Expecting His Secret Heir (15 page)

Sadie shook her head, but Zach could see that her hand remained clasped over the front of her throat. Her arms were pressed close against her torso. “No, it's not your fault. I just hope I've done what I can to make sure y'all know the truth about Zachary Gatlin.”

An electric pulse set Zach on edge as he heard his name on her lips. He knew it shouldn't affect him—or rather, he shouldn't let it affect him. But he was a man who'd been in love, after all.

He stood quietly as the two finished their conversation. The lawyer, whom Zach now knew to be Timberlake, delivered her carefully into the elevator, as if worried about any lasting effects from the confrontation. Only as she faced the reception area once more did she glance beyond where the lawyer stood.

Her eyes widened in surprise just as the doors slid closed.

Seventeen

“W
ill she?”

“Pardon me?” The lawyer's confused look confirmed Zach had spoken out loud, even though he hadn't intended to.

“Will Sadie be able to support her sister? Or will Beddingfield be able to keep her from getting work?”

The confusion cleared. “Oh, no. He won't be able to poison future employers against her—I drafted your father's reference letter for Ms. Adams myself. Plus, she has a good reputation with the people who have visited his home over the years. She'll be fine, professionally.”

Zach sensed something more. “But?”

“I'm afraid I don't know of a job in her field that will pay enough to take care of the medical bills.”

Zach knew about that all too well.

Timberlake leaned forward, his expression earnest. After their conversations over the phone, Zach had found him to be someone he felt pretty comfortable with. The man's motives seemed straightforward.

“I wouldn't normally say this,” he started, “but I know you've met Sadie personally. The deposition she gave is proof of that.”

“Was it now?”

“The contents will be made public in court, but yes, she was very clear about your values, your family and the respect you have from your business associates. She explained in detail her efforts and inability to find any complaints against you or any criminal activity.”

Zach hadn't realized that she would be so thorough in her report.

The lawyer went on. “I wonder if you know what a gift that is?”

Zach raised his brows in question.

“She didn't have to do that. She could easily have lied. If she had, she'd have been set for life.”

What?
“I don't understand.”

“She confided to me, when she first came in, that Victor Beddingfield had offered her a quarter of the inheritance if she could find anything that would disqualify you. That money would have more than paid for her sister's treatments. Sadie would never have had to work again.”

That was the truth. From everything he'd seen, a quarter of the inheritance, even after exorbitant estate taxes, would still be a fortune. A fortune Sadie desperately needed.

“But she never spoke against me?”

Timberlake shook his head. “Not a word.” His gaze met Zach's directly. “Look, I'm not telling you this because I expect anything. I'm going to connect Sadie with some organizations that might be able to help her with her sister's treatments from here on out. But once you have that debt, it often can't be wiped away...at least not in any way that Sadie would accept.”

The lawyer smiled sadly. “I could tell from the way she spoke that Sadie is not neutral in your case.” He raised his hands. “I don't know what happened, and I don't care. But I think she should at least get credit for trying to do the right thing—in the end.”

Could he do the same? Zach wasn't sure. He wanted to, and Lord knew he and Sadie had one more major hurdle to cross before their future was decided. He would never be able to leave the mother of his child behind completely. And he wasn't enough of an asshole to cut her out of their lives, even if that had been his first instinct.

Everyone made bad decisions when they were angry.

“There's something else,” the lawyer said. The curiosity in his eyes making Zach just a little nervous.

“Yes?”

“Sadie has asked me to contact a family named Blackstone, and see that the pictures she took in Black Hills were copyrighted to them to do with as they wish.”

Holy hell.

“She also provided the name of a publisher who was interested in the story.”

Why? Zach thought back to that pregnancy test and tried to imagine how she must have felt when she took it. She could have been elated...could have imagined all of her problems were fixed with the luck of the draw. After all, one DNA test and he would be legally liable for at least child support. With the inheritance he had coming, she could probably have jockeyed for a lot more than that. But if that were so, why would she have subjected herself to Beddingfield and having to give her deposition alone? Given up the rights to pictures that he knew meant more to her than the money?

