by Jody Holford
“You do that and a whole lot more,” he admitted.
Stella lifted her head and folded her arms across his chest, staring at him. When he didn’t expand, she asked, “Such as?”
Zach tapped her nose with his index finger. How could someone be cute and jaw droppingly sexy at once? “You amuse me. Confuse me. You inspire, motivate, and frustrate me.”
Her lips pressed into a pout, and he kissed her, quick and fun before flipping her so he was looking down.
“You also turn me on, drive me crazy, make me think about things I didn’t know I wanted.”
Her eyes widened. “Zach.”
Too much, too soon. Rein it in. He kissed one cheek. “You make me want to be more, Stella.” He kissed the other cheek. “You’re an amazing woman.”
When he looked at her again, he saw the worry still clouded her gaze. Hoping to distract her, lighten the mood, and loosen up the knots forming in his chest, he ran his hand down her side. “You also have an incredible body.”
She smiled. “As do you.”
He was happy she thought so, but he still needed to get them back to the light, easy place they’d been a moment ago. Running his hand over her stomach, his heartbeat ramped up at the way she sucked in air, so sensitive and aware of his touch. Stella tunneled her fingers into his hair, trying to pull him back for a kiss. Instead, he pulled back and smiled at her look of surprise.
“Thought you were hungry,” he said.
Scowling, she yanked the sheet up over her and he laughed again. Having her cover her body was a definite punishment.
“I could wait to eat,” she said. Her brow arched in challenge. One he was definitely up for.
“I don’t want to wear you out.”
“As if you could,” she said.
“I could try,” he whispered.
She nodded. “Do that.”
Fuck, she was adorable. He leaned down, pulled the sheet from her curled fingers, he pressed a featherlight kiss to her neck as his hand traveled back down. “Hmm,” he murmured against her. “I changed my mind. I think I’m hungry, too. Your skin tastes like strawberries and honey.” His fingers squeezed on her hip as he nipped at her shoulder, soothed the spot with his lips.
Stella tilted her head to the side, encouraging him to take his fill. “It’s my body soap.”
“It’s my new favorite.”
Stella smiled up at him and ran her hand over his jaw. “Probably won’t smell the same on you, but you’re welcome to try it later when we shower.”
“You’re pretty funny, Doc.”
Her leg brushed along his and then wrapped around his thigh, pulling him tighter against her. He groaned and lowered his head to kiss her.
“I have my moments. Though right now doesn’t feel like one of them.”
“No? How do you feel right now?” He was almost scared to hear her answer.
She stroked her hands up his back and met his gaze, her own unguarded. “Happy,” she whispered.
He vowed then and there to be the reason for that happiness as often as he could. As often as she’d let him. For as long as she’d allow. Hopefully, by the time she realized she’d let him all the way in, she’d be as far gone as he was and wouldn’t be able to untangle herself without a fight. Zach didn’t want to think that way, but if she tried to put her shields back in place, he was confident in his own ability to fight for what he wanted. If he wasn’t capable, he wouldn’t be here now. And there was absolutely nowhere else on the planet he wanted to be.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Stella eased away from Zach, squinting when she turned her head in the direction of the window. The sun was already shining through her useless excuse for curtains. She’d known when she bought them she shouldn’t choose pretty over practical, but she’d given in, arguing with herself, that she’d be less likely to press the snooze button with the light coming in.
Moving with quiet ease, she stepped into underwear and pulled on a pair of lounge pants before grabbing a tank top from her drawer. Her eyes wandered to Zach. He looked so peaceful and sexy. How could someone be sexy in their sleep? The sheet bunched around his waist, dipping low on his rippled stomach muscles, one leg bent over the sheet, the other tucked underneath it. The pale cream color seemed lighter against his tanned skin. His chest had a sparse dusting of hair that tapered into a narrow line, which led under the sheet. Memories of last night made her want to crawl back into bed and forget the real world was waiting.
