“It seems Lori is very good at that,” Toni commented. Lori stood on her good leg and tossed another ball at the bull’s-eye.
Lisa was on the other side of the room, watching the singing, robotic bear.
Toni wondered if she should let Zach know what the girls had said about him.
“You’re itching to say something.” He turned to her. “What is it?”
Her startled gaze flew to his. “How—?”
“It’s written on your face. You wouldn’t make a good operative in a covert operation. You’re easier to read than a kid’s book.”
Her brow arched. “On the drive over here the girls asked why you didn’t know about them. I didn’t answer them.”
“I already told you that their mother never thought it necessary to tell me.” His bitterness rang clearly in his voice.
“Yes, but I couldn’t tell them that their recently departed mother lied to them to get back at you.”
“Why not?”
“Don’t he ridiculous. What would be served by telling them that? They’ve had enough trauma in the past few weeks. Adding to it won’t help things.”
“Then what did you tell them?”
He hit the nail on the head. “Uh—I didn’t say anything. But I think we need to come up with some story to tell.”
“You’ll have to come up with it. They didn’t cover storytelling in Special Forces training, nor was it in the field training course we had.” He looked back at the girls.
“How about being a pain in the b—” Toni bit off the end of the word.
Zach’s head whipped around and he pinned her with a sharp gaze. One corner of his mouth kicked up. “That was included in the training. And I excelled at it.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
He grinned.
Disgruntled that he had pushed her into mudslinging, she looked at the girls. What was a good reason to give them for their mother not telling Zach about them?
“We can tell them the truth,” she commented, deciding her mother’s motto of always telling the truth would serve her well in this instance.
“You want to tell them that their mother couldn’t stand the sight of me and refused to talk to me that last day?” Disbelief filled his voice.
“No, of course not. But the closer we stick to the facts, the better off we’ll be.”
He waited for her to continue.
“We’ll tell them that their mom was mad at you.”
“An understatement,” he grumbled.
Ignoring his comment, she went on. “We’ll tell them that because their mother was mad at you, she decided not to tell you about the girls. They can relate to being mad at someone and not telling them everything. We don’t have to throw stones at her, but simply state the truth. I think the girls will buy that explanation. Then you can tell them that as soon as you discovered their existence, you came.”
Apparently, her argument was gaining ground with him. “You might have a point.” He rubbed the back of his neck. His hands were strong and sturdy.
There was a long scar across the back of his right hand. She wondered how he got it.
“So, when are you going to tell them this story?” Zach asked.
His question startled her out of her thoughts about him. She felt her face heat with embarrassment.
“We did decide to tell the girls why I didn’t know about them, didn’t we? Or did I miss something?” He looked truly puzzled.
It was becoming clearer and clearer that Zach might be an expert in the field of security, probably knew a dozen ways to incapacitate a man, but he didn’t know zip about children.
“Yes, we did. And if they ask again, you need to answer them. Or if they ask me, I’ll answer them, but just blurting it out isn’t a good idea. The rule with children is when they ask a question, you answer it in the easiest, simplest way you can. If they want to know why the sky is blue, you can say ‘God made it that way.’ You really don’t need to give them the physics of the situation.”
His brow arched. “And do you know why the sky is blue?”
“Yes. It’s because, in air, the scattering cross section for blue light is greater than for red light.” She’d suffered through her college physics class and this was the first time she had been able to use some of the information she’d learned. “I could go on to explain more about the frequency and the fourth power, but I think that would probably be too much for the purpose of this discussion.”
He scowled at her, not appreciating her point.
Toni glanced at the twins and noticed that Lori was resting on her crutches. “I think maybe it’s time to take Lori home. She’s showing signs of fatigue.”
Zach glanced at Lori, who sagged against her crutches. He laid a twenty on the table to pay for their dinner. “I’ll get Lori if you’ll go get her sister.”
“Divide and conquer. I can deal with that. Oh, and Zach,” she added, “smile for the girls. Lisa noticed you don’t smile. It worried her.”
He gaped at her.
“Their world’s been turned upside down,” Toni hastily explained. “A friendly smile will help them to cope with the situation.”
There was a considering light in his eyes, before he turned and walked to Lori.
Toni retrieved Lisa from the singing bear and led her to where Zach held the other girl in his arms.
“We’ll still need to use your car,” Zach said as they walked out of the restaurant. “I guess I’ll have to get something bigger for everyone.”
“Get a car like Toni’s,” Lisa informed him. “She’s got the right kind of car.”
Zach looked at Toni. It was one more thing that would have to change in his life. But from the determined light in his eye, Toni knew he would do it.
His resolve was admirable. Too bad it attracted her.
Toni and the girls stood motionless as Zach closed the door on his efficiency apartment. The place was quite unbelievable. The little space had a semikitchen with a small refrigerator, a hot plate and sink. There was a couch, a stuffed chair and a small wooden table with four chairs.
“It’s not much,” Zach offered by way of explanation, as he set the suitcases on the floor.
The understatement didn’t need a reply. Toni turned to him. “The girls can’t possibly live here.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “I know.”
