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Tough didn’t begin to describe what it had been Ainsley hadand beautiful, and she wanted to be out in the world

"The day I graduated froe, Ainsley had me served with divorce papers," he said flatly "She’d hired one of the best lawyers in the city My lawyer had been recoot everything I fought for custody of David, which turned out not to be a problem Not only did she not want to see her son, she wanted co to have a child in the first place She claimed she’d wanted to have an abortion and that I’d talked her out of it She even had notes fronant"

Katie frowned "I don’t understand Had she wanted an abortion?"

"I don’t know She never said anything to nant, she announced ere getting married I’d been raised to believe a ht otherwise"

He rested his elbows on his knees "Let’s just say Ainsley got her pound of flesh and then some I was to come into the luot all of that and didn’t have to pay child support When it was over her lawyer took me aside He slapped et a better lawyer At that moment I vowed to be a better lawyer"

Katie looked stunned Zach kneasn’t a pretty story, but every word of it was true

"So Ainsley simply disappeared from your life?"

"She showed up to collect her checks, but once she had all the money she was due, she disappeared I heard she moved back East I don’t care where she is"

"Why do you keep her pictures out?"

"They matter to David I packed them away once, but he askedher and the photos help"

Katie had never had a child, so she was unable to co for David Still, there wasn’t a doubt in herHis intensity, his steadfastness, not only made her quiver on the inside, they confirood choice David Stryker had an ah life

Now that she’d heard Zach’s history, she understood his concerns for the engagement She approved of his concern, even if she didn’t appreciate his tactics

"Did you tell me this to explain your position or to winetting close?"

"No, but I have extreme respect for your skill level in court Can you see the other attorneys trerinned "They try to act cool"

Katie leaned back in the sofa "So if you’re so smart, why did you tip your hand with me?"

"I told you, I wanted to see if you would call my bluff"

"If I’d caved in, you would have accepted the victory"

"Of course And solved the wedding proble referred to as "the wedding problem," but she knehat Zach meant

"Have you considered that I could rally the entire family to my side?" she asked

"It crossed my mind, but I’m not worried"

"Why?"

He srandoes through? I’ll be a part of the fa up that relationship"

Her ht, but that didn’t stop her froet over things Woht, still amazed About all of it Her first instinct had been to call ho But she’d reconsidered when she’d realized her randood Maybe too good She was out of her league with hi, ith always being one step ahead of her

Zach stood up suddenly and held out his hand "Come on I’ll buy you a drink and we’ll talk about your plans for the party"

It took her a second to decide if she wanted to switch gears But as the point in arguing? "Actually you’re supposed to tell me that everyone loved my ideas, that they think I’ht have to paybreathlessly for the event to occur"

"How’d you guess?"

After telling herself not to do anything stupid, Katie placed her hand in his

Despite having braced herself for the impact, she still felt it all the way down to her toes Her heart rate quadrupled, her skin flushed, and rational thought fled She ht not trust him, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t chemistry between them

Zach led her back into the kitchen He released her hand, which allowed her to catch her breath and try to remember what it felt like to be an adult While he cleared the table, she pulled the paperwork out of her briefcase

The good neas that alternating between being annoyed by Zach and being turned on by hi the party

"What will you have?" he asked, opening a cupboard and revealing several bottles of liquor

"I’ yourself If you pourhard stuff"

"You got it"

They sat down at the table Katie spread out her various folders, then turned her attention to Zach They were close enough that she could see the tiny lines by the outside corners of his eyes and the various shades that made up his deep blue irises He was handsoood A potent combination

"So talk," she told him "Tell le malt scotch he’d poured for hinant wife thinks everything is, and I quote, ’Too precious for words’ That’s a good thing," he added "She also wants you to call her She has the naners ould be happy to cons for various prizes"

"Great I hadn’t been worried exactly, but I’ll ad relieved now"