Like every other area of her life, Zach looked like he belonged in her bed, in her room. In your heart? Nope. She was almost thirty years old and knew better than to wrap everything up in a pretty bow. It was sex. They were both single, consenting adults who enjoyed each other’s company. She rolled her eyes and yanked on her tank top. Glancing at him again, she sighed. But wow. He was a drool-worthy present deserving of a big-ass bow. An almost-smile touched his lips and those dark lashes created a crescent shape on his cheeks. He could be on the cover of a magazine with his rugged, yet somehow smooth good looks. He was tall, and every muscle looked like it had been chiseled for viewer satisfaction.
Forcing herself out of the room, she went to the kitchen and opened the door for the dogs. Little worries popped into her brain as she made coffee. It’s fine. Just good sex between friends. Colleagues. Partners. She groaned, spilling water on the counter as she poured it into the machine. She was making too much of this. Zach probably had sex with loads of women. She frowned at the thought. But he was a guy. Guys didn’t attach loads of meaning to sexual encounters. They’d needed each other last night. Or, you needed him. She thought of the office and the pretty color he’d chosen for the walls. He was thoughtful. In bed and out of it. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t redraw her lines. Which was what she should want. But part of her didn’t. A big part of her, and that was scary.
Their lives, professionally and personally, were intricately wound together. If things went south…
Would you just stop thinking for five seconds? At least until after coffee! Can you just enjoy the morning after?
“Mmm. That coffee smells almost as good as you do,” Zach said, startling her.
She spun around, smacking herself against the counter. She rubbed her hip, swallowing down curse words.
“Good morning,” she said. Did she sound squeaky? How the heck could someone look so good in the morning?
Zach stared at her as she rubbed her hip and he came closer, making her heartbeat speed up.
“You okay?” He placed his hand over hers, pushing it out of the way and using the other one to pull her shirt up a bit, checking the spot she’d slammed into the edge. His fingertips ran over the bare skin, making her shiver, even though she felt nothing close to cold.
Shooing his hands away, she slipped out from between him and the counter to grab cups. “I’m fine. You just startled me.”
She pulled two cups out and kept her back to him, needing the moment to school her features. Good thing he didn’t have x-ray vision, or he’d see her heart making a crazy attempt to jump out of her rib cage just to be closer to him. Play it cool. No big deal. They’d slept together and now they’d just carry on as they were, working together and growing the business. Until it wasn’t working for one of them and then he’d be the one to go.
A cup clattered against the countertop. He’s not leaving. Stop making things awkward. You didn’t even want him here six weeks ago and now you’re worrying he’ll go?
Stella’s breath caught when Zach stepped behind her, aligning his front against her back, pulling her against him with his hands on her shoulders. He kissed the top of her head and the gesture was so sweet she nearly turned into him to bury her face against his chest. She breathed through the moment, hoping the longing would pass.
“Why don’t you go sit on the porch? I’ll bring out the coffees in a minute.”
See? He can be normal. How about you try it. “I’ve got it,” she said, her voice reasonably steady. She didn’t
need him to take care of her or act like her boyfriend. They’d just see how things shook out.
He nuzzled her neck, making it difficult to keep her emotions in check. When he pulled back, his hands replaced his lips and he rubbed at the knots making her back ache.
“I would have thought you’d be a lot more relaxed this morning,” he teased.
“Ha,” she said way too loud. “I’m totally relaxed.”
“Let me get the coffee, babe,” he said, his lips brushing her temple.
Oh God. She was such an idiot. She could fall for him. She could totally fall head over heels for this man. Had she learned nothing from the past? Zach isn’t your ex. He’s here because he wants to be. He wanted to be part of the clinic. The intimate connection between them hadn’t been part of his plan. Had it? Her stomach tumbled.
“Jesus, Stella, it’s just coffee.”
She eased away from him and avoided his gaze. Just coffee. Just sex. Just a guy standing in her kitchen stealing her breath. “I said I’ve got it.”