A wave of concern washed over Toni. Not only did Zach suddenly have a family, but his car and house were both going to have to be changed.
“The couch makes into a bed,” he explained as the children looked around the room. “The bathroom is through there.”
Toni shrugged. She’d already protested the small space. They’d just have to make do tonight. “Why don’t I help the girls get ready for bed while you make up the bed for them?”
He nodded, looking relieved that he wouldn’t have to take up that gauntlet right now. She swallowed the smile that tried to surface. Whoever would have thought that an ex-Special Forces soldier would be rattled by the thought of bathing two four-year-olds?
After gathering nightgowns and toothbrushes from their suitcases, Toni led the girls to the bathroom. She filled the tub, and helped Lisa into the water. While she played, Toni gave Lori a sponge bath.
“Where’s Daddy?” Lisa asked.
“He’s making up your bed,” Toni answered as she washed off the little body. Lori sat on the closed toilet.
A puzzled frown gathered on Lori’s brow. “Where is our bed?”
“Your daddy said the couch makes into a bed.”
“Where’s Daddy going to sleep?” Lisa asked.
Toni looked down into the solemn little face. “I’m not sure. But don’t you worry about it. Things are going to work out.”
Neither girl looked convinced.
“Let’s get you out of the tub and brush your teeth. I bet it has been a long day.”
The girls looked at each other. Toni could only guess at the silent communication going on betwe
en them. They hurriedly finished, put on nightgowns and panties Toni had taken from their suitcases, then went back into the living room. Zach had pulled out the bed and it looked inviting.
“It looks like your dad has your bed ready. Why don’t you two get under the covers?”
Lisa scampered and Lori hobbled to the bed. After they were tucked in, their little faces stared back at Toni. She knew the girls would need a final parting. “Why don’t we say a good-night prayer so you can go to sleep?”
“We don’t know one,” Lisa informed her.
“Well, then I’ll teach you the one my mother taught me.”
Toni sat on the bed and said the simple prayer, then the girls repeated it. Impulsively, Toni leaned over and kissed each girl. Lisa threw her arms around Toni and squeezed.
“Your daddy will take good care of you.”
“Why can’t you stay?” Lisa asked plaintively. Her eyes beseeched her.
Toni swallowed and didn’t venture a glance at Zach. “Because, sweetie, I have a home of my own. Besides, there’s not a bed for me.”
“We can scrunch together.”
The simple logic of children. “But where’s your daddy going to sleep?” Toni asked.
They looked at their father. “He can sleep in the bed, too.”
Sneaking a look over her shoulder, she saw Zach’s face. He appeared surprised and stunned. His gaze met hers.
“Well, you asked,” he softly replied.
Turning back to the girls, she said, “Your daddy and I would have to be married to do that.”
“Okay,” Lisa answered.
She had been neatly cornered by a four-year-old. What could she say?
“Your dad hasn’t asked me.” Toni thought she’d outmaneuvered the child.
Lisa looked at her father. “Do you want to marry Toni?”
Now she definitely didn’t want to see Zach’s expression. Toni grasped Lisa’s hand. “Grown-ups are funny, sometimes. Getting married isn’t as simple as your daddy asking me. We need to be in love.”
“Why?” Lisa was tenacious and determined.
“It’s a grown-up thing.”
“Grown-up things are stinky.” She folded her arms over her chest and tried to look stern.
Toni stared at the frightened faces of the two little girls. Although they didn’t say anything more, she saw from their expressions that they didn’t want to be left alone with Zach. She knew that Zach wasn’t any happier than the girls about this situation. She grabbed her purse and moved to the door where Zach stood.
Toni glanced at the bed. “Where are you going to sleep?” Her gaze collided with his. That electricity that always seemed to be there flared.
“I can stretch out on the floor.”
Toni looked at the carpeted room. “You sure?”
His brow arched. “I’ve spent nights in a lot worse situations than this. This is a piece of cake.”
If this was a piece of cake, why did she feel as if she were deserting a sinking ship? “If you need anything, give me a call.”
As she opened the door, Zach snagged her wrist. Her startled gaze met his.
“Thanks.” The heat in his eyes made her swallow hard.
“You’re welcome.”
As she walked to her car, Toni wondered how Zach would make it with the girls. Theirs hadn’t been a strong beginning.
Zach threw his pillow and blanket on the floor. Stretching out, he pulled the pillow under his head. This wasn’t bad. It certainly ranked higher than a lot of places he’d slept.
Staring at the ceiling, Zach smiled as he thought about how Lisa tried to get Toni to stay and sleep with them.
There’s not a bed for me.
We can scrunch together.
But where’s your daddy going to sleep?
He can sleep in the bed, too.
Your daddy and I would have to be married to do that.
Okay.
Your dad hasn’t asked me.
Do you want to marry Toni?
After Sylvia, his first wife, Zach had decided that he would never again marry for “love.” He’d never be at the mercy of those feelings again. Life with Sylvia had been hell. After the initial blaze of lust had died between them, he and Sylvia had had nothing in common. They didn’t even like the same kind of food. He loved Mexican, she had a thing for Chinese.
