He collected the piece. “Tom-Tom the Turtle.”
When the baby stretched out her arms and wiggled her fingers, Trinity held her tiny hand in hers. “Oh, you can’t have that, sweetie.”
“There’s nothing sharp. Nothing that’ll fall off.”
“She’ll put it straight in her mouth.”
Zack jumped up, rinsed the turtle under a steamy faucet, shook it off and brought him back. “All clean.” He handed Tom-Tom over to a bedazzled Bonnie. “I’m sure Nicki won’t mind.”
“Who’s Nicki?”
“My second-oldest nephew. This was last year’s birthday gift.”
“And that?” She nodded to a face with a fluffy yellow mane.
“Loger Lion. No body, I’m afraid. He was from Ava my niece for Christmas. She’s four.”
“Loger?”
“Ava has trouble with r’s.”
Her heart warming all the more, Trinity accepted Loger when Zack handed him over. She’d known he had lots of extended family, and it made sense kids liked to make gifts of their craft bits and pieces, but, “Why do you have all this here?”
“They’re at my apartment, too. Some at the office. My brothers have eight kids between them. Believe me, that’s a lot of bead picture frames and finger paintings to go around.”
His dark eyes were sparkling, with pride. With love. Here was a side Zack had never shown, particularly not to the press. He’d never let go and shared himself like this with her. Then again, she wasn’t normally one to share, either.
He chose another animal from his stockpile. “I was about to have Necky Giraffe duel with Loger.”
“Necky?”
“I don’t choose the names, remember?”
“Why can’t they dance instead?”
His brow wrinkled in a delectable frown. “Because they’re both guys.”
“Guys can dance.”
“Only with beautiful women.”
His dark eyes shone as a ghost of a different, mischievous smile hooked his mouth. It was all Trinity could do to keep from pushing common sense aside and doing something stupid like leaning forward to brush her lips over his. Instead she shelved the urge and concentrated on working out the show Necky and Loger were set to perform.
“Guys can dance together,” she pointed out, “if you’re a lion who’s taken classes and wants to show his best friend how much he’s improved. Loger used to have two left feet.”
He grinned. “All these years and I never knew.” He slid over to give her space on the blanket beside him. “Have a seat. There’s plenty of room.”
Trinity’s heartbeat skipped. The urge to do precisely what Zack suggested was so strong, the impulse was a little scary. But his mood was more light not seductive, and with Bonnie looking so happy and content…why not?
She shimmied over and lay down on her belly beside Zack and facing the baby. While Bonnie sucked on Tom-Tom, Trinity held up Loger. The baby sat riveted, waiting for the show.
Rolling a little toward Trinity to accommodate the movement, Zack trotted out his giraffe.
“My dear Mr. Loger,” he began, but she interrupted.
“On second thought, maybe it should be Miss Loger.” She was a girl, after all.
He set off again. “My dear Miss Loger, I couldn’t help but notice how luminous your mane looks today.”
“I did wash and straighten it very carefully.”
She looked from the animals to Zack. He was smiling, not at the show or at Bonnie, but at her. An amused, highly appreciative look.
“Would you care to dance?” he finally asked.
She waited for her heart to stop beating in her throat before she replied, “But there’s no music.”
“I’ll sing to you.”
And this time, while the baby giggled and, engrossed, sucked Tom-Tom more, Trinity heard a different, deeper note in Zack’s voice. Her skin started to heat and thoughts began to veer to places best kept under lock and key.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
But he tipped closer and insisted. “I’ll sing about your eyes.”
Trinity quivered to her curling toes. He’d spoken near her ear and she knew without looking that his gaze was intent, on her profile…on her lips. She tried to get her suddenly whirling thoughts back on track.
“Maybe we should find a song we already know.”
“Know what I really want to sing about?” His warm breath brushed her hair. “How much I enjoyed holding you last night.”
A series of brush fires ignited and raced through her blood. She ought to move away. Tell him to stop. With him so near, devouring her with that hungry gaze, she wanted to forget what she knew and admit that she’d enjoyed it, too.
When his mouth grazed her temple, she tingled and weakened more. “Dance with me, Trin,” he murmured. “Dance with me tonight.”
As his chin grazed a lazy path around her cheek and his fingers slid away from the giraffe, a spike of adrenaline shot through her and finding her senses, dropping the lion, she leaned away. Got to her feet. Unbalanced, flushed, she pushed back hair fallen over her brow.
“I should probably get a bottle ready for Bonnie.”
He gazed up at her, his dark gaze intense. Determined. “I already fed her, Trin. She’s perfectly happy.”
“Then I’ll put on coffee.”
“I don’t want coffee. I want you.”
He reached for her but she dodged his touch and, panicked, crossed to the kitchen. Her body burning, she felt his gaze on her while she collected the pot with a trembling hand. Would he follow her? Run his hot palms over her shoulders, down her sides? God help her, she wanted that. Wanted him. And she shouldn’t.
Couldn’t.
She was a convenience, nothing more, no matter how wanted he made her feel.
When he began to talk again to the baby while she saw to the coffee, Trinity let out a long breath, but the craving didn’t ease. She closed her eyes and imagined him kissing her objections away, almost felt his mouth sliding over her body and his hard, long length bearing down. Despite the absurdity of it all, she wanted those things badly.
In fact, she was beginning to want this—the whole package—way too much.
Zack growled. “Cruiser, get your nose out of there.”
“He’s definitely found something,” Trinity said.
Probably scaring the life out of some poor squirrel, Zack thought.
Cruiser barked. Propped up in Trinity’s arms, Bonnie screeched and, delighted, tried to clap her hands.
After the Loger/Necky scene, the mood had been strained. When the sun had poked through its thinning cover of clouds and the snow looked as if it was covered with a billion scattered diamonds, Zack had suggested they all get some fresh air. He’d loaned Trinity some boots that were way too big and an overcoat that came down past her shins. After bundling the baby in blankets, he’d shrugged into