His frustrated sigh was hard to miss, but she didn’t look up when he stalked out of the room. Stella set the cups down and lowered her head, trying to catch her breath. In her defense, it had been a very long time since she’d had a morning after with anyone. But still, she was really botching it up. Huffing out a breath, she poured the coffee. Act normal. Think you can handle that? She’d apologize, and they’d head off to work and everything would be fine. Happy with that plan, she leaned on the counter, sipping her coffee despite the sting of heat it left on her lips.
Looking to the stairs, she wondered if she should go up and apologize to Zach. The dogs whined at the door and Stella decided to wait on Zach. Because you’re a chicken and don’t want to face him yet. Letting the dogs in, she poured kibble in each of their bowls. She was trying to decide what to make for breakfast when Zach joined her again. He’d put on a shirt and a pair of athletic shorts. Stella missed the view of his chest and the little trail of hair that led from his belly button to—
“Seems you’ve always had a stubborn, independent streak,” he said.
It was then she noticed he had something in his hand. He smirked, knowing he’d caught her interest. He picked up his coffee and blew on it before sipping, still holding some sort of oversize notebook that looked vaguely familiar.
Lowering his cup and setting it on the counter, he shook his head. “You really won’t ask?”
She held his gaze, refusing to give in to the curiosity of seeing what he held. “None of my business.” But curiosity clawed, making her fingers itch to touch the book. Better than itching to touch him.
He gave a shrug and leaned against the counter. “Fair enough. Why don’t I just share some anyway?”
Feigning indifference wasn’t easy, but as he flipped through whatever it was he was holding, she pulled some eggs out of the fridge.
Zach cleared his throat dramatically behind her. “When I get older, I want to run my own farm. Like my dad, but different. I’ll have one hundred horses and kids from all over will come to ride them because they’ll be the best horses in the world. And I’ll have the prettiest farm. All by myself.”
Stella nearly dropped the egg she was taking out of the carton when she whirled around. “What is that?”
Zach’s smile grew, eating up his handsome face. “Just a little something I found while I was transferring a few of your dad’s things to a different box. The first one broke.”
He flipped another page and continued. “My best friends in third grade are Taylor Jones and Mona Warner. We like to play survivor in the woods behind my house.”
Setting the egg down carefully, she stomped over to Zach. He must have realized her intent because he held the book up, extending his hand as high as he could. She swatted his stomach.
A low growl left her throat. “What are you reading?”
He grinned, and despite the embarrassment creeping over her, she had to fight back a laugh. He glanced up at the cover, which she could now see. “All about me, grade one through three,” he chanted.
Laughing when she attempted to jump and pull his arm down, he put his other hand on her hip, spreading his fingers wide to hold her back.
“Here I was wondering all about the gorgeous, mysterious, stubborn vet and all your secrets were tucked away in a primary scrapbook.”
His deep belly laughs at her feeble attempts to climb him spurred her on. She continued to poke him in the stomach as he evaded her, holding her off and teasing her. She didn’t even remember grade three, never mind writing that. When she tickled him, he laughed and squirmed away, but just switched arms and moved into the living room.
The dogs barked with happy enthusiasm. Stella still fought her grin. “Give it back. You’re being a jerk.”
“Now, now. That’s not nice. Say something nice, Doc.”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing. Always a deal with him. “I don’t hate you.” She put her hands on her hips and smiled.
Zach chuckled and shook his head. “Nope. Not good enough. Let’s see…my favorite band is No Doubt and if I could meet anyone, it’d be Amelia Earhart because I did a report on her this year—”
She launched herself at his middle, sending him stumbling back a few steps. He laughed, even as he tried to right himself, but he tripped over one of the small round footstools she kept by the couch. When he landed partially on it, she joined him quite by accident. The good news was that his surprise fall had loosened his grasp and from her position on top of him, she was able to scoot up and grab it. Making a break for it, intending to run, she screamed, then laughed when Zach grabbed her around the waist, capturing her against his body.
“You did not just do that,” he said, his breath warm in her ear. She could hear the combination of smile and disbelief in his tone.
