Page 147 of Faking the Shot

“He’s here already.”

“He is? Oh. Well, I didn’t know Chris had done that. It certainly wasn’t any kind of setup. I don’t want you to feel awkward.”

“It’s okay.”

She ducked her head, but she caught Zac’s smile on the way. “Would you like to talk to Faith and Jack?”

“That’d be great.”

Ainsley put the phone on speaker, then let the kids have their talks. Then Diana asked to speak to Zac. Ainsley handed him the phone and tried not to listen to his side of the conversation. Maybe it would be best to go.

He soon ended the call and passed back her phone, his fingers brushing hers.

Her fingers tingled, as awareness arced between them. No. She couldn’t do this. “Hey kids, want to show me what you do when it’s bedtime?”

“Can we watch a movie?”

“Is tonight a school night?”

“Yes.”

“Then no.”

“That sounds like something Abigail might’ve said,” Zac murmured.

“In the 1800s?”

He laughed. “Okay, maybe not quite what she would’ve said.”

There were plenty of things she could say right now. But it was probably best to not say any of them. “Okay, showers, teeth, and bed. Who’s going to be in the shower first?”

“Me!” Faith called, and ran up the stairs.

“You take her and I’ll deal with this one?” Zac asked.

“Okay.”

Half an hour later, she had tucked in a sleepy Faith, and kissed her forehead. “Good night, sweetheart.”

“Good night Aunty Ainsley. I loves you.”

Her heart clenched. “I loves you, too.”

She switched the bedside light to dim mode, then turned to see Zac standing in the door, half-smile on his face. Her heart thudded.

“They’re cute, huh?”

“Very cute.” She moved to go past.

But he stopped her, one hand on her shoulder. “Ains, I know you probably want to go home, but could we talk? Please?”

She swallowed.

Talk with this man she’d hurt? How could she deny him when he kept being so kind to her? She nodded, then whispered, “Okay.”

CHAPTER28

How to tell the woman of your dreams all that was on his heart? Start small.

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