially with news of Daniel’s recovery.

The question as to his return to work came up less and less as time went on.

Everyone adjusted to him and Charlie running things, to them being the go-to duo.

Mostly, though, it was Charlie. She kept things running like normal, despite his instincts to find things to fix and change.

He watched her now across the room as she laughed with Maura and her husband. Sure, he could take over and run things the way his father wanted. He’d incorporate a few of his own preferences into the fold—it was only natural, running a business.

What stood out the most was how much he wanted Charlie by his side as he did it .

She wore her cream sweater loosely tucked into the high waist of camel-colored pants that lengthened the look of her legs and showed off her round ass. He’d tugged her into the hallway when she’d arrived to express how much he liked them, and she had assured him he could help her out of them later.

“My God, honey, have you asked her out yet?” His mother’s voice carried softly, her hand at his shoulder.

He turned, finding her in a bright red knit sweater adorned with snowflakes and puppies.

“I…what? When did you get here?” What expression had been on his face?

She smirked and squeezed him to her side. He put his arm over her shoulders, almost reluctantly.

“A little bit ago.” She glanced over her shoulder, then back to him. “Everyone’s very excited to see your father. He’s barely made it past the door.”

He hummed noncommittally, his gaze darting back to Charlie.

“So?”

He looked down at her. “What?”

“Never were that good at hiding your feelings. Have you asked her out yet?”

“I…” Charlie’s gaze met his. She perked at the sight of his mom, then slowly raised an eyebrow at him. He couldn’t help but smile at her, calming when she grinned back. “Yes.”

Jeanie clasped her hands together. “Oh my, I never thought this day would come.”

“No, Mom—”

“I won’t say anything to your father.”

“Definitely don’t. We aren’t…this isn’t serious.”

She pursed her lips.

“She and I are on the same page, before you ask. Sandra made sure about that too.”

“Your sister knows?” Jeanie asked softly.

“Yes. It’s not a big deal. This was all supposed to be temporary.

” Even as the words came out, he knew it was bullshit.

As soon as he’d stepped foot in town, it was like his roots replanted.

Seeing Charlie again had only made him more eager to stay.

More curious. There was never going to be any “temporary” where he and Charlie were concerned.

“But the practice?” Jeanie asked.

“Yeah, well, that’s separate.”

Jeanie looked at Charlie, then back to him. “How?”

“It just is. We’re being open with each other about it all. Don’t worry. Don’t say anything to Charlie either, okay? I don’t want her to be embarrassed.”

“Oh, honey. With the way she’s been watching you this whole time, I’d say ‘embarrassed’ is highly unlikely. She looks completely smitten. She’s almost as bad as you at hiding it.”

Charlie was staring again and immediately blushed at being caught.

She looked around, appearing to have just realized Maura and her husband had moved along and she was standing alone.

Just watching him and his mom. She bit that lower lip and owned it.

With a little wave, she lifted her head high and walked toward Jasmine. He chuckled softly.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you smile like that in years,” Jeanie mused.

He felt it in his cheeks, the strain of unused muscles there to prove his mom’s point .

“Son.” His father came up beside him, steps slow. “Nice little party you have here.”

“Charlie and Maura. All them,” Zachary said, taking a sip of the holiday punch.

“Of course. Can we go on into the hall for a minute?”

Zachary nodded, sparing his mom a quick glance as he followed his dad through the room and into the dim hallway.

“I talked to the new accountant.” Daniel threaded his fingers together. “We’re prepping the paperwork to transfer the practice to you.”

He shook his head. “Wait. We’re still discussing this. That I might buy into it.”

“There’s no more time.”

“What do you mean? That was only a week ago.”

“I needed to have the decision by the end of this month. It’s financially the best way for us to solve it, and to help us avoid some other issues. Additional taxes and late fees, that sort of thing. Your guy was very helpful.” He added the last statement reluctantly.

