J.D. smiled. “Zach and I were just trading good-byes.” She leaned over and kissed Toni on the cheek. “Take care of yourself, and don’t let Dad get away with anything.” She grabbed her purse and walked out to the car parked in front of the house.
Toni turned to Zach. “What were you really talking about?”
Chapter 5
“We were discussing your family,” Zach casually replied, not meeting her eyes.
Toni had had a bad feeling when she walked into the kitchen earlier and saw her sister with Zach. There’d been a militant look in J.D.’s eyes, the same kind of look she showed when she was in the courtroom, cross-examining an opposing witness.
“What about my family?” Toni replied.
The corner of Zach’s mouth pulled up. “She was telling me about all the law officers there were. I knew about the Ranger, but not the others.”
Although her oldest sister would never admit it, J.D. was a chip off the old block. She was fiercely protective of her youngest sister, as was their father. “I’m sorry about that. It’s a family trait. It’s a toss-up between J.D. and Dad as to who has the hardest head.”
Zach’s gaze captured hers. In the depths of his green eyes a warmth and understanding burned. “Don’t apologize. It’s a gift.”
His words surprised her. She wanted to investigate his remark, but from the closed look on his face, she knew he wouldn’t offer anything more.
“I’m hungry,” Lisa chimed from the doorway. “So’s Lori.”
Toni looked over her shoulder at the twins standing in the doorway. “I’ll get the plates,” Toni told the girls, “and your dad will dish out the pizza.”
“We didn’t get all those yucky things on it this time. Only pepp—” She scrunched her nose.
“Pepperoni,” Zach supplied.
Lisa nodded. “That’s it. The round thingies.” She looked pleased with herself.
Toni’s amused gaze met Zach’s. They shared the small humor of the moment. The intimacy of it hit Toni hard. She turned and regathered her composure as she pulled out paper plates and napkins from the cabinet.
The girls happily bit into their pizza.
“How did the day go?” Toni asked.
“It was ‘kay,” Lisa replied casually before anyone could respond. Toni bit back a smile at the remark. It was quickly becoming clear that Lisa’s favorite word was ’kay. And she was also becoming the family spokesman, whether Zach liked it or not.
“What did y’all do?” She looked at the girls, then Zach.
“We went to the doctor for Lori,” Lisa continued.
“Dad said that you went to that doctor, too,” Lori remarked, “but you went to the old guy.”
Toni was sure that Dr. Richards would laugh at Lori’s assessment of him. It was accurate but not flattering. “Yes, I went to Dr. Richards. Dr. Conroy, who you saw, just came to Midland last year. I hear she is very nice. And that you got good news.”
Lori nodded.
“Then we saw our new school,” Lisa added. “Dad didn’t like Mrs. Shaw.”
The giggle Toni tried to swallow sounded like a snort. She felt the others stare at her. Finally, Toni stole a glance at Zach. Nothing showed on his face as he continued to eat his pizza.
“Oh? Why do you say that?” Toni asked.
Lisa took a bite of her pizza. “Dad had a frown on his face when he was talking to her.” She paused and took a drink. “I’m glad he doesn’t look at us like that anymore.”
The girls went back to their pizza. Zach’s gaze met hers. His was stoic and remote, but Toni sensed there was a hurt buried deep inside.
“Do you like your new apartment?” Toni asked, hoping to smooth over the awkward spot.
“It’s got bedrooms,” Lisa replied. “One for Dad and one for me and Lori. We don’t have a yard, like you have here. And there’s no swings.”
“But you have your very own bed.”
“Yeah, but there are no toys there. And no dog.” Disappointment rang in her voice.
Toni noted that Lori’s face echoed her sister’s disappointment as she stared down at her plate.
“Your daddy wasn’t expecting you. You need to give him some time to understand about girls. He’s a boy and boys don’t think like girls.”
“Yeah, they like bugs and lizards and dirt.”
Toni avoided looking at Zach for fear she would burst out laughing. “That’s true. But when they get older, they like—” Football, cars and guns. “When you get older, you’ll understand about boys. You’ll like them.”
Neither girl appeared convinced by her arguments. Lisa folded her arms over her chest. “I don’t think I will.”
After they finished a bowl of ice cream, the girls settled in front of the TV and watched a video. Sam joined them.
As Toni and Zach cleaned up the kitchen, Toni studied him.
“So, how did your day really go?”
“Lisa wasn’t far off the mark. Lori should be off her crutches by next week.”
“And what about the director of the preschool?” Toni inquired.
“Lisa didn’t miss that one, either. The woman reminded me of an old drill instructor I had. Took no excuses, cut no one any slack. But she seemed to be able to talk to the girls. Maybe it was just me the woman objected to.”
“That’s a good description of Marge’s attitude.” Toni loaded the glasses and utensils into the dishwasher. “She’s a wonderful administrator, a friend of my sister’s, but she doesn’t do warm, fuzzy with the parents.”
“Ah, that explains it.” Zach threw the last of the napkins into the trash. “I watched the girls with the other teachers. They did a good job with both Lisa and Lori.”
“Sounds like you’re all set.”
