Page 56 of Treat Her Right

“I need your permission to give her a trim,” he said before Zack could greet him. “She hasfabuloushair, just fabulous. But God only knows how long it’s been since it was shaped. Itbegsto be shaped.”

Zack looked at Dani, who watched him hopefully. “Do you want your hair shaped?”Whatever the hell that means.

She nodded.

“You have my permission.”

Artemus clapped his hands in bliss.

Chastity turned to Zack. “Hamburger or hot dog, Zack?”

He eyed this remarkable woman who had managed to birth Wynn. “Do hippies eat meat?”

“Honey, when they’re my age, they do any damn thing they want to.”

Artemus leaned close to nip her ear. “And there’s a lot they want to do, too.” He winked at Zack. “Hippies are a delightfully creative lot.”

“Ah.” Zack grinned, amused by the obvious affection between them. “In that case, I’ll take a hamburger. Thank you, ma’am.”

“Be ready in a moment.”

Josh eased Wynn’s foot out of his lap and stood to greet Zack. “How’s Eloise?”

“I called the hospital before I left work today. She has bronchitis. With the medicine they gave her, she’s feeling a lot more comfortable.”

“Has she got anyone to take care of her?”

Zack nodded, not quite looking at Wynn yet. If he looked at her, he’d want to pick her up and pet her and coddle her.Insane.As she’d said, it was only a broken toe. “She’s going to stay with her granddaughter for a week until she’s had time to recuperate.”

Dani and Artemus danced past them, moving to the tune of the Beach Boys. “A week, huh? What about the rat? Who’s going to watch her?”

Zack glanced at his daughter as she threw back her head and laughed. “I finagled an early vacation week. It wasn’t easy, but I got Richards to trade with me.”

Josh looked pleased. “So you’ll be around the house—” he glanced at Wynn “—day and night, for a week, huh?”

“That’s what I just said.” Done with that conversational gambit, he knelt down in front of Wynn. “How’re you feeling?”

“Fine.”

Zack could tell she lied. Her face looked pinched, her mouth tight. He gave her a frown that let her know he knew, and then took Josh’s seat. He lifted her foot into his lap to examine her toe.

She wore no shoes and where the bandage didn’t cover, he could see the dark, colorful bruises. Her foot still looked swollen and for some dumb reason, he wanted to kiss it. It’s what he would have done for Dani, and now he wanted to do it for Wynn, too.

He manfully resisted the urge and met her gaze. “Have you taken anything for pain?”

“Aspirin.”

Josh leaned on the armrest next to Wynn and peered down at them both. In a carrying voice, he said, “I’m sure you both know that ice for swelling is good, but soaking it in hot water is best for relieving the pain.”

Zack rolled his eyes; Josh knew nil about subtlety, or medical matters.

Wynn just stared at him.

“I was thinking of your hot tub, Zack.” Josh cleared his throat and forged on. “A good neighbor would offer to let her use it.”

Without turning their way, Chastity said, “Oh, I’m sure he’d have thought of it sooner or later.”

Artemus chortled at his wife’s wry humor, and then swung Dani in a wide circle, ending their dance with a flourish.

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