three men stared at her.
She cleared her throat. “That is, I need to get showered and...” She looked from one fascinated male gaze to the other and coughed. “I’m a mess. I’ve been working all day.”
In a feminine gesture that took him by surprise, considering he hadn’t seen much in the way of femininity from her, Wynn attempted to smooth her hair.
Josh tipped his head. “You look fine.”
His voice was low and appreciative and again Zack wanted to strangle him.
“Her hair is soft,” Dani informed Josh in a loud whisper, then poked him in the thigh.
“Is that right?” Showing none of the reserve Zack had exhibited, Josh reached out and fingered a bouncing curl at her temple before gently tucking it behind her ear. “You’re right, Dani. It’s very soft.”
Wynn twittered and took another step away. “I’ve got to finish up here. But it was nice meeting you both. Dani, sweet dreams!”
Josh murmured low and suggestively, “You, too.”
She gave another ridiculous, girlish twitter and turned to hurry away. Josh stood there, hands on his hips, watching her go with his gaze southerly enough to singe her backside, until Zack elbowed him. Hard.
They all trooped back into the kitchen, Josh rubbing his ribs as if he’d been mortally wounded. Dani now had her head on Mick’s shoulder and she yawned. They were all three aware of how quickly Dani would collapse into a sound slumber, and they shared smiles.
Zack scooped his daughter into his arms. “Time for you to hit the sack, sweetie.” Once Dani started fading, she went fast. She’d run right up until she ran out of gas.
She blinked sleepy eyes at Josh and Mick. “G’night.”
Josh bent and kissed her nose. “Night, princess.”
Mick tickled her toes. “Good night, honey.”
As Zack turned to leave the kitchen, he saw Mick sit at the table, and Josh go back to the open window. He grumbled under his breath as he hauled his small bundle upstairs. He was just lowering Dani to her mattress when she said in a low, drowsy voice, “Josh likes her.”
Pausing, Zack said, “You think so?”
Dani nodded. “I like her, too. Don’t you?”
“She’s fine.” Zack pulled the sheet up to Dani’s chin, smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead. That didn’t suffice, so he kissed her again, then cuddled her close, squeezing her until she gave a protesting squeak. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you, too, Daddy.”
“Do you need to potty?”
“Nope.” She rolled to her side, cushioned her cheek on one tiny fist, and let out a long deep breath.
With a last peck to her brow, Zack stood. Dani was already snoring softly. For a long minute, he just looked down at her. She was by far the most precious thing in the world to him. It seemed every time he looked at her it struck him anew how much he loved her. That she was his, a part of him, was beyond remarkable.
Josh was still at the damn window when Zack reentered the kitchen. “You look like a lovesick pup.”
Mick choked on a laugh. “As compared to you, who’s playing the part of the snarling junkyard dog?”
At Mick’s taunting words, Zack paused, but only for a second. He knew his friends, and if they had half an inkling of how Wynn affected him, he’d never hear the end of it. Casually, a man without a care, he took his own peek out the window. Wynn was nowhere to be seen, thank God. Out of sight, out of mind.
He grunted, then dropped into his seat, sprawling out and rubbing the back of his neck.
“No comment, huh?” Mick asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ignorance was a lame defense, but he was too tired to think of much else at the moment.
Mick leaned forward over the table and whispered, “Possessiveness.”
Josh turned. “She went in just a few seconds ago.” He took his own seat. “Did you see the legs on that woman?”
“Since they’re a mile long,” Mick said, “they’d be a little hard to miss.”
Josh lifted a brow. “She’s put together right, I’ll say that for her.”
“You didn’t have to put up with her first thing this morning.” Wishing he could bite off his tongue, Zack took a long cooling drink of his cola.
Saluting him with his glass, Josh said, “She can get me up anytime.”
“Ha ha.” Mick shook his head at the double entendre, but amusement shone clear on his face as he looked between the two of them. “You have a one-track mind, Josh.”
“And it’s definitely on track right now.”
Zack growled before he caught himself. “I hate to curtail whatever fantasy you’re indulging, but she’s off limits.”
Josh hesitated with his drink almost to his mouth. “Says who?”
“Says me. I have to live by her. I’ll be damned if you’re going to date her, dump her, then leave her to me to deal with.” Zack shook his head in adamant finality. “No way, so forget it.”
Mick nudged Josh with his foot. “Besides, he’s got his own plans.”
Zack did bite his tongue this time. The more he said, the more they’d read into it, so denials would do him no good.
Eyeing Zack, Josh asked, “Is that right?”
“No, it is not right.” He hoped like hell he sounded more definite than he felt. “Now can we talk about something else?”
“Because I can back off if you’re making a personal claim.”
Through his teeth, Zack said, “I’m not making a personal claim, but you will back off.”
Josh stared at him a moment, then chuckled and switched his gaze to Mick. “I think you’re right.”
“Are we going to play cards or sit here mooning over women?” Zack barked.
“All right, all right,” Josh soothed. “Don’t get all fired up. We don’t have to moon.”
“Speak for yourself,” Mick grumbled. “I’m mooning. I’d much rather be home with Delilah right now.”
Josh shook his head in pity. Even Zack managed a credible chuckle. “You’re still a newlywed, so you’re allowed.”
“And,” Josh added, “Delilah is enough to make anyone moon.”
Predictably,
