Beneath the Scars

His arm shot out, stopping me from walking past him. “Stop it,” he growled.

“I’m not doing anything. Dixie and I are going home so you can go and take care of your errands. Alone.”

“I don’t want to go alone.”

My eyes found his, searching for answers. “Then why?”

“It’s Friday,” he said quietly, as if that would explain everything.

“And?”

“It will be busier in town, even in the off-season.” He hesitated. “I don’t usually go in this close to the weekend. I, ah, don’t like crowds.”

My disappointment vanished when I realized what he was saying; I shook my head at my own blindness. It wasn’t me going in with him. It was him going into town at all. More people meant more eyes from which he had to hide, and as I was thinking earlier, that made him nervous. I stifled a sigh, tugging on my ear, wishing I could understand his fear. He clearly thought himself hideous, which wasn’t true whatsoever, but I had no idea how to make him see that fact. Something, someone, from his past had that thought so firmly ingrained in his head it was like cement. I covered his hand that was gripping my arm, with my own in quiet support.

“I could help you, Zachary. Pick up your groceries while I get mine and you can go to the gallery. If we work together, we can be done and home in no time.”

His shoulders lost some of their tension as he thought about it. “You could drop me at the gallery, I suppose.”

I nodded. “I’ll get your order and pick up what I need and meet you back at gallery. You said you had to speak to Jonathon when you dropped off your canvases. That will give you the time you need, right?”

He hesitated, then a small smile played on his lips, a mischievous expression lighting up his face. It happened so quickly I blinked at him, returning his smile. “What?”

“That means you’ll have to drive my SUV, Megan. Are you even tall enough to see over the dashboard?”

I huffed at him. “I’ve driven large vehicles before. I think you can trust me with your truck.”

“SUV.”

“Whatever. It’s a truck to me.”

“An SUV means it’s fully enclosed,” he explained, his voice patient as he educated me in the correct vehicle lingo.

I rolled my eyes. “Truck, SUV…I can drive it.”

He chuckled. “Maybe before I agree to this, we need to make sure I can move the seat up that far. You have short legs—shorter than a normal person, I believe.”

Then he winked at me, all saucy and teasing. I had to laugh with him, relieved he was feeling less stressed.

He drew in a deep breath. “Please come with me.”

Keeping my eyes locked with his so he knew what I was about to do, I stood up on my tiptoes, thrilled when he ducked his head down to meet me, and I ghosted my lips lightly to his rough cheek. “Thank you for asking.”

His mouth touched a warm kiss to my cheek. His quiet sigh said all he couldn’t with words.* * *Mrs. Cooper regarded me with a confused look on her face. “Sorry dear, I thought you said you were picking up Zachary’s order for him.”

“I am,” I assured her with a smile. “He’s at the gallery meeting with Jonathon, so I’m getting it for him. Could Mr. Cooper put it in his truck…I mean, SUV? I have it parked out back by the door.”

“You’re driving his truck?”

I wanted to laugh at the incredulous expression on her face and evident in her voice. Instead, I chuckled and nodded. “It wasn’t without reservations, I assure you. I think he almost had a heart attack a couple times on the way into town. He thinks it’s too big for me to handle. And, apparently, I drive too fast.”

She stared at me in silence for a moment. “I would have thought he’d be too big for you to handle—too big for anyone to handle.” Then she smiled—a warm, open grin. “The fact I’m wrong pleases me a great deal. I’ll have his order put in the back while you finish your shopping.”

“Thanks.”

I walked up and down the aisles, picking up the few things I needed. It wasn’t much—some fruit, cream for my coffee, and some snacks. I still had food left, since I hadn’t been eating much. Part of me was hoping I wouldn’t be eating alone for the next few days either. Zachary’s list had been long and detailed, so I knew his house would be well stocked. After I paid for my groceries, and Mrs. Cooper said she would add them to the boxes on the back seat of Zachary’s SUV, I went to the café to order some of their soup. It had been delicious when I had it the other day, and I thought maybe Zachary would enjoy some for lunch later. I also planned on running into the bakery for some fresh bread and cookies. Aside from banana bread, I wasn’t much of a baker, but I did have a sweet tooth I liked to indulge. The cookies and pie I had left for Zachary had been eaten, so I assumed he would indulge with me. I also picked up another bag of peppermints he seemed to constantly consume. He had a bowl of them in almost every room, it seemed, a few in his pockets, and even in his SUV.