Her father pulled her into a hug before she could act fast enough to step out of reach. “My precious girl. How your mother and I have missed you.”
When she was actually a girl, she’d loved the way he’d come home from a business trip and hug her and tell her how much loved her, that she was the center of his world. But she hadn’t been that naïve for a very long time. She knew better than to think anyone was the center of her father’s world but himself.
Her father didn’t take his arm from around her waist, as though he was trying to make some kind of statement to Zach about whom she really belonged to. Atlas stood up, his ruff bristling, and she was glad to be able to use him as a reason to move away from her father.
He frowned at her dog. “Does he sit in your office all day?”
Heather ran a comforting hand down her dog’s back. Atlas had never liked her father. “Yes.”
Clearly not impressed with her answer, he asked, “Didn’t you get my message last week?”
“I apologize for not calling you back. This week has been really busy.” She tried not to flush at the memory of what she and Zach had just been busy doing, especially when her father looked between the two of them again, his frown deepening.
If only she’d remembered to call him back, then she could have invented a bulletproof excuse. Maybe even taken an impromptu trip out of town for a few days to somewhere she couldn’t be reached.
“I hope you’re not too busy to spend a few hours with us,” he said, effectively trapping her into an evening together.
Thankfully, Cuddles chose that moment to start barking, pulling attention away from her for just long enough to regain her equilibrium and to figure out how to respond. Zach had watched the exchange in silence and she guessed that he had quickly taken her parents’ measure.
She shot him a look that she hoped he could read as well as he read her thoughts in bed: Please don’t leave me alone with them.
Zach picked up the barking puppy and smiled at her, before turning that beautiful face of his on her parents. “Heather and I would be very pleased if you joined us tonight at 212 Stockton.”
Heather tried not to act surprised that he’d just named one of the hottest new restaurants in San Francisco. Even now that she knew how wealthy he was—and how well connected via his famous siblings—the fact that he did absolutely nothing to broadcast his wealth had her completely forgetting about it.
She could tell from the look on her father’s face that he knew just how hard it was to get a table at that restaurant. Clearly, not only could he not believe a guy in wrinkled jeans and a T-shirt had the pull to get one, but he wished he’d thought to do it first.
Her mother’s eyes were wide as she responded, “I just saw a piece about 212 Stockton on TV. It’s owned by a group of movie stars and billionaires.”
Her father’s expression darkened. “All I want is to spend quality time with my little girl, not rub shoulders with a bunch of stars with more money than morals.”
Fairly certain that Zach’s brother Smith was likely one of the “moral-free movie stars,” Heather said, “Why don’t I show you some of the improvements I’ve made to the training areas?” No doubt her parents would quiz her endlessly about Zach, and nitpick all the parts of her business that weren’t shiny and perfect, but even though she would have loved to lean on him, her parents weren’t his battle to fight. They were hers.
Only, Zach didn’t look the least bit upset about her father’s comment. If anything, he looked more relaxed than usual...reminding her of a deadly predator about to strike.
Turning the full focus of his attention to her, Zach said, “I know you have some important business to finish up,” as he gently brushed a lock of hair back from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. It was a move made even more spectacularly protective—and possessive—by how casual it was.
“I’ll show your parents around so that you can get back to work.”
Heather knew firsthand that Zach was a master at getting exactly what he wanted. But to witness him outmaneuvering her father made her glad.
And scared the bejesus out of her.
A few moments later, when her mother and father had no choice but to follow Zach and Cuddles out of her office, Heather sat down on the office chair she would never look at in the same way after what she and Zach had done on it.
Yet again, she reflected on the way Zach Sullivan had infiltrated every part of her life in one short week.
Thank God.
* * *
Zach wasn’t used to worrying about other people. Sure, he made sure to treat his employees right and his family was never far from his mind, but ultimately he knew his siblings could take care of themselves. Besides, if they needed his help with anything, they would call.
But the expression on Heather’s face when her assistant told them her parents were outside had haunted him for hours.
Heather was so strong, so confident. Sassy and beautiful and so damned smart she’d kept him on his toes every single second that he’d known her. No one and nothing should ever make her look that sad. Completely on guard, like she was trying to prepare for an emotional blow that could come at any moment.
Before he even raised his hand to knock on her front door, Atlas announced his arrival with a few loud barks. Heather opened the door and she was so breathtakingly beautiful in her dress and heels with her hair flowing around her shoulders that a split second after Cuddles leapt out of his arms to go play with Atlas, Zach was ruining her perfect hair with his hands as he kissed her.
She kissed him back with the same heat before saying, “Thank you for coming with me tonight.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” he said, and it was true. He couldn’t stand the thought of leaving her alone with her parents. Not when he knew how upset they made her. “I get how family can be.”
“I wish we were like your family, but we’re not. We don’t actually love each other.” Her voice was thick with unshed tears as she said, “We just lie about it.”
“You’ve never lied about anything,” he said, hating the way she said we. “They’re your parents. They’re not you.” He pulled her closer. “Tell me what you need from me tonight.”
“Just this,” she said, but her voice was shaking as she repeated, “Just be here for me, like this. Just please don’t let me think about the way he treats her and how she always lets him—”