Page 33 of Treat Her Right

“You are such a pushy woman.”

She stopped, which caused him to stop since he still had hold of her arm. Realizing that, he let her go and propped his fists on his hips.

“What?” he asked, when she continued to look at him.

For the first time that he could remember, she actually looked sheepish. “I didn’t mean to be pushy,” she muttered, and her face heated. She didn’t blush well, Zack decided, seeing her entire face, neck and even her ears turn pink.

“It’s a…well, a bad habit I guess. Sorry.” She started to say more, shook her head, and stepped around him. Zack caught her arm again.

“Wynn.”

She stopped, but rather than face him she looked down at her feet.

Zack stared at the back of her head where frazzled strands stood out on end, having escaped the band she’d used to contain her hair. The curls resting against her nape actually looked kind of cute, maybe even a little sexy. She had an elegant neck and broad, sexy shoulders…

Suddenly Zack felt a searing scrutiny.

He looked up and caught all three of the hulks watching him. One man had a large wrought-iron chair held aloft in his arms, which he continued to hold with seemingly no effort though the thing looked awkward and heavy.

The other two had a cumbersome settee between them, with yet another chair balanced in the middle of it. They, too, seemed more than comfortable with their burden.

Zack tugged on Wynn’s arm. “That’s some massive furniture you bought.”

She shrugged, still staring at her feet. “I’m a big girl. I need big furniture to be comfortable.”

“True. Those are also big, apparently protective guys you’ve got hauling it.”

Wynn caught his meaning and looked up. Whatever dejection she’d been feeling fell away to be replaced by her natural arrogance. “Oh, for goodness’ sake. Are you three going to stand there all day?”

One of the men, an artificially tanned behemoth, smirked. “Only until we see that you’re all right.”

Sounding incredibly surprised, Wynn asked, “You’re worried aboutZack?” And to compound that insult, she hitched her thumb over her shoulder toward him, then chortled. “Don’t be silly.”

One of the men holding the settee bared his teeth in what might have been loosely termed a smile. “Only Wynn would call us silly,” he said to Zack, then added, “I’m Bo. A…friend.”

The other two grinned at that, which made Wynn bristle, and Zack scowl. Just what the hell did Bo mean? Was it an inside joke? Did Wynn and Bo have some sort of understanding? Were they involved?

The guy on the other end of the settee said, “Bo, Wynn is going to get you for that,” and then to Zack, “I’m Clint and that over there is Marc.”

Zack nodded. “I’m her neighbor, Zack Grange.”

“Yeah right.” They all chortled again, looking between Wynn and Zack. “Just a neighbor.”

Zack clenched his teeth. “The little one running around is my daughter, Dani.”

Bo winked. “She’s a sweetheart. And hey, Wynn just loves kids.”

Wynn cast a quick look at Zack, then under her breath said, “You guys are in for it.”

They pretended great fear, gasping and sharing worried glances—ludicrous considering their impressive sizes. Growling, Wynn took a threatening step forward and they quickly dispersed, rushing to the patio to put the furniture down.

Zack pulled her around to face him. She looked braced for his anger, until he asked, “Is Bo a boyfriend?”

Her eyes widened and she choked on a laugh before saying, “No! Of course not.”

“Then what was all that inside snickering and shared looks?”

She waved that away. “Bo flirts with all women, sort of like your friend Josh. He’s got about a dozen girlfriends and yes, he pretends to want to add me to the list, but it’s all just in fun. I’m not an idiot and he knows it.”

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