One phone call to Zach could have put her on top of the world instead of the bottom rung. One call she'd refused to make to save herself from a lot of worry and fears.

But was this proof enough that he could trust her?

* * *

A quick change into clean clothes had helped Sadie feel more in control after her ugly experience with Victor at the lawyer's office. But she also felt an increased need to get them packed and out of the apartment over Mr. Beddingfield's renovated horse barn.

A need that rose exponentially after realizing Zach was now in town.

She could have gone back into the office, could have asked what he'd seen and heard and tried to defend herself against any ugly things Victor might tell him about her. But what was the point?

Zach already had enough ammunition to blast her out of his life. Anything more would just be overkill.

Still, she needed to get her family moved. The probate of the will would be moving forward, and hopefully one of the interviews she'd had over the last week would pan out for a new job. She'd found a medical halfway house that would let her mother and sister stay temporarily while Sadie arranged for a new place. All the apartments on the cheap end had been scary, but with her credit, something small in a bad neighborhood was the best she could do.

If her luck turned around, her new position would also offer living accommodations, or at least a supplement toward her rent. Fingers crossed on that one.

She moved down the hall to her sister's bedroom, stepping into the circle of cardboard boxes and packing tape and scissors she'd left there earlier. She'd splurged by hiring a mover, simply because her mother was completely unable to lift anything. Moving furniture alone wasn't an option, but Sadie wanted to pack all of the keepsakes and items with sentimental value herself.

The sun had completely disappeared by the time a knock sounded on the apartment door. She must have lost track of time, moving from her sister's bedroom to her own. The five full boxes now standing in the hallway attested to her progress.

The knock sounded again as she crossed the kitchen into the hallway. “I'm coming,” she hollered, wondering if it was one of the staff from the big house.

Even though she wasn't technically employed anymore, they still showed up to ask her questions about various things. With that in mind, she flung the door open without thinking...and came face-to-face with Zachary Gatlin.

Panicked, she turned on her heel and strode back to the kitchen. Her quick steps took her all the way to the other side of the kitchen island. Only when she was facing the door with something solid between them did she feel a little more secure.

And slightly stupid for her reaction.

As he came through the door, words started to tumble out of her mouth. “Zach, I want to assure you we are in the process of moving. I've gotten everything arranged and we will be out—”

“Shush.”

Sadie felt her eyes bug out a little at his harsh tone, though she wasn't sure why. It was nothing more than what she'd expected. “I just didn't want you to think—” she spotted his glare, but couldn't seem to stop “—we were...taking...advantage...now that you own the estate.”

“Well, it's a little early in the process, but I will be looking into the estate and how it is run pretty soon.” Zach spoke a little more mildly this time. “Still, I don't believe I said anything about you leaving.”

“I just assumed...”

His raised brow told her exactly what he thought of that.

Maybe he was right. She should just shush. Everything she said right now was coming out wrong.

“Do you know why I'm here, Sadie?”

“Apparently it's not to throw me out of what is now your apartment.”

He simply stared. “Sarcasm isn't pretty.”

No, but it was her go-to option in this bizarre situation that she was completely unprepared for. Unless she chose honesty—and that was a scary thought. “No, Zach. I really don't know why you would want to see me.”

He took a step closer to the island. “No reason at all?”

Sure—if he knew about the baby. But he didn't, and she wasn't ready to tell him yet. She would later, after everything was settled. “After what I did to you, Zach? No.”

“The lawyer told me about your deposition.”

Shock shot through her. That was the last thing on her mind. “Oh. I thought it would be kept private until the hearing.”

Zach shrugged. “Does it really matter when I learn what's in it?”

“I guess not,” she murmured, though she wished he hadn't learned about it while she was here. She could have done without a face-to-face discussion.

“And about the photos. Why, Sadie?”

Then his tone caught her attention.

She simply couldn't meet his gaze. “It's not right for me to keep them, not after...”

