Jessica slowly smiled. “Thank you for telling me that,” she said. “I know I have to trust him, and I'm working on it. I don't think I actually needed to hear that. But thank you."
Ashlyn sat there. Should she take Jessica's advice and go talk to Zach? What more could she say to him? She looked down at the paper napkin she'd destroyed.
Then she knew.
Before she lost her nerve, she got in her old car and drove to his place. He wasn't home. She glanced at her watch. He could still be at work.
She drove to the brewery but damn, the doors were locked. She got back in her car and sat there for a moment. There was one more place she could try.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When she walked into Doc McCue's, he was sitting at the bar, holding a beer between his clasped hands, leaning on his elbows. He wasn't in the exact same seat as the night they'd met, but close.
She climbed onto the stool beside him.
He glanced at her once, then twice, staring at her in stunned surprise.
She smiled at him. “Hi."
"Hi.” He definitely did not look like his usual happy-go-lucky self, and her breath hitched. “I guess I should thank you."
"For what?"
"For finding the evidence we needed."
She nodded. “I'm sorry, Zach. I know you wanted to trust Melissa."
He shrugged. “My faith in people has been a bit shaken lately.” She felt a little heart stab. Ah, hell.
"Anyway, they tracked the Hotmail account and found out it belongs to Tag Bonner at Steinbrau. He was involved in the discussions we had with them months back. Melissa is the one who approached him, but he apparently thought if he could get our yeast, it would help further his career at Steinbrau. So he agreed to pay her if she could get him our recipes and yeast. And she was pissed off at Connor for not wanting anything to do with her. Other than work, I mean.” He shook his head sadly.
"Did they actually get it?"
"Yeah, they got the yeast. She couldn't hack into the computer and get the recipe. But I'm not worried. They may have our yeast, but they don't have me.” He grinned, and she smiled back.
"I'm sorry,” Ashlyn said again. “How did she get it?"
"Apparently, I left my keys on my desk one day when I went out.” He smiled ruefully and rubbed his face. “Don't say it. If nothing else after all this, I've learned to be a bit more careful about whom I trust. Anyway, she grabbed them and got a copy made. She only had one chance to get into the lab when no one was around, but she was planning to try again."
"Are you going to press charges?"
He frowned. “We haven't decided for sure. I say hell yeah, criminal charges plus we should sue their asses off. Hers and Bonner's. They can't get away with that. Of course, Connor is much more cautious and practical. He says we don't need that negative publicity. Maybe he's right. Also, Steinbrau apparently will do anything to avoid this getting out. They claim they didn't know anything about it. They fired the guy."
"I wish Connor had told us about Melissa."
"Yeah, no kidding. I'm a little pissed at him for that. But he said things were awkward enough working with her. He didn't want me to feel awkward around her too, or even fire her."
Zach paused and took a swallow of beer. “So, why'd you do that?” he asked, not looking at her. “Your dad told us he took you off the case, but you kept working on it anyway."
"I felt I owed you. You and Connor. After what I did."
He turned his head and their eyes met, his serious, but a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “You're a good person, Ash. I'm really sorry."
She nearly fell off her stool.
"Huh?"
"I'm sorry I was so mad. I'm sorry I didn't believe that you couldn't tell Connor. I'm sorry I didn't drive you home that morning. I feel like shit."
"Oh.” She was stunned. “But you had a right to be mad.” Then she smiled. “But you have a right to get over it, too. I'm fine with that."
He grinned.
She grew serious again. “I came here to tell you something."
"Ashlyn!” Doc McCue was there behind the bar. “Hey, how are you, gorgeous?"
"Oh, I've been better,” she said with a wry smile.
"Can I get you a Gold Coast Pale Ale?"
She nodded.
"What did you want to tell me?” Zach asked in a low voice, looking down.
She took a breath. “I want you to know that I do trust you. I really do. I didn't know myself that I trust you completely until I talked to Jessica."
His head came up sharply. “You talked to Jess? When?"
"Today. She called me and wanted to meet. She told me some stuff that I didn't need to hear."
"Huh?” He looked endearingly confused.
Doc McCue placed the beer in front of her with a smile and disappeared. She picked up the bottle and took a big swallow.
"She told me about the second sex decoy she hired."
Zach snorted. “I love my sister-in-law, but man, she has issues."
Ashlyn nodded. “But it sounds like she's working on them. And after hearing about Melissa, you can't blame her for being a bit worried. Anyway, her point was, you were being tempted, and you had no interest whatsoever."
He looked at her steadily. “Of course not. She wasn't you."
She smiled. “So I can trust you. But my point is—and I do have one—I didn't need to hear that. I already knew you're the most honest, trustworthy, faithful man I've ever met. Well, you and Connor, I guess.” She smiled. “You two guys have restored my faith in men. I love you, Zach."
He let out a long, shaky breath. “Oh Ash."
"I trust you enough to let you pin me down and hold me there while you take from behind,” she said, and his eyes darkened. “I know you'd never hurt me. And I trust you enough to do kinky things in a sex club. And I trust you enough to make love without a condom. I know you'd never put me at risk. And I know you'd never cheat on me."
Their eyes met and held.
"Thank you,” he said in a choked voice. “I love you too, Ash."
"It was tearing me up inside, not being able to tell you and Connor what had happened,” she told him earnestly. “You have no idea. But I also have to confess...” She looked at him steadily. “I was selfish too. Because the longer it took to get hold of Jessica, the more time I had with you. I knew when you found out we'd be done. When it started off, I thought it was just fun. But then it changed."
"Not fun anymore?” His lips quirked.
She shook her head, smiling. “Still fun. I mean, it changed because I fell in love with you. I never wanted to hurt you."
"I know.” He glanced around. “Wish we weren't sitting in the middle of a bar right now, because I'd really like to kiss you."
She grinned and leaned toward him. Their mouths met and clung warmly, and it felt so good. She put her hand on his cheek and drew back. Love and laughter lit up his eyes.
"I just have to ask, though,” he said. “Is there anything else you need to confess to me? Please tell me now. I can't take any more surprises. Sex decoy jobs, Klub Kink and black leather, male roommates..."
"Well ... there is one thing..."
"Oh God. What?"
She paused. “I don't really like beer."
There were a few heartbeats of silence.
Zach looked at her half-empty bottle, and then back to her face.
"You don't like beer?” he asked in stunned confusion. “How can that be?"
She moved her shoulders. “I just don't like it. Well, the truth is, it's kind of growing on me. A little bit."
He still looked at her uncomprehendingly.