Page 57 of Treat Her Right

Dani came over and, natural as you please, climbed into Wynn’s lap.

Wynn positioned her comfortably, as if she’d been holding Dani since the day she was born.

Zack almost choked on another lump of emotion. Damn it, men didn’t get lumps of emotion, and certainly not over something so simple as seeing a neighbor hold his daughter. But Dani was smiling and looking secure and confident in her welcome.

He silently cursed again.

Wynn wasnotthe right woman for him. Whenever he’d envisioned the right woman, he’d pictured a woman who was discreet and circumspect and responsible. A woman who’d be a good influence on his daughter and the perfect domestic partner for raising a child.

Wynn was rash and outspoken and irresponsible. She didn’t protect herself or think things out before doing them. She knew too many men who knew her too well… No, that wasn’t exactly right and he felt guilty for even thinking it. But he found he was the jealous sort when he’d never been before. And that irked him too.

Wynn dressed provocatively, didn’t eat right, and her family was beyond strange.

She was big and beautiful and so sexy he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

What the hell was he supposed to do?

“Eat,” Chastity said as if she’d read his mind. She shoved a paper plate with a loaded hamburger, chips and pickles into his hand. She handed the same to Wynn, and gave Dani a hot dog.

Everyone came in from the badminton game and Conan introduced Zack to his girlfriend, Rachael. She was a pretty, slender woman of medium height.Shewas dressed reasonably in long tan walking shorts and a loose blue polo shirt. And none of the men swattedherbehind.

However, the second Wynn said she needed to go inside a minute, the guys lined up to carry her. They jokingly compared muscles, trying to decide who was strong enough to bear her weight.

Not giving them a chance to get so much as a pinkie finger on her, Zack lifted Wynn into his lap and then stood. There was a general round of oohing and aahing and muttered respect for his strength.

“What do you bench?” Conan asked, and Zack rolled his eyes.

Wynn dropped her head to his shoulder. “This is totally dumb, Zack. I’m more than capable of walking, you know.”

“I know. But no one else seems to.” He turned to Dani. “Stay right here with Josh, sweetheart.”

“I will!”

Zack headed for the back door. Truth was, she felt good in his arms, a nice soft solid weight. Warm and very feminine. He liked holding her. And no way in hell was he going to let any of her “friends” pick her up so they’d experience the same sensations.

“They’re just nettling you,” Wynn said, “and you’re letting them.” She reached down to open the kitchen door when Zack stopped in front of it.

“Where to?” he asked.

She sighed, then finally said, “The bathroom.”

Zack grinned. The door closed behind them, shutting out some of the party noise. Now that they were in private, he nuzzled Wynn’s ear, carefully because of his rough beard, and then asked, “Are you coming over tonight to…soak your foot?”

She looked up at him, surprised. “I thought you had plans?”

“I’ll be free by eleven. It’s been a total bitch of a day and I can’t imagine a better way to end it than with a repeat of last night.” He touched his mouth to hers and added, “That is, if you’re up to it.”

She said, “Ha! I sure wouldn’t let a little broken toe keep me from it!”

Zack kissed her chin, feeling all his tension and aggravation melt away just from being near her. Leaving her behind this morning, knowing she was hurt, hadn’t sat right with him. “And you called me a superhero,” he teased gently.

Wynn hesitated, then made a face. “Okay, I give up. Just what are you doing tonight?”

They stood in the hallway outside the bathroom door. Wynn didn’t ask to be put down, and Zack was in no hurry to release her. He looked at her mouth and wanted to groan. He could feel himself getting hard and ruthlessly brought himself under control.

“Del and Mick are coming over. They, Josh and I, are going to watch an interview Del did for her upcoming book. It’s going to be on channel—”

They heard a thump and looked up to see Conan collapsed against the wall, a large fist pressed to his massive chest.

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