Page 32 of Treat Her Right

Through his teeth, he said, “I promise, I’m strong enough.”

Wynn shook her head. “Not good enough. I can see the muscles on my friends, and Dani proved herself.” Her eyebrows lifted and her smile turned smug. “Now show me your stuff.”

Zack knew he was in good shape. He had to attend daily workouts as part of his regimen for the station. He ate healthy food and his job was demanding, both mentally and physically.

But he wasn’t in the habit of flaunting himself.

Wynn shoved his short sleeve up over his shoulder and said softly, “I promise this won’t hurt a bit.” She caught his wrist, locked her eyes with his, bent his arm at the elbow, and said, “Nowflex.”

Tightening his jaw in annoyance, Zack dutifully flexed. His biceps bulged. His arms weren’t enormous like the body builders’, but still plenty defined and impressive if he did say so himself.

Wynn’s gaze softened and her eyes darkened. The hand holding his trembled. “Nice,” she murmured in a voice that was far too intimate. “You just might do.”

Dani went on tiptoe to point at Zack’s upper arm. “There’s where Dad got shot.”

“Shot?”

Wynn started to look more closely, but Zack pulled away and jerked down his sleeve.

In that instant the delivery truck arrived and began backing into Wynn’s driveway. After a long look at Zack, which promised the topic was far from finished, she turned to face the men who were milling around her yard. They appeared to be checking out every blade of grass and especially the hammock. To Zack, they looked like concrete blocks with legs.

“The truck is here,” Wynn called out to them. “The payment is in on my hall table. Will one of you go grab it and sign for the stuff? I’ll be there in just a minute.”

Almost as an entity, they nodded agreement and began a pilgrimage to the front of the house. Wynn turned back to Zack. “Is there a swallow of milk to go with the sandwich? I swear that peanut butter is hung up right about here.” She pointed between her breasts, well hidden beneath the gray cotton shirt, but Zack still went mute.

Luckily, his daughter played the perfect hostess. “We always have milk. Come on.” She took Wynn’s hand and led her into the kitchen. Zack was forced to follow.

“You need to regulate your eating habits better,” he grumbled.

She slanted him a look as he took a tall glass from the cabinet. “Do I look malnourished? Vitamin deficient?”

Since she was tall and strong and healthy, Zack ignored that question. He filled the glass to the top and handed it to her. “And I can’t believe you’re letting those men sign for your belongings. Or go through your house unchaperoned.”

She’d already guzzled down half the milk when his words registered. With the glass tilted to her mouth, her gaze captured his and she blinked. Very slowly she lowered the empty glass and set it aside. She licked her lips. Two seconds passed before she said, “Marc and Clint and Bo are good friends. And they can be trusted.”

Dani hovered near the door, watching the men. “They sure are big.”

With an evil smile, Zack said, “Wynn evidently likes them that way.”

Her smile was no less taunting as she leaned close and breathed into his ear, “But I wasn’t in my backyard, on the ground, making out with any ofthem.Ever.” Then she straightened and asked, “How’d you get shot?”

“By bein’ a hero,” Dani said, still with her head out the door.

Wynn turned to Zack. “Gunfire?”

How she managed to pack so much horror into one small word was beyond him. She acted as though the idea was ludicrous, as if he wasn’t man enough… Deciding to nip that thought, and this conversation in the bud, Zack grabbed her arm and put his hand on his daughter’s narrow back, urging them both forward. “If we’re going to help we better get to it. No more time for gabbing.”

Dani skipped ahead. “What should I do?”

“I have some new baby plants that need extra special care until I get them in the ground,” Wynn told her. “You can move them from the back porch under the overhang to the yard so the men can set up the furniture without trampling them. I trust you more than I do all these big lugs.”

Dani took off like a shot and Zack yelled, “Be very careful, Dani, and don’t get in anyone’s way.”

Dani was no sooner out of hearing when Wynn asked again, “How’d you get shot?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Ohhh,” she cooed in a dramatic voice, “I just love a humble martyr.” She batted her eyes at him, laughed, then said, “No really. What happened?”

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