Zachary ran his fingers through his hair. “Dad, you should’ve talked to me about this. Charlie…” He hesitated.

“I already said I didn’t want her to carry the burden. This should remain in the family. And I certainly wasn’t going to discuss the Neptune offer with her, not when I know how she feels. There’ll be more opportunities for her. Better ones.”

“She wanted to buy into it, Dad. She was willing to share it with me.”

Daniel’s eyes widened. “You told her?”

Zachary paced.

Daniel grunted. “What, exactly, did you say? ”

“The gist of it. That there was a hefty amount of debt, and you didn’t want to pass that onto her.

” But would willingly give it to me . Again, he couldn’t put all the blame on his father when he’d been ill-advised.

Plus, Zachary had bailed instead of being there for him, instead of what his dad had dreamed of for years.

Daniel waved a hand in the air. “That wouldn’t have been right. To start out like that.”

“How is it ‘right’ for me? Better her and I teaming up, tackling this together.”

“This was the smartest decision, Zachary. You’re back in town, and with how well things have been going in my absence, I figured you’d be staying.”

“But you didn’t ask me if I was.”

Daniel was quiet, his blinks slow as he studied every inch of Zachary’s face. He asked softly, “Don’t you want to stay?”

The pain etched in his father’s face rattled him. “I hadn’t thought through it yet. It’s a big decision. Why doesn’t anyone see that?”

“Is it the practice?”

Zachary shook his head.

“Me? That’s why you left.” Daniel’s voice was strained.

“Dad, I left because I was getting married. I followed Anna to where she was from, because it was important to her. Yes, I put her plans first, no need to rehash all that bullshit. I recognize the choices I made.”

“You decided to work for her father.”

“It seemed like the right thing at the time.” He hesitated, scrubbed a hand through his hair.

“Things worked out fine because, like you said, you had Charlie, so you didn’t need me here.

You know what, though? At our wedding, during his speech?

I hadn’t even told him ‘yes’ yet. I wanted to be the one to tell you the news.

That was my plan. I’m sorry for how that happened. ”

Daniel was silent long enough for Zachary to replay his words. Then his dad shook his head.

“You staying here would’ve been me forcing you.

But don’t think for a second that I wouldn’t have been thrilled to have you back.

I’d always dre—” Daniel swallowed. “Working alongside you was something I’d looked forward to since you told me you wanted to be a veterinarian.

Having you here now, I thought maybe it was time for you to come home. ”

Zachary sighed. “I was let go, Dad.” He spread his arms wide. “I didn’t have anything to return to. Seemed like the right thing to do.”

“Oh, I see.” Daniel nodded slowly. “And now?”

“Well. I’m not necessarily looking forward to leaving.”

Daniel’s eyebrows raised slightly.

“I just need time to think through it all.”

“You’ve been here two months—”

“I didn’t know this for two months. Puts a different spin on things, don’t you think?”

Daniel waited a moment. “So you’re not happy about this plan? Taking over?”

“I don’t know what I am right now. Look. Let’s talk more about this later. We need to be in there.”

Daniel nodded, waited a beat. Then walked back into the room.

Zachary pressed his head to the wall, whispering, “Fuck.” Then turned and followed.

It was like being beamed to a joy-filled dimension.

The holiday music seemed loud, as carefree kids danced.

The food filled tables in artful displays with candlesticks and wood tiers draped with greenery, a train weaving through as people piled their plates.

Techs surrounded his dad, laughing as though there hadn’t been an immense health scare.

No one knew the state of things, how drastically everything could change.

Charlie’s laugh. It pulled him in, softened everything. She stood with his mom, listening with rapt attention as Sheila and her wife spoke to them. His chest tightened, his steps lighter as he found himself physically drawn to her, moving her way.

Things were spiraling again. It wasn’t just the practice he was losing a grip on. It was also his feelings, because somewhere along the way, Charlie Harris had grabbed hold of his heart, and he feared she wasn’t about to let go.

He didn’t want her to.