by Lori Foster
He began checking her arms, her legs. Wynn, peeved at being the center of attention, scrambled out of his reach, gaining more scratches in the bargain. Using the side of the house for support, she stood.
Her efforts ended in a gasp and she almost dropped again. Zack caught her under the arms. “What is it? Your leg?”
“No.” She squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered. Damn damn damn. There was no help for it. Drooping, she said, “It’s my toe.”
“Your toe?” her father repeated.
“My baby toe.” She was balanced on her left leg, so Zack rightfully assumed she’d injured her right toe.
“I’m going to lift you,” he told her. “Tell me if I hurt you.”
“Zack!” The whole situation was going from bad to worse. “You can’t lift me.”
“She weighs more than I do,” her father said.
Wynn gasped. “I do not!” She tried to slap him, but he ducked aside.
In the next instant she found herself securely held against Zack’s bare chest. His arms didn’t shake and his legs were steady. He didn’t appear the least bit strained.
Awareness mushroomed inside her.
She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had lifted her up. Even Conan didn’t do it anymore, claiming she was too big, and he could easily bench-press four-fifty.
It felt kinda nice. Dumb but nice.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, but said, “You can put me down, Zack.”
He stepped out of the bushes. “Dani, come with me into Wynn’s house. We’ll get you dressed in just a minute.”
“We’ll be late,” Dani predicted with an adult sigh, and skipped after him.
Wynn looked over Zack’s shoulder and saw her parents watching the display with fascination. She groaned. “This is awful.”
“Wynn?”
“What?”
“You’ll notice I’m not even breathing hard.”
She looked at him, his hair mussed and his eyes still heavy from sleep. His sleek, hard shoulders were warm and his chest was solid. He smelled delicious. “I did notice that.”
“And I’m not straining, either.”
Despite her humiliation at having fallen off a ladder, shocking her parents and making Zack run late, she smiled. “Superhero.”
He grinned. “C’mon Dani. You can open the door for me. I think Wynn’s parents are a little confused by all this.”
“They’re confused,” Wynn responded, “by the sight of a male neighbor feeling me up in the bushes and toting me around with a lot more familiarity than has ever been exhibited in the past.”
“I wasn’t feeling you up. I was checking you over. There’s an enormous difference.”
“Yeah, well, I could tell by my parents’ expressions, they considered it one and the same.”
Zack paused to look down at her. His breath smelled of toothpaste and was warm. “I was watching you through that window, cursing you if you want the truth, and when I saw you fall, my heart almost stopped.”
At the husky tone of his voice, something inside Wynn turned to mush—probably her brains. But it sounded as if he cared about her, at least enough to not want her to break her neck.
Wynn drew a breath. “I’m sorry,” she answered, her voice just as husky. “I didn’t hear them drive up.”
“Mmmm.” Zack stared at her mouth. “Had your mind on other things did you?”
“She was daydreamin’,” Dani said and pulled the door open with exaggerated impatience.
“Is that right?” Zack stepped into the kitchen and went through to the family room. “Were you daydreaming, Wynn? About what, I wonder.”
She muttered close to his ear, “As if you didn’t know,” and saw his small satisfied smile.
He lowered her carefully to the couch. “Let me get your shoe and sock off.”
“I can do it.”
Of course he ignored her wishes and untied her laces. “Zack, my feet are probably sweaty by now. I’ve been up and working since about five.”
“Do you ever not work?” Pushing aside her fretful hands, he eased her sneaker off. “Sweaty,” he confirmed as he peeled her sock away and began examining her toe.
Wynn stretched up to see. Dani stood beside her and patted her shoulder.
Her poor little baby toe was already black and blue and the bruising had climbed halfway up her foot. It was swollen and looked awful. Seeing it made it hurt worse, but she forced a laugh and said, “Big and sweaty. Betcha wish now you’d left my sock on.”
“Damn, Wynn,” Zack muttered, touching her foot with a heart wrenching gentleness. “It’s definitely broken. You need to ice it, then get it taped. Can your doctor see you today?”
