For Nick by Taylor Dean

alone in this house and he could take advantage of her if he was so inclined. In the back of her mind, she had wondered if she would have to fight him off at some point. But that wasn’t the kind of man he was.
    And for that she was eternally grateful.
    He waited a few more moments and when she didn’t move, he nodded, turning towards his room.
    “Zach,” she stopped him.
    “Yes?”
    “Watch out for elephants.”
    His laughter echoed through the house as he closed his door softly.

    The next morning at breakfast Zach said, “Want to go for a drive today?”
    It was Monday, the beginning of their week together. Andie had expected a week of solitude and was surprised at this turn of events. “That sounds fun…and warmer.”
    The early July weather was gorgeous. They spent the day driving around the lake, admiring the beautiful scenery. It was a light and easy afternoon, the conversation natural and lazy, the silences comfortable. Andie felt at ease with Zach.
    “Chinese or Mexican?” he asked at lunch.
    They both chose Mexican.
    “Stay in the car or get out and hike?” he questioned at a scenic overlook.
    They both chose to hike.
    “Sun or shade?” he queried when they took a break.
    They both chose to bask in the sun.
    When they stopped for ice cream, they both chose chocolate chip cookie dough. Two scoops. Their likes were eerily similar and it made Andie look at him with new eyes. Their mutual dislikes were even more uncanny. They both hated seafood, reality TV, and anything involving pumpkin. They both refused to speak to annoying telemarketers, and they despised people who read the last page of a book first.
    By the time they made it back to the house it was early evening. Janine had dinner ready for them and then once again left to be with her own family. They stayed at the table for a long time, lingering over dinner.
    “I can’t really say I was expecting to enjoy myself during this trip, but today was fun. Thanks, Zach.”
    Andie had to admit, she was a little worried about this ‘business relationship.’ It didn’t feel like business. Not at all. As a matter of fact, it was beginning to feel as though they were dating. They were definitely becoming friends—and that was exactly what worried her. She was beginning to feel attached.
    “You’re welcome.” Zach smiled slowly. “I wasn’t sure what to expect either.”

    “How about another game?” Zach asked, needing to distract himself somehow. All he could think about was pressing his lips to hers and seeing what happened next. But he couldn’t make the first move. If anything was going to happen between them, it had to come from her. Otherwise she’d lose all trust in him. Andie was right, neither one of them had expected a friendship to develop between them, especially so quickly. It was a pleasant surprise.
    As Andie smiled back at him, Zach found himself watching her dimples. They were the cutest things he’d ever seen.
    I want heeerrr.
    Her blue eyes practically jumped out at him, they were so startlingly blue. Mixed with her dark hair, she was quite lovely. He was finding that she was quite lovely on the inside too.
    “Okay,” she said with enthusiasm, telling him she didn’t want to retire for the night either.
    “ Uno sound good?”
    “Do you allow matching?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Stacking?”
    “Of course.”
    “Then, yes.”
    They flicked on the radio and played till the wee hours of the morning.
    “I love this song. I can’t stand it anymore, let’s dance,” Zach said after they’d been sitting for much too long. He held out his hand to Andie.
    “Dance?” she asked quizzically.
    “Yeah, c’mon, it’ll be fun,” Zach coaxed.
    “I’m not a very good dancer.”
    “It’s not about good, it’s about fun. I think you are in desperate need of a little fun in your life. Am I right?” Zach asked, hoping he wasn’t pushing her too far.
    Andie studied him with furrowed eyebrows for a moment and he was sure she