Julia understood at once. “Nonsense. It’s going to be such fun. We won’t let it go too far.”
Cathy thought of her unwitting exposure at the open window and gave a dry laugh that turned into a cough. By all appearances, she was way past too far.
“Er, Julia…when exactly is Zack due to return?”
“Sometime tomorrow.”
“You’re sure?”
“He’s pretty reliable.”
“Except when it comes to weddings.”
“Mmm, there is that.”
Cathy sighed. “Julia? Do you believe Laurel’s side of the story?”
“There’s been no evidence to the contrary.”
“But from what you’ve said, it sounds like Zack hasn’t been in contact since he left. Other than to ask you to look after the house.”
“His silence is awfully suspicious.”
Cathy tugged up her towel, her own silence skeptical.
“Shoot,” said Julia, “we wouldn’t even have learned about his brother’s accident if it weren’t for Gwen’s persistent nosiness. Zack knows how much we all care for Adam. We’d’ve liked to have known how he was doing.”
“Well, see—that’s what I mean.” Cathy wondered why she was defending a man called Heartbreak. Especially when the odds were that she’d end up his next victim. “I don’t blame Laurel for being put out, but considering that he cancelled because of a family emergency…”
“If he’d stopped to explain, sure, we’d all have understood.” Julia’s tone grew mulish. “But he didn’t. He left poor Laurel stranded at the church in a five-thousand-dollar designer wedding gown. There were six bridesmaids. Seventy-five guests. Seventy-five plates of salmon in mint sauce. It was a frigging fiasco.”
“I suppose so.”
“All part of Heartbreak’s pattern.”
Cathy hesitated. “He’s that bad?”
“How shall I put it?” Julia’s laugh was contemplative. Maybe even nostalgic. “Aw, Cath. You won’t fully understand until you meet him, but the best I can explain is that Zack is so darn good he’s bad.”
“So good?”
“The best. The ultimate smooth operator. Every woman he dates thinks she’s died and gone to heaven. Next to the usual mouth-breathing social cretins that pass for eligible bachelors in Quimby, Zack’s a sweet-talking miracle. No girl can resist. And, wow, believe me, it’s great while it lasts.”
“But?”
“But then the dream ends,” Julia said evenly. “One day, one way or another, you wake up and realize Zack’s moved on to the next woman just when you were getting ready to order the monogrammed towels. And then you don’t even get the pleasure of hating him because he’s so incredibly charming even when he’s dumping you.”
Cathy blinked at the phone. “I’d be devastated.”
“Yup.” Julia sounded anything but. “And that’s why we call him Heartbreak.”
“Yet you still like him,” Cathy said. “I can tell. All of you adore him.”
“That’s Heartbreak’s greatest skill. He’s the only man on earth who’s on friendly terms with all of his former girlfriends. As good as he is at romance—and he’s excellent—he’s the world’s best breaker-upper.”
It was some comfort, Cathy decided. If she did get with the plan and play up to Zack, the worst that could happen would be that he’d let her down easy. Which wouldn’t be so bad. Really. She’d have plenty of company, and the consolation that at least she’d made the attempt. Maybe she’d be spoiled for other men, as Gwen said, but that would be nothing new.
There had to be a loophole she was missing. “You’re saying Laurel doesn’t count?”
“Oh, Laurel,” Julia scoffed. “Sure, she’s out for revenge. Her pride was hurt pretty spectacularly. But if Zack so much as crooked a finger at her, she’d go running into his arms, I guarantee it. Even if it was just for the thrill of planning another fancy wedding. Wouldn’t surprise me a bit if she’s saved the dress for a second go-round.”
Cathy returned to the window and peeked out again. “You think?”
This time, Julia’s laugh was faintly bittersweet. “Laurel’s been after Zack for as long as I can remember. And she’s determined to make a ‘good’ marriage. Not just anyone will do.”
Still no sign of occupancy next door. “I’ve never understood why it wasn’t you he was marrying,” Cathy ventured. Julia was intelligent, personable, polished; she seemed like Zack Brody’s perfect mate. More than any of the other women.
Including myself, Cathy admitted.
“Oh, well, what can I say?” There was a shrug in the Realtor’s voice. “Zack and I had split way before Laurel finally got her shot.”
“Sounds as though you took it well.”
Julia’s pause was short. “We’d run our course.”
“No hard feelings, huh?” But not a little regret, Cathy surmised.
“Having your heart broken by Zack Brody is a singular experience.”
Cathy made herself laugh. “One you want me to share?”
“Ah, but we’re not sending you in unprepared. This time will be different, I promise. It’s not your heart at risk.”
“Gosh, I sure hope so.” Cathy’s attempt at levity rang hollow. She shivered instead, her arms clamping the towel around her torso.
“Just remember,” Julia said, “Heartbreak’s comeuppance is long overdue.”
Which was not what Cathy intended, but Julia wouldn’t welcome the confession. Besides, Cathy was doubtful about whether she’d be capable of the duplicity necessary when it came to the crunch, let alone the too-farfetched-to-contemplate seduction aspect of the whole business.
Unless it really had been Zack watching her from the porch next door. If so, she’d mistakenly gotten off to the best—make that breast—start imaginable.
Hah. Maybe he hadn’t gotten a very good look through the curtains, at such an angle.
Then again, maybe he had.
She leaned against the wall, weighing her reaction to the possibility that he’d seen everything. Both her instant embarrassment and the subsequent attack of nerves were what she’d expected. More surprising was the exquisite seeping warmth caused by the thought of continuing the game. Imagine seducing Zack, she thought, and her lips parted in anticipation.