“For a baby toe?” She snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Wynn seriously doubted she could hobble her way to the doctor right now, the way her foot felt. How one small toe could cause so much pain was a mystery.
The kitchen door opened and closed and her parents joined them at the couch. Her father went straight for her head and began trying to groom her hair. Her mother asked, “Do you have any herbal tea? That always helps.”
Zack looked pained, then resigned. “I need to be getting to work. But she has a broken toe, maybe even a broken foot, so it should be X-rayed. She’s also got a lot of cuts and scratches that’ll need to be cleaned.”
Her father said, “Wynn, Wynn, Wynn.”
She swatted his hands away from her hair. “I’m fine, Dad.”
Chastity looked Zack over from head to toe and back again. “Well.” She smiled. “You run along young man. We’re here now and we’ll take good care of her.”
“You’re a hippie,” Dani said with awe.
Zack said, “Dani!”
But Chastity laughed. “Did my daughter tell you that?”
Dani nodded. “And you gots rings on your toes.”
“Just two rings, but they’re made of a special metal that has healing powers. Perhaps I’ll put one on Wynn and it’ll make her toe heal quicker.”
“No!” Zack caught himself and stood. He looked frazzled and harassed and undecided. “No rings.” Then, stressing the point by speaking slowly, he said, “She needs an X-ray.”
“Zack,” Wynn said, “I’m a big girl.”
“Indeed.” Her father moved from her hair to Dani’s and Dani appeared to love the attention. She even gave Artemus a huge grin.
“I can take care of myself. I’m not an idiot!”
“No, just an intelligent woman who climbs a rickety ladder to the roof before the sun is even all the way up.”
“If Dad hadn’t snuck up on me…”
“Now don’t go blaming me again, darling! Your young man is right. You had no business being on that ladder in the first place.” He said all that without looking up, too busy working on Dani’s hair.
Zack opened his mouth, then closed it. He shook his head. “Wynn, promise me you’ll go get an X-ray.”
“But…”
“It’s likely just a broken toe and they’ll tape it, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Being a physical therapist, you should know this.”
She did know it. “Oh, all right.”
As if making a decision, Zack said, “I’ll check on you tonight. In the meantime, Mrs. Lane, why don’t you get her some ice to soak her foot for the swelling? And Mr. Lane, you could maybe get her a phone so she can make the call to the doctor?”
Her parents looked pleased with the direction. Artemus quickly finished fooling with Dani’s hair and rushed off. Chastity followed him.
The second they were out of the room, Zack bent over Wynn. “I wish I had more time, but if I don’t get going now, I’ll be late.”
“I understand. Really, I’m fine.”
“When I get home I expect to find you taking it easy.”
“Me and my large feet will make a leisurely day of it.”
He touched her cheek. “Large feet for a large, beautiful woman.”
Now her brain and her bon
es were mush. She managed a lopsided silly smile.
Zack straightened. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“I thought you had plans.”
“I do.” He didn’t explain beyond that.
Wynn wanted to ask him what his plans were, but she was afraid he’d be out with another woman. And because she had no exclusive rights to him, she couldn’t complain, so she was better off not knowing.
Dani kissed her cheek. “I’ll see ya tonight, too. I’ll even draw you a picture.”
It was then that Wynn noticed Dani’s fine, fair hair had been plaited into an intricate braid and tied with a tiny yellow ribbon. She shook her head in wonder. Did her father carry ribbons in his pockets?
She wouldn’t be at all surprised.
Zack noticed his daughter’s hair, too. He did a quick double take, then said, “Well I’ll be.”
Dani smiled and kept reaching back to feel it. She looked very pleased with the results. “It’s pretty.”
Wynn said, “Very pretty!” and meant it.
Chastity hustled back in with a big bowl filled with ice and several dishcloths over her arm. She dropped onto the foot of the couch, making Wynn groan. To Dani, she asked, “You’re the artist who created that masterpiece on the refrigerator?”
