Zach was horny. He wanted sex. Badly. And he could easily maneuver some time to get busy with these two out in the dark water. But that wasn’t what he wanted. What he wanted was in direct conflict with what he shouldn’t want—Tessa.
“Sorry,” Zach said. “I’ve got some people waiting.” He started past the women with “Stay safe out there.”
He continued toward the crew in various stages of breaking down and packing up their equipment and found more people waiting than just Jax and Tompkins. Josh was there too. With Grace and Lexi and Tucker.
Zach handed off his board to a crew member, accepted a towel from another, and dried his head and chest on his way to the group. He greeted the women first, leaning in to accept a kiss on the cheek from both.
Lexi’s million-dollar smile gleamed in the low light. “I hear congratulations are in order…Dad.”
Zach’s stomach flipped, and his heart fluttered. He laughed to cover the inner turbulence. “Man, that’s going to take some getting used to.”
“Hey, Zach.” Tompkins came up and shook Zach’s hand. “I understand you’re not working with Marshall anymore.”
“No, I’m not.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard our interest in having you come on board. I’d like to sit down with you and talk it over. Jax here is more than welcome to sit in and advise you if he’d like. He’s got more experience than Marshall ever did anyway. Can we talk over dinner?”
“We’re going to try the new BBQ place in Kaanapali,” Grace told him, slipping next to Josh as he curled his arm around her. “And there’s a bar next door. We can have dinner, then you and Bill can talk business over drinks.”
“Sounds like the perfect plan,” Josh added.
“It does sound good,” Zach said, “but I’ve got something really important I’ve got to do tonight. I’ll have to take a rain check.”
Tompkins’s gaze sharpened. “The studio wants to get this contract nailed down. If you’re not going to take the part, we’ll need to search for a replacement. Which may also change the writing. That all takes time.”
“I understand, and I really do want to discuss the part. I just can’t go over the specifics tonight.” Zach glanced at Jax, hoping he’d read the please-work-your-magic-here-bro look in his eyes.
If he didn’t see it, Lexi did. She hooked her arm through Tompkins’s and drew his attention with the reputation of the Hawaiian BBQ restaurant while leading him toward the parking lot and a waiting car.
When they were out of earshot, Jax asked, “What’s going on?”
“I’m supposed to meet Sophia tonight. I’m already a deadbeat dad. I don’t think canceling on a date to meet my kid would look real good in court. You know what I’m saying?”
Jax nodded. “Right. We’ll take care of Tompkins tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll find you an agent.”
“I’ll pull some names together for you,” Grace offered.
“Until you find one, I’ll take care of you,” Jax told him.
“You guys are the best.”
“Text us when you’re free,” Jax said. “We’ll get together and hash things out.”
Zach agreed, and Jax, Lexi, and Josh started toward the parking lot. But Grace stayed behind.
“Are you ready to meet her?” she asked.
Zach picked up a T-shirt and pulled it over his head. “Hardly. It’s not like I had nine months to prepare, you know?”
“Just be yourself, Zach. I know they seem foreign to you now, but to be honest, kids aren’t all that different from men—at any age.”
Zach laughed, wrapped the towel around his waist, and stripped out of his board shorts to pull on a dry pair. “Interesting perspective.”
“Did you get her anything?”
He pulled the towel free and piled it with a bunch of others. “Who? Tessa?”
“No, but that couldn’t hurt. I meant Sophia. Kids always love getting presents. Nothing big, just a stuffed animal or a game you could play with her. You know, to break the ice?”