Page 17 of Savage Secrets

Hedidmake her nervous, for reasons she’d been denying for the past few evenings.

She tilted her head to meet his gaze. Those dark brown eyes were steady on hers. Unflinching, unmoving…unapologetic.

When Zach looked at her, he gave her his complete attention. And it made her stomach flutter.

“I’ll just add another log to the fire.” She twisted away. She grabbed a poker and stirred the coals. When she reached for a log, Zach was already standing there with one in his arms.

He bent to set it on the fire, sending sparks of awareness through her again. His shoulder brushed hers as he lowered thelog into the flickering flames. The scent of cold pine clung to him.

She wet her lips. “That’s so helpful. Thank you.”

He shifted to his feet.

As she did the same, she found him standing a foot away from her. His dark gaze roamed over her hair, reminding her that she had spent extra time on her appearance before making that coffee.

The coffee.

“Let’s grab that coffee. I bet you could use it after working outdoors in the cold.”

“I’m used to it.” His tone was always gruff but seemed to come out with a deeper edge tonight. Maybe he was catching a cold.

Quickly, she moved to the kitchen and poured their hot drinks into mugs. Again, when she turned with his coffee in hand, he was standing close.

“Here you go.”

His fingers brushed hers when he accepted the cup.

Those flutters in her stomach dropped lower—between her thighs.

Oh god. She couldn’t think about Zach this way. He was helping her. What did she have to offer him anyway? A rundown ranch with a heap of bills and a three-year-old who liked tea parties.

Once she had her mug too, she took a seat on one of the armchairs flanking the fireplace. He sat in the other.

When he sipped, he let out a low groan. “You’re right—I did need that.”

Warmed by his pleasure, the fire and the hot drink, she settled back on the cushion. “How did things go today? I saw you up on the barn roof.”

“The wood isn’t as rotten as I thought. I can patch it.”

“What a relief.” She didn’t want to dip into her savings to shell out cash for an entire barn roof quite yet. She needed time to evaluate the ranch finances and make a list of priorities first. Zach had already discussed a few issues.

He set the mug on the table next to him. Leaning back, he delved a hand into his pocket. “That reminds me. I found these in a box when I was searching for some screws.” He withdrew a small ring jammed with keys.

She blinked. “What do they go to?”

“I have no idea.”

Earlier that week he’d gone into town and had a key to the front door made for her. It was a small gesture, but a touching one. Besides Kirsten, people rarely helped her. That Zach had taken the initiative to ensure she had a way to lock the door—and stay safe—warmed her as much as the fire they sat near.

Suddenly, he walked to the door and left the house. She stared after him in question, but he returned immediately, carrying a rectangle of wood.

When he held it up, she saw the small hooks attached to it.

“A key holder!”

His discomfort took on a new layer. He shuffled his feet. “I made it.”

She leaped to her feet to inspect it. “You made this? When did you even have the time, Zach?” She ran her fingers over the smooth, sanded finished that he had given a light coat of natural wax to.

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