She stopped fighting his hold and looked down her nose at him. “The evidence suggests I did.”
He took the book from her hand, but instead of trying to hang onto it, he set it on the coffee table with no effort. Stupid, long-armed tall guy.
“You think you’re so tough,” he whispered, his tone teasing and sweet. The sweet nearly undid her. See, he’s not running. He’s not leaving. Trust him. Trust yourself for once. But she’d done both before—trusted herself and others and it had gotten her nowhere.
She lifted her chin. “I knocked you over, didn’t I?”
He laughed and brushed the tip of his nose along hers. “That was luck.”
She winced, pretending to feel bad for him. “Was it? Or are you just a little unsteady on your big clown feet?”
Zach only laughed harder and Stella squirmed to free herself. He shifted, stilling her movements and her breath. Every part of him was lined up perfectly with every part of her.
“Clown feet?” He chuckled again, nuzzling her neck.
Whatever. So she needed to work on her trash talk. “No one’s ever told you?”
He lifted his head. “You are the most stubborn woman on the planet.”
She shrugged. “At least I have normal-sized feet.” Zach growled and pressed tiny, breath-stealing kisses beneath her ear lobe. “You know what they say about big feet.”
Tamping down on the giggle that wanted to burst free, she sighed like he wasn’t affecting her at all. “That the owner needs big shoes?”
He shook his head. “It was just coffee, Stella,” he whispered.
Stella stilled. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Lifting his head, Zach stared at her and all amusement fled. He looked so serious. “Don’t close up on me.”
“I don’t know what that means,” she said, knowing it was, at best, a lie.
So did he. “Yes, you do. Don’t shut me out.”
If she didn’t, she’d lose herself again. And she wasn’t sure she could survive the impact. But he’d already given her so much. It was her turn to give a little. And if she landed flat on her face, she’d get up and dust herself off. What choice did she have? Walk away no
w, or enjoy their time together and do her best not to fall? Of the two, only one allowed her the right to reach up and pull him down so his mouth was hovering just above her own.
“I’ll try not to,” she whispered, arching up so she could kiss him and forget everything else.
…
By midafternoon, Stella had seen a half-dozen patients, spoken to one of the two horse owners to confirm their Saturday arrival—Clover had come early—spoken to a contractor about repairing the fence around the outskirts of her property so Zach didn’t have to, and managed to go a whole five minutes without thinking about sleeping with her partner. God. How did she have a partner? Whose body and laughter turned her on in equal measure? Oh, you’re in so much trouble.
Despite the fact that her first appointment had included giving a skittish Great Dane antibiotics, the not thinking about Zach proved to be the most difficult task. By the time she heard Megan’s voice, followed by Charlie’s, in the waiting room, she was ready for a break. Signing her name to the bottom of the paperwork, she pushed back from her desk. She hadn’t moved anything into the newly painted office yet, but somehow, it didn’t feel as wrong as it once did. Funny how a night, and morning, of amazing sex makes everything seem just a little brighter. She knew it was more than that. She knew it was because of the person she’d been with, but she didn’t want to focus too much on that right now.
Opening the door to see Charlie staring up at Zach made her heart zip around in circles. Megan was leaning on the counter, and Zach was staring intently at the little boy, who put his hands on his hips. What a sight. Something in her chest tangled up, making breathing close to impossible.
“Well, if you do become a vet, you’re obviously going to come work here with me and Stella, right?” Zach was asking.
Charlie nodded seriously, then knelt to play with Nacho, who often came down to the clinic to hang out. They were the first to notice Stella standing in the doorway. Both of them—dog and boy—filled with delight the way a balloon did air. Hmm. Perhaps that’s why I like animals and children so much—they’re honest in their reactions and always happy to see me. And, if she were being truthful only in the recesses of her brain, the idea of caring for them didn’t terrify the hell out of her. They were safe. Animals and children, by nature, didn’t manipulate. They didn’t leave.