Zach leaned back against the counter and folded his arms over his chest. “I have another question I want to ask you.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“The girls didn’t come with too many things in their suitcases. I know they need some underthings and clothes, but I don’t have any idea what. Do you have some suggestions?”
Toni remembered the things the girls had in their bags when she put them to bed the first night. “I see. What we need to do is make a little trip to the department store.”
“I didn’t mean that you should put yourself out.”
Tom couldn’t prevent the big grin that bubbled up. “You are many things, Zachary Knight, but I really don’t see you whizzing through the children’s section buying panties. But you could buy Lori plain ones, and I’ll bet Lisa would love the panties that are embroidered with the days of the week, and maybe that would help tell the difference between Lori’s and Lisa’s.”
A look of amazement crossed Zach’s normally stoic face. “Panties with the days on them?”
“Written across the seat.”
His eyes were still wide. “Amazing.”
“Zach, I don’t ever get to go shopping for little girl things, except when I buy gifts for my sisters’ girls. This could be fun.”
She started out of the kitchen, then stopped abruptly and turned, running into Zach’s chest. His arms closed around her, keeping her from falling. The strength of him under her hands was heady, making her heart pump wildly.
It reminded her of the time last year when he brought her home from the company Christmas party after he had rescued her from Carl. Zach had driven her home and escorted her to the front door. When she had lifted her lips to his, he’d backed away and said good-night.
Humiliation and shock had raced through her. Obviously, she’d been the only one to feel the attraction. After smarting for several days, Toni had decided Zach was too much like her father for her to even think about giving in to the feelings he stirred.
But right now, being held in his arms, Toni could see that Zach felt the electricity that arced between them as clearly as she did. It was not a comforting thought.
She felt Zach’s hands on her back, then his arms fell away.
“If you don’
t want me to accompany you, it won’t be a problem. I could make a list of the things you could get.”
Zach threw his head back. “A smart man realizes when he’s out of his element.” He shook his head. “That was one of the problems my ex-wife had with me. Except for making love, she said I knew nothing about women.”
Toni nearly swallowed her tongue with his last admission, and the repercussions of his words rang through her mind. Except for making love...
“I need help here. Anything you could tell me or show me would be appreciated.”
“I’ll admit there aren’t too many terrorists at the department store—except maybe a few grade school boys who are driving their mothers crazy.”
Zach grinned. His expression was so unexpected and charming, that it went straight to her heart. She was sinking so fast she could barely catch her breath. How could any woman be seduced by a couple of four-year-olds and a very masculine smile? She needed her head examined.
Taking a deep breath, she heard herself say, “Let’s go tell the girls we’re going shopping.”
Relief washed over Zach in waves as Toni picked up another package of socks for the girls. Shopping for girls was worse than running the obstacle course in the rain. Damn, who knew so much stuff existed? Pink-and-purple underthings. And little flowers all over everything. Lisa wanted flowers; Lori liked plain colors.
“Zach, do you have bedding for that new bed you have in your apartment?” Toni asked.
He stared at her. “I have a set of sheets.”
“A set—as in one?” Toni asked, amazement coloring her eyes.
“Why would I need more than that?”
Toni leaned down and whispered to the girls, “Sometimes boys don’t get better.”
They giggled and Zach knew he was outgunned.
“Do you have detergent to wash all these new things we’re buying?”
He shook his head. “I just usually take my laundry to the cleaners. They do it. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Toni looked at him as if he were a lost pup. “You must feel like you’ve stepped into another world,” she added, softly.
She didn’t know the half of it. But Zach wasn’t going to let a little ignorance defeat him. The girls were his and he’d take care of them, no matter what. “I have. But that doesn’t mean I can’t learn. I didn’t know about being a soldier until I went to boot camp. I guess I can consider this my training.”
“All right. I’ll give you a crash course in laundry products and cleaning supplies.”
“Is there anything else?” He felt like a man trying to stop the Titanic from sinking. He was bailing and bailing and still going down.
“Lots, but I think we might start off slow.”
Zach could only thank heaven.
Of all the scenes that had played themselves out in her mind, never had Toni imagined the one that occurred that night with Zach. They had taken the items that they had purchased at the store and come back to Toni’s house. It was there Toni showed Zach the intricacies of doing laundry. Much to his credit, Zach knew some of the basics, but he looked relieved when she showed him how to do the girls’ clothing.
Again, the girls bedded down in Toni’s spare room, with Sam sleeping between them.
“I think Sam and the girls have formed an attachment,” Toni said as she poured two more cups of coffee.
“Yeah, I think so, but Sam belongs to your dad, and the girls have to realize that he’s not theirs.”
“Maybe you could get them a pet of their own. The shelters are full of dogs and cats that need a home.”
Zach considered her suggestion. “I’ll think about it. Right now, I’m trying to keep from drowning. I don’t know if a pet might sink my ship.”
He had a point.
As they waited for the dryer to finish the last load of laundry, Zach asked, “Do you have any pointers on bath time and other things?”
His question brought a warm feeling. Zach might not know diddly about little girls, but at least he was trying to learn. “Until Lori gets her cast off, she won’t be able to get it wet. You’ll have to wrap the cast in a plastic garbage bag and tape it so the cast stays dry, then let her hang her leg over the side of the tub.”