But having a wife would solve the majority of the problems he was facing.
Nope, he wasn’t going to use the girls as an excuse to scratch the itch he had.
Zach wasn’t exactly jumping up and down with joy about becoming a father, but he’d be dammed if he’d walk away from the children.
He knew firsthand the bitterness of having your father reject you. His dad had gotten his mother pregnant while he had been separated from his wife. When he learned she was pregnant, he told her too bad, that he was going back to his wife. His dad had never acknowledged him. When Zach had finally confronted the man, it had been a bitter meeting, and as Zach walked away from it, he had promised himself that he would never desert any child of his.
So, now he had two daughters. And no matter what it took, he was going to care for them.
He thought about Toni. She was a lovely woman—slender, with light brown hair that came down to her chin, soft blue eyes and a smile that tempted him to do more than just say thank you.
Admit it, a voice in his head whispered. She gets to you.
He ignored the taunt.
“Daddy?” a small voice from the bed called.
Sitting up, Zach looked at the bed. “What?”
“I have to tinkle,” Lori told him, a hesitation in her voice. She was going to need help getting to the bathroom.
“Okay.”
He wished Toni was still here.
Chapter 3
Toni glanced at the bedside clock. It was 5:00 a.m. She’d been awake for the last hour. Finally, she gave up the struggle to sleep. Slipping out of bed, Toni reached for her robe.
How was Zach coping with Lon and Lisa?
What could go wrong while everyone was asleep? she asked herself. She didn’t know, but considering how things had been going for Zach lately, she wasn’t going to be surprised by anything that happened.
Walking into the kitchen, she flipped on the light and set water on the stove for a cup of hot tea. Lisa’s plea for Tom to stay with them had replayed itself over and over in her brain.
A yearning that Toni had been able to ignore over the past few years had sprung to life again. Children. She wanted children. She’d given up on men—or more specifically on finding the right man to marry. Toni didn’t want a hard-driving man like her father, so when she had left home and gone to the University of Texas at Austin to teach ornithology, she had quickly gotten involved with a man whom she thought was the complete opposite of her father—sensitive and tender. Yeah, right. Mark turned out to be a jerk, who was sleeping with her best friend.
The whistle on the kettle sounded, and Tom poured the water over the tea bag. Although she tried to avoid the memory, the images popped into her head. She’d gone to Mark’s apartment to drop off flowers and a cake to celebrate his birthday.
When she’d heard a sound from the bedroom, Toni went to investigate. She had planned to surprise Mark and had certainly done that when she saw Mark and Melissa in bed together. The memory still made her wince. She must’ve made a sound, because the couple on the bed stopped and looked at her.
Sipping her raspberry tea, Tom remembered her actions that day. She had dashed out of the bedroom, grabbed the cake off the kitchen table and when Mark came barreling out of the bedroom, she’d heaved it at him. He howled like a branded cow, but it was funny to see him wearing nothing but frosting.
From that moment on, Tom had given up the idea of finding a man to love. There didn’t seem to be one worth the effort.
Besides, even if she found a good man, the doctors had told Tom the injuries she’d suffered when she was in the car accident had left scar t
issue on her Fallopian tubes, and they didn’t believe she’d ever conceive. She had missed the idea of children but thought she’d resolved the issue in her heart. The twins yesterday had revived that longing.
She gulped down the last sip of the tea. Too bad she couldn’t just be a mother to the girls, but she doubted Zach would rent out the children or give them to her every other weekend to satisfy her longings.
If he would, that might solve everyone’s problem.
“I’m hungry, Daddy,” Lisa complained in the morning.
It jarred Zach every time either child called him “Daddy.” The first time Lisa murmured that word, it was as if a crack had appeared in the shell around his heart. Each time either girl repeated it, the crack widened.
“Me, too,” Lori added. “I’m hungry.”
“I want some Froot Loops,” Lisa demand.
Zach learned early on that of the two girls, Lisa was the more vocal. Lori was the quieter one. He didn’t know if she let Lisa take the lead because she was hurt, or if things had always been that way.
“Froot Loops?” he repeated. “Do you really like them?”
“It’s my favorite,” Lisa said. “And you have to have milk, too.”
“And orange juice,” Lori added.
“I’ve got water. And coffee.”
“Ick,” Lisa said.
From the looks in his children’s eyes, coffee wasn’t what they were wanting. Picking up the phone, he dialed the number that Toni gave him last night. When she picked up, he said, “What are Froot Loops?”
“Daddy, my stomach’s making noises,” Lisa complained.
“Are you having some problems?” Tom asked.
“They’re talking in a language I don’t know. I need a little help here,” Zach shot back.
“Froot Loops is a cereal.” She paused. “You want some help?”
“Anything you can do will be appreciated.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes. Tell the girls I’m coming with the Froot Loops.”
He hung up and turned to the twins. “Toni’s coming with the cereal.”
Suddenly a Family Page 3