Wynn managed a smile to help cover the discomfort of her mother’s rough movements. “That’s right. Isn’t she talented?”
“Very much so.” As Chastity wrapped ice in a towel, she said, “You’d love finger paints. Have you ever tried them?”
Both Wynn and Zack winced. “Mom, they’re awfully messy.”
“So?” She flapped a dismissive hand at Wynn. “You and your cleanliness quirks. She’s a child! You can’t stifle her creative spirit just because she might get a little paint under her nails.” Chastity was gentle as she applied the ice to Wynn’s foot.
Watching Zack, Wynn thought he might have jumped her mother if she hadn’t shown what he considered adequate care. “I brought my paints with me, Dani. It’ll be lovely, you’ll see.”
Beaming, Dani said, “Thank you!”
Artemus waltzed in with the phone. “Found it!” He handed it to Wynn, along with her small phone book, then turned to Dani. He patted her hair with pride. “Lovely.” Then to his daughter, “Wynn,” he said, “wouldn’t you like for me to do something with your hair while you make your call?”
Wynn said, “No,” and her father’s face fell with comical precision.
Zack scooped Dani and her blanket into his arms. “We have to run. Wynn, remember what I said.”
“Me and my big feet will follow doctor’s orders.”
There was a general round of farewells, and five seconds later, Zack was gone. Wynn fell back against the couch. Her foot throbbed and ached, her ribs pulled, she itched from all the shrub scratches and now her parents were standing there staring at her with tell-all expectation.
The day had started out being so promising, but now…
She doubted it had dawned on Zack yet, but after all they’d just witnessed, no way would her parents believe a simple visit to the hot tub. Nope, they were eccentric, but they were not dumb.
And they knew sexual chemistry when they witnessed it.
Her mother, pretending a great interest in Wynn’s bruised and swollen toes, said, “My, my, my. What a hottie.” She slanted Wynn a look and an I’m-onto-you grin.
“Quite virile,” her father agreed, while tugging distractedly on his earring and eyeing his wife’s legs. Despite years of marriage and the fact that he was more colorful, Artemus remained highly attracted to her mother. He made no effort to hide his sexual willingness, which pretty much started from the time Chastity woke in the morning and ran until she fell asleep at night. It was almost comical.
He visibly pulled himself back to the subject at hand. “I, ah, take it he’s single?”
Wynn sank further into the cushions. “Yes.”
Silence reigned for only a few seconds, and then her father clasped his hands together and sighed. “Well, the little girl has fabulous hair! Or at least she will when I finish with it. All in all, I say they’ll be a wonderful addition to the family. What do you think, dear?”
Chastity smiled. “I think we got here just in time to watch the fireworks.”
ZACK HEARD the noise from Wynn’s house the second he stepped out of his car. Blaring music competed with laughter and the din of loud conversation.
It was six-thirty and he was tired, hungry, worried and rushed. It seemed he’d been running late from the moment he woke that morning, and there’d been no letup since.
He’d started the day by oversleeping. After the excesses of lovemaking the night before, he’d slept like the dead and hadn’t even heard his alarm until it had been ringing for almost half an hour. When he got over that disquieting phenomenon, he’d washed his face and brushed his teeth in two minutes flat, then gone for coffee before attempting to put a razor to his throat.
He never had gotten around to shaving, he realized, and now he felt scruffy and unkempt. He rubbed his rough jaw, remembering the trials of the day.
It was as he’d measured coffee that he glanced out the kitchen window and spied Wynn precariously balanced on an old wooden ladder, attempting to clean her gutters. His hair had been on end, his eyes still gritty, his feet bare on the cold linoleum floor, and he lost his temper.
He ran upstairs to awaken Dani, hastily pulled on pants, then ran back downstairs and outside to confront Wynn before she fell and killed herself.
He’d been too late.
It still made him tremble when he remembered opening the door just in time to see her wildly flailing the air as she plummeted to the ground. His stomach cramped anew.
