The sky is in shades of pink and blue, with dark hills in the background. The reflections of the sun and clouds shine on the lake.
When I glance at the price tag, my jaw drops.
Why the hell is Zane buying me such an expensive gift?
“Are you sure?” I ask under my breath.
“You d-don’t like it?”
“It’s beautiful, but have you seen the price?”
He smiles. “Pleas-se pack this one. Can w-we pick it up on our way out?”
Mary nods excitedly as she swipes Zane’s card.
My uplifted mood stoops.
Is Zane trying to impress me with his money?
My nose immediately crinkles at the thought. Please don’t let Zane be one of those born-with-a-silver-spoon, money-flaunting guys. I glance back at him as he’s taking out another lozenge from his mint box.
No. He’s so not such a person.
“Why did you buy such an expensive photo?” I ask after we’ve walked a few feet away from the booth.
He shrugs, a lost expression etching on his face, but then he looks away from me. When I think he’s not going to reply, Zane says softly, “Not all mothers ch-choose a tough way of life. Plus, th-that baby w-was too cute.”
“You like babies?” I ask, almost shocked.
He nods and smiles, and I swoon. Don’t guys hate admitting the soft part of their personality?
Zane is a total anomaly to any man I’ve known.
“Plus, I w-wanted to have a r-reminder of my first d-date…with you.”
My heart seriously stops at his soft words.
3
ZANE
“You guys don’t want it?” Zach holds up the last macaron that his wife, Hope, made for the boys.
Alex, Ray, and Charlie each shake their head.
“Are you sure? I don’t want it like last time, when you three started crying immediately after I put that last piece of chocolate into my mouth.”
“Dad, you can have it,” Ray replies, his attention solely on the multiplayer video game in front of him.
Zach shrugs. He doesn’t need any more persuasion before pushing the green treat into his mouth.
“Where were you yesterday?” My eldest brother, Zander, asks as he types something on his phone.
I halt my reach for the wafer bowl for a second. “Jus-st ar-round town. I s-still haven’t s-seen most of it.”
“That’s because you work too much.” Zach playfully smacks my arm. As always, food makes him happy like no other thing—except for his wife.
“Rose and I went to the carnival yesterday.” Zander glances up after placing his phone onto the table. He most likely checked on his wife, which he does several times an hour.