She turned him loose and put her hands in her pockets so she wouldn’t be tempted to get hold of him again. Conan gathered up the carafe and the muffin plate.
Feeling like an idiot, she said, “Well, thanks again. And really, I am sorry we woke you.”
Dani bounded back outside, then skidded to a disappointed halt. “You can’t leave.”
Zack put his hand on the top of her silky head. “I’m sure Wynn wants to finish unpacking, sweetheart. And you and I are going shopping.”
Dani groaned, wilted, all in all acting like a child being sent to the woodshed.
Barely hiding a smile, Zack said, “None of that. We’ll have lunch out and it’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
Conan gave a crooked grin. “I gather she doesn’t like shopping?”
“Not for clothes, no. But she’s about worn out everything warm she has.”
“Sounds like Wynn. She hates shopping, too.”
Dani’s eyes widened. “You do?”
Wynn shrugged. “I know it’s supposed to be a girl thing, but I’ve never understood it. Thank goodness I don’t need a lot of clothes.”
Conan leaned forward. “She used to outgrow her wardrobe daily, but we’re hoping she’s done growing by now.”
Wynn elbowed him, caught Zack’s look of disapproval, and wanted to throttle her brother. Zack didn’t approve of their physical sparring, and she’d meant to cease it in front of him. But Conan had a way of egging her on. “I quit growing ten years ago. And with my job, casual clothes are perfect.”
“What do you do?” Zack asked, then looked like he wanted to bite his tongue off.
“I’m a physical therapist. I work two days a week at the high school, two days a week at the college.” She nodded toward her brother. “Conan owns a gym and I sometimes help out there, too, when the bodybuilders overdo it.”
Zack looked dubious, but nodded. He said to Conan, again ignoring her, “A gym, huh?”
“Small, but it’s all mine and I’m a good trainer. I do a lot of private stuff.” He winked. “The clientele is as much female as male.”
Bristling at Zack’s disregard and her brother’s caveman attitude, Wynn said, “Rachael will get you if she hears that particular leer in your tone.”
Conan shrugged, unconcerned with the warning. “Rachael is my current girlfriend, not my wife. And speaking of Rachael, I should get going.” He gave one last wave and headed off.
Wynn gazed after him, watching him go down the steps and then around the porch toward her new house. She sighed. “Me, too. I’ve got a lot of unpacking to do yet.” She turned to Zack, who appeared anxious to finish the goodbyes. “Being as we’re neighbors,” she thought to say, “feel free to borrow if you ever need to. You know, the proverbial cup of sugar or whatever.”
“Thanks.” Zack’s tone was dry. “I’ll keep that in mind. And thanks for the coffee and muffins. They were...great.”
With nothing left to say, Wynn stepped off the porch with a lagging step. “Okay, well...bye.”
“Goodbye, Wynn.”
She glanced over her shoulder to see Zack escaping into his house. He closed the door behind him, and she heard the lock click. Well, hell. His goodbye had sounded entirely too final.
That just wouldn’t do. She wanted him. One way or another.
“LOOK, DAD!”
Zack pulled the car into the driveway and put it in Park. He didn’t want to look. Because of the direction Dani pointed, he already knew what—or rather who—he’d see. And he wanted to keep her out of his mind, not dwell on her further. He’d done enough dwelling.
All day long, his mind had wandered to her, and he didn’t like it. Even while buying miniature jeans with butterflies sewn on the pockets, and lace-up brown boots meant for a boy that had his daughter begging for them, he’d thought of Wynn. While hauling armloads of shopping bags filled with pastel sweatshirts and soft sweaters and long-sleeved T-shirts, he’d remembered the way Wynn had stared at him—where she’d stared at him—and he’d been distracted.
Not just distracted, but edgy with a sort of vague arousal.
Well, not really vague, either. More like...acute.
Damn, damn, damn.
He’d been forced to fight himself all day. And all that did was add to his exhaustion and detract from the pleasure he usually enjoyed while spending special time with Dani.
He’d pictured Wynn in his mind as they ate lunch in the food court, and he’d missed most of the matinee movie because his brain not only conjured what had already transpired, but what might yet come if he were to be friendlier to her.
And that wouldn’t do! She was a neighbor living right behind him, so anything casual, like hot, gritty, satisfying sex, was out of the question. And anything less casual, like friendship, would only make him want the sex more.
Wynn came nowhere near meeting his requirements for involvement, so it’d be best if he stayed clear of her altogether.
“Dad, look.”
Dani, with her insistent, squeaky voice, gave him little choice. Zack glanced up to where she pointed, even as he said, “We need to get all these clothes put away...” His words died as he took in the sight of Wynn, now wearing a soft beige halter top, struggling with a long flat box. His driveway was at the side of his house, leading to an attached garage, which gave him a clear view of her house. Her yard was now empty of the packing boxes; it was the huge department store box that held her attention. Zack couldn’t see the picture on the box to determine what she’d bought, but then, he wasn’t exactly focused on the box.
Beneath the hot early-evening sun, Wynn’s broad, toned shoulders looked dewy with perspiration and flexed with feminine muscles. Her belly... He swallowed hard. Her belly was flat, taut with her straining efforts, her waist lean and supple, dipping and curving. She looked sexy and healthy and strong and so utterly female his muscles cramped.
The effect of those long legs had nearly been his undoing that morning. Now seeing her upper parts more bare than covered was enough to make him sweat along with her. He just adored female bellies, and hers was especially enticing.
He felt Dani’s hand on his arm and managed to wipe away the gleam of lust before looking down at her.
“You should help her,” Dani declared.
Oh, no. Zack had no intention of getting anywhere near Wynn. He shook his head and finished undoing Dani’s car seat. By age, Dani was old enough to forego the special seat, but by size... His daughter was so petite it’d probably be another year before he felt comfortable with only a seat belt for her protection. “We’ve got our own work to do, Dani.”
But no sooner did he have his daughter free from the seat than she opened the car door and slithered out. “Hello, Wynn!” She waved both arms, drawing the neighbor’s attention.
Wynn stopped struggling with the box and looked up. She wiped a forearm across her brow, squinted in their direction, then broke out in a smile. Even from the distance, Zack could see the open welcome in that smile.
He cursed, but silently.
Cutting across the yards, Wynn headed toward them. He wanted to groan. He