Page 37 of Treat Her Right

Wynn shook herself. “Since I interrupted your lunch, Josh, can I make you a sandwich, too?”

Bo clutched his heart. “You’re going to make him a sandwich? Hell, we’re the ones who worked for you all afternoon and you didn’t offer to serve us.”

Wynn elbowed him hard. “All of you behave,” she said, and she encompassed Zack in that order, before heading toward the patio door. She caught Josh’s arm as she went and dragged him along with her. “We’ll be right back.”

CHAPTER 7

WYNN GOTJOSHinside the door, pulled him around the corner and flattened him against the wall. “I’m so glad you dropped in.”

Josh, looking startled, said, “Uh,” and clasped her upper arms to keep her from getting any closer. “Yeah, see, I sorta thought…well…” He looked around and to Wynn, he appeared hunted.

It took her a second to figure out what bothered him, and then she laughed. Men could be such big frauds!

“Look, Wynn…” He inched her a little farther away from him, while keeping his own body plastered to the wall. “Do you think it’s safe to leave them all alone out there? I sensed some hostilities going on when I arrived.”

“That’s why you started defending Zack?”

“Hey, he’s a friend. Besides, it’s true. He can take care of himself. You know that, right?”

She shrugged, then daringly pressed closer, just to watch him squirm.

“The thing is,” he blurted, looking all around again as if he expected someone to jump him at any second, “I thought you had a thing for Zack.”

Wynn smoothed her hand over his very solid, very large shoulder and whispered, “I do.”

“Because I’m not at all sure—” He did a double take. “You do?”

“Mmm-hmm.” She looked him in the eyes, licked her lips, and continued, “That’s why I dragged you in here.” She patted his cheek and added, “To find out more about Zack.”

“Oh.Oh!” Josh laughed and his confidence returned in his quirky smile and the way his shoulders relaxed. “Good. That’s real good. Just what I wanted to hear.”

“But Zack doesn’t like me much.”

“I think he likes youtoomuch. That’s the problem, at least as far as he’s concerned.” She stepped back and together they headed toward the kitchen. “Personally, I think you’re perfect for him.”

Wynn had never in her life been described as perfect. Her father harped on and on about her imperfect hair, and her mother harped about her lack of femininity and her brother drove her crazy telling her she was too aggressive while constantly challenging her. It was a rather nice compliment to hear. “No kidding?”

“Hell yeah.” He pulled out a chair for her. “Look at you! You’re attractive and healthy—being a paramedic, and having lost his first wife, Zack is big on health.”

Wynn blinked at that sentiment.

“You’re also fun and funny and you seem to like Dani.” He frowned. “That’s a must you know, that you like his daughter. And you can’t fake that because plenty of women have tried and he’s always seen through them.”

Wynn fell speechless at such a wealth of verbal outpourings. She hadn’t had to ask a single question!

He looked a little worried at her continued silence. “You do like Dani, don’t you?”

Unwilling to lose this golden opportunity, she gathered her wits. “Of course. She’s adorable. Smart, precocious, bold.” She shrugged. “Beautiful like her dad.”

Josh grinned. “Zack is beautiful, huh? What a hoot.”

Wynn realized exactly what she’d said and blushed. “Don’t you dare say anything to him.”

“Oh, no, no, of course not.”

Wynn didn’t believe him for a second. “Josh…”

“Do you really have something to eat?”