Chapter 10
It seems Tracy’s grand plan had indeed put them in quite the bind, considering she had never owned anything less than a sprawling residence for her little schernes.
Zach watched Tracy’s plot unfold before him. Despite his initial resistance, he found himself unable to say no to her, ultimately agreeing to stay.
Elvira suggested she should share a room with Tracy for the night, to be on hand if needed.
However, Tracy insisted she sleep alone, claiming she was a light sleeper and wouldn’t rest well with someone else nearby.
Seeing Tracy’s point, Elvira didn’t push further. It was only after stepping out that she realized they had a serious logistics issue – there were only two bedrooms in the place.
This meant if Tracy took one room, Elvira and Zach would inevitably end up sharing the other.
Zach, noticing Elvira frozen in place, figured she had just pieced together the awkward situation ahead.
“I can crash on the couch,” Elvira suggested, masking her discomfort with a strained smile.
Zach shot her a skeptical look. The couch is a tight fit for a kid, let alone us. How’s that gonna work?” His tone mixed annoyance with a hint of humor. It was clear neither of them would fit.
“So, what’s the plan?” Elvira’s voice was laced with concern, seeking a solution.
“Guess I’ll hit the floor. You get ready for bed, Zach said, fetching his pajamas.
Returning to their makeshift bedroom, the cramped space and the barely sufficient bedding made Elvira feel a pang of guilt for the luxuries Tracy had lavished on her.
“She lives in this shoebox, yet she spoils me rotten with clothes, Elvira thought remorsefully.
After their baths, Elvira had already made the bed on the floor. Dressed only in her bathrobe, with her hair cascading down her shoulders, she looked different, softer somehow.
“Why aren’t you changing into pajamas?” Zach asked, eyeing her bathrobe curiously.
I’m good with the robe,” she replied, not wanting to wear her day clothes again due to the lingering food smell.
Upon discovering why Elvira was hesitant to change into pajamas, Zach was momentarily taken aback by the revealing styles in the wardrobe.
Before she could stop him, Zach’s face flushed at the sight of the sleepwear. He then quickly offered her one of his shirts as a makeshift nightgown, saying, “Here, make do with this for the night.”
The vast difference in their sizes turned Zach’s shirt into a perfect nightgown for Elvira.
Grateful, Elvira changed into the shirt and returned, ready for the night.
Just as 2 Zach was about to call it a night, Elvira in his shirt stopped him dead in his tracks.
Tall and slender, she wore his white shirt, which barely reached her knees, revealing her fair legs. The unbuttoned top revealed her graceful collarbones and her innocent yet seductive face made Zach feel hotter.
After turning off the light and getting into bed, Elvira didn’t notice Zach’s agitation, Lying down, she suggested, “Mr. Gilbert, how about we hire a full–time nurse for Tracy? Living alone at her age, especially with her health, isn’t safe.”
Zach, who knew the house was already staffed to the brim, couldn’t help but marvel at Tracy’s elaborate setup to get them
closer.
Mistaking his silence for concern over expenses, Elvira quickly added, “Look, don’t worry about the costs. I’ve got savings, and we can handle this together. It’s what families do, right?”
Zach was taken aback by her offer to share the financial burden. “You really mean that? Joining forces to care for her! Her
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Chapter 10
surgery might cost us a fortune, and my savings won’t cover it all. I have to borrow some. You’re okay with this burden?” Before, his mention of financial strain would’ve sent anyone running. Yet, Elvira’s response was heartwarmingly different. “Of course,” Elvira said earnestly. “Even though our marriage started unconventional, we’re legally married. I’ve got some money saved up, and we can always figure something out. Isn’t sticking together through tough times what families do?” In the darkness, Zach could barely make out Elvira’s silhouette but her words struck deep, making him reassess his earlier doubts about her intentions.
“I can try borrowing from a friend, too, Elvira added, wanting to ease any pressure on him.
“Let’s just sleep,” Zach finally said, turning away, trying to mask the turmoil of emotions her proposal had stirred within him. Thinking he was overwhelmed, Elvira lay there planning to ask Olivia for a loan, prioritizing the urgent need over all else. As Elvira drifted to sleep, Zach lay awake, her proximity and the faint scent of her making it impossible for him to find rest.
A sudden jolt woke them both, leading to an unintended, intimate collision. With Elvira falling onto Zach, their lips met in the dim light.
The room fell silent, charged with an unspoken tension.
In the chaos of the night, Zach had shed his shirt, and Elvira, only half–dressed, found the buttons of her shirt undone, bringing them dangerously close, skin to skin. The impracticality of Tracy’s lingerie options had left Elvira more exposed than she preferred.
As their lips parted, Elvira’s instinct was to scream. But Zach quickly covered her mouth with his hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist, whispering hoarsely, “Don’t scream.
“Don’t scream? How the hell am I not supposed to?‘ Elvira said to herself, acutely aware of their compromising embrace.
Elvira scrambled to distance herself, her fingers fumbling with the buttons in a frantic attempt to reclaim some dignity. But Zach’s burning gaze only heightened her embarrassment.
“Stop staring!” she snapped, her faux ferocity more adorable than intimidating.
Her beauty was undeniable, even in disarray – half a shoulder bared, her curls in a wild cascade, and her legs, a testament to
her allure.
Zach, instead of averting his gaze, chuckled. “I’m a man. It’s impossible not to look in a situation like this.”
It was a natural pull, a moment that recalled a previous, equally vulnerable encounter.
Caught off–guard by her glance towards his noticeable arousal, Elvira blushed deeper and accused, “That’s vile!
Yet, Zach didn’t feel ashamed. After all, it was a natural reaction, particularly after their close encounter earlier. This unusual stir of desire was a departure from his usual self–restraint, a testament to the unexpected effect Elvira had on him.
Without holding back, Zach pulled her to him again, her surprise evident as she questioned, “What are you doing?”
“You’re my wife, and I want to capturing her lips with his. kiss you, Zach said before pen
As Elvira was enveloped by his proximity, feeling the heat of his breath and the strength of his embrace, her world narrowed
to the moment
Their kiss marked a point of no return in their tangled relationship.
