Susan Mallery - The Sparkling One

“That bastardo. That-”

“Amazingly nice guy you’re thrilled to have in the family.”

Katie gasped and spun around when she heard Zach’s voice. He stood in the doorway to the dining room, casually leaning against the door frame. She couldn’t believe it. Oh, God! How much had he heard?

Brenna recovered first and asked the question for her. “How long have you been standing there?”

“A while. I got halfway to my car when I realized I didn’t want to walk away. Not this time.” He straightened and started toward Katie. “You stood up for me.”

She swallowed and nodded. He’d heard everything? Even her declaration of her feelings? And he hadn’t bolted for Montana?

She was hopeful, embarrassed, excited, and terrified.

His blue eyes darkened with an emotion she couldn’t read. “You told your whole family that you loved me.”

She nodded again.

“Don’t you think you should have told me first?”

She bit her lower lip. “I was going to call you on your cell phone as soon as we were finished here.”

He touched her cheek. “I had this big plan when I met you, Katie Marcelli. I was going to use you for my own purposes.”

“I know.”

“I wasn’t even subtle about it.”

“You’re not subtle about many things.”

“You weren’t what I expected.”

She felt some of her confidence returning. “Because I didn’t cave to your demands? Because I stood up to you?”

“That and because you tricked me.”

“What? When?”

“When you made me fall in love with you. I don’t believe in relationships, remember? I don’t believe in happily ever after or forever, or even the next morning.”

Her throat got all tight, but in a good way. She started shaking. “Zach…”

“But I believe in us. You and me.” He smiled. “Do you really hear bells when we’re together?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“I’m not a knight on a white horse. I’m a hard-assed lawyer. Cynical, stubborn, set in my ways.” His expression softened. “But I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Katie threw herself at him. Zach caught her and pulled her close. “I love you, too,” she whispered, just before his lips claimed hers.

“This is romantic,” Brenna said as she picked up one of the invitations. “You know, we could still use these. We could just scratch out David’s and Mia’s names and put in Zach’s and Katie’s.”

Just then a tall, pregnant woman walked into the room. “Hi, everyone. What did I miss?”

Brenna stared at her twin and shook her head. “What is wrong with you?”

Francesca held up her hands. “What? I was working.”

“This is not about your studies. This is a sickness. You need a twelve-step program.”

“I’m ignoring you.” Francesca looked at Katie and Zach. “They’re kissing.”

“They’re getting married,” Brenna said.

“Wow. That’s great. What happened?”

“Dad found out they’d had sex and threatened Zach with a machete.”

“You’re lying.” Francesca grabbed a couple of grapes from the fruit salad. “Katie, I’m really happy for you.”

Katie, still lost in Zach’s kiss, waved at her sister.

Brenna grinned at her twin. “You know what this means, don’t you? Another dress to bead.”

Francesca patted her stomach. “Not in my delicate condition.”