“You lied to me, Sadie.”

“Yes, yes, I did,” she said, dropping her gaze to the countertop. “I'm sorry, but I did lie to you.” What more could she say?

“Why?”

This was exactly what she didn't want. She shook her head. “Zach, excuses won't change it.”

“Try me.”

She straightened her shoulders but still couldn't force herself to look at him. “The first time, I didn't know you.”

“But then you did.”

Why torture herself by admitting the truth? Why torture him? But with him standing so close, yet so far out of her reach, her need prodded her. He deserved the truth—the whole thing. “I did know you,” she said, though her voice was so weak as to be almost nonexistent. “And it scared me so badly, all I knew to do was run.”

“Five years, Sadie.” The pure anguish in his voice twisted her heart. One look confirmed the same emotion in his expression. “Why didn't you come back to me?”

His cry echoed inside her, forcing her reality into words. “Why would a man like you want a woman with all my problems?” She grasped the edge of the counter until her knuckles turned white and her fingers went numb. “I'm sure the lawyer must have told you—the real me is nothing like that Sadie.”

“She's not?” His voice softened. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”
Most definitely.

He moved closer until he was flush with the other side of the counter. They were as close as they could be in this space. “I'm not sure, Sadie. Because the woman I knew was compassionate and interested in people. Organized and hardworking. Artistic and able to see the beauty in the world, even in the midst of destruction.”

Tears welled up, forcing her to squeeze her eyes closed.

“Isn't that the same as what you do here? Take on a hard job at a young age so your mother can stay home with your sister? Care about the people you meet in your job every day? Worry about your mother being tired, even though you're the one on your feet for twelve hours? Teach your sister to appreciate the world around her, even though she's dying? Sounds like the same Sadie to me.”

She couldn't stop the tears. They dribbled down her cheeks without her permission.

“But she's also prideful.”

Her lashes automatically lifted, her gaze connecting with his. “What?”

“Sadie only wants to be the caregiver, not the receiver.”

So?
“Doesn't everyone?”

“No.” Zach's dark eyes offered compassion, but he didn't back down. “Lots of people want their dirty jobs done for them. They ignore the hard parts of life. You power through them.”

“That's a problem?” she asked.

“Only when it makes you blind to other people's desire to help care for you.” He leaned forward over the island between them. “It took me five long years to become vulnerable to you, Sadie. Don't you think I deserved the same?”

She took a step back, needing space, needing to breathe. “But me being vulnerable, opening up to you would have placed an obligation on you. A demand, even if it was unspoken, for you to take care of me and my problems.”

“It's never an obligation when you love someone.”

That took her breath away. “I've never had someone love me that way,” she murmured.

“Haven't you?”

That dark gaze wouldn't let her look away, wouldn't let her pretend to not see the truth. “Yes.”

Silence stood between them for long minutes, almost as if the world held its breath, waiting to see what came next. Sadie wasn't sure what it was.

Finally Zach spoke. “I want you to do something for me, okay?”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

“When you're ready, truly ready, for me to love you that way...you let me know. Okay?”

A tremble started deep inside. What he asked seemed like almost too much.

“Okay?”

She could barely get the word out. “Yes.”

“Goodbye, Sadie.”

Her whole body screamed in protest, but she kept her lips sealed as he walked away. She could hear his footsteps down the hallway, then the click as he opened the door.

“Wait. Zach,” she called, then forced her timid feet to follow him. She paused a few feet away from where he waited by the front door. “I—I know I disappointed you.” She swallowed at the lump trying to form in her throat. “But there's something you need to know. You can't leave without knowing...two things, actually.”

He nodded, but didn't encourage her by word or any further gesture.

“One is... I love you. I'll always be glad that I experienced loving you, even though I screwed it up so badly.”

His expression didn't change, and she died a little inside. But this had to be done.

“And two?” he asked.

She almost couldn't say it, almost told him to leave, but that was as selfish as every choice she'd made up until now. “Two is—I'm pregnant.”