Page 13 of Treat Her Right

“You can eat with us!”

Zack cursed softly at his daughter’s invitation, but not softly enough. Wynn heard.

Even though her chin lifted and her eyes were direct, she looked hurt. And that hurthim.Damn it, he didn’t want to insult her, but neither did he want to be further forced into her company.

“Thanks sweetie,” Wynn said to Dani though she continued to look at Zack, “but I’ve got too much to do.”

“Don’t you like pizza?” Dani asked, stubborn to the core and always determined to get her own way.

“I do, but it’s been a busy day, and I’m not done yet. Maybe another time, okay?”

Wynn turned away and almost stumbled. For the first time, Zack noticed the weariness in her long limbs, the slight droop to those surprisingly wide, proud shoulders.

Suspicion bloomed, with it annoyance. Using the same tone that always worked for his daughter, Zack uttered, “Wynn.”

She paused, turned to face him with one brow raised.

He stared at her face and noticed the exhaustion. Damn it. “When did you eat last?”

“What?” She couldn’t have looked more confused by his inquiry. Beside him, Dani all but jiggled with excitement. She knew her father too well and knew he’d just made up his mind.

“Did you have lunch?” Zack demanded, and got a blank expression. He sighed. “Have you eaten anything since the muffins and coffee this morning?”

Rather than answer him, Wynn replied, “I appreciate your concern, Zack, but I’m sure you’ve got more important things to do than keep track of my meals.” Again, she turned away.

He should just let her go, Zack thought, watching her leave and doing his best to keep his gaze off her ample and well-shaped rear end. But his daughter watched him with a look she’d probably picked up from him, one that showed extreme disappointment in his behavior. Dani no doubt expected him to rectify his bad manners, and he knew he should. Even with the womanly sway to her hips, Wynn looked ready to drop, her feet dragging.

She’d been neighborly and friendly and he’d been a surly jerk. All because he hadn’t had a woman in too long and she appealed to him on some insane yet basic level. That couldn’t be blamed on her.

Zack bent low and said to Dani, “Start carrying the bags up to the porch and I’ll be right back.”

With a severe look, Dani ordered, “Talk her into eatin’ with us.”

He sighed. “I’ll try.”

Dani pushed against him. “Go! Before she’s all the way home.”

Wynn had nearly made it before Zack reached her. She had to have heard his approach, but she ignored him. He caught her arm and turned her around to face him. “Wait a minute.”

Seeing he was alone, she barked,“What now?”

He couldn’t help it. He smiled, then actually laughed. “Without Dani listening, I get the full brunt of your temper? Is that it?”

“Don’t kid yourself.” She looked furious and still hurt. Pushing her wild hair out of her face, she sneered, “If you had my full temper, you’d be flat on your back right now.”

Her threat brought with it an image of him on his back, her over him, riding him slow and deep. Her legs were so long and so strong he had no doubt her endurance would be endless, mind-blowing. He glanced down at her breasts, thinly covered by the soft material of the halter. Without his mind’s permission, he imagined them naked, her nipples puckered, begging for his fingers, his mouth. Her chest glistened from the heat, her skin was radiant and so very soft looking.

No words came, no reply, but she must have read his mind because she drew back and her anger melted away. “I didn’t mean that,” she whispered in a shaky voice.

He couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Mean what?”

She hesitated, their gazes locked, then she shrugged with a blatant challenge. “Sex. That’s what you were thinking. Though I suppose you’ll deny it now.”

Zack rubbed his face. “No, I won’t deny it.” His neck and shoulders were still sore from the night before, when he’d dealt with two very unusual crises, and now his body throbbed with sexual tension. “Look, Wynn…”

“Hey, I understand. Dani is a sweetheart, but kids have a way of speaking out of turn. No harm done, and I really do have plenty more work to do.”

He dismissed what she said to ask, “You’ve been working all day, haven’t you? I bet you haven’t eaten at all except for that muffin at dawn.”

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