From his expression, she would’ve guessed that she’d just asked him to jump off a cliff.
“Lisa will probably be easier to deal with. You can wash her hair as often as it needs to be done. I’d ask them how often their mother did it for them. It will give you a clue as to how frequently you’ll need to do it.”
He stared at his cup. Although he had not voiced a single complaint since she’d found him and the girls days ago, there was a desolation in his eyes that tugged at her heart.
Her hand lightly rested on his. The electricity that was always there between them erupted like a lightning storm. When the girls were awake, they were a good buffer between them. But here in her kitchen, late at night with only the two of them, the need that lurked under the surface surged. Her eyes met his and Toni felt the heat shoot through her body.
His hand covered hers and his thumb gently caressed her knuckles. With each stroke, the tension in her stomach increased. Suddenly it was hard to draw breath into her lungs. His gaze dropped to her lips. She felt his look as strongly as if he touched her.
His head lowered, his eyes never wavering from hers. She understood that he was giving her time to back away from the kiss. But much to her surprise her heart didn’t want to back away. She remembered all the reasons why she shouldn’t be attracted to Zach, but the vibrant pull of his eyes silenced all those voices.
His lips brushed lightly over hers, like the whisper of the wind through the trees. He seemed to gauge her reaction. When he read her desire, her welcome, his lips settled gently on hers. Softly, with infinite care, he coaxed her mouth to follow his.
His fingers came up to rest on the pulse point beneath her ear and his thumb smoothed over her neck.
A thousand impulses swamped Toni’s brain. The taste of him, his heat, the rough feel of the pads of his fingers. Toni’s hand came up to rest on his forearm. His muscles were like steel covered with warm skin.
She was falling deeper and deeper into the feelings that he evoked until she heard ringing.
Zach pulled back and looked down at her. “The dryer is done.”
His words made no sense. She stupidly looked at him. “Dryer?” What kind of romantic thing was that to say?
“The sheets in the dryer are done.”
The ding sounded again, reminding Toni where they were and why they were sitting in the kitchen. She nodded, feeling like a fool. “The sheets.” She jumped to her feet and walked into the utility room. Taking several deep breaths to calm her racing heart, Toni scolded herself. Obviously, Zach hadn’t been as overwhelmed by their kiss as she had. Her hands rested on her burning cheeks. Darn.
She retrieved the sheets from the dryer and brought them into the kitchen and set them on the table.
Zach stood and picked up several socks and panties that had fallen out from the clothes.
“Since you probably haven’t had to fold anything like this, I’ll show you how I do it, then you’ll be on your own.”
He nodded.
Zach watched her silently. She wanted to say something about the kiss, but what? If she was honest with herself, kissing Zach was something she’d wanted to do for a long time. Her nerves were always on full alert every time he was near, but Zach hid his reaction behind those steely green eyes of his. Tonight she’d caught a glimpse of something else...desire, need, hunger. Toni wasn’t sure what he felt, but she did know he’d reacted.
After she’d placed all the clean, folded clothes into a laundry basket, she dared to look at him. His cool mask of control was back in place.
“Well, how did you like your first foray into doing laundry?” she asked, trying for lightness.
“I think I’ll hire a housekeeper,” he honestly admitted.
“It’s less daunti
ng the second time through.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” He grabbed the laundry basket and headed toward his car. Toni replaced the detergent into the sack and carried it out to his new car. Gone was the little 280ZX and in its place was a Jeep. She handed him the sack.
“If you don’t want to wake the girls, they are more than welcome to spend the night again.”
Zach glanced at his watch. It was close to eleven-thirty. “Do you mind?”
“They were wiped out after we came back from the store. I don’t mind them staying here. But I’ll warn you, I have a nine o’clock class to teach.”
He nodded. “Then I’ll be here by eight.”
She smiled at him, wanting to erase their kiss. Unsure how he felt, she didn’t want to reveal her heart to him.
“Thanks for the basic training in parenthood.” That devastating smile of his, the one that sent her heart into overdrive, curved his lips.
“I’m glad I could help.”
As she watched him drive away, Toni’s feelings were whirling with the force of a tornado. And what it was leaving behind was destruction.
Zach put the new sheets on the girls’ bed and tried to put away the clothes they’d bought. Suddenly he was Mr. Mom and stupid. And not just in the fatherhood department. What had he been thinking when he’d kissed Toni?
She’d helped so much, he’d let his guard down and given in to the feelings that she always seemed to arouse in him. Not only did he have to fight the attraction that he felt for her now—had felt for her since the first time he’d laid eyes on her. But he also had to fight his desire for that female touch in his life to deal with the girls.
He was in twice the trouble he had been a week ago, before the children entered his life.
Damn. How had things gotten so out of control?
Well, it wasn’t the girls’ fault that his ex had hated his guts. Nor was it their fault she’d been killed. And although Zach had walked blind into this situation, he had to deal with it. But what he could control in the future was not kissing Toni Anderson again.
Just remembering the taste of her lips and the look in her eyes, made him ache and want more.
Suddenly a Family Page 6
