When she’d first dressed, the early morning air had carried a nip, but she was nowhere near cool now. In fact, she felt a little overheated. Maybe downright hot.
She guessed Zack to be around thirty, given the age of his daughter and his overall physique. It was his physique that had her doing more than her fair share of ogling. The man was put together just fine.
He wasn’t a muscle-bound behemoth like her brother, but lean and toned, with an obvious strength that was partly innate male, partly specialized training. His chest was wide, his shoulders wider. He had narrow hips, long straight legs and large, lean hands and feet. There was no fat on his middle, no slouch in his stance.
Light brown hair, bone straight and disheveled from being roused out of bed, complemented gentle, intense blue eyes. His brows and beard stubble were darker, his jaw hard and stubborn.
But it was when he looked at his daughter that his gorgeous blue eyes held the most impact.
Only seconds after seeing Zack, she’d wanted him. The man exuded raw sexuality tempered with gentleness and caring. A highly potent combination.
Being around him felt...comfortable, in a dozen different ways.
With an acquaintance not quite an hour long, she knew enough to respect him. She’d already learned that he loved his daughter, was a natural defender of women, and showed politeness even when rude neighbors pulled him from a much-needed sleep.
She sighed, earning a strange look from both men and Dani.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, wishing she could crawl over onto his lap now that Dani was no longer in it. But a big hulking girl like herself didn’t sit in laps. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time a man had held her. “So what title applies to your heroic deeds, Zack?”
He rubbed his hands over his tired eyes while explaining. “I’m an EMT paramedic. Dani thinks Mick, Josh and I are all heroes. Actually I believe she has Mick’s wife, Delilah, in that category now, too.”
“They’re heroes,” Dani insisted with a child’s love and devotion.
And Zack responded, “Don’t talk with your mouth full, sweetheart.”
“So you drive an ambulance, huh?” Conan leaned forward with interest. “Who do you work for?”
“The fire department. Josh is a fireman there. We’ve known each other forever.”
Wynn tipped her head, recalling the other name he had mentioned. “And Mick? What does he do?”
“Mick is a cop. His wife, Delilah Piper-slash-Dawson is a—”
“Novelist!” Conan finished for him, surging to the edge of his seat with excitement. “Are you kidding me? You know Delilah Piper?”
“Don’t forget the ‘slash-Dawson’ part or Mick will have your head.” Zack grinned, showing even white teeth and a dimple in his left cheek. A dimple! Wynn’s melting heart thumped so hard, she nearly missed the rest of Zack’s explanation. “Since she and Mick married, he’s been understanding about her name already being well known. He’s proud of her career, but insistent that those of us who are familiar remember she’s a married woman now.”
“Possessive, is he?” Wynn asked.
And Conan said, “Are you nuts? She’s Delilah Piper.” He snorted. “I’d be possessive, too.”
“You always are,” Wynn said with a shake of her head. Her brother drove his present girlfriend crazy with his possessive, overbearing ways.
“I take it you’re a fan?” Zack asked.
“I just finished her newest. That scene at the river was incredible.”
“I can get your books signed for you if you want.”
Wynn watched in disgust as her muscle-bound brother looked ready to get up and dance a jig. She glanced at Dani, and they shared a woman-to-woman smile. Dani even shook her head and rolled her big blue eyes, causing Wynn to chuckle.
While the men continued to work out the details of the books, Wynn turned to Dani. “So you’re close to Josh and Mick and Delilah?”
“She wants to be called Del, only Mick won’t. I think it’s jus’ to tease her.”
“And Mick and Josh?”
“They’re fun. Josh has lots of ladies, but he says none of ’em are prettier than me so he can’t marry ’em.”
“Smart man.”
“Yeah.” She nodded with a look of pity for the poor unwed Josh and the not-pretty-enough women. “Dad wants to get married, too, but he’s gotta find a wife first.” Dani scrunched up her face, studying Wynn.
Wynn squirmed under such close scrutiny. From a child! Luckily, Dani whispered to her father that she had to go in to the potty. After she went in, Zack returned to his conversation about Del Piper, keeping Conan enthralled.
Wynn looked at Zack. So, he wanted a wife, huh? Or was that something Dani had misconstrued?
How in the world was it that he hadn’t already remarried? A man like Zack probably had women by the dozens. But then...she rethought that and shook her head at herself. Zack was very dedicated to his daughter, and she knew EMTs worked long shifts, sometimes up to sixty hours a week. That wouldn’t leave him much time for dating, much less cultivating a lasting relationship.
He must have felt her gaze, for he glanced at her while Conan waxed poetic about Ms. Piper’s remarkable talent. Their gazes met and held and Zack frowned. He glanced away, then back again. Wynn blinked at him, feeling soft and hot and excited.
She stared, knew she stared, and couldn’t seem to help herself. Zack shifted, glaring at her then crossing one ankle over a knee.
He had thick ankles. And wrists. And long fingers and...one thought led to another and she couldn’t keep herself from peeking at his lap. His jeans were old and faded and appeared very soft. They cupped him lovingly, outlining a bulge that proved most noticeable, even without him being aroused.
Her heart dropped into her stomach and began jumping erratically. Her palms tingled, craving to touch him, to weigh him in her hands—
“Stop that!”
She blinked hard and looked up at him. Conan went silent, confused. A red flush crept up Zack’s neck. He cleared his throat and stood.
“The coffee and muffins were great. Thanks.”
As dismissals went, it wasn’t the least bit subtle, but Conan didn’t seem to find anything amiss. He shook Zack’s hand, saying, “I’ll bring the books to you soon, if you’re sure she won’t mind signing them.”
“Delilah’s great. She won’t mind.” Zack didn’t look at Wynn at all, and she had the feeling his avoidance was deliberate. But then, he’d caught her staring at his crotch, all but salivating.
She blushed. She’d known the man one hour, and already she’d behaved like a shameless hussy. Or worse, like a desperate spinster.
Oh God! Maybe that was how he saw her. After all, she was twenty-eight and single. The only male helping her move in was her brother; no fiancé, not even a boyfriend. He couldn’t know that it was by choice, because she hadn’t yet met a guy who...made her blood sing, not like he did.
Damn, damn, damn.
Not being of a shy or withdrawn nature, she stuck out her hand, daring him to continue ignoring her. She wouldn’t allow it.
His jaw locked. With a false smile pinned to his tired face, he took her hand. His touch, his look, was beyond impersonal, and she hated it. “Welcome to the neighborhood,