Damned irritating, irrational, provoking female! She was lucky she’d only broken a toe!
He thought about her parents and cringed. “Flaming heterosexual,” she’d called her father, and now he knew the description was apt. He’d never met a more flamboyant, dramatic man; his every word and gesture had been exaggerated.
But he’d done a wonderful job with Dani’s hair. She’d looked so cute…
Zack shook his head.
Wynn’s mother was, as she’d claimed, a hippie. Her long blond hair had streaks of gray, but her figure was still youthful. Wynn had likely gotten her beautiful legs from her mother. Chastity’s legs weren’t nearly as long, and the rings on her toes were a distraction, but all in all, she was an attractive woman. Loony, but attractive.
After Zack secured Wynn’s promise to see a doctor, he’d rushed back home to prepare for work. He left the house right on time. Unfortunately, when he reached Eloise’s house to drop off Dani, he’d found the elderly woman ill.
With Dani hovering nearby, Zack did a medical check on Eloise. She was feverish and pale, her pulse too weak. Eloise claimed it was no more than the flu and she warned Dani to beware of her germs. She said she’d been sick off and on all night, so she’d called Zack that morning. But it must have been while he was at Wynn’s house, and he hadn’t thought to check his answering machine in his hurry to get out the door.
He called his supervisor and explained why he’d be late so one of the men from the shift before could stay over, then he’d bundled Eloise up for a trip to the emergency room. He wasn’t willing to take any chances with a woman her age, especially when she looked so weak. While he gathered a few things for her, he’d called Josh, who was off that day.
A woman had answered.
Zack thought about hanging up and calling Del or Mick instead, but Josh retrieved the phone, discovered the dilemma and made plans to pick up Dani at the hospital.
En route to the hospital, Zack got hold of Eloise’s granddaughter, who also agreed to meet them there in case Eloise needed to be admitted.
By the time he finally got to work, he was almost two hours late. The women he worked with teased him about his unshaven appearance and harried demeanor.
And throughout it all, he’d thought of Wynn.
She plagued him, making his brain ache and his body hot. He alternately worried about her and her broken toe, and contemplated making love to her again.
He glanced to the front of her house now where the driveway, just visible from his side yard, could be seen overflowing with a variety of vehicles.
A party.
She’d promised him she’d take it easy, that she’d prop her large feet up and rest. Instead, she was having a party.
Zack locked his jaw tight and stomped up to his kitchen stoop. Fine. Whatever. He’d simply ignore her and her irresponsible ways. It wasn’t as if he wanted to worry about her, or even think about her.
No, he just wanted to take her again and again, in about a hundred different ways. He wanted to kiss her body all over, starting on her toes and working his way up those sexy shapely legs until he reached her…
“Oh hell.” Zack jerked his door open, called out, “I’m home,” and was greeted by silence. He suddenly realized there had been no extra cars in his driveway, which meant Josh wasn’t here with Dani as he said he’d be.
But just to make certain, Zack went through the house. It was empty.
He was so tired he ached, and now he stopped in the middle of the living room and looked around, trying to decide what to do next. Where would Josh be?
He’d left the kitchen door open and now he heard a robust laugh carry across the yards. His mind cramped as he considered the possibilities. With deliberate intent, feeling ill-tempered and irked, he went to the kitchen to look out the window.
There in Wynn’s yard were close to a dozen people, including Josh and Dani. A boom box blared from the patio and a badminton net had been set up. A woman he didn’t recognize partnered Conan against Marc and Clint, while Bo leaned against a tree and shouted encouragement. It appeared to be a highly competitive game, given the viciousness of the play.
On the patio, he could see Chastity singing as she wielded a long-handled fork on the grill. Artemus, now dressed all in black except for a large silver buckle on his belt that glinted in the late day sun, danced with Dani. His daughter appeared to be wearing one of Chastity’s tie-dyed shirts. It hung down to her feet.
